Page 28 of Blurred Boundaries

A plug that can be controlled by one of my students.

I must have gone mad in the head.

I adjust my stance, trying to stand in a way that’s not suspicious, and immediately regret it when the plug shifts with the motion. For about ten seconds, I forget where I am.

Right. Teaching. That is why I’m here.

“Good morning, guys,” I greet, and they greet back in their familiar chorus of voices. “Before we wrap up this course, I want to thank every one of you for joining this class, both in the first semester and now. I know it is also taught in Czech, so I think it’s great you’re here.”

A few of them smile, a few nod, some are just sitting there half-awake, but it’s the usual mix and I’ve gotten used to it. I look at the rows of seated students, still a bit surprised by how diverse the university actually is. Then again, I probably shouldn’t be. After all, the dean had personally reached out to me in the first place, asking if I would be interested in coming here.

“Today, we will examine political ethics among public servants,” I say, writing the title out. “We are looking at this not simply as scandals, but as ethical problems. So, I want to ask⁠—”

Fuck, Taj!

An electric zing shocks my core, running through me and catching me completely off guard. My grip tightens on the marker in my hand, and my knees nearly give for a split second before I lock them back in place.

That little shit turned on the vibration of the butt plug.

Don’t react. Don’t react. This is fine. I am fine.

I let it run its course because I’m a professional. A very stupid one, but still technically one.

“Apologies,” I say quickly, clearing my throat and willing my face back into something that resembles calmness.

My eyes roam across the room and land on Taj. He’s sitting a few rows back, totally relaxed and watching me like this is the most entertaining lecture he has ever attended. The fucker is even grinning. I drag my gaze away before I do something dumb.

“Here is my question,” I continue, forcing my voice into something steady. “Is corruption primarily a moral issue or an economic issue?”

I finish the sentence and there is a brief pause. The students are looking at me like they suspect something, but how can they? I sounded fine in my head, but whether I sounded fine out loud is another matter.

Vojtech snaps me out of my mini spiral when he speaks. “I think both,” he says. “It’s moral because stealing is wrong, and economic because it harms development.”

“I disagree already,” Taj cuts in, his stupid grin still sitting on his beautiful face, knowing exactly what he’s doing to me. “We talk about corruption morally, but politics everywhere involves self-interest. What’s so wrong with that?”

“Good, let’s start there,” I say, now feeling a sense of normalcy. “Are you suggesting corruption is universal and therefore morally ordinary?” I turn to my laptop and scroll to the appropriate slide.

“Yes,” Taj answers. “Politicians should benefit from office. It’s called lobbying in the US, and party financing here in Europe. I don’t see that as ethical failures.”

I turn back around, opening my mouth to respond, but when I make the mistake of looking at Taj, I see a look on his face that never means anything good for me. And even though I know what he’s up to, I still have to suppress a shudder when he increases the butt plug’s vibration, every nerve ending in my arse lighting up all at once, a moan threatening to slip out before I clamp it down.

My toes curl in my shoes, but I have to ground myself, pressing my weight evenly through my feet so I do not react in a way that gives anything away. Inside, though, it feels like I’m balancing precariously on a thin line while Taj is clearly enjoying testing exactly how far I can be pushed.

“Let’s, uh-uh—” I stutter and draw in a slow breath through my nose as I fix my attention back on the room, on anything that is not Taj. “Let’s consider, for example, a former governor who was convicted for laundering funds linked to public money. Avoiding moral language for a moment, can someone describe the situation structurally?”

“The governor controlled state funds and diverted some for personal use,” Lukáš answers.

“Good. Now, why is that ethically problematic?”

“But that assumes the money would have been used well otherwise.” Taj cuts in, defending his point.

“But it wasn’t his money to decide that,” Angelika half shouts.

“Why not?” Taj asks. “Voters elected him. Doesn’t democratic victory give discretion?”

Angelika throws her hands up, and actually huffs. “Are you saying election grants ownership? Everyone knows it’s just temporary authority, and in that case public resources belong to citizens collectively.”

“That sounds idealistic,” Taj drawls. “In reality, political systems run on patronage networks and leaders distribute resources to maintain stability.”