‘There is a lot. I hope we try it all.’
‘I hope you do,’ she says, her smile lingering all over Dimitri’s oversized jumper. ‘Tell me, do you ever use the café, or come for our social events?’
‘I work in evenings,’ Dimitri explains. ‘Rosie work in daytime.’
‘Oh dear, ships that pass in the night. But there’s nothing to stop you coming here alone. You’re both members. Why not join in and meet a few like-minded people? I’d hate to think you weren’t getting the most from your membership here.’
‘Oh, I just prefer to be with Dimitri,’ I mumble, looking at him sideways to see if he is tempted by this idea. Anton’s description of a Dimitri-like man coming out of the door has been drifting around in my head ever since he said the words.
‘We are busy people,’ he adds, to my distinct pleasure and relief. ‘I try to make career as actor, plus I must learn my English to make it better.’
‘What better way to improve your English than by making conversation with native speakers? At social events?’
‘Like I say, I am mostly busy. I try to make time, perhaps.’
‘Please do. We’d love to see you at one of our group play sessions, for instance. We’re all dying to see you in action.’
‘Uh-huh, right, well, thank you. Good afternoon.’
He makes his escape, with me in tow, back to the café area, where we buy restorative caffeinated beverages and subside on to the least visible couches.
‘We’re all dying to see you in action.’ I mimic O’s nakedly salacious tone, curling my lip. ‘Ugh.’
‘Is very strange, this O. She make me feel like piece of meat.’
‘Poor Dimitri. You’re being objectified. Just make sure you don’t get exploited next.’
‘I think she have plans for us.’
‘Plans for you.’
‘I don’t do no plans without you.’
I glow and melt into the cappuccino froth. ‘Aww, really?’
Before he can expand on this statement, a pair of tits with a dog leash dangling in between shoves itself rudely into my line of sight.
It’s Turkey Twizzler, and now she’s topless, wearing nothing but a teeny latex micro-mini and aforementioned dog leash.
‘You really aren’t coming to the orgy?’ She pouts at Dimitri. ‘I’ve told my handlers you might come. I’ve wanted to be topped by three men for such a long time. It’d be a dream come true.’
‘Handlers?’ Dimitri’s tone is blank and mystified.
‘Tops, you know. Doms. Where are you from? You have the sexiest accent.’
‘Moscow,’ he says, then picks up his coffee and takes a sip.
‘Mmm, so cool. Please come to the orgy. You too.’ She turns to me for about a millisecond and casts flat, bored eyes over me.
‘Thanks for the invitation,’ I reply, unable to keep the sardonic edge out of my voice. ‘But no thanks.’
‘I don’t want group sex,’ says Dimitri. ‘But thanks also.’
I want to kiss him. In fact, after she shrugs, says, ‘Pity,’ and turns around to reveal that her skirt has no back other than a wide strap crossing the tops of her thighs, I do.
‘That was a very gentlemanly refusal,’ I say, staring after her naked arse as it sashays over to the coffee bar where her ‘handlers’ are waiting for her. ‘Most men would want to fuck that.’
‘With two others? Not for me. I like a one on one.’
‘I thought guys dreamed of having two women at once.’
‘Oh well, that’s different.’
I elbow him in the ribs. ‘How so?’
He ruffles my hair. ‘I’m joking. And I am late for work. Come on. I book a room for next Saturday, yes?’
‘Of course. Yes.’
Chapter Six
‘You’re such an enigma these days. It’s like I never know what you’re thinking about any more.’
‘You never did.’
‘I thought I did. You thought about the same things I did – music, style, games, films, fun stuff, yeah?’
‘Maybe my idea of fun has changed.’
‘Has it though? Has it? How?’
Anton leans forwards, his Friday treat gastropub lunch forgotten as he hangs on my next utterance.
‘Oh, I dunno. It hasn’t really. I can’t do tomorrow though. Going to a wedding.’
‘Whose?’
‘Distant cousin.’ My fork freezes halfway to my mouth. Someone I recognise has just entered the pub.
Anton twists his head round, following my line of vision. ‘Who’s she?’
‘Oh, nobody. Who?’
‘That woman. Don’t pretend you don’t know! Your face!’