III: When a Gentleman Offers

THE VIP BONDAGE CLUB, EPISODE 3: WHEN A GENTLEMAN OFFERS

At that moment, I desperately missed the ropes. At least they would have kept me from falling for her completely.

Tiery was walking over toward us, holding an extra glass of wine.

I answered her. “My husband will be home, so we can get a hotel—”

“An Airbnb. Hotels are too stiff and full of unwanted energy.”

“An Airbnb then,” I agreed quickly.

Mallory tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, her fingers gently massaging the sensitive spot between my ear and the back of my head.

I was completely melting into her touch when Tiery reached us.

“Your husband is here. I'll see you later,” Mallory said, snapping me out of my sweet, drowsy slumber as she pulled her hands away.

My eyes must have told her everything I wanted to say next. She answered me without even waiting for the question.

“I’ll come find you. Make sure you enjoy yourself.”

She cupped the back of my head, glanced at Tiery for a brief second, and then kissed me right in front of my husband.

I saw Tiery’s eyes widen in shock just as I closed mine, swept away by the soft, eager enthusiasm of her lips.

There was no tongue, no rushing. She was respectful, kissing me deeply while her skilled fingers slowly undid my ponytail one strand at a time. Her fingers massaged my scalp for one last agonizing second, and then she was gone.

I watched her white garment disappear into the shifting crowd.

Tiery had a knowing, amused smile on his face when I finally turned to look at him.

I took the glass of wine from his hand and gulped it down all at once. Tiery was smiling so much he looked close to laughing. I must have looked completely flustered.

“What, babe?” I asked, wiping a drop of wine from my mouth.

“You haven't noticed yet, have you? She took your mask.”

***

The sound of a clock chimed in the distance. I felt completely naked in a room where people were leaning dangerously close to their partners, talking about sex, and showing off.

I felt this way simply because I was missing my mask.

I thought it was ridiculous. Everyone turned to look at the grand staircase in the middle of the hall, which led to another floor.

The people up on the balcony smiled down, and we smiled up at a man in a dark blue suit. He raised his glass and spoke. His voice sounded oddly familiar.

“It is midnight. It is time, friends and gentlemen, women and foes, and those who are neither. Let the party begin!” he finished, and a wave of claps filled the air. Masks began to come off. The night was changing fast.

It was time.

The lights dimmed even more. The golden bulbs went out, and the red and blue lights flickered on. People shed their heavy layers.

The room around me was changing, emptying. I felt like a stranger standing completely exposed in the middle of it all. It was better when Mallory was here; at least then I was her model.

“I am going to check out the other rooms. Are we doing this alone?” Tiery asked.

I had completely forgotten about him. My eyes stung as I tried to force a smile in the shadows. The man who had announced midnight was now laughing with another lady. She kissed his fingers, and he held her waist in a heavy, possessive grip.

Deep in my gut, I recognized the way he moved his body, but I could not figure out where from.

“Alone is better. This should be a personal journey, right?”

“Right,” Tiery replied, but we both stayed still. Neither of us knew how to move in a place like this.

Nearby, couples had started making out, getting much more forward. Fabrics were pushed aside, and heavy, quiet sighs filled the hot air.

“We can do this, babe. You go first, off to whatever room. We will find ourselves later,” I managed to say, though a sinking feeling twisted in my stomach.

“Babe, we did not discuss any rules,” Tiery said.

I nodded. “For tonight, let there be no rules,” I decided for both of us.

Tiery was just walking away when I felt a gloved hand touch my back. I jumped, almost leaping out of my skin.

“I did not mean to scare you,” the man said as he turned to face me. It was Mr. Kelley, my boss from the office.

Instantly, it felt like all the air was rushing out of the room. My lungs deflated, and when I tried to breathe in, there was nothing left to take.

Mr. Kelley looked amused. “Is it okay if I touch you?”

I was completely confused. Mr. Kelley noticed and spoke again, his voice full of strange understanding. “Consent is very important at these parties.”

“Oh.” I started nodding like a lizard. “You can touch me, you can touch touch me, you can even retouch—” His completely straight face told me to cut the crap. I swallowed the rest of my words, feeling like a ripe tomato about to burst.

Across the room, a whip cracked against someone’s skin, followed by a soft moan. Mr. Kelley laughed, and his laugh calmed me down a little bit. He took my hand and led me to an empty corner.

We walked past the big black pillars, up the staircase, and instead of taking one of the private doors, we stopped at the edge of the hallway where a table and four chairs waited, two of them padded.

“I am sorry, I did not think I would see you here. I must look so irresponsible,” I started apologizing before Mr. Kelley could even sit down or look at me.

He touched my hand and held it there, his fingers lingering until I was forced to look up at him. “If you are irresponsible for being here, then what am I?” When I could not answer, he added, “We are adults. Deal with it. Are you here with a partner?”

“My husband. He went to explore another room.”

“First time?” he asked, before declaring with a smirk, “First time for sure. You are jittery. It is funny, and intoxicating. Sit.”

He was my boss. My backside hit that chair faster than the lights had gone dark.