Between Starcrossed Promises

Chapter 1

(CW: Explicit talk about Sex/BDSM, references to emotional abuse in the childhood/murder/cannibalism/PTSD)

Nikola

ETHAN: "Hey, Nikola! How's it going? I just wanted to let you know that I recently moved back to DC with my girlfriend. Yeah, you read right, girlfriend.

Would you be interested in catching up? I know we didn't talk a lot in the last few years, but you're still one of my best friends.

I also thought I send you a message and ask if you're still into that whole dom-thing? (You know, the stuff that I found was so weird.) Claire (My GF) wanted to experiment with it, but I don't know where to start. I don't wanna hurt her...like BADLY HURT her, not the kink stuff.

Thought, since we were a couple for a while and you're experienced in all of that, it wouldn't be so embarrassing if I asked. Let me know if you wanna catch up."

∙❀∙♞∙❀∙

Rubbing over my stubbles while looking at the message, I sighed. Ethan and I hadn't talked since my birthday... Not that texting 'Happy Birthday!', 'Thanks.' was a real conversation.

Ethan was my first real crush... first real everything. But after our rather unfortunate coming out, things had gone down hill rapidly. I had just gotten a beating and lots of homophobic slurs thrown against my head, but his parents had thrown him out and disowned him.

That was when he started drinking more and more, and although we had always tried to be more than we could be over the next few years, everything finally ended ten years ago when Ethan decided to move to New Orleans, hoping to find himself.

He had planned on taking me with him, but I had stayed in DC. I had a life plan to fulfill. I was going to college and stepping into my father's footsteps, becoming an FBI agent like him and his father before him. So Ethan and I, after many fights and tears, finally, had decided just to be friends.

Dom-Thing. I tried to hide the smirk on my face.

Ethan seemed to remember me talking about my affair with my former co-worker Joan. She had been older than me, in her late-thirties, and liked my young, innocent personality. I had only been in my mid-twenties, just started working at the FBI, and, except for being with Ethan, hadn't had much sexual experience.

Also, had Joan been part of the BDSM Community for a long time.

I still remembered how she was rough with me and tried to command me. How, after a few times, I had turned our dynamic around and actually enjoyed being in charge. Found a part of me I had ignored for so long, finally being accepted. She didn't expect me to become so dominant, and her surprised face was still anchored in my brain.

After that night, I decided to pursue the feelings this woman had awoken within me. Joan was my rock and closest friend, never truly my girlfriend, although I had wanted nothing more than that.

I laughed to myself bittersweetly, running a hand through my tousled, light brown hair. I really missed her, missed her more than my sad excuse of a father.

My paperwork I had finished hours ago, now sitting at my desk, waiting for the clock to strike five, so I could go home—home to my books and nothing else.

I might as well write back and meet Ethan tonight.

ME: "Hey. Yeah, I am—still a dom AND interested in catching up.
So you have finally settled into a relationship? Must be a pretty special woman."