“I’ll let Harry explain,” he says, waving his wrist at us. “Welcome to the party. Enjoy.”
He opens a door, temporarily filling the small room we’re standing in with noise before he shuts it behind him. Blake deflates a little.
“You’ll see him inside,” Corey says.
Blake nods.
“What do the colours mean?” I ask Harry as I go to the table and investigate the loops in the bowls. There are five different colours.
"They let everyone else know what you're into at a glance," Harry explains. "Red means you're a Dom. Blue, you're a sub. Purple, you're a switch. Yellow means you're open to playing, green that you'd be up for intercourse. Choose as many as apply to you. You'll find bowls inside with more loops, so you can add or take away as you see fit through the evening."
“What if we don’t take any loops?” Corey asks.
“Then it’s assumed you’re here to chat and watch.”
“And that’s okay?”
“Sure? Why wouldn’t it be?”
Corey's shoulders relax a little. Blake grabs three loops: blue, yellow, and green. I take blue and yellow but hesitate over picking up a green loop. I've never had sex in public before. We've never been to a kink party where it's been an option. It's one thing being spanked while others watch, but fucking someone? I stick to two loops and slide them onto my wristband. Corey only takes a blue one. Maybe he'll change his mind and add a yellow loop when he relaxes.
"There are four rooms," Harry tells us. "The first is just for chatting. There's a buffet and drinks. It's really relaxed in there. Then there's an informal playroom, where people will also hang out and chat while watching. Next, there's a hardcore playroom with spanking benches and other toys. The last room is for penetrative play and sex. There are plenty of condoms and lube available for you to use in there." He directs his last comment to Blake, who's the only one currently indicating that he'd be interested in having sex. "Have fun, gentlemen."
My heart's hammering in my chest as I open the door and we file through into the first room, which is L-shaped. It's occupied by six guys sitting in various groupings on sofas or in armchairs. There are lots of soft rugs all over the floor. The food and drink I ordered are arranged on a couple of trellis tables in the narrow part of the L, along with plates, cutlery, and cups. Aside from the door we've just come through, there are four more leading off from this room, each with a sign. One says 'Chat & Play', the second 'Play', the third 'Penetrative Play', and the fourth says 'Toilet'. Useful.
There’s no sign of Hamish, and I’m not sure if I should be disappointed or relieved. He has to be here somewhere. This is his house. His party.
Gabe is sitting in one of the armchairs, talking to a tall Black man who looks like he could bench-press a horse. From the way Blake practically melts against my arm, I'm guessing that's Calvin. Both men are fully dressed, which makes sense for Gabe, as he's only just arrived. Calvin is wearing a figure-hugging leather vest, not too dissimilar to the one Corey is wearing under his black shirt. Gabe and Calvin are talking and laughing when we walk in, but when they notice us, they stop, smile, and nod.
“Go over,” I say, nudging Blake. “You’re here for them.”
“Maybe we should get something to drink first?” He looks at the table, which has bottles of fizzy grape juice, water, and various other soft drinks on it.
“Coward,” Corey hisses.
“Is Hamish here?” Blake whispers, changing the subject.
“No.” My stomach turns over. I guess he’s in another room, already having fun with someone.
The Black man stands and strides over to us. “You must be Blake’s brothers.” He extends a hand to each of us. “Archie and Corey?”
“That’s us,” I say lamely.
“There’s no need for you all to stand there looking so nervous. Grab some food, sit and relax, then go and explore. Harry’s explained all the different rooms to you, hasn’t he?”
“Talk. Talk and play. Play. Fuck,” Blake says.
Calvin laughs. “Good summary. I’ll have to remember that.”
He reaches out, his hand falling just short of touching Blake’s hip. He raises his eyebrows at Blake, asking an unspoken question. When Blake nods, Calvin rests his hand on Blake’s hip in a gesture that looks possessive.
“Do you mind if I steal your brother away?”
Corey and I shake our heads. Blake glances back at us as Calvin leads him away, not to the armchairs and Gabe, but through the door that says 'Chat & Play' on it. I pay attention as Gabe watches. He only waits a minute before getting up and following.
“Do you think they’re a couple?” I ask Corey.
“No. They both had red loops.”
