“Oh, I see,” I say. “Well, to be clear, as much as I like how Dr. Colson told Ava what to do sexually, I don't identify with her need to be controlled all the time. I’m not the kind of person who wants a man around to provide me with structure and discipline, which you alluded to earlier. I’m a big girl, Nas, and a bad bitch if I do say so myself. I love my job, I’m independent, I pay my own bills and rent, I take care of myself, and I don't need anybody following me around or leaving me a laundry list of things to do on any given day under the consequence of punishment if I don't complete the list. My interest in Ava and BDSM has nothing to do with how I go about living my day-to-day life. My interest is purely sexual.”

Nas turns his body completely toward me and leans back against the counter, watching me closely and ignoring the food prep he was doing before. Intrigue flashes in his eyes, lighting them up as he watches me.

“I see,” he says, placing his palms on the counter behind him. “Sort of like an alpha sub.”

“A what?” I ask with a frown.

“An alpha submissive,” Nas answers. “You don't take shit from anybody. You have a tough exterior and have no problem telling people, especially men, to go fuck themselves. You consider yourself a boss who doesn't really like taking orders from anyone. However, things change in the bedroom. Behind closed doors, you want to be controlled by a man truly strong enough to do it.”

I find myself nodding along as Nas explains it, describing me perfectly.

“Yeah, that’s exactly right,” I admit. “Most men are intimidated by me, to be honest. Vance wasn't, but that’s because he could always use his position at our job to maintain his so-called place above me. Once I stopped caring about that, he couldn't handle it.”

“It’s because he’s weak and terrified of strong women, like most men.”

“Pretty much. I’ve honestly never met a man who could be my equal during the day, and put me in my place in the bedroom. It’s impossible to come by, apparently. I look at it the way Jill Scott explained it during a radio interview I heard a while back. If you can tell me what to do, then you can tell me what to do. But, if you can’t tell me what to do, then you can’t tell me what to do. Get it?”

Nas raises an eyebrow. “Absolutely.”

“Good. Because I don't want you to think that just because I like your books that I’m going to bend to your will. I’m not some little girl with daddy issues, Nas.”