Chapter Two – The Club of Masks

Cassia leaned forward, staring through the car's tinted window. “This is the place?”

The car they'd ordered for the night stopped in front of what looked like a boarded up shop. There weren't any signs or lights or even people that suggested it was alive.

Ava nodded eagerly beisde her. “Did you seriously think they’d hang a neon sign? ‘Sex fantasies here? Relax Cassia, this is how it works.”

“I don’t like it,” Cassia whispered, clutching her purse tighter. She wasn't used to places like this. Infact she believed sex was meant to be sacred. With the man you loved. 

“You don’t like anything new. That’s why I dragged you here.” Ava pushed the door open. “Come on. It's too late to chicken out.”

Cassia sighed and followed. She was already in too deep now. She was wearing a simple black dress Ava had made her buy at the resort boutique.

It had a low neckline and hugged her waist, bringing attention to her curves. As she walked in, she felt suddenly self conscious, as though people were staring even though the street was empty.

Two men in suits stood by the entrance. They didn’t look like bouncers, they looked like soldiers. One held out his hand. “Your phones.”

Ava dropped hers without blinking but Cassia hesitated. “What if there’s an emergency?”

The man didn’t answer, his hand was still stretched out, waiting for her phone.

Ava nudged her. “Just give it. It's their policy. No phones in the club, no cameras. That’s how people feel safe and avoid emergencies.” Ava winked at the man. Cassia swallowed hard and then handed it over.

“IDs,” the second man said.

They both handed theirs over. Cassia’s stomach tightened when he placed her hand on a glass scanner and a green light swept across her skin.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Verification.” He didn't provide any more information.

Cassia's heart pounded when she saw her name and her face on the screen. For a moment she thought about her year and a half old daughter, Elara, at home with her mother. What if something happened and she wasn’t reachable?

Ava caught her arm as if she could read her mind. “Stop overthinking. Nothing’s happening except you finally enjoying yourself.”

They were led down a staircase, and at the bottom of the stairs, there was a velvet curtain slightly parted. Cassia pressed her lips tighter when she heard the unmistakble sound of moans.

Ava smiled at her as they entered. “Are you ready?”

Cassia swallowed nervously. No…no I'm not. She took in the men and the women in their evening clothes slipping through a door inside the room. Everyone moved like they already knew the rules.

“Uh…I think this was a bad idea, Ava.”

“Too bad, it's too late. You’ll thank me later.”

In the prep room, an attendant handed them sleek black masks that covered the upper face, leaving the mouth exposed.

“Put it on,” Ava said, already fastening hers.

Cassia turned it over in her hands. It was cold and smooth and she pressed it to her face and adjusted the strap behind her head. She looked at herself in the mirror on the wall and sighed.

The woman in the mirror no longer looked like Cassia Vale, neglected wife and exhausted mother. She looked like someone else entirely.

The attendant gestured to two reclining chairs adjacent to each other. “Put on your headsets.”

Cassia did as she was told but she was freaking out. She expected the headset she was given to be heavy but it slid on like a second skin. 

She turned it on and the world went black.

****

When Cassia vale opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a half completed cathedral. “Oh my God!” Cassia said out loud.

Her voice echoed in the empty cathedral. There were tall pillars that stretched upwards and candles burned in row, dropping was on the floor.

There was no one else there except her. Cassia flirted with the idea of taking off the headset since it was getting a little too creepy.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.” A male figure stepped out as if he'd materialized from thin air. He was also wearing a mask.

He was tall, and barechested with tattoos running up his arm. He was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. Instinctively, she stepped back.

He didn't stop moving until he had backed her against the nearest wall. “Oh wow, I guess it's just straight to it then? No small talk?” She laughed nervously.

“You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.” He said to her, and she blinked to be sure she'd heard right. 

“What? That's a lie. You know you don't have to lie.” She bit back, already feeling self conscious.

He trailed a finger against her bare skin, and she felt tiny sparks of pleasure run along her arm. Then he leaned down and took her by surprise. 

Cassia swallowed a small gasp when he nibbles her lips, then pulled her into him with his big arms. How they fit so perfectly with her body, she thought.

She could feel his hardon as it pressed into her thigh. God, she'd missed being with a man.

He teased her nipples through her dress, as he kissed her, and she felt the familiar pleasure gathering in between her legs.

Then this man pulled her dress up, pulled her panties to the side, and slid a finger inside her moist vagina, while he feasted on her nipples.

Cassia couldn't breathe, as enjoyed the motions of his hands. She bit back a moan when he slid two fingers in, and pumped in and out of her slowly.

This wasn't right and yet it felt so good. Her knees weakened and no one had touched her like this in years. 

“Tell me what you want?” He huskily whispered in her ear. 

“I…I can't. Infact, I .. shouldn't.” Cassia replied, pulling herself back to reality. She pushed him away, pulling his fingers out of her. She was so wet and uncomfortable in her panties.

She shouldn't be doing this with another man. He cocked his head to the side confused.

“Anything you wish.”

Cassia ripped the headset off with shaking hands. Her chest rose and fell and when the red private room came back to focus, she sighed with relief.

“That was something.” She heard a man behind her. Cassia shook her head. She wasn't going to look back. She didn't want to know who he was. 

Guilt knocked against her heart and she was dripping to her legs as she hurried out of the room.