All the waiting.
Calix had taken work at Misdemeanor, a nightclub in the center of the capital city, in his first month on Alter. He’d been nothing more than a waiter then, getting to know the ins and outs before daring to move up. Every club had its own set of rules, with varying levels of intimacy that was allowed between workers and their clients. Misdemeanor was fine with customers doing some light petting, getting somewhat handsy with the waitstaff, but only so long as the waiter or waitress didn’t give a firm no.
Cal never said no.
Sometimes, he even wished the people who touched him would be a bit firmer.
His boss, a nice woman in her sixties, couldn’t have known he was chasing after the impossible, thinking about the two men he’d left behind.
Wishing it was them touching him at the bar instead of strangers.
She had, however, seen his potential. He’d worked there less than a month before she’d told him about a rare opportunity to quickly rise the ranks. She’d recommended him to Moonward Manor, one of the most prestigious clubs on the planet, with the highest level of pay.
The manor was in a more secluded location, on an island in the heart of a dense forest. The ferry was the only way on or off, which meant if someone missed their window, they’d be trapped for the night.
It was perfect.
Calix lifted his multi-slate and went over his employee checklist for the millionth time. To help match them with potential clients, every worker had to compile a list of things they were willing and unwilling to do. Half the reason Cal was so nervous was that he’d assumed he’d have more time after hitting submit, but less than ten minutes after his stimulus bio had been added to the website, he’d been assigned.
The Night Manager of the manor, Gael, had joked it was probably because Cal had checked yes to practically everything. Even the darker shit he said most refused to get into.
Like permanent damage to his person.
He’d selected no for broken bones or dismemberment of any kind, but had clicked yes for things like knife play, blood play, fire play, and even branding.
Calix closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, trying to calm his nerves.
What if this was a massive mistake?
What if his clients weren’t who he expected? What if they hurt him for real, and not just in a play setting?
What if he allowed someone else to permanently alter his body by tattooing, marking, or branding him and—
No.
“It’s been three months,” he said to Vesper, mostly to distract himself, “and they haven’t come. I can’t keep waiting.”
On the checklist, there was also a box for stimulus to put down how many sexual partners they were willing to take on at once. He’d hesitated the most there, waffling between one and two before finally hitting the button for four—because why not at that point, right?
Tonight, he was entertaining two men whose interests had aligned with his own when they’d undergone the screening process. Moonward took great care of their employees and ensured every one of their clients was clean and understood the agreed-upon rules. There was a contract for all of them to sign, and a detailed written scene for how the night would go.
Calix had been in charge of providing the script, though he’d hoped one of the clients would offer to do it for him. He’d kept things fairly simple, not wanting to botch his first attempt by getting overly detailed.
They’d start in the forest on the east side of the manor at eight pm. The clients had shown interest in a kidnaping/rape fantasy, and Cal hadn’t seen reason not to go along with it. Hell, it was probably for the best, since he had real-life experience in that department. Their photos, which he’d received this morning, weren’t bad either. They were older than him. If he had to choose, he would prefer attractive men in their thirties over some of the other options.
“All right,” Cal scratched Vesper beneath the chin, “for the next few hours, we don’t think about Titus or Aodhan. Clear? We just let the chips fall where they may.”
He stepped out of his room and locked the door behind him before traveling down the long hallway. Unlike the club he’d started at, this place was quiet this time of night, most guests off with their stimulus in a cordoned off area or their rooms.Calix had booked the first half of the east woods for his session, which would keep others from accidentally walking in on him in the middle of his consensual non-consent play. Another box he’d checked no on had been for exhibitionism.
Having an audience wasn’t something he was interested in.
As it were, tonight was already going to be difficult to get through.
Gael met him on the stairs, gifting him a friendly smile when Cal bowed his head in greeting. “I’ve gotta confess, I thought for sure you’d chicken out.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“We’re both ex I.P.F,” Gael reminded. “I better than most understand how hard it is to set your old way of thinking aside and fully immerse yourself in a place like this.”