Kinky(48)

‘Look, why don’t we go for a drink round the corner?’ I steer the pair of them across the flats to the pub.

‘So what is that place?’ Anton’s first question is a tricky one. After all, we aren’t supposed to share the secret.

‘It’s a club. A private members-only club.’

He stares at me. ‘How long have you been a member?’

‘A few weeks.’ I’m uncomfortable and I look for Dimitri’s hand to hold on to.

‘So all that time you were pretending to spy on it –’

‘I know. I wasn’t honest with you. But the managers don’t like you to tell people.’

‘Why? What kind of club is it? Illegal?’ He points at Dimitri. ‘Illegal immigrants?’

‘Hey, I am legal,’ he responds. ‘I pay taxes.’

‘Yeah, but who are you? And how do you know Rosie?’

‘Rosie is my girlfriend.’

‘But what … when …?’ Anton flounders to a messy halt.

I take a deep breath. ‘I met Dimitri outside the club last month. By chance, we managed to wangle an invitation from a member, so we decided to check it out. It’s a, a, a BDSM club.’

There. I’ve said it.

Anton frowns for a second, then stares. ‘What, like, bondage and all that?’

‘Yes, but please don’t tell anyone. It’s completely private. Nobody must know.’

‘Why not? It’s not against the law, is it? Or do they actually kill each other in there?’

‘No, they just prefer to keep it quiet, that’s all.’

Anton thinks about this for a moment, drinking deep of his pint. ‘You could have told me,’ he says. He sounds very hurt. ‘And you could have told me you had a boyfriend. Then I wouldn’t have … you know. Shit. I’m a twat.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Why you don’t tell him about me?’ Now Dimitri sounds pissed off too. Marvellous.

‘Because it was too complicated. And I didn’t know for sure that you thought about me like that. I wasn’t sure you didn’t just think of us as play partners.’

‘Well, we have sorted this out. But you let him think he has a chance with you. Why did you do that?’

‘I didn’t! Did I? I don’t know. I thought we were friends. It’s OK to have friends, isn’t it?’

‘Look at him.’ Dimitri flaps a hand in Anton’s direction. ‘He is so very sad now. You crush his hopes.’

‘Get lost.’ Anton banged his pint glass on the table. ‘I’m over it. I don’t need your pity, bro.’

‘Oh, don’t fight,’ I urge, conscious of the interest wafting in our direction from other tables. ‘Look, whatever I did wrong, I’m sorry. Anton, if I ever gave you the impression I wanted to be more than friends, I didn’t mean it. I really hope this isn’t going to impact on our friendship.’

He makes me wait. I sip nervously at my wine.

‘So which one of you’s the dom?’ he asks eventually.

Dimitri and I chime in together. ‘I am.’ ‘He is.’

‘Right. You should have told me you like to get spanked, Rosie. I’d have helped you out.’

Dimitri’s eyes narrow. This might not be the best line of conversation. ‘I hate to disappoint, but the only man who spanks Rosie is me.’

‘I get that. I don’t have to like it though. Shit, I wish I’d known what you were into. Maybe I could have –’

‘You’re interested in BDSM?’

‘Yeah, a bit. I’ve watched some stuff on the internet now and again. Quite like the leather and rubber and all that.’

My chance to make amends leaps out and smacks me round the face. Just as well I enjoy it. ‘Do you want me to get you an introduction?’

‘What, to join the club? Could you do that?’

‘I think so. Could I, Dimitri?’

‘If you ask Mal. You and O, not so friendly right now.’

‘Or you could ask. They think the sun shines out of your backside.’

‘You’re the one with the shining backside, no?’

‘Shhh.’ My face flares with embarrassment. Despite announcing my predilections to Anton, I still feel acutely coy about the whole thing. Even more so when Anton joins in with Dimitri’s teasing laughter.

‘I’d pay bloody good money to watch,’ says Anton. ‘I don’t know if I could take part, though. I’d feel a bit weird. I don’t think I’ve got the moves.’

‘The moves are easy to learn,’ says Dimitri. ‘Trust me. If you like, I teach you.’

Oh God. Anton is going to attend Dimitri’s dom school. This might be the most embarrassing drink of my life.