“Where have you been going at night?” My throat immediately tightened, making it almost impossible to lie correctly. My mother looked me straight in the eyes, and I couldn’t say a damn thing. Pussy.

I pictured the beast’s face, handsome and rough at the same time. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Sweat glistened on his body. His cock was pressed firmly against the front of his leather pants. Did I imagine that? No. He looked exactly like his pictures.

Did he recognize me? I hoped not. Meeting someone online was always so different from seeing them in real life. I was terrified of meeting another guy, so as soon as we locked eyes, I just panicked. I couldn’t do it.

Power. He represented real power. I was like a wounded animal, ready to be taken. If he saw me last night, I decided, he should have come after me. He didn’t really expect me to just follow him in that sex dungeon, right?

“I’m asking you a question,” my mother said.

“Sheila. Please stop. I just went out with friends. Anyway, I’m twenty-one. It shouldn’t matter where I go,” I said.

“Don’t Shiela me,” she muttered. She turned around, thinking of her next quip to throw at me. It was always so easy for her, and she took advantage of every situation. “I was worried sick. I thought someone might have kidnapped you!”

“Kidnapped? Really?” I frowned at my mother. She was the woman who raised me, but sometimes, we felt so different from each other.

She disappeared into the living room, but I could hear her grumbling, “You can’t fool me, Hayden. Something is going on, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

Dammit, mom. I was the whole bottom of it. My mother was a guilt trip and a half, but she wasn’t entirely wrong. Something was not right with my head. I wasn’t straight or gay. I was lost in some weird limbo identity, and I couldn’t make any sense of it.

I checked my phone for the time. Quarter to midnight. Why wasn’t she in bed by now? And why the hell was she still here, in my house that I paid for, anyway? Couldn’t she get her shit together for two seconds?

My keys were staring at me from the kitchen counter. I glanced at my phone again, eagerly returning my eyes toward the doorway to the living room. “Fuck it,” I whispered.

I didn’t care what my mother thought. I didn’t care what anyone thought anymore. Tonight was the night. I could feel it. The moon rising. The pulsing heat inside of my stomach.

I decided that the first thing I’d do when I got to Leather and Lace was walk into the infamous “dark room.” That black maze was supposed to be full of writhing sexual fantasies and unknown pleasures.

I was going to fall to my knees. I was going to offer myself to the world. My online daddy would see me, and the first thing he’d do was bend down to get a taste. Whatever he wanted, I was going to give him.

On the drive to the club, my body was on fire with heat. I parked the car and closed my eyes.

Okay, Hayden. Don’t be such a fucking pussy. This is what you want. You crave cock. You need to be filled. You need discipline. Remember how all of the women made you feel in the past? Empty. He’ll make you feel full. He’ll give you everything you’ve ever fucking dreamed for.

I tilted my head back in agonized desire as my cock pushed up against the center of my khaki shorts. I had been torturing myself nearly every single night for a whole week. It was time for some sweet release.

I opened the car door and stepped outside. It was the end of summer, and the wind finally felt nice across my body. The trees were starting to shed their leaves. I was changing alongside them.

I kept my eyes focused on the metal doors. Without thinking, I walked toward them like a moth tricked by the strange flicker of a light bulb. Before I could reach the entrance, I stopped.

I felt a warm hand clutch against my shoulder. His palm trailed smoothly toward the small of my back, feeling the sharp angular curves of my body. I froze.

It was him. The beast. I knew it immediately. “Hey,” he muttered, voice warm, yet booming with intensity. He was different than I expected. He seemed slightly gentle in nature. I still couldn’t say a word. I didn’t dare to. I had never admitted to another man how badly I wanted to feel his touch.

“You’ve been coming here a lot lately. I’ve seen you around,” he said. He was playing out the fantasy we talked about online. Just two strangers who happened to want to fuck like dogs.

He could step forward. He could fondle me if he wanted to and make me open up right there in that parking lot. I wouldn’t have run away. I would have stayed all night.

He didn’t let go of my waist. Instead, he brought me closer to him. As soon as our eyes connected, I felt my body turn stiff. I was scared. I was face to face with my inner desire. I had no idea what to do or how to act.

“I’m new to town,” I said. I didn’t smile. I was too “in my head” to smile.

A car pulled into the parking lot, beams flashing on us before it drove away. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. “Rule number one: don’t lie to daddy,” he said.

I bit the inside of my cheek. This was a dream. It had to be a dream. I’d wake up in my bed with a thick hard-on, and everything would go back to normal.

I opened my eyes and focused on his lips. “Yes,” I said. Then, feeling the courage rise into my chest, I straightened my back. I held my chin forward. “Yes, daddy,” I whispered. “I’ll do anything for you. I promise, daddy.”

The smile on my face faded as he placed his palm flat against my cheek. He brought me closer. The bed of his thumb brushed lightly against my lips. “Good boy,” he whispered before walking inside.

Holy fuck. I fell against the brick wall to catch my breath. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in the center of my throat. Finally, the biggest smile formed on my face.

Suddenly, I wasn’t afraid. Everything was going to be okay. I could do this. I could be myself here. Once inside, I’d feel normal.

I paid the fee and walked through the curtains of Leather and Lace. The bar was dimly lit with fog pouring out of every cavity. The sound of heavy bass pumped as men ground their muscular bodies against each other.

Those around me could sense my fear. They pushed their bodies against mine, laughing as I fell further into the maze. Soon, I was a prize to be taken as the men’s eyes trailed up and down my body. Some smiled, while others looked more serious. My guy, the beast, was nowhere to be found.

Fuck me. He was leading me on a chase. If I wanted it badly enough, I’d have to find him.

“Take off your clothes,” a voice said.

“Excuse me?” I asked, turning around. The beast was standing directly in front of me.

“You came here to listen, right?” He asked. I nodded, gulping. “Good. Then, listen.”

No smile was present on his face. I felt flustered and hot. Soon, the fog covered the inside of the building. I couldn’t see a thing, but I soon felt his heavy hand against the underside of my chest.

I let out a sharp moan as he pushed his luck further. “Yes, daddy,” I whispered, suddenly feeling free. “God, yes.”

He took my hand. “You’ve never done this before?” he suddenly asked.

“No,” I said. “Never.”

His lips were closer to my ear than I expected. His rich cologne drifted into my nose. My heat intensified as he placed my hand against his powerful thigh. Then, he locked my wrist in place.

“You’ve never touched a cock?” he said.

It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. And he didn’t expect me to answer. He already knew the truth.

I felt my shaft start to rise in front of me, brushing against his thigh. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my breathing steady and inaudible, but it was an impossible task. All of the fear I had inside of me was coming out, and this man could sense it like a shark.

No, I hadn’t touched a cock before. I hadn’t even kissed a guy. The bisexual fantasies I kept falling into, night after night, were only that: fantasies.

I knew what I wanted. I was sure of it. Once my daydream became a fantasy, I’d feel fulfilled. Then, maybe I’d feel normal again.

He laughed, deep and refined. I was so close to touching his cock, but he wasn’t letting go of my wrist anytime soon. “Take me,” I said. “Please.”

He paused. “You’re too eager,” he said.

Suddenly, the fog dissipated. We were standing in a dark corner of the maze. I looked into his eyes, dark and unwavering. They were the most intense set of eyes I had ever seen.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a week now,” I admitted. “I’m not eager. I’m ready.”

“What makes you think you’re ready for me? Do you know who I am, straight boy?” he asked.

I nodded my head. Yes, I knew who he was, and I came here to get consumed. “I’m… I’m not straight,” I said. “And I don’t care who you are.”

“But you’re not gay,” he said.

I didn’t respond. Was I supposed to tell him that I liked women too? We already went over this, but maybe this was part of the fantasy?

There’s something between us,” I blurted out. “I can feel it.” Oh, God. Why the fuck did I say that?

He curled his palm around my face and kissed my forehead. When he pulled away, he was grinning. “You’re cute. But I don’t know if you’re my type.”

God dammit. Shut your mouth, Hayden! You’re revealing too much.

“Bullshit,” I said. I moved my hand over his cock. It was hard and as thick as a Coke can. “You’re hard. You want me.”

He let out a deep and pained groan. His palm tightened over my cheek. “Take off your fucking clothes,” he said.

I obeyed him because I wanted him so fucking badly. I took a step back and slowly pulled my shirt over my head, pulse quickening. “Drop it to the floor,” he said.

“What if I lose it?” I asked.

“Drop. It. To. The floor.”

He didn’t bat an eye. I dropped my shirt, and the man stepped forward, nearly pinning me against the wall. My chest was pounding.

“Take off your shorts,” he whispered. “I want to see how hard you are for daddy.”

My cock was throbbing. I quickly stepped out of my shorts and let my back hit the wall. I wasn’t wearing any underwear, and this seemed to please my Grindr beast. He smiled and nodded his head.

“Now, get on your knees and open that pretty mouth for me,” he muttered.

“Yes, daddy,” I whispered. He bit his lip with approval. I was learning, albeit slowly.

I lowered my body to the ground and sat firmly against my knees. Ass arched behind me with my palms against the damp cement floor, I opened my mouth as wide as I could.

I slowly rolled my tongue out. His cock grew before me, and it was bigger than anything I had ever seen. I trembled with both fear and anticipation. Then, I closed my eyes and waited to feel him push my lips apart.

I waited for ten seconds before opening my eyes. He was gone. My guy had disappeared into the fog. I felt the excitement rush out of me. It was all a cheap game. I had to leave. But when I reached for my clothes, they were gone.

There was a single note with a phone number written on it, and the words: “Rule number two: Never stand up your daddy. Sweet dreams, kitten.”

Fuck.