She’d never been claustrophobic, but the horde was stifling. She’d managed to make her way to the dance floor when a big drunken giant of a man staggered against her and knocked her off balance. Arms flailing, she tried to grab onto him to stay upright, but he took it as an advance, and turned around, his gaze dragging down her body, then up again, landing on her breasts.
“Well, hello!” he slurred, reaching out to pull her close.
Stacie shrieked and took a lurching step back, falling to the floor. A shoe stood on her hand and she cried out in pain.
“Wait,” the big man said, holding a hand out to her, but she scuttled away on her hands and knees, landing up against a table and chairs purely by chance. Sobbing, she managed to pull herself to upright again, cradling her painful hand with the other. Over the heads of the mob, she saw the double doors. The crowd thinned briefly and she charged for them. She dashed through, to be confronted by yet another large group of people filling the hall and the reception area. Stacie stared at the stairs where people sat with tongues down each other’s throats. She thought quickly…scanning the area, thinking fast…the main front door! She shoved her way through, hearing people behind her calling her names. She ignored them. Her stomach was in knots, and her chest felt like she was being suffocated.
She could hear her name being called out, but she didn’t bother to stop, keeping her mind on her target, the front door. Stacie grabbed the door handle and opened the large heavy door. The cold clean air hit her immediately, and she took a deep breath, feeling it fill her lungs, displacing the tainted air of the club.
Stacie closed the door behind her and just stood for a moment, ready to drop. Her body was drenched with sweat and her breath came in heaves. She took the few steps across the porch and sat on the top step, staring at the car park. At least here she wouldn’t have to see anyone having sex. That kind of behaviour wasn't allowed outside the main door. The cold air brought her goosebumps back. She wiped away her tears and took a few moments to think.
Visions of the rooms and the people stalked her. Why did those people behave in that manner? Sex should be something beautiful and private between a couple. These people made it into some kind of sport or sordid entertainment.
A few tears escaped when she thought about Dan, visualising his face, reliving her experiences with him. He was a good looking guy, who seemed intelligent. How could he could blank out the intimacies of sex and keep it professional? But then, she considered, when Graham treated her like meat, didn’t she do something similar, just blank it out. Maybe that was how Dan coped.
Stacie raised her head, and stared out at the bleak wintry landscape. She shivered, but had no desire to re-enter the building. She needed to clear her head, gather her thoughts, and give the reception area time to be cleared up of bodies.
She heard the slight noise of the door opening behind her. “Stacie?” A woman’s voice spoke. Stacie wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed than it wasn't Dan that had followed her out.
Stacie turned to see one of the receptionists coming to sit down alongside her. “Are you all right?”
Stacie replied with silence, unsure how to answer the question.
“What happened? Dan said you stormed off and doesn’t understand why.”
“I just couldn’t cope,” she answered, looking over at the car park.
“What couldn’t you cope with?”
“Everywhere I looked, there were people having sex.”
“But that is what Desires is all about. People come here to explore their fantasies with no strings attached.”
She paused, as if to give Stacie a chance to answer. When she was met with only silence, she went on.
“We all enjoy different things, whether it’s craftwork, reading, sports, or sex. Some people never have the opportunities that Desires offers. We’re all individuals and live life differently. It doesn’t make anyone bad, Stacie. Desires is very professional, nothing happens without anyone’s say so.”
The woman paused again. Stacie’s mind whirled with thoughts. What the woman was saying went against every moral fibre of Stacie’s upbringing. She seemed to be saying that what went on in there was okay, so long as it was agreed to.
“Look Stacie, Desires is all about fantasies and sex, whether it’s love-making, bondage, play or just a damn good night out. I’m not saying you have to change your life or ideas, we all have our own opinions whether you agree or disagree. But that’s what Desires is.”
Stacie understood what she was saying. Whether Stacie wished to take Desires’ open-minded view or not, was another matter. If everyone was entitled to their own opinions, surely she was too. People having sex with strangers, having sex in public, openly displayed their nakedness and being proud of their open-mindedness! Stacie had been brought up to respect herself and love the person she was. But wasn't that the problem? She wouldn’t be at the club if she loved herself. Stacie didn’t like the person she saw in the mirror at all. A woman who ran around all day, working, not spending any time on herself, needing to decide where her life was going.
“Are you not freezing out here?”
“Yes I am. I just needed to get some air, where I didn’t feel I was going to bump into people having sex everywhere.”
“I understand what you mean, it can be a bit in your face. Friday and Saturday nights are always the busiest though. If you come during the week, it’s a whole different place. It’s the same for everyone, work during the week, play at weekends.”
Stacie sat and stared at the cars, seeing hers, debating whether to leave or not. But then there was Dan.
“Shall we head back inside?” the woman said.
“I don’t know. Is it still busy in there?”
“I’ll have a look. It should have quietened down now. We’d just had a couple of parties arrive at once when you came through.” She got up and opened the door. “There are still a few people, but it’s not as bad as it was,” she reported.
“Okay, I’ll come back in. It is a bit cold,” Stacie said, a violent shiver juddering her body.
She stood up. The receptionist held the door open for her then followed her into the warm building. Stacie saw Dan standing ahead of her in the reception area, his face etched with concern. The receptionist strode up ahead and Stacie fell in behind her.
A few people were still standing in the reception area, but it was a great deal less crowded then when she had left. The receptionist took her place back behind the desk and Stacie felt exposed. Dan stood before her. Stacie didn’t dare to look directly at him, but held her head low, staring at his feet. They moved closer to her.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she told him. His feet moved closer still and she felt him put his hand under her chin and lift her face up. She glanced at him briefly then moved her gaze to the side. “Can we head back to the room?”
He released her face. “Okay.”
He led the way to the staircase and Stacie began to follow when she saw Angel standing at the foot of the stairs, staring at her with sharp eyes. She was wearing a PVC microdress and thigh-high heavily buckled boots with towering spike heels. She held a cat-o’-nine-tails in her hand.
“Is everything okay, Dan?” she said, still looking at Stacie.
“Everything’s fine,” he said. Stacie moved quickly to Dan’s side, putting Dan between herself and the other woman.
Stacie could feel Angel’s stare as they started up the stairs, but couldn’t meet her eyes. Angel was intelligent and aware. Stacie knew Angel would have picked up on the fact that there was a problem.
“You know, I think you should look at your life.” Stacie heard a man’s cutting voice coming from behind her. She turned around to see the guy from the patio that had offered the foursome. “Desires is all about sex. No matter what your opinion is, we love it and personally, I don’t think you belong here.”
Dan moved back down the steps to confront the man. “That’s
enough. She isn’t here for that business.”
“No mate, it isn’t enough. She’s looking down her nose at us, the stuck up bitch. I couldn’t give a damn about her reasons for being here. She has no right to be fucking looking at us like shit.”
“That’s enough, James. I’m sure she never meant it that way.” Dan turned around heading back toward Stacie. He took hold of Stacie’s hand and began to pull her up the stairs.
“Stuck up bitch,” came the yell from downstairs. Dan’s hand clenched hers hard. “People enjoy sex, go fuck yourself, bitch.” Stacie swallowed, trying not to get upset.
Dan stopped at the top of the stairs and released her hand. Stacie felt her heart beating overtime, sensing something was about to kick off. “Wait here,” he commanded, then she watched in horror as he headed back down the staircase. “Don’t you dare call her a bitch. You know absolutely nothing about her.”
“I couldn’t give a shit, and if you’re doing your job correctly she wouldn’t be glaring at everyone like they’re dirt. You should be fucking her, show her what the real world is.”
Stacie listened to the confrontation from the top of the stairs, horrified but oddly excited at the same time. James advanced on Dan, pointing his finger at him, when Stacie noticed Angel move in.
“James, don’t you have a client to attend to?” Angel said, her posture oozing authority.
Stacie saw James scowl at Dan then he looked up at her, giving her an evil glare before he walked off, his face murderous. Stacie watched Dan turn around and come back up the stairs. She stepped back as Dan arrived at her side, his face set in angry lines. Stacie wasn’t sure if she should say something. She felt guilty now for storming off the way she had. She could hardly believe Dan had just confronted James on her behalf.
Back at the room, Dan opened the door and went in first. Stacie watched Dan storm over to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him. She walked in the room, closing the door behind her. She was unsure what to do other than hide under the bed. Visions of Graham’s tempers came back to her—she was terrified of Dan’s reaction. She was paying him to teach her sex, not fight her wars for her, and she wasn't paying to be scared of his anger.
Dan came out from the bathroom, his face wet. She watched him pull off his soaking wet top and launch it at the floor. He rushed toward her and she panicked, moving out of his way and cowering to the bed for protection. Stacie’s heart skipped beats as Dan opened the wardrobe door and pulled out a clean top. He turned to look at Stacie as she stood next to the bed, scared stiff.
“What are you doing?” he said. He stared at her, then advanced on her, frowning. Stacie backed away. “Hey, come here,” he said, holding his arm out.
Stacie’s eyes filled with tears and she ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, cuddling her tight.
“I’m sorry,” Stacie said, bursting into tears.
“Hey,” he said, running his hands up and down her back. She snuggled into his bare chest, hearing his heart beating fast. “I’m the one that should be sorry. He had no right whatsoever to pre-judge you like that. He needs to look at his attitude, not get annoyed when someone refuses him.” Dan stood holding her tight to his chest. She felt him kissing the top of her head then he stiffened and leaned back, looking searchingly into her eyes.
“Oh my God…Jesus, no. Bloody hell, Stacie. I am so, so sorry…God…” he said, holding her tighter than ever. She guessed he had just worked out the reason for her terror. They stood for a long moment, him holding her so tight it was almost painful, but comforting at the same time. “I know what you’re looking for.” she finally heard from above. What did he mean by that?
Stacie drew back a little from his chest, reluctantly pulling away from his comfort and scent, longing to remain there forever. “What?”
“You need someone to love you.”
But you can’t do that. The words remained unspoken. They were unnecessary. They both knew what the contract said. Stacie released him, stepping back to look deep into those brown eyes, which looked calmer than when she last saw them. She stepped back a few feet, seeing a smile on Dan’s face. Time to change the subject. That thought’s far too scary to contemplate right now.
“Do you think I am a stuck up bitch?”
“No, don’t be silly. I think you’re a woman who needs direction,” he said. He pulled the clean top over his head. “Don’t allow him to manipulate you, he’s just pissed off you didn’t fancy having sex with him.”
“I’m not into that.”
“I know that, but you stormed off and never gave me a chance to answer him. I was going to say no, but you ran off.”
“I am so sorry, I just didn’t think. I was annoyed that every direction I looked people were having sex and then he kind of finished it off.”
“Don’t worry about it. Unfortunately, there’s no real safe place in this building unless of course you keep hiding out at the front door,” he said with a laugh, then shot her a wink.
They both sat on the bed. Stacie looked at Dan, analysing him, the way his dark hair reflected the light. Slowly, her gaze moved to his shoulders, they weren’t broad or overly muscular, they sloped slightly, his dark T-shirt not giving much of his body away. Every time Stacie thought about having sex with him, a frisson set her pussy atremble. She felt reborn and blown away with excitement. The way he touched her, caressing her body in the manner she loved, soft and gentle, then the way he kissed her…
She reached out, placing her hand flat on his back and then trailed her fingers down the ridge of his spine. She tucked one foot under her and knelt up, leaning forward to kiss his bare upper arm, just where the material of the T-shirt ended. Her fingers gently massaged all the way down to the waistband of his jeans. He turned to look at her, a quirky smile tilting his lips.
“What are you thinking about?” he said.
“Guess.”
In response he turned and kissed her deeply, his left hand cupping the back of her head. His right hand supported her back as he lowered her to the bed. She closed her eyes, lost in his kiss, welcoming his tongue as it politely requested entrance. He covered her body with his and she wrapped her arms round his back and held him close.
“Do you think I need some fun in my life?” she said to him when they came up for air.
He replied with a smile; the sexiest smile she had ever seen. Stacie was trapped in the pleasantest of snares. There was nothing in the world right now her heart desired more. Stacie pushed her right hand into her jeans, sliding it down into her panties, feeling her own arousal. She couldn’t seem to control her bodily functions when Dan was around.
Stacie slid her middle finger between her labia, feeling the dampness there, yearning for his throbbing cock. She glanced at him, seeing him looking at her, his face alight with pleasure and desire.
Dan leaned in—his lips almost touched hers. She opened to him, preparing to indulge in his mouth, when he turned and kissed her on the right cheek. Stacie inhaled his aroma, sweet and indulgent. She placed her hands onto his back, sliding them down to his buttocks. Dan kissed her around her cheek, his kisses soft and delicate. They only excited her more—she wanted to touch him all over.
His lips moved to her ear, kissing around her earlobe—he nipped at her lobe with gentle teeth, making her shudder. He used his tongue to tease and manipulate her till she longed to indulge and tease his body the way he was hers. Dan slowly drifted down her neckline where he pressed his soft luscious lips on her throbbing pulse. She tossed her head from side to side on the pillow, needing Dan more than ever, craving his cock. Why on earth did Dan have to be so good? There must be some magic inside him, keeping her at the club.
He pulled her jumper up and turned his attention to her breasts, kissing and nibbling along the soft curves. She held his head in place, inhaling the scent of his clean hair. Dan was divine, but something inside told her she was going to have to unlock her mental doors and allow her body and mind to relax more when it c
ame to sex. Dan would no longer be in her life once she stopped coming to Desires—her whole life would change. Her thoughts drifted to the orgy room, with all those guests having sex. How did they get the confidence to be naked around complete strangers? Stacie hugged Dan to her, leaning down to kiss his springy hair.
Dan paused in his ministrations to her. Stacie looked down to see him looking up at her, an odd expression on his face. Suddenly he rolled away from her and climbed off the bed.
He headed over to the table and poured himself a glass of the wine that was still there.
“Have I done something wrong?”
Dan didn’t reply but gulped down the entire glass of wine. The phone in the room suddenly rang. Dan picked it up, and took the receiver through into the bathroom. Stacie sat up, puzzled, trying to make out Dan’s side of the conversation through the bathroom door. She lay down again trying to look natural when he came back in and replaced the receiver in the cradle.
He looked at her. “Sorry, I’m needed downstairs for a while,” he said, walking to the door. “I’ll take the key.” He opened the door and left. Stacie lay still for a moment, her mind whirling. One minute he was making love to her, the next he had done a runner. Nothing seemed to make sense.
Stacie sat alone and bewildered, trying to figure out what she’d done wrong, if anything. Had it been because she’d kissed his hair? Surely not.
She climbed off the bed and wandered over to the dresser. Stacie sat on the stool staring hard into the mirror, glaring hard at herself, gazing deeply into her own brown eyes, seeing a sad woman, who felt lost and who couldn’t figure out her direction in life. She wanted love like Dan said, but she knew it didn’t come easy and it certainly didn’t come knocking on the door. She must open her mind.
Clearly, spending time with a young sexy man had made her realise what she had been missing in her life. Graham might have brainwashed her, but she could only be trapped while she allowed herself to be. Stacie straightened her back and stared hard at herself, pulling her hair away from her face and pouting her lips. She brushed her hands through her hair and down toward her breasts, smiling to herself.
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