Page 23 of Now & Forever
Chapter 7
Gwen
Gwen had no idea what she was thinking when she agreed to go out with James Sunday night. In her defense, though, she was under the impression they were going out for dinner and maybe taking in a show at the theater. Instead, James suggested that they dress for the club, and Gwen only knew of one club that they frequented.
Used to be she always had fun at The Dark Hour, the region’s biggest and most exclusive club for men and women who had discerning sexual tastes. It was the type of place she instantly took to after starting to date James. After all, what humanized his fellow trust-fund kids better than showing them naked, drunk, and successfully hitting on every person in the room? (Perhaps other people would have found that daunting, but Gwen’s personality lent her to becoming utterly delighted when Ian first hit on her, and James took it in stride.)
That was something she had always loved about James – his affable nature. The one that didn’t take things too seriously, and the one that was always up for trying new things, even if he wasn’t sure he’d like it.
Gwen didn’t have much taste for The Dark Hour lately, though. What was once a fun biweekly escape had now become nothing but noise. She didn’t recognize half the people there, even if they recognized her. When it came to her reputation preceding her, it usually had to do with kink.
Ah, there was the real reason she wasn’t comfortable here anymore. It wasn’t seeing other couples participate in their kinky natures. It was the expectation that she would indulge as well. Wasn’t she the woman who once infamously cuckolded her own boyfriend for a whole night? The management liked to joke that it was couples like Gwen and James who kept the place buzzing and the money flowing. Too much pressure.
This was only their second time coming since Christmas. James probably thought he was grasping for familiarity. Gwen would rather go home and watch The Late Show reruns in bed. She had missed Wednesday’s episode. Was it on again tonight?
“Gwenny,” James said, leaning back in their leather sofa. Their corner of the club was cordoned off with a red velvet rope that only admitted the friends they wanted to talk to. So far, that was Kathryn and Ian, who canoodled on another couch while covertly watching YouTube videos on Ian’s phone. (Phones were strictly not allowed in the club. Privacy concerns, after all.) “You’re more uncomfortable than our frat brother Frank when he found out we were going to a pegging party five years ago. What’s up?”
Gwen, who had been taking in the sights and raucous sounds of a sex club on a Sunday night, shrugged her shoulders and said, “Not really feeling it.”
“What would help you feel it?”
His hand was on her thigh, fingers trudging up the skirt of her little black dress she threw on before leaving the house. “Maybe I want to sit here and watch the shows.”
“We can watch the shows tonight.” Nobody was scheduled to perform on the main stage that night, but that didn’t stop amateurs from jumping up and arousing the crowds. James and Gwen used to be regulars and werenotshy with the exhibitionism. Sometimes they joked that more people had seen Gwen naked than she had everbeennaked in her life.That feels like a lifetime ago.In truth, it was about a year and a half ago when they last did something like that. Now, coming to the club meant looking into the eyes of everyone who judged them for what they went through with Cassandra. Didn’t help that most of the men in the room had slept with Cassandra. Before the real paternity of little Patrick came to light, half the men in the city worried that they might be the daddy.
“Let’s get a round of drinks,” Ian said, pocketing his phone. Kathryn propped her elbow up on the back of their couch, her other hand drawing a small circle on the front of Ian’s dress shirt. “Hell, let’s get three rounds of drinks. We haven’t played a drinking game in forever, and I’m itching for some fun around here.”
“The stage is empty,” James said. “Nothing’s stopping you two from getting frisky.”
“That’s more your thing.”
Gwen broke her brooding demeanor with a laugh. “Don’t think we could ever top the night Kathryn ripped off your clothes, tied you up, and branded you with her lipstick.”
Kathryn matched her friend’s grin. “Yeah, hon, when are we gonna do that again?”
“Sounds like a wild bachelor party to me.”
Ian was the only one laughing at his joke. Kathryn’s smile crashed off her face, and James and Gwen were reminded of one of their biggest scars.
“Get those drinks,” James said. “We’ll play whatever game you want.”
Gwen rolled her eyes as Ian flagged down a server and ordered three rounds of whatever shots the bar felt like giving them. “Can’t wait to get drunk enough to stumble out of here.”
“That’s why we took a cab here, Gwen.” Her partner patted her shoulder. The server bounded away, excited to be making such a good commission off two of the biggest couples in the club. “No worrying about getting home later.”
The first round arrived on a circular tray. The server, who was busty enough to topple over when she set the tray down on the table, flashed everyone her most winning grin. Ian was the only one to flirt back with her.
“First round is the buzz.” Ian handed his girlfriend a shot glass before grabbing one for himself. “Then we’ll get serious.”
James shoved a shot glass into Gwen’s hand. With a sigh of resignation, she clinked her glass with her friends’ and downed it in one gulp.
God, it burned!
“Whatisthat?” She slammed her glass down on the table and gagged. “Demon piss?” Gwen used to be a professional bartender, yet she hadnoidea what she drank.
James clapped her on the back. She coughed as if that liquid threatened to shoot up her esophagus again. “Puts hair on your chest, doesn’t it?”
“Putssomethingon my chest!”
