Page 11 of Obsidian Dreams
Especially since I don’t even know her.
The unknown adds to the excitement, but it also adds to the risk. I can’t let myself get too close,too involved. But even as I tell myself this, a part of me doesn’t want to stop. A part of me wants to see how far we can go, how deep this connection really runs.
I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts aside as I refocus on the work in front of me. But it’s no use. She’s in my head now, and I know there’s no going back.
“Mr. Hawthorne?” A knock sounds on the door, and my assistant, Keely, enters with a smile, holding her tablet in one hand and a stack of files in the other. Right now, I’m not Blade—I’m Damien Hawthorne, owner and CEO of The Hawthorne Group. I sigh, shaking my head and smoothing my hand down my tie, focusing on my job and putting Blade away for now.
“Yes?” I answer with a smile, motioning for her to approach my desk.
“Your one o’clock is here. You have a meeting with the attorneys about the paperwork concerning Verve Marketing tomorrow at eight.” She sets the stack of files on my desk. “These are the employees the headhunter suggests you should let go of when we take over. They need your approval.”
I sigh, slightly annoyed by the mountain of paperwork that’s landed on my desk, but I know it’s necessary. “Sure. I’ll go over it soon. Thanks, love.”
Keely nods and turns to leave, and as the door closes behind her, I find myself staring at the files. Each one represents a decision, a judgment call that will affect someone’s life. It’s part of the job, part of the responsibility that comes with being Damien Hawthorne.
But a part of me—Blade—itches to push it all aside, to dive back into the world where there are no files, no meetings, no corporate takeovers. Just the thrill of the chase, the allure of a woman who’s already consuming my thoughts.
I shake off the distraction, knowing I can’t afford to losefocus. Not here. Not now. But as I reach for the first file, my mind drifts back to Red. Before I can let Blade take over completely.
“Rape play?” Shadow asks, his eyes widening slightly as he and Raven read over the latest email exchange with Red. “Wow, this is exactly who you’ve been looking for. And it looks like she wants all of us.”
“This could be fun,” Raven replies, a cocky smirk on his face as I laugh.
“Fun? This is going to be so beyond fun. I just hope she’s as willing as she seems to be. We need a safe word. What do you guys think?”
The three of us sit around for a few minutes, tossing out different words, each more absurd than the last, before Raven finally offers up, “Mercy?”
I shrug, letting the word roll off my tongue, “Mercy… Simple, but effective. Easy to remember.”
Shadow nods, a thoughtful expression on his face. “It’s good. Clear and direct.”
“Mercy it is, then,” I decide, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle over me. “Now, I need to reply to Red.”
As I turn back to my computer, the excitement buzzes through me. The anticipation of what’s to come, the careful planning—it’s all part of the thrill. But most of all, it’s knowing that we’re about to bring someone’s deepest fantasy to life, pushing boundaries in a way that’s safe and consensual. I begin typing, eager to see where this will lead.
13
Three days… It has been three days since I last heard from Blade. The silence is deafening, each hour that passes without a response amplifying the doubts swirling in my mind. I’m starting to wonder if I scared him off, if the whole judgment-free spiel was just that—a spiel. A lie.
Did I push too far? Reveal too much? The questions gnaw at me, relentless and unkind. What if he thinks I’m a freak? What if my desires, the ones I’ve kept hidden for so long, are too much for even someone like him?
The thought makes my chest tighten, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. Of course, I scared him away. What kind of woman am I to want what I want?
To be used by three men…
The words echo in my head, a mix of shame and defiance clashing within me. Part of me wants to crawl back into my shell, to pretend that I never sent that email, never bared my soul. But another part, the part that’s been so desperate for something more, refuses to back down. I can’t help what I want, and for once, I dared to reach out for it.
But now… now all I’m left with is silence and the nagging fear that I’ve crossed a line that can’t be uncrossed.
“So? Did you ever do anything with the card I gave you?” Lena asks the following day as we grab lunch in the city. Her tone is light, but there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she watches me.
I sigh, picking at the pasta in front of me, pushing it around the plate rather than eating. “I did. But ever since I sent my fantasy, he hasn’t replied…”
“He’s probably just trying to figure out the best way to help you,” Lena offers nonchalantly, shrugging as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Then she grins, a smirk playing on her lips. “What is your fantasy?”
My cheeks flush with embarrassment, the heat rising up my neck. I hesitate, unsure if I should tell her. Lena’s been my best friend our entire lives, and we’ve shared everything, but this… this feels different. What if she judges me?
Noticing my hesitation, Lena reaches across the table and rests her hand on my arm. “Babe… what is it? It can’t be that bad. Come on, you know you can tell me anything.”
