Gradually, they began talking about what he did. He told her that he had a room in his apartment dedicated to work equipment (she couldn't help but giggle when he said that) and that he'd been surprised that he could make a living as a dominant, but it was a big city and, well, stranger things happened, he supposed.

She sat for a moment after he finished talking. He thought she was working up the nerve to ask him something. Most people wanted to know who is clients were, if he'd seen anybody they knew or anybody famous. Finally, she spoke, and he was surprised.

"Do you think I could see it sometime? The room, I mean."

"You want to see the room?"

She hesitated briefly, and nodded, quickly grabbing the bottle of wine again and taking another, slightly longer drink. So she didn't have to look at him, she focused on picking up some bread and getting some cheese to put on it.

He watched her closely, thinking. "Sure. If you really want to."

She looked up, almost surprised. "Really?"

He nodded. "Sure." He cocked his head slightly. "You're sure you're not a police officer?"

She laughed and raised a hand, making a criss-cross motion over her heart. "Nope. Promise." They laughed.

They were stuck in the elevator for another hour and a half, during which time they talked about how they'd ended up in the city, what their hobbies were, and their favorite restaurants. When the elevator began to move again, he was a little disappointed. He held the doors open for her as she stepped out at her floor.

She turned to face the elevator. "Thank you for the wine and cheese."

"Thank you for the conversation." She turned to walk toward her apartment and he said, "I'm in 10C, if, you know, you want to come visit. Tonight would be fine," he added hastily, mentally kicking himself after he said it for sounding so eager.

She half-turned, smiled, and said, "OK."



A couple hours later, she was standing in front of the elevator. She knew that if anybody was watching her, they'd think she was insane. She'd lift her arm, then drop it, lift, then drop. She'd nearly pressed the UP button for the elevator four times. She turned, took a couple steps toward her apartment, stopped, took a deep breath, shook her head quickly, and turned back to the elevator. She quickly pressed the button. The elevator came after only a few seconds. She stepped in and pushed the button for the 10th floor, thinking briefly that maybe she should have taken the stairs. The doors opened and she stepped out onto the 10th floor.

I must be absolutely insane, she thought. He's practically a total stranger, no matter how good-looking he is, and he's a professional dominant. This can't be a good idea.

She found herself walking toward his door and knocking before she realized she was doing it. She was about to turn around when he opened the door. He smiled, genuinely, she thought.

"Hi Alison. Won't you come in?" He stood aside.

She took a few steps into his apartment. It looked like any normal apartment, nice furniture, no whips lying around, nobody chained to the wall. She laughed at herself for thinking such a thing.