Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Ryan is scanning the room, looking for me.

“Want to introduce us properly to your friend?” asks James. “In a situation where we’ll talk about something other than cooling systems.

Of course I do.

I wave across the floor. Ryan sees me and his face lights up, smiling at me as though there is no-one else in the room.

We cross to each other, meeting in the middle, where he coils an arm around my waist, reeling me in to kiss me on the cheek.

“Hi, sorry to be so long. It was a bit more….”

“That’s fine. You’re all done now? We have the evening?”

“Yes, we have the evening.” He slips his fingers into mine, and holding hands, I tug him back towards the trio.

“Um, this is Ryan…. and um, you met James earlier. This is Michael and Charlotte.”

“Please to meet you, Michael.” Ryan offers his hand and the two shake. “And you too, Charlotte.” He leans to kiss her lightly on the cheek, then moves to stand by me, his arm around my waist. “You’ve known each other long?”

I prevaricate. This is not yet the time to explain how I first met James and Michael. “Charlotte and I only just met when I started the new job. We don’t really know each other very well.” I explain.

“I suspect that will change,” says James. “Charlotte doesn’t have too many female friends. Another intelligent woman might be welcome company for her? Someone to talk to.” He cocks an eye at her.

“No question of finding an intelligent woman to be good company for a man, then?” she replies, her tone wry.

I suppress a laugh and look away. All three men look baffled. “Have I said something amiss?” asks James.

My eyes meet with Charlotte’s and as we grin, I know that we are both thinking the same thing.

Michael says “What are you talking about, Charlotte? We talk with you all the time…. don’t we?”

Ryan turns to me. “You’re a bright, intelligent woman. Why would I not want to talk with you?”

I try to choose my words carefully….

The fragile male ego….

“Lots of men say they like intelligent women. I’ve never encountered one who, when it came to it, really felt that way.”

Ryan’s brow furrows. “But I do like intelligent women. It’s one of the things that I find attractive in you;

that I can have a conversation with you, rather than just meaningless chit-chat and socialising.”

“Yes? Really? Can’t say I’ve ever been asked to get my brains out for the boys.”

Charlotte collapses into laughter. Michael’s eyes dance with merriment and even the saturnine James is sucking in his cheeks against a smile.

Ryan seems momentarily speechless, then says, “Excuse me for a moment while I discipline my woman.”

He turns to me, pulls me in by the waist tight to him and murmurs by my ear. “If I ever appear to insult your intelligence, then tell me. Don’t dwell on it and don’t let it fester. But equally, when we are alone, I am going to slap your ass until it glows red for that remark.”

My breath hitches and my panties flood. He continues, “And don’t think I don’t know about that either…”

A hot flush is rising up my throat and neck….

Damn! How does he do it?

I just don’t normally react this way. I meet a man, and if I like him enough to fuck we get on with it. But with Ryan….

I settle for coyness. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you mean.”

His brows arch….

He’s not fooled….

We turn our attention back to the threesome, who are now chatting with another couple who have just arrived.

“Who’s with who?” Ryan hisses out of the side of his mouth. “I can’t figure out which one she’s married to.”

“She’s married to both of them.”

He looks sceptical. “Seriously? You can’t do that legally.”

“Seriously. Legalities are not the point. She’s legally married to Michael, but the realities are….”

How do I explain this….?

“The thing is about places like this….” I wave my hand around the Club…. “…. is that just about everyone here understands. If you live your life differently, or you have…. um…. unusual tastes, no-one cares. So long as it’s between consenting adults, you just get on with it.”

Am I taking him too fast?

He nods, thoughtfully. “Can’t say I have any argument with that. Want to show me the place? I think we’re a bit surplus to need here.” He nods to where James, Michael, and Charlotte are now deep in conversation with the strangers.

“Come on.” I take him by the hand, showing him around; the pool and jacuzzi, occupied by people in various stages of nudity; the cage, which right now contains a girl in a leather harness on her knees and offering her open mouth to passersby. One man stops, pushing his semi-erect cock at her while his friend stands by to watch. In the orgy room, the vast bed, easily large enough to take twenty or thirty people is unoccupied. The evening is yet young.

“It’s all a bit…. public,” says Ryan. “Are we expected to….”

“Only if you want to. Plenty of people get off on exhibitionism. And a lot enjoy voyeurism.”

“And you? Have you.… done these things?”

“Yes, I’ve done them. But only with other people who also enjoyed it.”

Realisation washes across his face. “Is that how you know James and Michael? You and they….?”

Oh, crap.

Is this it?

Might as well be truthful. He’s bound to find out sooner or later….

“Yes, once.”

He chews the thought over. “Once? They weren’t your…. lovers?”

“No, they’re a couple of nice guys that I had sex with, once.”

“And what am I? Another nice guy you have sex with?”

Now there is a challenge in his eye, and for the first time, I know in my heart of hearts that I want this man to be more than that.

“No,” I say. “It started out that way. You know it did.… the way we met. But you’re more to me now.” I wait for his response…. which doesn’t come.

Anxiety snatches at my gut. “How do you feel about that?” I ask.

He looks up at the ceiling, then back down at me. “How do I feel? I feel that…. while this place is very interesting, and that I would be happy to explore its possibilities with you on another occasion; right now, I want you to myself, back in my apartment.” He cocks his head at me. “What do you think?”

And at his words, the sun is shining and my skies are blue. “I’d love for you to have me to yourself, back in your apartment.”

“Good.” He kisses me on the cheek, then offers me his arm. “Shall we?”