The annual teacher's conference was well underway. Erin and Andre had known each other for years, ever since their first encounter at the annual education conference in DC. They always made a point to catch up, swapping stories about work and life, but it wasn't until this now that something truly changed between them. This year, Andre had arrived at the conference looking a little different. His usual confident stride was replaced with a quieter, introspective energy. When they sat down for coffee during one of the breaks, Erin couldn't help but notice how subdued he seemed. "Hey," she said gently, leaning forward in her chair. "You okay? You seem... off."
Andre exhaled slowly,. "Just going through a rough patch," he admitted, his deep voice tinged with exhaustion. "Split up with my girlfriend a few months ago. It's been... tough." Erin nodded sympathetically, her heart softening. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Andre. You deserve better than someone who doesn't appreciate you."
He gave her a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks, Erin. That means a lot."
She decided then and there that she wanted to cheer him up. Over the next day she went out of her way to compliment him--his sense of humor, his intelligence, his commanding presence. But when she mentioned his voice over drinks the next evening, something unexpected happened. "Hey, you know, you have a really sexy deep voice," she teased, her tone light and playful. "It's kind of unfair, honestly."
Andre laughed, but instead of letting the comment slide, he leaned closer, his voice dropping into a deeper register. "That's so kind of you to say," he rumbled, his words almost melodic. "I guess I should thank Morgan Freeman for setting the bar so high."
Erin burst out laughing, shoving his shoulder playfully. "Oh my God, stop! You're ridiculous." But even as she laughed, she couldn't deny the effect his voice had on her. It sent a shiver down her spine, a thrill of attraction she hadn't anticipated. Later that evening, as they shared a drink at the hotel bar, Andre's mood seemed to lift. He was smiling more, his jokes coming faster, and Erin couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. But then, in a moment of quiet vulnerability, he turned to her and said something that caught her off guard.
"You know, Erin," he began, his voice softer now. "I hope I can find someone like you someday. Someone who makes me feel seen, you know?"
Her cheeks flushed, and she waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on. I'm just being nice. You don't need me to make you feel good about yourself."
He shook his head, his expression earnest. "No, I mean it. You're smart, funny, your wit can turn any man on..." He paused, his eyes flickering over her face. "If I weren't such a mess right now and you weren't married to Darren maybe I'd even ask you out."
Erin froze, her mind racing. If you weren't married, his earlier words echoed in her mind. Suddenly, her thoughts were pulled in a direction she hadn't expected--a direction that led straight to Darren. Her husband had always been open with her about his fantasies, but one in particular had always seemed... outlandish.
She remembered the night he'd confessed it to her, his face both embarrassed and hopeful. "I want you to be with someone else," he'd said, his voice barely above a whisper. "A black man. Just once. I know it's weird, but... I can't stop thinking about it."
At the time, Erin had laughed it off, teasing him for being "nuts." But now, sitting across from Andre, the idea took on a new life. She glanced at him, taking in his tall frame, his broad shoulders. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, something that made her heart race in a way it hadn't in a long time. She knew the alcohol was loosening her inhibitions as well. "Actually," she said suddenly, her voice steady despite the whirlwind in her mind. "Andre, my husband has an agreement with me."
His eyebrows shot up, his jaw dropping slightly. "Wait, what?"
She told him of Darren's kink. Andre's eyes still wide in astonishment, and just said "Damn!"
Erin smiled faintly, her pulse quickening. "You know if I'm ever going to fulfill his request," she said slowly, her eyes locking with his, "who better than you?"