Kinky(47)

I hear Dimitri zip himself up and sniff. ‘Thank you. You must not rush an artist.’

A stifled giggle escapes me at his grandiose tone, despite my conspicuous position.

‘Oh, I quite agree. And this would make such a lovely photograph. You could give lessons, Dimitri. Would you be interested in leading a session on corporal punishment?’

‘Corporal? This is something concerning the army, no?’

‘Oh, no, no. It’s another name for the spanking fetish, my dear. Though of course, when I was younger, it existed in the vanilla world too. Please excuse my dreadful manners – I should really introduce you.’

She makes a lengthy meal of explaining who her clients are, while I lie in several kinds of agony, avoiding showing my face throughout.

‘And this is his submissive, Rosie. Are you going to say hello, Rosie?’

I muffle something into the leather padding, but Dimitri’s hand on my hair, tugging at it, suggests I won’t be allowed to get away with this.

‘I think perhaps she’s indisposed,’ says the male client with a self-conscious chuckle.

‘She can speak,’ says Dimitri grimly.

I raise my head, twist my neck and mutter a greeting to the intrigued couple. They look sympathetic.

‘That must hurt a lot,’ the woman remarks.

‘In a word, yes.’

‘But without pain, no pleasure,’ says the man.

‘Sometimes.’

‘I’m sorry,’ says Dimitri. ‘We are overstaying. Rosie, get dressed now.’

Any hope I foster that the three extraneous people in this room will avert their eyes is quickly dashed as I hop about looking for knickers and jeans. While they chat amongst themselves, they keep their gazes fixed on me. O winces in sympathy when I pull the knickers over my sore bottom, and the others join in when I torture myself by putting my jeans back on. Why the hell didn’t I wear a skirt and hold-ups? These jeans might be heading for the charity shop.

Finally the ordeal ends and we leave the new clients to their playtime, following O up the stairs to the office.

‘You know,’ says O, stopping us in our tracks while we collect coats and bags from the small cloakroom in the lobby, ‘I was serious when I said you should run a class. Are you interested at all?’

As usual, she is addressing Dimitri and ignoring me. My hackles rise.

‘Not really,’ I say, enjoying her eye-rolling at what she assumes to be my misunderstanding.

‘I was asking Dimitri. He’s the dom.’

‘Are you saying submissives’ opinions don’t matter?’

‘Of course not. I’m one myself, don’t forget.’

‘So the opinions of people you find attractive matter? Is that it?’

Dimitri is within an ace of winking at me. He puts a hand on my shoulder, but he makes no move to shut me up.

‘It was just an idea.’ She sounds really huffy now. I wonder if my membership is about to be revoked.

‘We like this place,’ I continue. ‘Don’t think we don’t. We love it. We have wonderful times here and we appreciate everything you and Mal do for the kinkster community. Thank you. But I don’t think I’m ready for public scenes yet. I’m not saying I never will be. But I’m not yet.’

‘And I don’t do scene without Rosie,’ adds Dimitri, completing the explanation. ‘We thank you very much.’

‘Of course.’ O tries to look cool about it, but it’s obvious she’s not. ‘Everyone has their own comfort zone. I hope yours might expand in time.’

‘It’s possible,’ says Dimitri. ‘Good afternoon.’

We run down the stairs hand in hand. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this exhilarated, amazing, blissful. And sore, of course, but that just makes it even better. We burst through the door and cannon straight into Anton.

‘Watch it, geezer … Rosie!’

It’s lucky there aren’t too many flies about because our combined open mouths would surely trap a few.

‘Ahhhhhhello,’ I say.

Dimitri holds out a bangly hand. ‘Good afternoon, I am Dimitri Zacharov, you are friend of Rosie?’

Anton, his glance passing rapidly between us as if he is watching a frenzied tennis rally, puts out an uncertain hand. ‘Er, yeah, Anton. Anton Smallbridge. Rosie?’

‘So where are you off to?’ I ask breezily. ‘Laser Zone? Sorry I couldn’t make it.’

‘Yeah, ’cos you were in there. What the fuck?’

‘You have a problem?’ Dimitri’s tone could be construed as menacing.

‘Actually, bro, I do. I was supposed to be meeting Rosie half an hour ago at Laser Zone. But it looks like she’s been in there with you. Any explanations gratefully received.’