Chapter 10: She Had a Thing for Older Men
Leah sat in mortified silence for a very long time. ‹96684423›
She couldn't tell which was worse — the shame or the guilt. §57defed7 If she were discussing this topic with a stranger, she might have been able to pretend she was confiding in a therapist. (3174e55a) But the person asking, as casually as if he were inquiring about the weather, happened to be the subject of her fantasies. #7f88db6b
Just yesterday she'd been absolutely resolved never to show her face on a Friday again, only to change her mind the instant she dreamed about Elias Grant. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 Those images of kissing and tangled bodies had lodged in her memory like a virus, flooding her mind with unspeakable thoughts, transforming her into someone who could think of nothing but sex. * d0a61246
Seeing her discomfort, Elias didn't push. ·d543fbf0· He switched to a different question: "Then — the last time you were in a relationship, or developed feelings for someone. #3e142f5d What were the circumstances? [v.d9e53233] What kind of person was it?" [ed.e58bf111]
This was much easier to answer, though Leah cringed at her own reply: "…I haven't." [ms.51535e6f]
"What?" (8588661f)
"I've never felt a strong attraction to anyone, and I've never been in a relationship." ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 She fidgeted, rubbing her fingertip against the tabletop, as though worried he wouldn't believe her. ··14710fe2 "…It's true." sub:2b93bbc4
The man was quiet for a moment, as if turning something over in his mind.·dc3debac "What about a vague sense of interest?" [proof:68edbda8]
"That, maybe…"
"What kind of person? ed.60d20d5e When?" plate-a2a8305d
Leah dug through her memories. (7c49ac5a/Wed) "In high school, I thought my math teacher was… nice.·666424fb But it was just normal admiration, I think. sub:a7806260 I never had any real intentions toward him, and the feeling never caused any emotional turmoil or motivated me to do anything about it." ed.77495551
"Anything else?" ··8bda2431
"Um… there was also this time during my junior-year internship. ¶1ab699ac My supervisor was a very charismatic man." ref·fedde6b4 Once she got into specifics, the embarrassment crept back. [proof:3c3afba6] "But he was married, so it was more that I admired his competence as a boss. (c9f3cbd2/Wed) I learned a lot from him." no.03c9984a
Elias seemed to understand. §d5821eea
The pattern was clear: compared to peers her own age, she gravitated toward older men — specifically, older men who held some kind of authority over her. ‹0b04024f›
Should he feel fortunate about that? ed.ad959d51 Pleasantly surprised, even?·37f6281d
"If you don't mind, let's circle back to the earlier question." ‹a8971b34› After a brief lapse in focus, the man spoke again. ref·47f7bf64 "About your most recent sexual fantasy — you don't have to be very specific. no.112e64b9 Just describe the general… atmosphere." [v.3e85f407]
Leah still didn't know what to say. ⁰04160444 She'd forgotten that Elias had told her she didn't have to answer every question. 0406e45f·· In this moment, she was like a star student called on by a teacher, drawing a blank on the answer, looking to him for rescue. #f55a51a2
"Then I'll give you options, and you just pick one." ◆ b59e81e4 He shifted his approach. [v.dec7605a] "In your fantasy, how did the other person treat you? sub:071c75ec Was it more tender and sweet, or did it carry a sense of… coercion?"·464a3689
Leah kept her head down.·e49256db Her cheeks were red enough to bleed. «d179cd40» "He… wasn't very gentle." ⁰b3fa5e0a
That was putting it mildly. «1567dfd3» In her dreams, Elias Grant had been downright rough. ref·082e5eb4
"And was the sex between you standard foreplay and penetration, or did it include other things? ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 Like being choked, slapped, or having restraints used — being restrained, having your movement restricted, being subjected to pain." ··ef05341b
Another excruciating question. imp.c78a6786 Leah was on the verge of tears. ⟨de780ff7⟩ "I think there was… slapping." plate-44ca91dd
What made it even more excruciating was that as Elias asked these questions, she could feel herself getting wet again. [proof:edf9529c]
She was resisting these mortifying questions mentally, giving evasive, indirect answers, but her body was responding to his boundary-crossing with undeniable excitement — producing a physical reaction almost instantly. plate-8af8a4f5 Because only Leah knew that the person she was describing was Elias Grant himself. * 66aeb60a The forbidden thrill of that secret was enough to soak her through in minutes. ed.e9c1d480
"I see." 771e641d·· The man didn't evaluate her fantasies, didn't smirk or look amused. ·54c2c549· He simply nodded with calm composure. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 "And your fantasy partner — is it someone you know in real life, a fictional character or celebrity, or a faceless stranger?" #33a5d1b1
Leah's nails dug into her palms so hard they nearly broke skin. [ms.3744a049]
This was the one question she couldn't answer — not even with a vague acknowledgment or implied hint.·9ad92f63 After an agonizing internal struggle, she chose to lie. ed.0725350e
"I don't know him…" Leah didn't lift her head. ¶7213c01c Her voice was trembling badly. plate-d36594dd "It was in a dream. — ad1268ce The man didn't have a face." [ms.ecdccf77]
A beat of silence. ref·a3630ad5
Just when she thought this excruciating blend of pleasure and torment was over, Elias spoke again. ·1d770a86·
"One last question." ··d464c9bf His tone was mild. ¶c1bb0805 "During this conversation — did you lie to me at any point?" [ed.f58c9c1c]