“Welcome toPlay Time,” she said. “We ask that you either leave your phone in your car or hand it over for safekeeping. No phones are allowed past this point.”
She gestured to a tray of colored wristbands. “These help others understand why you’re here and what you’re open to. We also ask that private rooms only be used if you’re with someone who has a key. Those are reserved for members. The main area is open to all guests, and the upstairs is VIP-only. Invitation required.”
She pointed behind her. “Security staff wear orange and are stationed at doors, hallways, and along the walls. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, find one. Also, there’s a one-drink maximum. Ask for more, and you’ll be removed. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
My mouth went dry. “Where thefuckam I?” I blurted.
“Mya, it’s fine. Pick a band,” Jenny said, already looking through them.
The woman handed me a color-coded guide:
Red: Open for anything and everything, including both genders
Yellow: Up to explore, with only a few soft limits
Blue: Light kinks, may be open to more
Green: Just here to watch
Purple: New, learning, willing to try things
I stared at the paper like it might catch fire. “Jenny, where thehellare we?” I hissed, sharper this time.
She grinned. “Honey, you’re at a sex club.”
“BDSM club.” Amber corrected.
“What?” I all but screamed.
“You don’t have to do anything. Come on, pick a color.” Amber begged.
I grumbled as I told the lady I wanted green. There was no way I was going to tryanything, let alone ever let my friends talk me into going out again.
After we all had our bands and gave up our phones, Jenny walked us toward the door to the far right and swung it open. A guy in orange was there and stamped our hands after he saw our bands. The bass was already rattling my bones. Lights flickered everywhere, and my brain tried to process all of it at once: the thump of the music, the clusters of people… not dancing. No, there were half-naked women everywhere, some fully naked, some men naked, some people fucking while others watched, and a threesome in a corner booth. I gasped at the sight. The fact that people were just… doing that, in the open. With no concern for who was watching or looking.
There were still many people fully dressed and just watching or sitting next to someone, but it didn’t help the way I felt, considering none of my other friends were wearing a green band. They all had a color that meantsomething.
“How often do you all come here?” I asked.
“A couple of times a month.” Kara answered.
What the actual fuck. We pushed our way to the bar while I was still trying to process what was going on and how I got dragged into this. I ordered my one-drink limit and sat at a stool, trying and failing to make eye contact with anyone. Of course I would accidentally end up at a sex club, cause why the fuck not.
Jenny, ever the social butterfly, had already disappeared into a lounge area, and the rest of my friends were chatting with some people in masks near the fireplace, but it didn’t take long to lose them.
I wandered aimlessly, clutching my drink like it was a lifeline. I couldn’t even tell if it was the glass sweating or my palm. The place was huge, too open in some areas, and tooshadowed in others. I spun around quickly, nearly crashing into someone.
“Shit. Sorry,” I said, stumbling back.
A hand reached out fast to steady me by the elbow, gentle but firm. “Hey, easy. You okay?”
I looked up and, for a second, forgot how to talk. Tall. Broad. Dark hair and darker eyes.
“I… think I lost my friends,” I mumbled. “Or they lost me. Either way, I’m… here. Alone. With no idea what I’m doing.”
His mouth ticked into a half-smile. “First time?”
“Is it that obvious?”
