You talk to him about everything!

“Jamal,” you breathed, a little flustered. “Hey.”

He offered you the cocktail. “Figured you might want something stronger than water by now. You look like you’re processing a whole documentary over here.”

You took the drink, the condensation cool against your fingertips. “Thanks. And... yeah. I guess I am.”

You both fell silent for a moment, watching the party. Your eyes scanned the patio, a flicker of confusion in your chest. You could have sworn you just saw Taylor and Dior’s backs disappearing through the glass doors leading into the mansion. And when you glanced toward the pool, Abigail and Darnell were gone, too. The corner where they were was now empty, leaving only gently lapping water.

“Some people are heading inside,” you noted quietly, more to yourself than to him.

Jamal followed your gaze, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah. When the party’s really good, sometimes you gotta find a more private spot to enjoy it. No shame in that.”

You took a sip of the cocktail, the fruity, strong liquid burning a pleasant trail down your throat. It gave you a little courage. “Jamal... can I ask you something? About what Abigail and Taylor were talking to me about earlier? The... snow bunny thing?”

He didn’t seem surprised. He just took a slow pull from his beer, his eyes still on the crowd. “I figured that was probably weighing on you. What about it?”

“It’s just... it’s a lot,” you admitted, your voice low. “The way they talked about it, like it was the most natural, the best thing in the world. To be... very submissive. To be kind of... owned. It feels so… intense. Is that really what it is? Is that what people expect and want?”

Jamal turned his body slightly toward you, towering above you, his presence calming and commanding all at once. “Expect? Nah, bro. Nobody expects anything. That’s definetly not what this is about.” He paused, choosing his words. “Think about it this way, Emile. You’re on a whole other continent, in a completely new country. You left everything behind. Everyone who ever did you wrong, or who made you feel small or insecure. You’re starting from scratch, right here, with us. With people who accept you as who you are, who praise your body for how its build and who see the good in you.”

His words hit a nerve. It was exactly what you were feeling, but hadn’t been able to articulate.

“So,” he continued, his voice a low, persuasive rumble, “if you’re here to find yourself... to figure out who you really are when all that old baggage is gone... why would you hold back? Why would you let some old rules or old fears tell you who you’re supposed to be? If you discover a new part of yourself here, something that makes you feel good, something that maybe feels right... who is anyone else to say it’s wrong?”

He gestured with his beer bottle toward the party. “Look around. Do these people look unhappy? Do they look like they’re forcing themselves into a box? They’re just living their truth. Some people are leaders, some people are supporters. Some people are dominant, and some people find strength in letting go, in giving themselves to someone else they trust. There’s power in that, too.”

You listened, mesmerized. He was making it sound so simple, so... logical.

“And what you saw with Taylor, with Abigail... that’s just them finding where they fit. It’s not about being weak. It’s all about choosing to give your energy to someone who knows how to handle it, who knows how to make you feel... cherished. Safe and powerful in your own way.” His dark eyes met yours, and the intensity there was almost overwhelming. “You’ve obviously always been a thinker, Emile, even just knowing you for a few days, I understand that. You are always in your head. But your body knows what it wants. You felt something watching them, didn’t you? That heat in your stomach? That’s not fear, that’s recognition.”

You swallowed hard at those words. He saw it, he knew...

“It’s okay to want to explore that,” he said, his tone softening, becoming sweeter. “It’s okay to be curious about what it would feel like to not have to make all the decisions for once. To just... be. To let someone else take the lead, show you things you never knew you could feel. Especially when that person is someone you trust, someone who has your best interests at heart.”

His gaze was like a physical touch. “This is the perfect time, Emile. The perfect place. You’re surrounded by people who will support you, no matter what path you choose. So the real question isn’t ‘is this right?’ The real question is, ‘what do you want to feel?’ And if the answer is ‘good,’ ‘safe,’ and ‘wanted’... then you should let yourself feel that. Don’t hold yourself back from discovering your own happiness, Emile. You deserve that.”