Page 44 of Zero Confusion

Miles waved his hand in the air. “It’s new. I’m not even sure what it is. We hooked up for the first time last night, and I’m not sure he’d want anything more.”

“But you do.” It wasn’t a question.

Miles answered anyway.

“I do.”

Kink Talk

SubZero: Is it normal for first-time Doms to be…incredibly confident?

SubScribble: Oooh, story time!

DomAndDommer: It’s all about the vibe. If the sub is a complete stranger, there’s a lot more performance anxiety, but my first few times were with a guy I knew, so it was super chill.

DomicronPersei8: Weirdly enough, as much as I overthink things, never had that problem as a Dom. I started slow and ramped it up though, definitely wouldn’t have been confident with floggers or ropes right off the bat.

SubLime: Zero, did you find yourself a sexy, confident Dom?

SubZero: Kinda. I think it was just an experiment though.

DommyBoy: I’m incredibly jealous of everyone right now. The idea of that first time is fucking terrifying. I wish I could fast forward through that whole awkward thing.

DomAndDommer: Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’ve had sex before, right? This is the same thing with some extras.

DomPetty: If it makes you feel better, I’ve fumbled quite a bit. I practiced a lot, but my first time with a paddle and a real human being… Oof, I was a mess. I asked that poor guy if he was okay every two minutes. Thankfully he was pretty experienced and patient, but I was sure he was gonna walk off mid-scene.

DommyBoy: That does make me feel better.

SubLily: Not to crash the Dom party, but Petty makes a good point. Practice is so important. Try the paddles and floggers out on yourself, see how it feels. Go to workshops. Talk to more experienced Doms.

DommyBoy: No, I get it. I’m doing all of that.

SubLime: Hold on to that Dom, Zero. If he was that good his first time, imagine how much better he’ll get with practice.

SubZero: Funny story, not only was he a first-time Dom, he was also a virgin.

SubScribble: What?

SubAir: What?

DomicronPersei8: Are you serious?

DomPetty: Uhh…

DommyBoy: That’s my new role model.

Chapter 17

ZACH

Zach came into the bedroom after taking a much-needed shower and squinted at the golden light streaming through the windows, still groggy from the afternoon nap. The dark, navy blue walls—a remnant of Jerry’s teenage rebellion—felt heavy and familiar all at once, strikingly different from the pale gray of his studio apartment.

Sounds of footsteps and clattering floated up from downstairs, and Zach threw on a T-shirt and sweatpants, eager to go see his mom. The house had been empty when Miles’s parents dropped him off—his father and brothers out in the fields, his mom probably running errands. He’d had just enough energy to text her about his surprise visit before trudging upstairs and passing out on top of the well-worn quilt that smelled faintly of cedar and lavender.

Of home.

A pang of homesickness hit him, absurd as it was, considering he was already there—back at the farm, back in the room he shared with Jerry, though they wouldn’t be sharing it for much longer.