The word I hate most during times of civil unrest and protest at the racism and police brutality Black people face in this country is But.

Black Lives Matter. But what about all lives?
It enrages me that non-Black people continue to say this when time and time again multiple examples have been given to explain why it’s stupid, cruel, and hurtful. I’ll try again to see if it sticks for anyone reading this. If someone is raising money for breast cancer, you don’t cut them off and rudely interject that all cancers matter. You don’t do this because you know that participating in the fight against breast cancer doesn’t mean that we don’t care about other cancers. And yet far too many people are incapable of making that leap of logic when it comes to Black Lives Matter.

And it’s never, “All lives matter, so yes I want to know what I can do to help stop police brutality against Black people because I believe all lives matter which means their lives matter too.” It’s always all lives matter thrown in the face of Black people as a way to ignore our treatment in this country. Just say you hate acknowledging Black people’s pain because you don’t think there’s a problem with race in America and gooooooo.

Police brutality against Black people is wrong and needs to stop. But what about Black on Black crime?
First of all, why does the phrase Black on Black crime exist? No one ever mentions white on white crime or Asian on Asian crime. That phrase was invented to make Black people look like we’re animals killing each other. First, it’s not true. We might be policed and imprisoned at a higher rate but it’s not because we commit more crimes. Second, if it were true, two wrongs don’t make a right! If you have two kids and they’re hitting each other, you don’t hit one and say well it doesn’t matter that I hit them because they were fighting anyway. That’s basically what you’re saying when a police officer kills a Black person – they commit crimes amongst themselves so it’s okay if police kill them too. Last, the police are supposed to be law enforcement they’re not supposed to join in on crime and commit murder.

Police shouldn’t kill us. But was he cooperating?
Are you telling me that with all the training police are supposed to have, the only way they can stop someone who is resisting arrest is to kill them? They don’t have any other weapons or tactics at their disposal? They can’t release a hold once the person has been properly restrained? And let’s not act like they have a very loose interpretation of resisting arrest when it comes to Black people. One step forward by a Black person, and police go into hyper-drive to take them down with extreme force. But I’ve seen plenty of videos of white people swinging bats, screaming, and spitting at police who were eventually restrained and brought in alive. If you don’t see the double standard there, you don’t want to see it.

Police shouldn’t kill us. But what was his crime?
I don’t give a fuck what his crime was. Police are not judge, jury and executioner. Their job is to apprehend criminals and let the rest of the justice system do the work to determine guilt or innocence and possible punishment. For some reason, with white criminals they’re capable of remembering their job is only to apprehend. But with Black criminals they often forget.  

Police shouldn’t kill us. But he should have known better than to react the way he did.
The police are the ones who are supposed to be trained on how to handle themselves in dangerous situations. So why are Black civilians supposed to know the exact proper way to behave in order to not be seen as a threat and end up shot? If these officers are that scared of Black people that a raised voice or a hand reaching too fast reaching for ID makes them fear for their lives enough that they have to shoot, then maybe they need a less stressful job.

Racism is a problem. But I’m not racist.
Okay, and? How is that helpful? Are you doing anything to call out racism among your co-workers, friends, and family? Or do you let racist jokes and comments slide because you’re uncomfortable and don’t want to make a fuss? Because sitting quietly while Cousin Chad says he can’t stand these thugs – and yes thugs is the socially acceptable way to say nigger. We know what they mean when they say that word – and then getting on Twitter or Facebook to say how appalled you were by his words and how ashamed you are to be related to him helps absolutely zero Black people. Speaking up and calling shit out is what helps.

Also, there’s so much more to not being racist than not burning crosses on lawns. Take a look at this amazing graphic to help understand the varying levels of racism and white supremacy.

I get that protestors are angry. But they shouldn’t destroy property.
We kneeled quietly and respectfully during the anthem to bring attention to police brutality against Black people. And this country had a BIG problem with that. We marched peacefully, and the state sent in police with tear gas and giant “rubber” bullets to assault the protestors rather than fire and charge ALL of the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd. So now you have furious citizens who are tired of our people being murdered by the state without consequence, who are left with no other way to express their rage. If burning down buildings is the only way to get people to pay attention and to force the justice system to act against murderers with badges then so be it. This country reaped what it sowed.

If they want to protest that’s fine, But they should be peaceful like Dr. King.
When they say the people in power write history, the story of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement is a prime example of what they mean. According to the way history is taught in US schools, there were only a few bad whites in the South who did bad things. So Black people went on a few marches and asked nicely to have rights as full citizens. And then *waves a magic wand* the Civil Rights Act was passed and racism was over.

What we don’t teach, and what has been forgotten by many is that there was a lot more to the story than that. And Dr. King was more than the cherry-picked quotes placed on a black and white photo of him that he’s been reduced to every time January rolls around. The Civil Rights Movement had teeth, and many Black people lost their lives to help get us where we are today. So please, don’t invoke his name as a means to get protestors to stop fighting against racism in this country because you don’t like being uncomfortable or inconvenienced by their methods. Peaceful protest alone won’t get it done. If that was the case, Colin Kaepernick and others kneeling during the national anthem would have got the ball rolling on police reform months ago.

Basically, what I’m saying is stop responding with BUT every time we express our fear and rage. When you do so you are deflecting away from very real concerns in order to make yourself feel better. Let us speak, and fight the urge to jump in with a BUT because you’re uncomfortable with acknowledging that Black people have a legitimate gripe with this country. When you respond with BUT, whether you realize it or not, you’re putting the blame back on Black people and making excuses for the things white people do.

A few things to close with. I said what I said. I’m not arguing a single point with anyone on the internet. If you’re uncomfortable with anything I wrote, work that out on your own time. Some of the buts I spoke of were things that I had to unlearn myself. And I did that by listening and reading and understanding what is reality versus what was fed to me. I’m also not here to be your personal educator about anything I spoke of. If you have further questions, please hit up Google.com and look for resources there. If none of the above applies to you, then that's great! But there are others who need to see these words. And yes, you are free to share this post.

Christa

Hello and Happy Friday! Well, I hope it's Friday. The days are all running together for us by this point. This week I wanted to share a look at Danny and Blaze's First Kiss! This was one of my favorite scenes to write and one of the first bits that popped up in my head when I came up with BLAZE's story. I hope you like it!

Danny tucked his sketch book away in his bag, stood up, and stretched his back. It was time to go. He went down the narrow staircase, through the main bar, and out onto the street. As he strolled down the sidewalk back to the Metro Link station, he thought about the different ways he could use the buildings to set the scene for his comic. The street was well-lit with people about, so Danny didn’t pay too much attention to his surroundings while he walked. He quickened his steps a little as he passed an alley, but didn’t otherwise stop thinking about his work. Until a familiar deep voice floated out to him on the warm, humid breeze.

“You don’t have your weapon out.”

Danny stopped and turned around. Blaze stood just outside the alley he’d passed. Danny was surprised to see the hero, but nonetheless retraced his steps to join him. He shrugged with a sheepish smile once he reached his side in the alley. “Busted. My head was so filled with art plans I didn’t even think about protecting myself. But maybe I don’t need to.”

“Why not?”

“Because maybe you’ve decided to be my personal protector.”

Blaze moved, prowling forward, backing Danny up against the wall behind him and crowding in close, until Danny’s vision was filled with the sight of a broad chest covered in tight black leather. That chest was so wide, and thick with muscle. The B cut by the lightning bolt rose and fell with each inhalation, daring him to reach out and touch it. He barely managed to resist the temptation. Danny dragged his gaze up to meet Blaze’s eyes. As always, they were shadowed by his helmet.

“Maybe I have,” Blaze said.

He’d lost the thread of the conversation and it took him a moment to grasp it and come up with an intelligent answer. “Oh.”

“Would it bother you to be under my protection?”

“No. It’s comforting.”

Blaze braced his palms against the brick wall on either side of Danny’s head, caging him in. The lightning grew closer, flashing in the sky behind him.

“Is that all you want from me? Comfort?”

Danny ran his tongue over lips gone dry from his rushed breaths. “What do you mean?”

“I see the way you react to me. Your pupils are blown. Your pulse speeds up. And you lick your lips.”

A gloved finger touched the center of his bottom lip, gently tugging it down. Danny trembled as he fought not to lick his tongue out again and taste the leather of Blaze’s glove.

“What else do you want from me, Danny?”

Danny was too overwhelmed, his head too filled with Blaze to answer. The warm scent of leather and his skin. The power radiating from him. The commanding presence that urged him to drop to his knees and submit. Blaze slowly pulled his finger away but he didn’t move out of Danny’s space. He leaned in, his intent clear.

Although he had plenty of warning, Danny gasped as their lips met. Blaze kissed him with fierce passion, dominating his mouth, demanding Danny submit and let him take control. And for several moments of blissful surrender, Danny gave in to the demand, returning the kiss with equal passion, while letting Blaze lead. But he was a one-man kind of guy. He couldn’t kiss Blaze hours after he’d kissed Jordan. Besides, he didn’t know this man. Had never even seen his face. He shouldn’t be making out with him in dark alleys. As much as he hated to do so he tore his lips away and turned his face to the side.

“I shouldn’t... We should stop.”

I wonder what happens next. *smarmy eyebrow waggle* If you'd like to see what happens next in that alley, check out Danny and Jordan's sweet, sexy, and action-filled story in BLAZE, available now on Amazon and Free to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription. And if you enjoy BLAZE, I would very much appreciate it if you left a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

Thank you for reading!
Love,
Christa

Here's a nerdy little tidbit for ya!

This morning, I came across a tweet asking if Batman is capable of being in a non-toxic, non-star crossed relationship. I love that broody bastard so of course I had THOUGHTS.

I don't think Batman is capable of a healthy relationship. I think he's so emotionally damaged & hard that one - he doesn't want a relationship and two - he would have to overhaul his entire psyche to make it work.

Like, I laughed at the bit in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies where Superman says he's late b/c he had to kiss Lois or something and quips Batman wouldn't understand. And Batman comes back dryly with, "You're right. I don't." Because he just doesn't comprehend romantic emotional attachment. The delivery is funny but it's also sad that all Bruce has is constant vengeance. Nothing else really matters to him. Can you imagine trying to date that?

I mean, I'd fuck Batman. Clearly. But date him? I'm exhausted just thinking of the emotional labor I'd have to put in with him. No partner will ever get past Batman to fully connect with Bruce.

I mentioned that Blaze is my own Batman inspired hero. And I gave him sweet lil' Danny as a romantic interest instead of a Catwoman inspired badass because I felt the man needed the lover, not the hero/vigilante. That's the only way he can find love - by putting that hard part of him aside so that he has room for it.

So what do you think? Can the Dark Knight find love or is he doomed to be forever alone?

You’ve seen the internet talking about The Untamed (available on Netflix and YouTube), and you kinda want to check it out, but you have no idea what’s going on. Fear not, gentle viewer, I’m here to help you.

What is The Untamed and where did it come from?
The Untamed originated as a Chinese boys love (BL) novel, written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. The original title is Mo Dao Zu Shi (loosely translated to Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation), shortened by fans and in social media hashtags to MDZS. The author has two other stories that round out a trio of fantasy BL novels. MDZS seems to be the most popular of the three books and is currently the only one with both an animation and live version.

Who the heck are all these people and where did they get those amazing robes?
The Untamed has a big cast and they’re all introduced pretty quickly so it can be a little tough to figure out who is who. The two main characters are Wei Wuxian - who wears black, and Lan Zahn - who wears white. You’ve probably seen fan or official promo art for them. The majority of people are grouped into one of five big clans, identified by the color of their robes.

The Jiang Clan of Yunmeng
They are identified by their purple robes, although in the live version, they often mix in blue and a pretty sea green as well. Their family seat is Lotus Pier. They are a modest and well-respected clan, and their home has a beautiful and cozy feel to it.

The Lan Sect of Gosu
They are identified by their white robes, sometimes alternated with sky blue. They live in the mountains of the Cloud Recess. They are a strict clan (with 3,000 rules!) dedicated to studies. Cultivator students from other clans come there to learn and train.

The Wen Clan
This group is the big bad for the first half of the show. Their colors are red and black and they live in Sun Scorching Palace in Nightless City (named so because it’s so big the sun never sets on it. Brag much?).

Jin Clan of Lanling
These are the hoity toity rich bitches. Identified by yellow, gold and cream robes. They’re the second biggest of the main cultivating clans and live in Carp Tower. It’s gorgeous with open airy rooms, decorated in white, green, and gold.

Nie Clan.
They’re the newest of the main big clans. They’re smaller and a little rough around the edges. Their family home is Unclean Realm (I’m sure there’s something I’m missing in translation because the place is immaculate) the clan colors are a very pretty gray and silver and they use big blades instead of swords.

So that’s the who! And now, the what the heck is happening.

The Setting: Takes places in ancient fantasy China. In this world, demons, ghosts, etc. are a common occurrence. The nobility / upper class clans are cultivators – sorta like warrior exorcists – who fight these demons.

The Plot: As you may have noticed by the fandom’s screeching and fan arts, Wei Wuxian and Lan Zahn are the main protagonists. At the start of the show, Wei Wuxian is reincarnated in the body of Mo Xuanyu. Mo sacrificies his life to bring Wei Wuxian back from the dead in order to get vengeance against Mo’s enemies. The reason he picked WW for this is because in his first life, Wei Wuxian was a powerful demonic cultivator. The reason WW died? Because he was a powerful demonic cultivator and jealous hos were trying to steal his shine.

At the start of the show, Wei Wuxian has been dead for 16 years. When he’s resurrected, he wears a mask to conceal his identity from those who still hate him. Unfortunately, he’s thrown right in the middle of a dangerous mystery. Someone is manipulating ghosts and demons to harm people. As he tries to help a group of young cultivators fight these demons, Lan Zahn, a close friend from his old life, recognizes him, even behind the mask. The two start tackling the mystery together. But before they make much progress, Wei Wuxian passes out.

As he sleeps, he dreams of his first life, and the show turns into a big flashback where we see Wei Wuxian and his siblings attending the Lan sect cultivation school. It follows the time afterward, where we see all of the trials and tribulations that lead to Wei Wuxian’s powerful rise, fall, and death, as well as the growing close relationship between him and Lan Zahn.

When Wei Wuxian wakes from his coma, we are back in the present and they start working to uncover the mystery. This also leads them to discover events which lead to Wei Wuxian’s banishment, the cultivating world turning against him, and his eventual death.

And that’s what the show is about! But this wrap-up hardly does The Untamed justice. I’ve shown you the what. Next time I’ll show you why you should watch this amazing Chinese drama.

The Untamed is available on Netflix and YouTube.

Thanks for reading my The Untamed watch guide! If you'd like to check out my published work, pop on over to my Amazon page where I have lots of m/m romance, including BLAZE, book one in my superhero series!
Love,
Christa

Hello everyone. How are you doing during this stressful time? I'm doing my best to keep my worried mind busy with work, books, and Netflix binges.

This week for Fiction Friday, I have a free read. It's a little novella that I'd hoped to publish Valentine's Day weekend. Unfortunately things didn't work out as I'd planned but I still wanted to share it with you. Valentine's Day Hero is a short story that was inspired by several readers on Facebook, who shared memes featuring a superhero and a villain working together for the sake of a child and of course, falling in love in the process.

I actually have a hero vs villain story coming up in the Heartthrob Heroes series, but it's a few books away. In the meantime, I thought this would be fun to write. You can download this novella by clicking one of the links below, read it directly on the Valentine's Hero page, or purchase it on Amazon for .99.

Crimson Force believes in good and fights against evil, presenting a face of strength and honor to the grateful citizens of his city. But he has one weakness – the cyber-thief, Shadow Tech. Behind closed doors, Crimson Force becomes Tristan Alexander, and he lets the Shadow Tech aka Aiden Shaw, control him body and soul.

The physical connection between them is amazing, but Tristan wants more. Unfortunately, a superhero and a modern-day Robin Hood can’t be in a loving relationship together. Or can they?

Valentine’s Day Hero. A superhero romance novella from the Heartthrob Heroes series.

Tags: Holidays, Superheroes, Novella, Second Chance Romance, Light Kink
Heat Level: High/Explicit

Valentine's Day hero is set outside of the main Heartthrob Heroes timeline, so you don't have to read BLAZE first. But if you haven't read BLAZE, what are you waiting for? You know you want to read my sexy dark superhero and the adorable cinnamon role he tries hard not to fall for. Spoiler alert: he fails. BLAZE is available on Amazon and is free to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Thanks for reading! I hope you stay safe and healthy. Enjoy your weekend!
Love,
Christa

Hi! Happy Friday! For this week's Fiction Friday I want to share the first three chapters of Bad Boys Need Love Too: Gage. Oh, and btw it's on sale this weekend for .99! If you haven't yet read this ridiculously sexy opposites attract bad boy romance, now is the perfect time to check it out. Take a look at the first three chapters and if you want more, Gage and Joseph, hit that buy button! Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 1

Joseph rode his motorcycle into the repair shop his co-worker’s brother had referred him to. He killed the engine and set the kickstand, looking around as he dismounted. The place was clean and organized, bikes in different stages of repair parked in numbered squares painted on the ground. He noticed there were mostly standards and cruisers with very few racers.  

He removed his helmet, brushing dust from the ride off his suit as he took in more details. The floor was polished and painted concrete, the walls decorated with framed posters of motorcycles. The typical curled-edge posters of bikini-clad chicks draped over bikes were nowhere to be seen. Nothing was out of place. The owner obviously took pride in his business. There was a service counter at one end of the shop, but there was no one behind it. He looked through a wide window that looked into a small waiting area. Someone was in there, but it was an older man flipping through a magazine. He looked like a customer so Joseph didn't bother to go in. As he walked around he finally noticed a man on the ground working on one of the bikes.

“Excuse me is the owner around? I'd like to have him take a look at my bike.”

The man looked over at him for a moment before he went right back to what he was doing. “Why do you need the owner? You too good to talk to a lowly bike mechanic?”

Jordan and Danny sleep in on Sunday mornings. Jordan is usually out late on Saturday nights – one of his busiest as Blaze. On Sundays, he sleeps in. Well, he does now. Before Danny, he used to get up at his usual time and work out for an hour, then go down to the underground garage and review his patrol reports from the week. But with Danny in his bed, he just can’t make himself get up.

You see, Danny instinctively curls up against Jordan, seeking the warmth of his bigger body. And Jordan can’t bring himself to wake his lover or disturb his sleep by taking away his heat source. So, he stays in bed, holding Danny close, keeping him warm. But eventually, he falls back asleep. After all, he got home just before the sun rose and his body could use the rest.

When he wakes again, it’s to late morning sunshine spilling across the bedroom and sleepy smiles and good morning kisses from his lover. They lay in bed, Danny using Jordan’s chest as pillow, lightly running his fingers over his pecs, while Jordan caresses the sweet curve of his lover’s bottom. They talk of all their plans for the day, full of morning optimism, even though they both know they’ll only end up doing one or two things on their list, while the rest of the day is spent curled up on the couch together, watching true crime docs.

And when Danny tries to leave the bed, Jordan pulls him back, sliding a hand around his narrow waist, tucking his back against his chest. He slips that hand down to grasp the erection he’d felt pressing against his thigh and gently strokes Danny to a soft, gentle orgasm. Danny is still trembling when he turns in Jordan’s arms, pressing kisses to his chest as he returns the favor. They’re drowsy again after climaxing, so they take a post-orgasm nap.

When they finally wake and leave the bed to shower, it’s nearly ten. The doorbell rings, announcing the delivery of the brunch Jordan ordered before falling into bed hours earlier. Danny throws on one of Jordan’s sweatshirts and rushes downstairs to answer it and collect the food. When he returns, Jordan’s eyes stay locked on the slender brown legs bare beneath his JW Autobody sweatshirt.

Danny pretends not to notice as he moves around the sunlit kitchen. Until he yawns and stretches, the sweatshirt riding up to reveal more of his thighs. The coy grin he flashes at Jordan lets him know it was on purpose. Jordan doesn’t say anything but when they take their plates out to the living room, he pulls Danny to sit on his lap. He says it’s to keep Danny warm, but really it’s so he can have one hand on those legs in between bites of French toast and strawberries.

Once the food is gone, they settle back on the couch, full and relaxed, fingers laced together as they watch TV. They’ve got plenty of time to get up and take care of their To Do List. And if they don’t, that’s okay too.

I hope you enjoyed this little flash fic of Jordan and Danny! If you’d like to read more of this couple, you can check out their story in BLAZE, Book 1 in the Heartthrob Heroes series. Available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

We did it, y'all. We got BLAZE out into the world. I say we because all of the kind tweets and comments you all left me while I was struggling really helped me to stay focused and publish Danny and Jordan's story. And I'm so happy I did! I wrote a sexy superhero romance! Can I make that my brand? Because I kind of want to make that my brand. =)

Anyhoo, BLAZE is now available on AMAZON. $4.99 to purchase and free to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription. Tell all your superhero loving friends so they can get some of that smexy superhero goodness too. If you need a little convincing, you can check out the first four chapters of BLAZE below. Happy Reading and Happy Friday!

Danny tapped a nervous beat onto the steering wheel with his thumbs as he turned into a small parking lot. The yellow glow of street lamps lit the night, moths drawn by the light flitting beneath them. This lot was unattended and several blocks down from where he planned to go. But cars weren’t allowed to park on the old cobblestone streets in this section of downtown St. Louis, and the lots closer to the club where he was headed were outrageously expensive.

Since his used Altima wasn’t worth stealing, and he didn’t mind the walk, he should be okay parking this far away. Danny pulled into a spot near the front, and stepped out onto the cracked asphalt. After locking the car, he tucked the keys into his shimmery, iridescent blue fanny pack, zipped it up, and set off.
Butterflies swooped and fluttered in Danny’s stomach as he walked. Tonight would hopefully be the start of a new and long-desired chapter in his life. He was about to check out one of the local BDSM clubs for the first time. After a year of researching and role-playing as a submissive online, he was ready to see the lifestyle up close and personal.

He hoped he looked okay. He’d gone for what he’d jokingly labeled a soft BDSM look when choosing his outfit earlier that evening. A sheer white tank top with gold ribbons sewn on in a pattern that mimicked a chest harness, tight black booty shorts, and glittery-blue, ankle-low combat boots. His artists’ soul enjoyed color too much to go with the all black style he often saw in fetish pictures online. There was a cute little choker he’d wanted to add to his outfit, but worried that it might give off the impression he was already in a relationship, he’d chosen a short gold chain with a handcuff pendant instead.

As Danny passed low brick buildings with their windows dark and doors locked for the night, he reassured himself that he would be fine. The D/s community was welcoming. No one would laugh at him for being a newbie. He hoped. It might have been helpful to bring a friend along but this was something he preferred to do on his own. He wanted to walk into The Stocks without worrying about making sure his friend was comfortable. Or worse, being judged by them. That would be too much stress for his first public foray into kink life.

His head down, Danny focused on his footsteps, one foot in front of the other, determinedly taking him to the place where he’d finally connect with others who had the same interests as him. The streetlights reflected off the shine of his boots, the twinkling glitter making him smile despite his nerves. When the glitter abruptly dulled in sudden darkness, Danny looked up in surprise. The street light above him was out, and so were the next several, all the way until just before the club.

Hi. First, I’d like to apologize for disappearing and not releasing BLAZE on the (many) release dates I had set. I thought long and hard over whether or not to write this blog post, explaining what happened and why. On the one hand, I know there are lots of readers who just want to get books and other content from authors, without getting too much of their personal lives – which is completely valid. On the other hand, I genuinely wanted to let you guys know what’s up. But on the other other hand (stick with me, apparently I’ve got three hands in this scenario) I didn’t want it to come across like one of those dramatic tales that always pop up in the book community either.

Ultimately the desire to be honest and upfront about the situation won out. For those of you uninterested in reading the tale – just know that I had several physical & mental health issues, got overwhelmed and needed to step back. BLAZE is now slated for release on September 6th. For those of you who would like to know what happened, read on past the cut.

Hello! For this week's Fiction Friday, I have the first three chapters of BLAZE! If you missed my previous announcement, BLAZE was pushed back to due to personal illness. My apologies! But I'm back on track now and excited to share a little of Danny and Jordan's story with you. You can read it here on my blog or on BLAZE's page.

1

Danny tapped a nervous beat onto the steering wheel with his thumbs as he turned into a small parking lot. The yellow glow of street lamps lit the night, moths drawn by the light fluttering beneath them. This lot was unattended and several blocks down from where he planned to go, but cars weren't allowed to park on the old cobblestone streets in this section of downtown St. Louis, and the lots closer to the club where he was headed were outrageously expensive. Since his used Altima wasn't worth stealing, and he didn't mind the walk, he should be okay parking this far away. Danny pulled into a spot near the front, and stepped out onto the cracked asphalt. After locking the car, he tucked the keys into his shimmery, iridescent blue fanny pack, zipped it up, and set off.

Butterflies swooped and fluttered in Danny's stomach as he walked. Tonight would hopefully be the start of a new and long-desired chapter in his life. He was about to check out one of the local BDSM clubs for the first time. After a year of researching and role-playing as a submissive online, he was ready to see the lifestyle up close and personal.

He hoped he looked okay. He'd gone for what he'd jokingly labeled a soft BDSM look when choosing his outfit earlier that evening. A sheer white tank top with gold ribbons sewn on in a pattern that mimicked a chest harness, tight black booty shorts, and glittery-blue ankle-low combat boots. His artists' soul enjoyed color too much to go with the all black style he often saw in fetish pictures online. There was a cute little choker he'd wanted to add to his outfit, but worried that it might give off the sign he was already in a relationship, he'd chosen a short gold chain with a handcuff pendant instead.

As Danny passed low brick buildings with their windows dark and doors locked for the night, he reassured himself that he would be okay. The D/s community was welcoming. No one would laugh at him for being a newbie. He hoped. It might have been helpful to bring a friend along but this was something he preferred to do on his own. He wanted to walk into The Stocks without having to worry about making sure his friend was comfortable. Or worse, being judged by them. That would be too much stress for his first public foray into kink life.

His head down, Danny focused on his footsteps, one foot in front of the other, determinedly taking him to the place where he'd finally connect with others who had the same interests as him. The streetlights reflected off the shine of his boots, the twinkling glitter making him smile despite his nerves. When the glitter abruptly dulled in sudden darkness, Danny looked up in surprise. The street light above him was out, and so were the next several, all the way until just before the club.