“I know it wasn’t. The books you’ve written have made that very clear. I just want you to know that I’m not scared. You keep saying it like you're warning me. You may not know what I'm into, but I know myself, and I know I want to explore everything with you. There’s something in me that has been wanting more for a long time, and we’ve already gone over how Vance couldn’t give it to me. Now that I’ve had the incredible fortune of meeting you, I feel like this is my chance. So, I’m not scared. If anything, I’m worried I’ll scare you.”

“Scare me?” he asks with an amused face.

“Don’t laugh,” I say, giggling. “I’m being serious. I really might scare you, because sometimes it scares me.”

Nas finishes off his steak and sets his fork and knife down on his empty plate. He sits back in his chair and looks at me, and I can see the gears spinning in his head. He’s an experienced Dom who has been in the BDSM lifestyle for a long time, and I’m just some fan of his claiming I’m ready for it all. He has every reason to question me, and I understand that. I just hope he can hear the conviction in my voice and see the sincerity in my eyes as much as I see the hesitation in his.

Nas glances down at his phone, checking the time, before looking at me again. “I should go. You have to go to work soon, and I need to check in with Keisha about my schedule.”

Nas stands up and takes his plate to the kitchen, rinsing it off and placing it in the dishwasher before heading to the door where I meet him.

“So, you're not gonna acknowledge what I just said?” I ask, placing my hand on the doorknob and looking him in the eye. Nas lets out a long exhale before shaking his head and grinning.

“Maybe you should take a minute and think about it,” he says. “Do your research and see what BDSM is really all about. See it all and try to imagine being in the position of the submissive. You have to have the right mindset for it. It’s certainly not for everybody.”

“I’m aware of that. I told you I’ve read plenty, and I’m not afraid of it. This is the part of my life I feel like I’ve been missing, Nas. I’m not on the fence about this, so don't be afraid for me. I don't want or need your protection from this. I just don't want to be too … dark for you.”

After locking eyes with me again, Nas nods and purses his lips together.