Page 31 of Rhythm and Rapture

Chad nods in agreement, making final adjustments to his lights. "The visual symmetry is perfect. Sabina, you're a genius."

"I just understand the power of symbols," I reply, moving back to my position at the lab table. "And masks are some of the most powerful symbols we have. They simultaneously conceal and reveal, protect and expose."

Alright, everyone," Chad calls out, adjusting his camera angle one final time. His movements are practiced, professional—thekind of precision that comes from years of capturing intimate moments without making them feel clinical. "Final reminder—real names will be edited out if they slip during recording. We're rolling in three... two..."

But before the red light blinks on, I hold up a hand. "One moment."

I move to the center of the setup, falling into my teaching mode as a way to manage my nerves. "So, here's the concept," I begin, addressing both the guys and the future audience. "We're conducting an actual experiment in human arousal responses."

I gesture to the equipment arranged on the table. "We'll be using real monitors to track physiological responses—heart rate, skin conductance, temperature. The educational component involves explaining the biochemical processes while demonstrating practical applications."

"And we're the practical applications?" Ash asks, grinning.

"You're the variables," I correct, warming to my theme. "Each of you represents a different type of stimulus. Based on my observations of your personalities and our interactions, you each bring distinct energy that should theoretically produce different physiological responses."

"She's categorized us," Felix observes, sounding amused.

"Roman, you're the intense, direct stimulus—focused, unwavering attention. Ash, you're the playful, unexpected variable—spontaneity and surprise. Felix, you're the methodical, controlled approach—deliberate and calculated for maximum effect."

"I like being a variable," Ash decides. "Very scientific."

"The narrative follows the scientific method," I continue, attaching the first monitor to my wrist. "We start with baseline readings, then introduce variables one at a time, documenting responses. The experiment progresses from observation to... participation."

"When you say participation..." Roman's voice has dropped an octave.

"The second phase involves testing how the subject—me—responds to combined stimuli. How different approaches layer and interact." I take a breath, making eye contact with each of them. "This is about authentic responses, not performance. The education comes from honest documentation of human chemistry."

Monty gives us a thumbs up. "Rolling whenever you're ready."

Chapter Twelve

The red lighton Monty's video camera blinks to life, and something inside me shifts like tectonic plates realigning. The nervous energy that's been thrumming under my skin since I walked into this room—hell, since I agreed to this shoot—dissolves like sodium in water, replaced by the familiar confidence that comes with stepping into my element.

This is my laboratory. These are my experimental conditions. I am in control.

I take a deep breath, feeling the comfortable restriction of my lingerie, the empowering height of my heels, the weight ofthe lab coat across my shoulders like armor. When I move to the lab table, it's with the fluid grace I've perfected over months of streaming—each gesture deliberate, each step calculated for maximum impact.

"Good evening, my curious little molecules," I begin, my voice dropping into that warm, authoritative tone that's become my signature. "Welcome to a very special edition of The Hidden Chemist, where tonight we're exploring one of the most fascinating aspects of human biochemistry—the physiological responses that occur during attraction and arousal."

I glance toward Roman, Ash, and Felix, who are positioned just outside the main camera frame, waiting for their cue to join the experiment. The masks have transformed them into something mythical—three dark figures radiating different energies but united in their focus on me. Roman stands perfectly still, his intensity palpable even from several feet away. Ash shifts his weight in a rhythm only he can hear, his fingers tapping against his thigh. Felix watches with the patience of a hunter, cataloging every movement I make.

They're watching me with an intensity that should be distracting, but instead it feeds into my performance, adding an edge of authentic anticipation to my explanation. My skin prickles with awareness, and I know the monitors would show elevated readings if I was wearing them yet.

My hands move with practiced precision as I gesture to the various instruments on the table. I pick up a tablet displaying heart rate monitoring software, angling it so the camera can capture the screen.

"What you're about to witness is a live demonstration of the scientific method applied to human sexual response," I continue, my professor voice in full effect. "We'll be measuring autonomic nervous system reactions—heart rate variability,galvanic skin response, pupil dilation—to document how the body responds to different types of stimuli."

"The human body's response to attraction begins at the neurochemical level," I say, moving around the table with the confidence of someone completely in their element. I pick up a molecular model, manipulating it as I speak. "When we encounter stimuli that our brain categorizes as sexually appealing, the hypothalamus—our body's master regulator—releases a cascade of hormones."

I set down the model and pick up a marker, turning to the whiteboard. As I write, my lab coat shifts, revealing glimpses of red lace and skin. It's calculated, like everything else, but knowing I'm being watched by three men who flew across the country just to be here adds weight to every movement.

"First comes dopamine," I write the formula as I speak, "our reward neurotransmitter. This is what creates the sensation of pleasure, the drive to pursue more stimulation." I add an arrow to the next formula. "Then norepinephrine, which increases heart rate and triggers the fight-or-flight response—though in this case, we're hoping for neither fighting nor fleeing."

A soft chuckle from Ash makes me smile as I continue writing. "And finally, phenylethylamine—the love drug. This is what creates that walking-on-air feeling, the sense that the world has suddenly become more vivid."

I turn back to face the camera, noting how all three men have shifted slightly closer during my explanation. The magnetism between us is almost visible, like heat shimmer rising from hot asphalt.

“These chemicals create the physiological sensations we associate with desire," I continue, attaching the heart rate monitor to my wrist with practiced efficiency. The device immediately displays my baseline readings on the tablet.

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