“Don’t mention it.” The woman shuffles past Bryan and gives Sid’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you both in there.” She continues farther down the hall to another darkened door, the only illumination coming from the glowing security panel she taps to enter a pin.
“I’ll wait out here while you undress.” Bryan retreats to the opposite wall. “Take your time.”
I walk into the change room full of lockers and start on my clothes, knowing any delay will give Sid the opportunity to talk herself out of reclaiming her confidence.
But she doesn’t falter.
She discards her tight dress, exposing the lingerie that was made for her body, then wraps the sarong around her waist. She holds her head high through the process. Her shoulders, too.
“I’m ready when you are.” She stands tall in those sexy, strappy heels and deep red lipstick.
There’s no way she’ll fade into the scenery. Not with that black lace. The choker. The garters. No woman has ever been more stunning. The sarong only heightens the appeal, making her a tempting gift I’m sure any fucker will be salivating to unwrap.
I readjust my dick beneath my boxer briefs, then shut our locker. “I’m so goddamn ready I might not make it inside before needing to have you.”
Bryan clears his throat in the hall.
Sid grins and saunters from the room. “I’m sure you can wait.”
I follow her, ignoring Bryan, who waits with a sardonic smirk.
Without comment, he takes us to the end of the hall and taps a pin code into the security panel. He pulls open the door, exposing a small room with a massive television broadcasting porn in vibrant Technicolor.
“This is kind of like the overture to the club.” Bryan waves a lazy hand to indicate the leather sofa and the car-sized dick on screen. “You can stay here however long you like and become acclimatized to the environment. But once you walk out there—” he jerks his head backward toward an archway leading into the great unknown, “—rules apply.”
“What kind of rules?” Sid asks.
“Some clubs have wrist bands to determine what people are looking for. We don’t. This is a more intimate club. We talk. We listen. If someone asks you to play, it should never be with pressure or enforced commitment. And in response, you need to be forthcoming with where you stand. Communication is key. Your answer shouldn’t be challenged or negotiated. No exceptions. And if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, speak to my business partner, Leo, behind the bar. Misunderstandings do occasionally occur with this being an emotionally charged environment. But we’ve found that holding those initial discussions helps to make this more of a tight-knit community.”
Sid nods. I do the same.
“Protection is mandatory, even with long-term couples, except during oral. You’ll find baskets of condoms, lube, and other fun items spread out through the Vault. And showering between different partners is also necessary. Apart from that, you’re all good to go. Unless you have more questions…”
“I don’t think so.” Sid squeezes my hand. “This feels like a live-and-learn situation.”
“You’ll definitely learn your fair share tonight. But have fun with it knowing nothing you do will leave this basement.”
“Thanks, man.” I jerk my chin in appreciation.
He juts his back. “Any time.”
He leaves us to the surround sound of the couple fucking on screen, with real-life backing vocals coming from beyond the archway.
“I can’t believe we’re really doing this.” A sparkle of mischief glows in Sid’s eyes. “It’s crazy.”
“Yep. Do you want me to lead the way?”
“Can I?” She blinks softly. “This is a huge step for us, and I’d prefer not to be a follower.”
“Go for it.”
She gives me an exaggerated grimace and starts across the room, her sharp inhale brushing my ears as soon as we pass the threshold.
Low lighting bathes a large open area in a subtle seductive glow, with two more open doorways along the right side of the room. There are beds. A sex swing. Leather furniture. Four different naked couples are scattered throughout. Some are talking. Others are doing far more graphic acts with their mouths.
A bar is spread along the back wall. A lone woman sits atop one of the stools, talking to the suit-wearing bartender.
Sid leans close to me. “Have you been here before?”
“No.” I’ve had similar experiences in my younger days on tour, before sex with random groupies started to twist my stomach. I’d fuck anyone, anywhere. But being here with Sid is entirely different. It doesn’t feel sleazy or cheap. “This is new to me, too.”
We walk deeper into the heart of lust, past a couple on the king-size bed to our left, the long-haired, muscle-clad man’s face planted between the writhing woman’s thighs. She moans, her eyes squeezed shut, her fingers gripping the sheets.
Sid stops to watch, her gaze fixated, her palm growing slick against mine.
“I need a drink.” Damaged liver or not, I can’t get through this without something to dull the edge. “Want me to get you something?”
“I’m not leaving your side.” Her head remains high as we continue forward, our attention slowly sweeping back and forth to take in the live porn.
The bartender shoves a scotch glass into an ice trough as we approach. “Welcome.” There’s no knowing smile. No gleam of admiration. There’s familiarity though. He’s aware of who we are. He just doesn’t give a fuck.
Nobody in here does.
The kissing couples continue to make out. Those talking don’t pause their conversation. And the people in the middle of being plowed, or doing the plowing, refuse to miss a beat.
Bryan was right. We fade into the wallpaper.
“I’m Leo.” The bartender pours a finger of vodka into the glass, then adds juice. “This is my fiancée, Shay.” He nods at the woman in a lace corset who swivels on the stool to face us.
“It’s Mason and Sidney, right?” she asks.
“Yeah.” I wait for a starstruck response.
Instead, she glances to Sid and casually pats the stool beside her. “Sit. Relax. Have a drink. It’s still early. This place doesn’t usually hit its peak until around three a.m.”
“It gets busier?” Sid glides onto the seat. “How many people usually attend?”
“Thirty?” Shay glances at Leo in question. “Maybe thirty-five?”
“That sounds about right.” Leo places the Screwdriver in front of his fiancée, then turns his focus on me. “What can I get you both?”
Sid orders a Cosmo. I decide to break my dry streak with a Moscow Mule.
While the bartender mixes the alcohol, the women hit it off. Shay shares club stories. Sid asks a million questions.
I step back to give them space, allowing Sid the freedom she needs to find herself again.
“She’ll be fine.” Leo lowers his voice as he pushes a copper mug toward me. “Shay will look after her.”
“Is it obvious I’m worried?”
He grins. “The fact you’ve only got eyes for her while there’s people fucking around you is a blatant indicator.”