-Joshua-

I stared at Nikita. He stared at me. Neither of us said anything, nor moved a muscle. He seemed just as shocked as I felt.

"You are Josh, right?" he said with a frown.

"I - I - I..." I kept opening and closing my mouth, and ended up forgetting to give him an answer. "You are Nikita?" I blurted out, staring at his male body.

There was a short pause of silence in our table. Then, he leaned back in his seat and took a silent breath.

"You thought I was a woman," he said softly, looking almost... sad.

"Nikita is a girl's name," I managed to say. I knew I was still staring at him with wide eyes, but in my defense, I had never even imagined the situation could've turned out like this.

"It's a male name in Russia," he said quietly. After hearing him speak only a few words, I could tell by the heavy sound in his voice that he was indeed Russian. "I... I should go..."

He grabbed his bag and stood up, and I immediately knew he had come to see me believing I was a gay guy. He turned his back on me, pulling the bag on his shoulder.

Was I a man of my word, or not?

Yes. Yes, I was.

"No, wait! Please!" I hurried to say and stood up as well. He turned to look at me with a light frown on his thin eyebrows. "I can see there's a slight misunderstanding going here, but I did promise to buy you a cup of coffee."

His frown melted away, and he gave me a curious look. "You...? What?"

"Let's just sit down and take a breath, yes?" I said, sitting back down slowly.

He hesitated for a moment before he returned to the table and sat down. He didn't put his bag away yet. "So you... really thought I was a woman?" he asked.

"I did," I said, cursing Franky all over again. There was no way in hell he could've thought that Nikita was a woman. Even though he had a lean body and some feminine traits in his appearance, there was just no way anyone could actually think he was a woman. Drunk or not! Even his voice was clearly male!

"You said there's a misunderstanding, so you're obviously straight," he spoke slowly. "So, why are we still here? We both know how this date was supposed to end."

"I promised to buy you coffee," I repeated. "So, you shall have your coffee," I added with a friendly smile.

He tilted his head a little, but soon he started to relax in his seat. He put his bag back on the table and took a better look at me. "I guess old habits die hard," he said with a voice that was much fuller and less timid than before.

"Sorry?" I asked politely.

"I assumed you would get angry," he said.

"This is Franky's fault, not yours. He's such a jerk sometimes," I said with a sigh. "I'm sorry you got pulled into this."

"Pulled into what?" he asked with a curious voice.

"I think he's mad at me for ditching him yesterday," I explained.

"I see," he said shortly. He looked at his wristwatch, and I assumed he wished he hadn't come after all. That made me feel a bit disappointed. The whole situation was disappointing. It had been a dream, after all. All those toys...

I let out a small chuckle and shook my head. "Man, you got me excited. Like, really excited, if you know what I mean," I told him.

A small smile formed on his lips, and he peered at me again. "It really is a shame. You are very hot, if I may say so."

"Thanks," I muttered. "I really wanted to see your toys."

He rested his arms on the table and leaned closer, giving me a flirty smile. "The offer still stands," he spoke quietly. I had to lean back in my seat. He straightened his posture, pushing his long hair over his shoulder. "I should watch my tongue," he added, but that smile didn't change.

"So, uh, coffee?" I asked, and stood up. "What would you like?"

"If there's something with lots of chocolate in it..."

"Say no more," I said, and practically ran to the counter. I stopped to stare at the big menu hanging off the ceiling and spotted something with chocolate in it. I was glad that it took quite some time for the barista to make the coffees. It gave me some time to let everything sink in.

Luckily, I wasn't afraid of people, so this wasn't going to be utterly awkward, but the fact that I came here with one thing in mind – kinky sex – was making things a bit absurd. I jacked off trying to imagine what kind of person this Nikita was. I got aroused by his messages.

"Here you go, sir," the young woman said, and gave me the cups.

"Thank you," I said, and stalled for a moment before I turned to face my "date".

Franky was so going to die later today.

"Note to self. Double check the gender," I muttered quietly.

I returned to the table and placed the chocolate madness in front of Nikita. He nodded shortly and thanked me while I sat down in front of him. I just nodded back and sipped the hot drink. He did the same. And then we just sat there in silence.

When it started getting really awkward, I opened my mouth. "So, you're from Russia?"

"Yes," he said, and took another sip of his coffee.

"Okay," I said, hoping he would continue, but no.

I sipped my coffee. He sipped his. And silence.

"So... Do you know Eileen?" I asked.

"Who?"

"The birthday girl from last night," I said.

"Oh. No," he said.

"Okay."

I sipped my coffee. This was going great.

Okay. Fuck it. Let's do this.

I pushed my cup out of my way, leaned my elbows against the table, intertwining my fingers, and waited until Nikita made eye contact with me.

"You know, I've never had the opportunity to talk with someone who... shares the same interest with me," I told him.

"Oh?" he uttered and leaned closer as well – a clear sign of interest. "Not even with a partner?"

I grinned awkwardly. "I've never had the opportunity to even try anything, actually," I admitted.

He let out a small, dramatic gasp and placed a hand over his heart, like I had just said something devastating. "Poor boy. That must be awful!"

"I know," I chuckled, playing along. "I... kind of had high hopes for tonight... But..." I ended with a shrug.

He gave me an apologetic look, and I had the feeling he was being sincere this time. "I could've shown you a lot."

"That's not helping at all," I chuckled. I was silent for a moment, with a question in my mind, but I wasn't sure if I should ask. Then I decided to go for it. "Like what?"

Oh, I hated myself for asking that.

He leaned even closer, with that seductive smile on his face. "Well, I already took out my best harnesses. I could have taught you how to tie a person. I have hidden hooks and latches all around my place, you see."

I let out a deep breath while listening to him speak. Hooks. Latches. Harnesses. God...

"I have two big pillars in the middle of my living room. You could have tied me up between them. My arms and legs spread, completely exposed with nothing but thin leather straps on me. I would've been completely at your mercy," he spoke slowly with that surprisingly intoxicating accent of his. "I would have granted you every wish if you had wanted. Or I could have struggled against it all, if that's more of your thing..."

"I shouldn't have asked," I coughed, and took a big gulp of my still very hot coffee.

"Too much?" he chuckled, biting his lower lip, checking me out. "It really is a shame... There's so many toys and whips I would've loved for you to use on me. I could have fulfilled all your fantasies, and I have costumes... I have a swing and this special chair – you know, the kind of chair the gynecologists have for examination," he almost whispered the last part, and I let out a groan.

This was too painful to hear.

"I have collars, plugs, electronic rods and pads, special shower ends, massagers, gags, cuffs, chains, ropes, suction devices and so many toys I haven't even tried them all yet," he continued, smiling at me like he knew how torturous it was for me to hear all this.

"I don't believe you," I said sternly. "I have decided I won't believe you, or I will cry myself to sleep tonight," I told him, and mostly it wasn't even a joke.

He just laughed and tousled his dark-gray hair. "Maybe you want to come see for yourself? I'm not a liar."

I could only stare at him. I guess my inner struggle was visible to him, since he added, "I'm only going to show you my collection, that's all. We can grab a beer and just chill. In a friendly manner."

I wanted to see it. I really, really wanted to see everything he just told me. I took a deep breath and gave him a stern look. "No funny business."

He raised his hands in front of him. "Scout's honor," he said. And winked. God, that wink...

"In a cool, chill, friendly manner," I said.

"I have ice cubes, too. Oh, and candles," he said teasingly. "In case you need to punish me."

The sound I made was not human.

I left with Nikita. My brain and my heart had nothing to do with that decision. It was my cock who decided that for all of us. Stupid wanker.

This all could've been just a big, massive prank or an elaborate way for Franky to get me kidnapped and sold to goldmines in the deepest parts of Africa. Or wherever they mined gold at. But I still left with him, because if there was even the slightest chance I could see my heaven – and by everything Nikita told me about his place was nothing short from my personal heaven – I was glad to take it.

We took a cab, and after Nikita told the driver his address, he turned to look at me. "You seem tense," he spoke quietly.

"Nah..." I uttered, shaking my head.

He just smiled and turned to look out of the window. We didn't speak a word on our way to his place. I was barely keeping my cool, and I used all my energy to prevent myself from thinking about his home. It wasn't safe to think about it, not in public.

It took only fifteen minutes before the driver stopped the car. I looked out and started coughing. We had stopped in front of a skyscraper. A very tall skyscraper.

"You... live here?" I stammered.

"Yes," Nikita smiled. "The view is great."

"I bet," I breathed out, trying to see the top of the building. I started to believe I was really going to get kidnapped after all. This was not happening. This wasn't real.

Nikita paid for the ride and left the car. I followed him in a much slower pace. Once I was standing outside, I looked up again. It had to have at least thirty stories. The building was right in the middle of the city.

"Don't you want to come inside?" I heard Nikita's voice, and turned to look at him. He was already halfway to the door.

I probably should have made a run for it. But... the toys... the chair...

"Coming," I smiled, and walked to him. He returned that smile.

We stepped inside. It was a huge, brightly lit foyer with a front desk and all. The guy behind it was big and looked like he could mangle me in his sleep. He nodded shortly at Nikita, and gave me a suspicious look, before turning his attention away. I had the feeling he would now remember my face for the rest of his life. And he knew that I knew it.

Nikita led me to the elevators and pressed the call button. Then, he turned to look at me.

"Didn't Franky tell you anything about me?" he asked.

"Only that we share the same interest in... you know," I said.

"Oh. He seemed to know me pretty well," he spoke. "I should be more careful who to trust. When he told me about you, he let me understand that you were gay. Now that I think of it... He never actually said it."

"I am really sorry about that. I still can't believe he could be such a jerk..." I said sincerely.

"You got fooled as well," he said, and the elevator arrived, so we stepped in. "You have nothing to apologize for. Besides, you were such a gentleman," he added with that flirty smile of his.

I was silent for a moment, trying to rip my eyes off him. I had to admit that he fascinated me. Him and his collection. For some reason, I had this feel of... familiarity with him. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed to know a lot about the things I wanted to know about. He was my kin. He was definitely the kind of person I wanted to get to know better. As a friend.

Maybe this incident wouldn't be all for nothing, after all.

I caught myself still staring at him, so I coughed awkwardly. He was leaning against the wall, staring back at me. Well, more like eating me up with his eyes. So, the guy thought I was hot, huh? Funny enough, that didn't bother me.

"We're here," he suddenly said, and I realized I was still staring at him, so I finally turned to look away.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. I followed him out, and shortly after, he stopped next to one of the doors. I waited while he searched for his keys, starting to feel excited and nervous at the same time.

I don't know what I expected to see behind the big door. Some kind of sex dungeon, perhaps? But what lay behind the door turned out to be just a living room. Well, if the highly luxurious place that was filled with everything extremely expensive could be described as "just a living room".

"Holy..." I breathed out and stared at his home with wide eyes.

It was a lot to take in with one glance. The living room was two stories high. There was a kitchen on my right, opening up straight into the massive living room, and above that I could see a bedroom. I saw it because the walls between the living room and the bedroom were made of glass. On my left there was the most biggest TV screen I had ever seen. It was basically a wall. It was that big. In front of that was a black, ten-seater couch in the middle of the room. I had no idea how many people could sit on it, but it was huge. Next to me was a staircase upstairs, and the opposite wall was just one big-ass window.

I felt small in that place.

And extremely poor.

But then I saw something that beckoned my attention. In between the couch and the kitchen... Two, massive columns. The columns. Nikita walked deeper into the building, and placed a hand on one of them, turning to look at me. I saw thick, metal rings attached all over to the columns, just like he said there would be.

"It's nice to be fucked in this spot," he said, and turned his back on me to face the window. "The city is so pretty, especially in the night. It's even better against the window so I can see everything."

Why, oh why wasn't he a woman??

He turned to look at me over his shoulder. "Would you like to see more?"

I just nodded, gesturing to him to show me the way. He waved his hand, and I followed him towards the wall on our left. I had missed two doors that were at the other side of the staircase.

"There's nothing interesting in upstairs. I have everything I need to entertain my guests here downstairs," Nikita spoke, when he spotted me trying to see upstairs.

"Are there some hidden secrets up there?" I joked around.

"Nah. Let's just say that the bottom floor is for business, and upstairs is my actual home," he explained. "It's not off limits, but I like to keep some privacy."

"Business?" I repeated, when he stopped to the first door, and pushed it open.

He turned to give me a smile. "I don't take anything in exchange for sex, don't worry." He flicked on the lights in the room. "This is where most of the magic happens."

It was just a bedroom. It was big enough to have a football practice of course, and the bed probably had its own address, but it was still just a bedroom with wardrobes and long dressers next to the walls. The room was really white, white sheets, white furniture, white carpets...

It was nothing like the sex dungeon I had imagined him to have.

"Disappointed?" he chuckled, and walked to the closest dresser, opening the top drawer. "I like to keep everything clean and organized. And I find it really tacky to have the toys in display. Some things need to stay private, am I right?"

I walked to him and peered into the drawer. Gags. A lot of them. In a neat order. Oh God, it was true. Everything he told me was true.

"You can look around, but please don't touch anything – I have boiled them all recently," Nikita spoke, and lay down on his side on the bed. He resumed staring at me again, and I hesitated for a moment, before I opened another drawer. Plugs.

"Boiled?" I repeated and continued pulling open a drawer after another.

"To get rid of the bacteria," he explained.

"Oh..." I muttered.

I continued my exploration and saw things I would never forget, and some things I would never be able to guess what they were, and what they were for. At some point, I had to stop. It was too much.

My heaven.

"Do you want to see my playroom?" he asked, laying on his back now, looking like some devious fallen angel in the white sheets with his long hair spread all around his head.

"This isn't the playroom?" I nearly stammered.

He just smiled, got up from the bed, and grabbed my hand. There was another door that had to lead into the second room I hadn't seen yet. The playroom, supposedly. I wasn't sure if I wanted to see it after all. It was too cruel.

But I had to see it.

Nikita opened the door, letting go of my hand. The lights went on behind the door, and I nearly died.

The chair was there, right in the middle of the room. There was also a sturdy-looking massage table and some kind of vaulting horse with big wooden legs. The legs had metal rings on them, and it wasn't hard for me to imagine how it was supposed to be used.

"I told you, I'm not a liar," Nikita said. No, he was not a liar. I just wished he was.

Because I was now in my heaven, and all I could do was look around. And then leave.