by Tabatha Kiss
I guess I’m just Nora Payne, the girl with the Little Black Book.
Today, I have to finalize the holiday logos with my marketing department, setup a call with the local food drive director, and get through this meeting with my creative team but—
“Nora, are you all right?”
Fuck it. I can’t do shit today.
I’m stuck in a Clive-filled trance. Part of me is still tied up in my backseat with my legs spread eagle and his face buried in my—
“Ms. Payne?”
“Yes, I’m here.” I clear my throat and force my head up to look at Percy and Rachel sitting in front of my desk.
Rachel tilts her head. “Rough night last night?”
“No,” I answer. “Well— maybe. But I’m fine. I’m here, I’m fine, and we’re talking… about…” I pause, my mind suddenly very blank.
“The customer survey,” Percy says.
I pick up my reading glasses and look at the tablet in front of me. “Right. Yes. Go on, please.”
“We saw a growing trend in the number of users who want additional options for narrowing down prospective partners,” he says.
“What kind of options?” I ask.
“They’re interested in more personal methods of compatibility,” he says slowly, his cheeks blushing slightly. “Sexual kinks, specifically.”
I pique with interest. “Sexual kinks?”
“A significant percentage of users requested the ability to list kinks and fetishes right there on their profiles as a means of quickly finding a suitable match for their… lifestyles.”
Dom or sub?
My lips twitch. “Yeah, I can see how that’d be a time-saver.”
“But…” Rachel raises her pen. “We sent out a follow-up survey and the same percentage of users like the sleek simplicity of the app as it is and think sexual additions would be wildly unnecessary.”
“But it doesn’t have to be a dramatic change,” Percy argues. “We can design profile badges to signify certain things they like to do.”
She chuckles. “Okay, you clearly don’t know much about sexual fetishism if you think one little profile badge is going to signify every possible kink someone could be into.”
“And,” I say, “some users might not be comfortable with the idea of listing them publicly. Black Book is more than just a hook-up app.”
Percy turns up his hands. “Okay. Scrap the badges. We could open a new tab on the profile. People can take or leave it.”
“Profiles are pretty stretched space-wise already,” Rachel says.
I bite my cheek. “How significant is this percentage?”
“Uh…” He swipes his tablet screen. “Forty-three percent,” he reads.
“That’s high,” I note.
“And of our user base, only thirty percent filled out the survey.”
I nod. “Which means there’s potentially half of our users that want this change.”
“And half who don’t,” Rachel says. “Can’t forget about them.”
“What if…” I squint in thought. “What if we create and launch a sister app? Leave Black Book as it is while giving that significant kinky percentage what they want from a proven resource they can trust.”
They look at each other, both in silent thought.
“That…” Percy nods, “might work.”
“Not a bad idea,” Rachel agrees.
I follow the trip of sparks in my head. “We’ll grandfather in the current user base at a heavy discount to get it up and running, partner with local fetish and kink clubs to promote and reach new users, then go from there. If we start this now, I can see us entering a beta by New Year’s.”
Rachel smiles. “I do, too.”
“Then, let’s do it,” I say. “Ping the design team, have them put one or two people on the new app. Make it just as sleek but with more color. I’m thinking pink. You two start surveying the forty-three percent; find out what kind of specific options they’re looking for.”
Rachel rises from her chair but Percy raises his hand.
“Okay, but…”
“What?” I ask him.
“Do you…” He hesitates. “Excuse me, but you created Little Black Book based on a relationship compatibility algorithm from personal experience. Do you have enough experience in…” His hands twitch. “You know, this stuff to create an algo based on sexual fetishism compatibility?”
Rachel’s face turns a deep red but she looks just as interested in knowing the answer as he does.
I throw on a smile. “Maybe purple. Have the design team try a purple option, too. Royal; not lavender.”
Percy looks down. “Okay, then. We’ll get started.”
He spins around and bolts from the office. Rachel offers me a nod before following behind him with her lips clamped together between flushed, pink cheeks.
Do I have personal experience in sexual fetishism compatibility?
Nope. I do not.
But there’s sure to be an expert out there somewhere I can hire to fill in the gaps.
“Ms. Payne?”
I look up over the rims of my reading glasses to find Clive standing in my doorway. He holds up a few sheets of stapled papers but my eyes barely even give a shit. They travel downward instantly, admiring his tight, tucked dress shirt and black pants — a rather different look than the t-shirt and jeans he wears to work at the club.
Maybe we should do casual Fridays…
“Ms. Payne?” he asks again.
“Uh, Y-yep! Mr. Sss… Clive.” I lean back in my chair, trying to act normal. “What’s up, my temp?”
I close my eyes, rolling them up in shame.
“Ali needs a signature,” he says, flicking the papers.
“Right.” I reach for my cup of pens but I knock it over instead. My coordination has apparently taken the morning off. “Ah, hell...”
Clive strides in, his face twisting with hidden amusement. He bends down to pick up a pen off the floor and holds it out to me. “Nora…” he says, his voice low.
“Uh-huh?”
“Relax,” he says. “We’re just working here.”
He lays the papers down in front of me, along with the pen on top.
“Just workin’,” I repeat, letting my muscle memory take care of the signature. “Ali, right?”
He nods.
“Can you tell her to update me on her vacation dates? I know she was still waiting to hear back from her mother-in-law…”
“I’d be happy to, Ms. Payne,” he says, taking the papers back.
I clear my throat. “Thanks, Clive.”
“I had fun last night.”
My lips twitch. “Just working, huh?” I ask, keeping my voice down.
“Couldn’t help it.” He smiles, matching my volume. “Had to say it.”
“Yeah.” My cheeks light up. “It was fun for me, too.”
“Was I right?”
I tilt my head. “About what?”
His eyes fall to my chest and right back up again. “The mirror.”
I feel a deep urge awaken beneath me. I shift slightly in my chair, attempting to smother it. “Uh…” I exhale a quiet chuckle. “You weren’t wrong.”
I try not to make eye contact just in case the sheer force of it lights my panties on fire but the temptation is far too great.
Fuck it.
I let my gaze slowly climb upward, trekking past his groin and abs.
“Have you considered my offer?” he asks me.
I tap my pen against a stack of post-its to distract from the deep throbbing between my thighs. I could do it right now. I could tell him to drop to his knees, crawl under my desk, and make me come right here.
“I have…” I say slowly.
He waits for an answer, tilting his head.
“And…” I bite my lip. “I’m leaning toward a… yes.”
“Leaning?” he asks.
“Leaning,” I repeat.
“Anything I can say to tip you over?”
I chuckle through the flashes of fantasy in my head. Me yanking on his hair with his head between my thighs. The swift flick of his tongue inside of me. Coming so hard on his face, I scream his name.
“Oh, I’m sure a quick gust of wind at the right time could do that just fine,” I say.
He smirks. “Is eight tonight the right time?”
“It could be.”
“Eight o’clock,” he says, taking a step back. “Wear something comfortable.”
“Comfortable?” I ask. “You mean sexy comfortable, like a little skirt? Or home comfortable, like my yoga pants with that weird stain I can’t explain?”
He laughs. “Just say you’ll be there by eight.”
“Eight.” I nod. “I can do eight.”
“All right, then.” He reaches the door and pauses, turning back. “The first option, by the way.”
I wink. “Yeah, I figured. Oh, Clive—”
He stops again and I brace myself before he says my name that way again.
“Yes, Ms. Payne?” he asks, tingling my bones.
“Could you… close the door behind you, please?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says with a slight growl only I can hear.
The door latches and I let myself crumble to pieces.
“Oh, I’m a bad boss.” I fall forward, pounding my head on the desk repeatedly. “A very, very bad boss.”
Eleven
Clive
I close her office door, trying hard to suppress the smile begging to rise on my face. The last thing I need is someone getting suspicious and reporting us to human resources. Nothing to see here, folks. Just a low-level employee dropping off some paperwork to the boss’ office. That erection he has is just business as usual…
She couldn’t be more adorable today. Blushing and beautiful Nora Payne. It’s a new side of her; one she rarely lets out but I don’t blame her one bit. A woman like that would be walked all over if she showed signs of weakness at the wrong moment in the business world. Busting balls is how she survives.
So, that fact that she blushes for me is not insignificant.
But this deal isn’t sealed yet. I just have my foot in the door.
I lay the newly-signed forms on Ali’s desk as I pass it on the way toward my own. She’s not there, so I pause to jot down a quick note to her, remembering Nora’s request about her vacation days.
My desk phone starts ringing as I sit down and I clear my throat before picking it up.
“Accounting,” I answer.
“Hey, Clive. What’s up?”
I gaze around for eavesdroppers. “I told you not to call me here,” I tell him.
He scoffs. “And I wouldn’t need to if you had a cell phone like everyone else, man.”
“What do you want, Alex?”
“An update would be nice,” he says. “You ran off yesterday with a light bulb burning up your ass. Figured you might have some good news this morning.”
I give the room another cautionary glance, sensing movement a few desks over. My eyes flick toward Nora’s office. “Not yet,” I say. “I told you I need a few days.”
“For what?”
I drop my head. “If I can’t get it here, then I have to get it there.”
“Where’s there? Her house?”
“Yes.”
“How are you gonna do that?”
I sigh. “Okay, genius. How exactly would you secure an invite to an attractive, single woman’s private residence?”
He pauses for several seconds. Then, I hear a quick inhale. “Ohhh—”
“Fucking moron,” I mutter with rolling eyes.
“Taking one for the team.” He laughs. “I like it.”
“Other way around, actually,” I say. “It might take some convincing, hence the few days. So, don’t call me here again. I’ll call you.”
“Tick-tock, buddy. Our buyers aren’t exactly patient.”
Nora steps out of her office carrying an empty coffee mug, something I’ve seen dozens of times before but I can’t pry my attention away from it this time. She rushes off toward the break room for a refill. Her hips swish in the most perfect way as she walks with her head high and back straight. Strong and confident Nora Payne.
I want to ruin her.
I want to see her with bruises on her nipples and rug-burn on her knees.
I want to watch her plead for release while I have my way with her.
“You still there, man?”
I swallow. “Yeah. I’ll call you soon.”
I hang up the phone, happy to focus my attention on Nora again. She leaves the break room with a fresh cup of steaming coffee. That dick from creative has intercepted her. He waves his tablet in her face, making her pick and choose between holiday logo designs but Nora obviously just wants to sit down and enjoy that coffee for five fucking minutes.
Then, for a brief second, she looks at me instead.
Her eyes draw to me, locking with mine. I feel a deep, stabbing pang in my chest but it doesn’t hurt. It just tickles, like a silent secret between friends.
She doesn’t linger for very long. She shifts forward again and she continues on back to her office out of my eye-line.
Eight o’clock.
That time yesterday, I had her in my arms. Limp and breathless Nora Payne.
That time tonight, I’ll have her begging for it. Eager and submissive Nora Payne…
I like the sound of that.
Twelve
Nora
Hey there, newbie!”
I run into Roger the second I walk through the entrance of The Red Brick Road. He stares down at me, still obscured from head-to-toe in that black latex, but I find the concept a little less menacing the more I see him.
“Hey, Roger.” I pause. “Can I ask you a question?”
He shrugs his wide shoulders. “Sure.”
“How do you breathe in that thing?” I ask.
He leans down. “I don’t.” I raise a concerned brow and he laughs. “Well, not well, anyway. But that’s part of the fun.”
I squint. “You’re one kinky dude, Roger.”
“Yeah, look who’s talking, newbie.” He raises a finger and flicks the white handkerchief around my neck. “One day here and you’re already owned. So, who’s the lucky Dom?” His head rises. “Oh, I see.”
“Keep moving, Roger.”
I flinch at the deep voice behind me. I turn to find Clive lingering over my shoulder with his arms crossed over his chest. Shadows fall beneath his brow, obscuring his eyes so only the slightest blue shines through at me and Roger.
Roger laughs and raises his hands in surrender. “My sincerest apologies, Mr. Snow,” he says with amusement. “I didn’t realize she was yours.”
“She’s not,” Clive says. “She’s just not your type.”
Roger’s head turns down to look at me again. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
I frown at the rejection. “Why not?”
Clive takes my arm. “You don’t want to know.”
“No, he’s right,” Roger says. “I would wreck you and your tight, little—”
“Roger.”
His gloved arms rise again. “I’m going. I’m going.” He salutes me. “See you around, newbie.”
I blink with confusion as Roger disappears into the small crowd near the couches. “My tight, little what?” I ask Clive.
His lips twitch. “Honestly… it could go either way.”
I wince. “Yeesh.”
He extends his hand to me. “Shall we?”
I take it without hesitation and his strong fingers lock around mine. It feels safe, but several hairs on the back of my neck stand up as he leads me to the stairs. I make eye contact with a few as we ascend, some of which look from me to Clive and back again, flashing me a quick nod of approval. Thanks, I guess.
We reach the top and I grow a little more nervous with the number of people up here. My heart pounds as I recreate that embarrassing moment from the other nigh
t in my head. Is Clive taking me to a cross again? I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if I never am again.
Clive and I continue, only we don’t head toward one of the unoccupied crosses or punishment benches...
He’s leading me to the third floor.
Anything goes, Melanie said. If this floor’s a-rockin’...
I must have slowed down because Clive looks back at me over his shoulder. His grip never ceases on my hand and he draws me forward, holding me close as he guides me up.
We reach the landing and I stop. I haven’t been up here before. It’s dark, nearly pitch black save the hot pink fluorescent bulbs above each door, except for the one on the far right. It’s also silent. Dead silent, unlike the constantly moving world downstairs.
Goosebumps curl up my spine, holding me in place.
“There,” Clive says. He points to the room with no light and I start walking that way, dragging my feet a little as he gives my hand a light tug.
I stop at the door and Clive pushes it open, casually stepping to the side to let me in first. When I don’t move, he releases my hand and walks in alone.
I could leave now. He’s giving me that choice but I feel a presence in my gut, a nervous sway I haven’t felt since I was a teenager. It’s pushing me to go in and embrace a new experience.
I step forward, driven by an urge I can’t say no to.
“Close the door.”
I do as he says, taking one task at a time. Closing a door. That’s easy.
“Lock it.”
Yes! I can do that, too...
I turn the lock and the pink light above the door flickers on. I guess that means occupied.
I take a look around. It’s a small space. One room with a kitchenette and an attached bathroom. A closet in the corner.A few armchairs sit around but the main furniture is the large table set up in the center of the room.
“Was this an apartment?” I ask.
“Once upon a time,” he says. “This whole place was an apartment building before. You couldn’t tell?”
I picture the layout downstairs and nod. “It’s very obvious now,” I say, chuckling.
“All the walls were knocked out on the ground floor,” he explains. “The second floor kept the rooms but no doors. And these...”