It started as a bit of a lark but when the time came to put the plan in motion, my feet turned slightly cold. I was sitting in my car outside a fetish club, wondering whether I would end up looking like a fool. Then I thought, “Well, I’m here and may as well go through with it.” And with that, I got out of the car and walked towards the club. Per the club’s website, I was dressed entirely in black since I didn’t own a fet...

I had been a regular customer at the same hair salon for a couple of years, and always with the same stylist, Claire. I liked her work and enjoyed her company, and she mine. She was easy going and always greeted me warmly. Sometimes we chatted while she worked; sometimes we didn’t. There were occasional instances of mutual flirting but we had never taken things further. Our relationship was strictly professional: I showed...