She was already seated in the clear plastic chair in front of her desk, not the big throne-like one behind it. I didn’t dare take that chair, so I stood in front of her, nervously presenting myself. Her online profile said that her name was Harlow. She looked exactly like her profile picture. The only difference was that she was wearing all white latex, not the black leather from her photo. A lit cigarette dangled between...

The rest of the weekend passed uneventfully. My stepbrother and I both had summer internships at his mother’s company. He was the legacy Mr. Future CEO in training. Me? It just looked good on my résumé. I had no desire to climb the corporate ladder. Today was a blur of learning names, filing paperwork, and collecting a fine collection of papercuts. But the busywork was a blessing; it kept my mind off that lying, cheating...

The text came late, almost midnight. I saw a blur of emojis and exclamation marks from Jess. Come to the Halloween party tomorrow night!! Everyone’s dressing up. No excuses. I almost ignored it. Work had been hell, my brain was fried, and I hadn’t planned to do anything except sleep. But something about the timing, the date, the restlessness under my skin made me pause. Halloween night. Maybe I needed to let loose. The ne...

I. It starts as a whisper not in my ear but under my ribs, a pulse like a black-winged bird beating against bone, a hunger with no tongue yet that still moans your name. Your scent lives in my skin long after you’ve left. Even the sheets smell like your hair, like sweat and smoke and sin. My hands keep moving when I’m alone, searching for the shape of you like a thief in a dark room. II. Obsession is a fever, a cathedral...

The road stretched dark and endless before them, only illuminated by the glow of the dashboard and the occasional streetlamp. Peter’s fingers gripped the steering wheel, his jaw tense. For a while, neither of them spoke. Claudia sat quietly beside him, gazing out the window, lost in thought. Her legs were crossed, her posture relaxed, but Peter knew her too well to believe that she wasn’t thinking about every moment that...

You and I have had a very fun evening so far, playing games of exhibitionism and control in a taxi as well as in the hotel bar. You and a very helpful waitress called Heidi have satisfied my sexual urges for now, but you have not yet had your relief. Referring to our numerous sexual encounters that evening, you joke with me that you are looking forward to round 4. We are each carrying a glass of Sauvignon Blanc as we call...

We lay on the bed, our limbs tangled together, naked from the previous encounter. I realised I was so preoccupied with you, with us, with lust I had not even looked around at the hotel room we are in. Our room is on the 7th floor, it is a spacious, well-designed corner room with a super king-sized bed, a living area with a sofa, chair and table with double aspect floor to ceiling windows. I am pleased to see the bathroom...

We meet for a meal after work. I am feeling lightheaded from all the delicious food, a little too much wine and from looking at the handsome man sat opposite me all evening. We have had a fun night, so far, and I hope it will not end too soon. As we leave the restaurant you lean towards me and we kiss, passionately. Your lips feel so good and so does your tongue in my mouth, I reciprocate. Our tongues slide over each othe...

In the quiet, early morning, a soft mist clung to the cobblestone streets of an old town just outside the bustling city of Cambridge. The chirping of birds mingled with the distant sound of a car engine, hinting at the approaching rush hour. Inside the cozy yet slightly cramped apartment, Darran stirred in his bed, the chilly air seeping through the gaps in the ancient windows. His eyes fluttered open to the sight of his...