Macie
“You lose,” Lily says with a grin. She shakes her head as she laughs. “You should have known you were going to lose.”
“I don’t like playing with you guys,” I pout. “You tricked me.”
“Trust me, honey,” Christina sips her whiskey. “Nobody gets tricked into doing anything they didn’t already want to do.”
I glare at the Turntable app on my phone. Once again, technology has let me down. After an entire week of Turntable dates, I’ve decided there are no good men left in the world. There certainly aren’t any good men left in Westbrook.
“You had a week,” Lily says. “You had one week to try using a dating app and to find someone you like. You didn’t, so now you have to come to Anchored.”
“A deal is a deal,” Christina says.
“Why do I feel like you’re ganging up on me?” I glare at the two women, but there are no hard feelings there.
“Because we totally are,” Lily says.
“It’s true,” Christina agrees. “But to be fair, it’s only because we’re so happy and in love,” she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “We just want you to find the same happiness.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, yes, I know you’re all very happy with your spankings.”
“It’s about more than spankings,” Christina says.
“I know.”
“Do you?” She looks at me pointedly. “Because I don’t think you do.”
She’s right. I haven’t even read a dirty book before, let alone been spanked. The last guy I had sex with was so boring I almost fell asleep. When he didn’t call me again, I wasn’t hurt. I didn’t even care. I was just completely uninterested in anything he had to offer.
Maybe I have a low sex drive. Maybe there’s something wrong with me. I might be a prude or maybe I just haven’t found the right guy. I don’t know. After a week of Turntable dates, though, one thing is for sure: I’m hopeless.
“Fine,” I give in to Christina. “You’re right. I don’t really know a lot about what happens at a club. Is it like, a huge orgy?”
She laughs. “You didn’t even look it up online before taking the bet?”
“I figured you wouldn’t lead me astray,” I shrug. “Was I wrong?”
Lily and Christina exchange knowing glances. They spend a lot of time together at work and they’ve become very close lately. When I met them at a Shining Stars Daycare event, they were warm and welcoming to me, and I immediately felt comfortable with the two women.
Even though I’m a caterer, not a childcare provider, we’ve discovered that the three of us have a lot in common. We all like the same movies and read a lot of the same books. I’m obsessed with fantasy novels and so are they. Hell, we even fangirl over the same actors in Doctor Who.
Still, there are times when I occasionally feel like an outsider in the group.
“I’ve been going to Anchored for six months now,” Lily says slowly. “It was scary at first, but you know what? The idea of going is much scarier than actually going. It’s not like a giant orgy. That’s not what Anchored is about.”
“Yeah,” Christina agrees. “It’s a safe place where people can enjoy their kinks, meet new people, and learn new things.”
“Like the best tools to use to spank someone?” I ask.
“That’s part of it,” Lily nods. “Do you really want someone spanking you when they haven’t had any training? Anchored provides that.” Lily’s husband, Jaxson, teaches BDSM classes at Anchored. Christina is pretty experienced in BDSM and doesn’t need to take any classes, but both girls have been urging me to sign up for one of Jaxson’s courses, or to at least come check out the club.
“I know, it’s just that I’m not really that type of girl.”
“You don’t like orgasms?”
“That’s not what I said,” I roll my eyes at Christina, wondering how the hell I’m going to get out of this. A bet is a bet, and a promise is a promise, but I really don’t want to go walking around the club in my skivvies for all the world to see.
“You’ve really never thought about going?” Lily asks gently. “Like, not even sort of considered it?”
“It’s just not the way I would ever think to spend a weekend. I mean, you guys, when was the last time I even went clubbing? I’m totally boring these days. I work long hours and that usually includes the weekends. The last thing I want to do after being on my feet for an entire wedding and reception is to go dancing.”
“If you get tied up, you won’t even have to stand,” Lily points out helpfully. “But for real,” she puts her hand on my knee. “I think you should give it a shot. Christina dragged me there, and I wasn’t sure what the hell I was getting into.”
“And you found your true love. I know. I know that you both found husbands at Anchored, and that’s great, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen that way for me.”
“We’re not saying you need to find a husband. We’re just saying you need to get laid, honey,” Christina isn’t one to mince her words.
“How long has it been? Really?”
“Six months,” I lie, but they both just stare at me until I groan. “Fine. A year. Happy?”
“No, we’re not happy,” Christina says. “You gave Turntable a week. Now it’s time to let us help you.”
“It’ll be great,” Lily says, and she sounds so excited that I hate to disappoint her.
“All right,” I say finally. “I have off Saturday. How’s that work?”
“Perfect!” They both squeal. Christina is already on her phone, shooting off a text.
“Who are you messaging?”
“I’m sending a guest request to the owner. They have to manually pre-approve guests, and then after your initial visit, you’ll need to apply to become a member if you want to.”
“Sounds like a serious place.”
“It is,” Lily and Christina say in unison.
“Okay, but let’s get something clear up front,” I say, not sure how I’m going to put my fear into words. I’d rather find out now, though, and then be surprised later. “Am I going to be expected to put out when we all go to the club? Like is this that type of intervention?”
“Are you asking if we’re going to force you to sleep with someone?” Lily looks shocked.
“Yes, that’s what I’m asking.”
“No, you won’t be allowed to have sex with anyone your first night.”
“No?” I’m not upset, but it seems like a strange requirement for a sex club. “Why not?”
“Everyone has to do STD screening before they have sex at the club,” Christina explains. “And you have to get tested regularly in order to maintain your membership. Oh, and you have to go through a psychological evaluation, but it’s totally not a big deal.”
“That kind of sounds like a big deal. Talking to a shrink? What if I find out I have some repressed childhood memories or something?”
“Then it’s probably a good idea to find that out before you go bonkers and hurt someone, love,” Lily wraps her arms around me. “Hey,” she says. “It’s going to be just fine. I promise.”