eyes scan over Scott in the rear-view mirror. Then he reached over and turned on the radio, and that was the end of that conversation.
Chapter Eleven
The tension in the car loosened as Verlaine drove them back into London. Sam allowed her mind to unwind into the Christmas songs on the radio, which filled the car with happy vibes and nostalgia. When Mariah Carey’s ubiquitous All I Want For Christmas inevitably streamed in through the speakers, Sam burst into giggles.
“This song’s been following me around since October – it’s everywhere!”
The others launched into a fun conversation about how sad it was that Christmas seemed to start in August these days, and that the music hadn’t been updated since 1984.
Sam allowed her nervous excitement to spiral inside as Verlaine pulled the T-bird into the lavish car park of the venue. Scott had said that the party tonight was being held at a private members’ gym, but it looked more like a million-pound mansion from out here.
They all climbed out and made their way towards the entrance. Sam saw that the expensive vibe continued inside the building – the lobby was like a hotel foyer, with a marble floor, plush furnishings, and a water fountain containing koi carp. Sam noticed that the people milling around in here were dressed in smart clothes. It felt like a fabulous five-star function, and not at all like a sleazy sex party. The fact that Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas was also playing in here made her laugh with glee.
She held Verlaine’s hand, and they followed Paul and Scott over to an opulent glass counter, behind which an attractive woman stood. She was well-groomed and courteous, and Sam wondered whether they’d actually come to the wrong place.
Scott chatted with the woman as he showed her his ID and paid for all four of them. Then he turned and grinned. “Shall I give you the tour?”
“Please!”
Paul gestured to a cloakroom, where another attractive well-dressed woman was standing. “Do you want to put your coat in, Sam?”
“Oh, yeah, thanks.”
She struggled out of her coat, and Paul took it over to the cloakroom for her. She nervously smoothed down the front of her short dress and threw Verlaine a coy grin. He smiled back.
While they were waiting for Paul, Scott saw a straight couple he knew. They looked wealthy and professional, but there was a twinkle in their eyes that Sam didn’t often see in business people. They knew how to have fun; how to express themselves; how to enjoy what nature had given them, without feeling guilty or caring about what anyone else thought. Sam shook hands with them and saw they were both wearing wedding rings. They chatted with Scott for a moment about the gloomy weather, then they wished Sam and Verlaine an enjoyable first time, and strode away arm in arm.
“Are they married to each other?” Sam asked.
“Yep,” Scott said. “Same as me and Paul, I guess. They love each other but enjoy coming here for the experience. I think they’re a bit more open to sex with other people, but it’s all above board. I can tell they really respect each other.”
Sam smiled. “It feels very respectful in here. I thought there might be an air of desperation, but it’s just like being in a pub. Well, a posh bar, more like!”
“Totally,” Scott said. “Desperation doesn’t get you anywhere here. You need to play by the rules and respect everyone. If you act like an idiot, you’ll lose your membership, so everyone’s pretty decent. Unless you don’t want them to be, of course!”
Sam smirked at Verlaine. “What do you say, baby. Shall we stay decent tonight?”
He nervously put his arm around her. “Decent’s okay by me!”
Scott grinned. “I wonder what time Santa’s coming! We don’t wanna miss him!”
Sam giggled, trying to contain her lustful desire.
Paul re-joined them, so he and Scott led Sam and Verlaine through the lobby and towards a corridor.
Apparently this was the
Chapter Eleven
The tension in the car loosened as Verlaine drove them back into London. Sam allowed her mind to unwind into the Christmas songs on the radio, which filled the car with happy vibes and nostalgia. When Mariah Carey’s ubiquitous All I Want For Christmas inevitably streamed in through the speakers, Sam burst into giggles.
“This song’s been following me around since October – it’s everywhere!”
The others launched into a fun conversation about how sad it was that Christmas seemed to start in August these days, and that the music hadn’t been updated since 1984.
Sam allowed her nervous excitement to spiral inside as Verlaine pulled the T-bird into the lavish car park of the venue. Scott had said that the party tonight was being held at a private members’ gym, but it looked more like a million-pound mansion from out here.
They all climbed out and made their way towards the entrance. Sam saw that the expensive vibe continued inside the building – the lobby was like a hotel foyer, with a marble floor, plush furnishings, and a water fountain containing koi carp. Sam noticed that the people milling around in here were dressed in smart clothes. It felt like a fabulous five-star function, and not at all like a sleazy sex party. The fact that Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas was also playing in here made her laugh with glee.
She held Verlaine’s hand, and they followed Paul and Scott over to an opulent glass counter, behind which an attractive woman stood. She was well-groomed and courteous, and Sam wondered whether they’d actually come to the wrong place.
Scott chatted with the woman as he showed her his ID and paid for all four of them. Then he turned and grinned. “Shall I give you the tour?”
“Please!”
Paul gestured to a cloakroom, where another attractive well-dressed woman was standing. “Do you want to put your coat in, Sam?”
“Oh, yeah, thanks.”
She struggled out of her coat, and Paul took it over to the cloakroom for her. She nervously smoothed down the front of her short dress and threw Verlaine a coy grin. He smiled back.
While they were waiting for Paul, Scott saw a straight couple he knew. They looked wealthy and professional, but there was a twinkle in their eyes that Sam didn’t often see in business people. They knew how to have fun; how to express themselves; how to enjoy what nature had given them, without feeling guilty or caring about what anyone else thought. Sam shook hands with them and saw they were both wearing wedding rings. They chatted with Scott for a moment about the gloomy weather, then they wished Sam and Verlaine an enjoyable first time, and strode away arm in arm.
“Are they married to each other?” Sam asked.
“Yep,” Scott said. “Same as me and Paul, I guess. They love each other but enjoy coming here for the experience. I think they’re a bit more open to sex with other people, but it’s all above board. I can tell they really respect each other.”
Sam smiled. “It feels very respectful in here. I thought there might be an air of desperation, but it’s just like being in a pub. Well, a posh bar, more like!”
“Totally,” Scott said. “Desperation doesn’t get you anywhere here. You need to play by the rules and respect everyone. If you act like an idiot, you’ll lose your membership, so everyone’s pretty decent. Unless you don’t want them to be, of course!”
Sam smirked at Verlaine. “What do you say, baby. Shall we stay decent tonight?”
He nervously put his arm around her. “Decent’s okay by me!”
Scott grinned. “I wonder what time Santa’s coming! We don’t wanna miss him!”
Sam giggled, trying to contain her lustful desire.
Paul re-joined them, so he and Scott led Sam and Verlaine through the lobby and towards a corridor.
Apparently this was the
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