2 Rich
Kimber stays on my mind longer than she should. Lately I’ve noticed she seems a little… jumpy. I tried to ask Tyson the last time I was at S&S, but he’s been obsessing over a new girl for months. Still is, even though he’s had her living with him since the summer.
Guilt trickles down my spine. I know Kimber struggles socially sometimes; her personality used to clash with a lot of people at Sins. I know she likes it there, but I’ve told her more than once, there are other clubs if S&S doesn’t cater to her kinks. She doesn’t have to change herself to fit into the box that Sins and Secrets offers.
Truth be told, it’s a damn good club. I’ve been impressed over the years by how well Jo and Vinny did building this business up from nothing. They started in the industry with little more than a casual interest. I had my doubts, but they worked to be a safe, knowledgeable establishment and I’ve heard their waitlists are long.
But the same could be said for places likeEuphoria,which is more destination BDSM than membership based. I pitched that idea to Kimber once when she was drunk, and she looked at me funny like that couldn’t be a real place. They offer things that Sins, while amazing, would struggle to offer in metro Denver.
“If I know Jo, she’s going to want to do a full revamp,” he says, interrupting the rest of my train of thought.
Eyeing Emeric, I nod. The interim managers have done a good job with this club for the last six months, and I’ve heard from a few different people that the owners are back but have yet to see either of them. It’s nearly the end of August, so if they are back in Colorado they are taking their time rejoining the club life. Other than discussing what new products they want, I didn’t used to speak directly with Jo or Vinny all that much. They usually let the staff, the people who’ve worked at S&S for years, pick out the new merchandise for the in-club store. It worked out fine for me, since it meant I just got to speak with Kimber and spend extra time with her. She’s not the only one who picked, but its always been a mostly even split between Kimber and Callie with her man Nate.
I have a lot of items that are custom and exclusive to S&S in specific, and I’ve gotten used to working with several of the individuals here when it comes up re-upping the stock every quarter. Around the holidays I usually have to do several restocks between mid-September and just after Valentine’s Day, so I’m sure I’ll be in here pretty often over the next couple months.
“Anything I should prepare for?” I ask, unlocking one of the display cases to restock the shelves. I don’t just bring Sins and Secrets pretty clothes, I bring them personalized jewelry, wearables, the works. Whatever the club asks for.
Emeric chuckles, leaning on the counter. “I think a few things have changed for them in the last six months. Expect the unexpected, my man.”
I offer him a rueful smile before unlocking the case, pulling out jewel-encrusted chokers and collars with pearls slipped through the links of leashes. The store itself has its own security system inside the club, and it’s only open select days. With Jo and Vinny gone I helped run the store for a couple months, but now I’ve stepped back as Emeric adjuststheir scheduling. So long as there’s a guard in here, things are pretty chill. I’ve only seen a few instances where anything violent happens at the club, and it’s always handled immediately.
“This one’s pretty,” he goes on, tapping a ring. I don’t do many rings, but this one's special.
Smirking, I pull it out of the little box and hand it to Emeric to study. His green eyes survey the blood red gem set in an intricate, silver band. It’s got a gothic appeal. “Stone’s fake. Press it.”
He glances up at me, brushing back some of his shaggy hair before touching the gem. I point to the box in front of me, a match to the ring box, and it starts vibrating.
His eyes widen when I flip the box open, revealing an anal plug. It’s small, and made of glass. This is the kind of thing I would only ever want to sell to people with experience. One wrong move and this results in an ER trip.
“It’s remote connected to the stone,” I tell him, watching as his eyes surf over the plug that’s in the same blood red color. “I wouldn’t let anyone new purchase the set.”
He groans and sets the ring back in its box. “That gets tricky, Rich. Make a note that purchase requires a certain amount of months with the club to deter our new members from buying it if it’s dangerous.”
I grin and make a note. They’ll print it on one of the fancy cards that sits in the cases, and really, any of the experienced employees would know to not hand this off to someone with a green lanyard. Green is a clear sign that they are new to the club, and the assumption is to always err on the side of inexperience. It’s better to be safe than to assume they know what they are doing.
Emeric hesitates, chewing on his lip, and I’m really curious what’s making him nervous right now. He’s usually collected and sure of himself. When he finally decides to clearhis throat and spit it out I’ve already placed three more jewelry designs in the case. “You should up your clamps display.”
I flick my gaze up to him and go back to organizing. “Nipple clamps?”
He groans for the second time, and I stop working to study him. His face is pinched like he physically doesn't want to talk about this. “Yeah. Vinny and… specifically Jo, like them.”
Smirking, I cross my arms and lean back. “Now how did you figure out what Vinny’s wife likes?”
“Because they accidentally called me the other day and I got to hear all about it,” he groans, and I can’t help but snort. As far as I understand it, Jo and Vinny are like family to Emeric, so this is extraordinarily awkward.
Andextremelyfunny.
I laugh, shaking my head as I turn back to the box. New toys are already out, I just have a couple pieces of lingerie to restock before I’m finished for the day. “I’ll be sure to make a note to restock them. Do you know when they plan to return, officially? I heard a rumor that they are in town, but not really working yet.”
He huffs, and when I spin around with the hangers he’s walking out of the shop. “Fuck if I know, man.”
Smiling to myself, I finish the setup pretty quickly. When no one’s talking with me it can be a pretty quick process, but a lot of the longtime employees know me by name and like to chat. Over the last year I’ve noticed some prominent members bringing in their own partners too, and I can study each couple as I finish setting up.
It’s early, so no one’s going to walk into the shop just yet. The shop has its own hours, and since I’m not planning to stay I can take my time. There’s more than an hour before the glass doors open, and even if I’m still here, no one ever bombards me so much that I can’t just walk out.
My eyes track Emeric as he walks around near the front, talking with Serenity. She’s younger than he is, a little more innocent, and I’ve seen the way she looks at some of the items in the shop. She’s gone from a blushing virgin to someone with knowledge, but I don’t know if she’s spent enough time experimenting yet to claim she hasrealexperience. That’s what Emeric is for.
Russell appears next out in the hall as I open one of the display cases that shows into the hall. S&S is shaped like a big circle, with halls that eventually wrap around from the front and back, all crisscrossing so you can choose where to go. Off the main entrance there’s the doors and security check-in where people leave their personal items in locked boxes, the bar, and the double doors that lead into the theater. Taking the hallway lets members find some of the private rooms, my shop, and various places throughout the club that allow for intimate play wherever they want. People can go up to the rooftop, and there’s a set up for play even when it’s late. The roof is open until the weather starts to get bad and they close it for the season.
