Have I Ever’ into ‘Never Have I Ever: Ultimate Self-Sacrifice.’
Basically, we’re just going around the table and telling potentially embarrassing ultimate truths about ourselves.
“So, what is y’all’s ultimate fantasy?” Faith asks as we all lean around the Alpha Z bar. Her eyes flicker with excitement as she looks to April, who is red-faced from drinking and enthusiastic.
“I don’t want to say,” April blushes. “But I will say that once I fantasized about being with my….” She clears her throat, and we’re all on pins and needles to hear April admit a fantasy. “Boss.”
Never underestimate the shy ones, I think.
In fact, they’re the ones you’ve got to watch out for. Their wheels are always turning.
My gaze falls to Maya, and my mind races with need.
The way she’s looking at me right now is inciting a fantasy about interrupting this game and going back upstairs with her.
Again.
“Which boss?” Faith asks. “I mean, at which job?”
April shakes her head out. “Well, I haven’t really had a job where I had the kind of boss I’d want this with.”
“What happens in the fantasy?” Faith asks.
April takes another swig of her beer. “Well, I’m doing something wrong—some tiny little thing. He comes in and…punishes me.”
Maya and I glance at each other.
She mouths I knew she had fantasies to me.
I nod. Oh, does she ever.
Surprisingly, when she’s done, April looks at Maya. “What about you, what’s your ultimate fantasy?” April asks.
Maya is clearly caught off guard slightly, and she turns a little red-faced.
“Oh, my good Lord in heaven, what are you thinking about!?” Faith exclaims, reading Maya’s face.
Maya straightens her resolve and clears her throat. “I have…a break-in fantasy.”
The guys at the end of the bar drunkenly process that information, nodding politely. She looks around, and I think she might be waiting for them to judge.
The thing I’ve learned about Maya is that she does care what other people—at least her friends—think about her. It’s only human to care.
She just doesn’t show it.
Charlotte breaks the silence and nods. “Cool. Sounds really hot.”
“Absolutely,” DJ grins, and shoots Alex a wry glance and a shrug.
Oh my. I know the next thing they’re going to try when they have some time.
“What about you, Grant?” Maya’s voice surprises me. “What’s your ultimate fantasy?”
“Yeah, Nature Boy. What have you discovered during all that meditation?” Nelson prods.
I take a long, slow swig of my beer and stare off into the distance.
Geez.
Why am I drawing a complete blank right now?
“Uh…no one’s ever asked me that,” I say. “Wow.”
“Oh, come on,” Faith says. “April here just admitted she wants be punished by her boss because she did a small indiscretion. And you can’t tell us?”
My expression widens. “I would tell you. Nothing is coming to mind right now as like, my ‘ultimate’ fantasy. I don’t know, maybe to sleep with a teacher?”
There’s a collective groan from everyone. “Bro, you can’t steal mine,” Finn says. “I think everybody knows about my obsession with Professor Flores. And that’s one-hundred-percent original since day one.”
“Honestly. I just can’t think of anything. Let’s keep going.” I turn to Faith. “What about you, Faith? You’ve been awful good at noting our proclivities and you seem curious. Maybe there’s something you’d like to share with us about fantasies you’ve had?”
She blushes. “Oh, my fiancé wouldn’t like me sharing things about our private life.”
“But you two are waiting for marriage, aren’t you?”
“We sure are,” she smiles.
“Well, with all that waiting, I’m sure your mind has been turning. It’s not good to suppress those desires because they’ll only bubble up stronger.”
“Well, I’ve had a few thoughts, I admit.”
I go on, “Faith, this is all cloud talk. And I would add, we’re not going to tell anyone about whatever you say here. What we say during the game stays in the game. This is practically a confession. It’s the honor code of ‘Never Have I Ever: Ultimate Self-Sacrifice.’ And it’s therapeutic to share yourself with your best friends.”
Her body stiffens, and she swallows. “I just don’t know if it’s right.”
“We’re all friends here,” Maya says. “We won’t judge.”
“Even if you want to keep the lights off,” Finn jokes.
Faith replies, “That is not what I think about. I’ll have you know I will definitely have the lights on for what I want. Although…I don’t think I’d need them personally.”
“Why wouldn’t you need the lights?” April asks.
“Because I’d be…” she clears her throat. “Blindfolded. And Dominated. By an older, more-experienced man.”
A hush comes over the group.
“Too bad Professor Z isn’t still here,” Charlotte mumbles. “He’s the