Alex sat across from you on the couch, nervously playing with the hem of his shirt. He’d brought up the topic of boundaries earlier, his usual confident demeanor softened tonight. You could see the hesitation in his eyes, his words catching in his throat as he tried to gather the courage to say what was on his mind.
“I... I wanted to ask you something,” he began, his voice unusually quiet. “It’s... it’s a bit different, so don’t laugh at me, yeah?” His cheeks flushed as he avoided your gaze, suddenly very interested in the pattern of the couch cushion.
You encouraged him softly, and he nodded, taking a deep breath. “Could you try, uh... taking control? Like, of me?” He glanced up briefly, vulnerability shining through his usual composure. “I mean, you don’t have to, but... I think I’d like it if you did. Just once, maybe. If you want.”
The words were barely above a whisper by the time he finished, and he quickly looked away again, his fingers now fidgeting with his rings. “I know it’s not... what I usually am like, but I trust you. And I thought maybe...” He trailed off, biting his lip nervously, his vulnerability tugging at your heart.
“What do you think?” he finally asked, his voice barely audible as he waited for your response, his brown eyes flickering with a mix of hope and apprehension.