(Y/N) POV:
A woman's leather thigh-high boots...
The flick of a flogger against bare skin...
The moans of a man in the throes of pain...and ecstasy.
Why can't I get these images out of my head?
"Ma'am? Can I help you?"
Get it together, (Y/N). I know you didn't expect to be divorced by the age of thirty, but you can't fall apart now.
I take a deep breath and turn to the receptionist.
"Yes, sorry. I'm Park (Y/N). I have a meeting at ten? I'm here to have a quick consult. I just want this over as fast as possible."
"My boss is very accommodating, so if efficiency is what you're looking for, we'll make it happen. You know the Pritzkers? The Chicago hotel tycoons? Even they come here for their divorces."
"hopefully I don't need as much help as all that..."
"I'm sure you won't, but it still doesn't hurt to have the biggest name in town on your side. Speaking of which..."
I turn to see a commanding presence waiting for me at the edge of the reception area...
"Ms. Park, follow me. I'm Na Jaemin. It's a pleasure to meet you."
I take his hand and feel a heat radiating off of him. His intensity sparks something inside me...something I haven't felt for a long time in my marriage.
Get a hold of yourself, (Y/N). He' your lawyer. You can't think about...that with him!
With concerted effort, I take a deep breath and try to compose myself as I follow him down the hall.
"Thanks again for squeezing me in. I know you're busy."
He wave away my concern as he offers me a glass of champagne from another assistant.
"A toast. To the first day of the rest of your life."
"I'll drink to that. I'm better off without my asshole ex-husband, that's for sure."
"I'm glad you already see it that way. It makes my job easier."
I can feel Jaemin's gaze on me as I take a sip. I find his expression completely unreadable...but something tells me that I'm not what he expected.
"You wouldn't believe how many attorneys I've tried to get meetings with, just to be turned away because they'd already met with Jay."
"He's using a dirty trick to make you hire a bad lawyer. Anyone who spoke to Jay can't help you because of attorney-client privilege. I'd heard he was 'conflicting out' other lawyers to screw you over. I despise assholes like that, although I'm not surprised."
"You know Jay?"
"Our paths have crossed unfortunately. Some divorces require a property lawyer like him to give a deposition, so I've seen his handiwork up close. But that also means I was never going to take a meeting with him, keeping me free to represent you."
He lifts his glass in a salute, and I feel a thrill run through me. I try not to think about what that thrill means as he holds his office door open for me.
"Now that we have the preliminaries out of the way... Tell me, what prompted you to request this divorce in the first place?"
I settle into my seat, take a deep breath, then reach into my purse to pull out the reason for my divorce... A set of purple fuzzy handcuffs.
I offer them to Jaemin as my mind flashes back to that dark night a couple weeks ago...
FLASHBACK
The crack of a whip resounds in the distance...
What was that? I hope Jay's okay...
I walk into the bedroom to find my husband on his knees...in front of a dominatrix.
"That's right, my pet. Show yourself to me or you'll get the whip again."
"Yes, mistress. Whatever you say, mistress."
My mouth falls open as I watch Jay, my husband, spready his legs for the strange woman.
"Not fast enough."
The woman strikes a blow across Jay's shoulders with a thin braided leather flogger.
"Oh God, yes. Punish me. Make it hurt."
"Jay? Wh-what's going on?"
"(Y/N)! It's not what you think!"
"Please tell me there's an explanation for this..."
"My, my. Things have finally gotten interesting... Are you going to join us?" the Dominatrix smiles seductively.
"I..." I'm at a loss of words.
It's all too much. With a sob, I press my hand to my mouth and flee the room. I escape down the hall, sick to my stomach at the scene I just witnessed... So why is there that fluttering low in my belly?
PRESENT
I shake my head and force my attention back to the handcuffs...and Jaemin.
"I think these speak for themselves. I walked in on Jay and a dominatrix playing with them."
A smile plays on Jaemin's lips, wolfish and amused at the same time.
"Did you? That must've been a shock for a woman like you."
"It'd be shock for anyone! Who wouldn't want a divorce after that? "
"True, anyone who betrays you with someone else deserves to be kicked to the curb. It's why I don't deal with long-term commitments, personally. I find life is a lot less complicated and a lot more fun when you're not bound by marriage vows."
I swallow heavily, trying not to picture exactly what kind of 'fun' Jaemin gets up to at night...and what it would look like if I were to join him.
"But I digress. I've taken the liberty of drawing up a preliminary agreement based on your questionnaire. Shall we make things official?"
"Yes, I'm ready for anything you have to offer. You're the expert, Mr. Na. I'm yours to command."
Jaemin sucks in a sharp breath, his gaze like a fire that burns through me.
"You should be careful throwing around statements like that..."
He offers me a pen, and my fingers brush against his. A flicker of something electric surges through me... And I swallow hard, wondering if he felt it too. Flustered, I yank my hand back and scrawl my signature across the page.
"I hope my...situation won't make things more complicated. I'm sorry if the handcuffs were too much..."
"Don't be sorry. You'd be surprised how many people are into kink."
"Really? Does this mean you?"
I grow hot all over as I realize what I've just implied...
"...I didn't mean to ask that."
"I think you did."
Jaemin picks up the handcuffs and starts playing with them. They slide expertly through his fingers...
"These are high quality. I doubt they're your ex's first pair. Did he let you play with them at all?"
"Me? But I'm not... You can't..."
"What? Show you what these handcuffs are capable of? On the contrary, there's no one better to illustrate their various...uses."
The room spins around me. Those images are still burned in my brain, but this time, it isn't Jay on his knees...and the feeling taking over isn't shock.
"I'm happy to tell you anything you want to know, but you have to ask the question."
Jaemin's eyes glint with something unknown, something dangerous, as he lets the handcuffs dangle from his fingertip.
"Are you brave enough to ask, (Y/N)?"
I lift my chin and meet his eyes.
"I'm brave enough for anything."
"Bold words, but I doubt you're ready for anything just yet..."
He takes a few steps toward me until he's just a breath away, his movements almost predatory.
"In fact, that's one thing we should clear up right away."
I glance sharply up, surprised at the sudden, stern lowering of Jaemin's brow.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, but in the world of BDSM, what you say—what you consent to—is everything. You have to be careful what you ask for."
I open my mouth and close it again, my thoughts in a whirl.
"Do you understand what I'm saying? Jay was only in that position because he want to be. Because he asked for it."
I clutch the arms of my chair. Jaemin's looming presence makes me feel trapped...and excited.
"You mean you won't handcuff me unless I want you to? Unless I tell you I'm ready for it?"
Jaemin tilts his head and watches me with an intensity that sets my pulse fluttering.
"That's exactly what I mean. Although I've got a sneaking suspicion that you're dying for me to use them on you..."
I want to protest, but I can't. I wonder if he can sense it, the heat blooming through my body, the way my thighs press together... The handcuffs sway gently back and forth. I watch them, hypnotized, as he waits for my response.
"Jaemin... Show me."
A slow, controlled smile lifts the corners of Jaemin's mouth.
"Say that again."
I gulp but refuse to back down. Now that the words are out there, I realize there's nothing I want more than for Jaemin to shackle me into place.
"Handcuff me. Show me what you mean."
Jaemin loses no time in clicking the handcuffs open. With a stern nod, he indicates for me to lift my hands. I comply, my whole chest tight as Jaemin expertly fastens the handcuffs around my wrists and attaches them to a metal bar on the edge of his desk.
"I thought that was a decoration..."
He lifts a finger to my cheek and runs it slowly down the side of my face. He stops just before he reaches the curve of my upper lip.
"Of course you did. But there's no reason why something can't be functional and beautiful."
"So...how does this work?"
"that depends on what you want to know."
I gulp, torn between my desire to hear more and the sudden realization that I'm in way over my head. Jaemin sees me hesitate and softens. He lifts my chin with a gentle touch until I meet his gaze.
"for example, how did you feel when you walked in on Jay with the dominatrix? I don't mean the initial shock, but...after."
"I felt...turned on."
Well, well. Look how quickly the student becomes the master... How turned on were you?
The handcuffs around my wrists suddenly feel very heavy...and very hot. Jaemin senses my discomfort and grins wickedly. He hooks a finger through one of the cuffs, stroking my wrists with the movement.
"As turned on as that, huh? If you asked me, your problem isn't that Jay wants to be dominated. It's that he never told you about it. Kink isn't something you should hide from your partner. It's meant to be explored...enjoyed...shared."
"You sound like you're speaking from personal experience."
"That's because I am. I've been part of the BDSM community for years. And, no, before you ask, it's not because I like to hurt people."
Jaemin touches my chin with one finger, guiding my head up. with my hands cuffed, there's nowhere I can hide.
"What I enjoy is knowing that my partner is completely in my power...and that I can make them beg for my every touch."
"That sounds hot. I can see why that might appeal to someone like you..."
"But not to someone like you?"
I clamp my legs together and try to avoid squirming under the intensity of Jaemin's gaze. His rich chuckle fills the room.
"That's what I thought."
Even though Jaemin's office is huge, the walls are starting to close in. There's barely enough room to contain the two of us.
"Everyone has their own fantasies. It's just a matter of bringing them to life. Even you must dream of something. Or someone..."
"I want someone to handcuff me and have their wicked way."
I rattle the handcuffs against the metal bar.
"I'm halfway there already..."
He leans in even closer, just enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his body, and get a whiff of his heady scent.
"I hate to break it to you, but you're not even close."
"I'm...still not sure I understand what you're getting at with all this."
Instead of answering, Jaemin pulls out the key and unlocks the handcuffs. He makes quick work of slipping them off. He rubs my wrists gently, soothing the spot where I was cuffed, even though they left no marks.
"Thanks."
I feel oddly bereft without the metal cutting into me, my skin too exposed and my hands too free.
"The point is you're not alone. Whatever your desires, your secrets...there's someone in the BDSM community willing to accommodate you."
"You make it sound so ordinary."
"That's because it is. Whatever you want is yours for the taking...or the giving. All you have to do is ask."
Jaemin offers the handcuffs to me. As soon as I close my fists around them, he turns away, the conversation at an end.
"I hope you found our talk...informative. I know I did."
I barely suppress a shiver as Jaemin returns to his side of the desk...and to business.
"The good news is, the case against your ex is strong. I'll get started right away. In the meantime, I have a list of tasks for you."
"What kind of tasks?"
"The usual kind. If you want to make this work, you need to do what I say, when I say it. Understood?"
Jaemin hands me a pre-printed checklist with tasks like making copies of important documents and changing shared passwords.
"You can count on me. I'll get started on these right away."
"So obedient. Just how I like my...clients. I'll update you in a few days. In the meantime...take good care of those handcuffs. You won't want them falling into the wrong hands."
He walks me to the door, then leans in, voice dropping low.
"Don't make me punish you for disobeying."
"Yes, Jaemin."
Several days pass without any word from Jaemin...or anyone else from my old life. I wake up early on the first day of my new job, butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach.
"Nothing to worry about, (Y/N)! Just your first day of work since before you got married! Not to mention that you desperately need a paycheck if you wanna get out of this hotel room before you burn through your whole savings. You can do it..."
I slip out of bed, but as I head toward the bathroom, images from my marriage plague me.
FLASHBACK
"Baby, we both know you can't handle a real job. I'll take care of it."
PRESENT
I shake my head, determined to not let him ruin my first day too.
"I got this job on my own, and I can handle it on my own. Sure, it's a campaign speechwriting internship and I'm in my thirties, but everyone has to start somewhere. And hey, at least it's a paid internship."
As I'm getting ready, my gaze falls on Jaemin's business card on the bedside table...and I'm instantly back in his office.
FLASHBACK
"I'm happy to tell you anything you want to know, but you have to ask the question."
PRESENT
"I never thought the sight of handcuffs could make me feel so...conflicted. How can I convince him to show me more? There's so much I can learn from him..."
The fluttering anticipation in my stomach doesn't settle, but I push it down as I start rifling through my closet.
"Forget Jaemin and Jay. Today is the first day of my new life as a single, professional woman."
I find a sleek dress that's appropriate for an office job and sexy as hell. Just the thought of slipping in on gives me a boost in confidence.
"If I'm gonna play the part, I need to look the part."
I quickly look through my closet and find a purple office appropriate dress with a matching suit jacket and throw it on.
"There! I'm ready to tackle anything."
With one last look in the mirror, I turn to take on the day. Soon, I arrive at the mayoral campaign office. Signs for Luis Hernandez hang everywhere and phones ring off the hook.
"Hi, I'm Park (Y/N), the new speechwriting inter. I hope I'm in the right place?"
"As long as you're here to unify the city and enact change that matters to everyone, we won't turn you away." a coworkers greets.
"That's quite a line."
"I came up with it myself. No one knows more about running a campaign than Emerson Chadley, I guarantee it. Come, I'll show you to your desk."
I follow Emerson to an empty desk.
"If you have any questions, sweetheart, I'm the man to ask. I started working in offices like this before I could walk."
"Oh, thanks for the offer."
Though I balk at being called 'sweetheart' by someone several years younger than me, it wouldn't be the first time I let something like that go.
"I've never had a job like this before, so I'll take all the help I can get."
"In that case—" Emerson begins to say.
A young woman at the desk next to mine rolls her eyes.
"Emerson, the comms department is waving you over. I bet they need your help with the new press release."
"I'm not surprised. I wrote my first PR when I was in middle school."
As Emerson leaves, the woman heaves an exaggerated sigh of relief before grinning at me.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I figured you could use the save."
She notices my outfit and whistles.
"Damn, you look fantastic. Are you really an intern?"
"Uh, yes? And thank you?"
"I'm Malorie Jacobs. We interns have to stick together, you know?"
"Park (Y/N). Are you a speechwriter too?"
"No way. I'm more of a social media gal. Twitter, Picta, TickClock... I'm all about that internet clout. If you're a writer, why are you working as an intern? Shouldn't you be in a room with the big boss?"
I bite back a sigh, trying not to dwell on what my marriage took from me, but it's tougher than I thought it'd be...
"I took some time off after I got married and am only just now getting back to work."
"You're married?"
"Divorced. Well, about to be, anyway."
"Is this a sad divorce or...?"
"It's bittersweet. I know it's the right decision, but he was a big part of my life for a long time."
"I get it. But I'm glad you feel like it was the right decision. Look at me, getting all up in your business in about ten seconds flat. My mom always says I have no filter."
"It's fine, refreshing, even. To be honest... I haven't had a friend who was just mine since before the wedding."
My eyes go wide, I can't believe I've said that to a total stranger, but something about her just make me want to open up.
"Well that's good, because I've already decided you're stuck with me. I'm gonna help you get back on that horse."
"What horse?"
"The one that's gonna kick you into the next phase of your sex life, obvi. Tell me about your prospects. I want to know everything. Names, numbers, measurements..."
My cheeks hot. I'm not ready to talk about Jaemin...or the fact that I'm still carrying those handcuffs around in my purse. But before I can come up with a suitable response, my phone buzzes with a notification.
"I should check this. It's from my divorce lawyer."
I pull up my messages to find...
Jaemin:
"Have you been good and done what I asked. Or do I need to punish you?"
He then sends a picture of a purple paddle.
Oh my God...
JAEMIN'S POV
I lean back in my oversized leather chair, my phone in hand and an image of a riding crop on the screen.
Let the game begin...