Page 4 of What Works for Us

Awoken by a ray of light that found its way between the nearly closed curtains, I reached beside me only to find the bed empty, and the sheets cold.Cast aside yet once again. Fighting back the tears that threatened to fall, I opted to forego the free breakfast offered by the hotel and head home. To the empty home, I now shared with no one.

I packed my bag with a great sense of urgency, dreading the walk of shame through the lobby. When I got to the bathroom to gather my toiletries, I found the note she’d left me on the hotel notepad:

I need to see you again. Meet me at Club Tribeca in U’Village at eight p.m. tonight.

XOXO Elena

She didn’t leave me. She needed to see me.Need… someone needed me. Elena had no idea how I longed to hear that word from someone.Anyone.

With a renewed pep in my step and a smile on my face, I made my way down to the lobby to check out. I hadn’t felt this full of life in, wow, I can’t remember when I was last filled with hope. That thought further instilled the fact that I’d wasted the last twenty years of my life. But no more.No fucking more.

It was Saturday, and I had the whole day to prepare myself for my first date since high school. Holy shit, that alone is a scary thought.Club Tribeca huh?Grabbing my laptop, I plopped down on the couch and searched for their website. The background featured a silhouetted couple, and the verbiage read, “Adult Lifestyle Club.” What’s a lifestyle club? Hmm, maybe I’ve been out of the scene too long.

Clicking on the “About” tab on their website, I found it vague, but it mentioned BYOB if you wanted to drink. Now I’m lost, what kind of club doesn’t serve alcohol? I wanted to view more, but a pop up stating “For Members Only” blocked me from continuing and left me in the dark as to what I should expect. With nothing left to do, I laid down to nap before it was time to get ready. Dreaming of the best night I’d ever had, at the hands of a complete and total stranger.A woman… Elena…

Hours later, refreshed and clean, I laced up my sexiest black bustier, pulled on my short black leather skirt and slid into my favorite black platform heels. Then I hopped into my Mustang to make the forty-minute drive from my house in Snohomish to U-Village in the city. I knew parking would be a bitch until I spotted an attached garage to the club. So far, nothing about this club resembled anything of those I’d previously known.

The door was locked, so I pressed the buzzer and was greeted by Elena herself. She drew me into her arms, giving me a kiss that made me go weak in the knees and left me breathless.

“You look fantastic,” she told me, taking me by the hand to lead me inside.

“Well, I must say, you rock the white leather look yourself.” What she had on was… damn. It struck me how similar our outfits were outside of the fact that hers was white and she had on thigh high white stockings. Her long, black hair rested against the white leather as the perfect accessory to her ensemble.

Elena gave me a tour of her club. The lobby was surprisingly plush with black leather couches and glass top side tables. As we entered the dance floor, the stripper poles caught my eye. Bringing to light a want I’d long ago hidden away. “I’ve always wanted to learn to pole dance.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Her eyes heated, and she licked her lips. “That can easily be arranged, love.”

“Do you have strippers here?” I asked, having never been to a strip club. That too would be another item to cross off my adventurous bucket list.

“Not in the traditional sense. Come, let me show you the playrooms.” She tugged me forward.

“Um, playrooms?”Did they have a daycare center here?

She threw her head back, laughing, “Honey, this is a freedom lifestyle club. What did you expect to find?”

I stopped. “A freedom what club?”

“A club where members are free to explore their sexuality. Whether it be swinging, bi-curious, lesbian, gay, trans - you name it. We’re very open and accepting here, and don’t allow intolerance or shaming of any sort.” She reached over, closing my opened mouth. “I promise nothing will happen that you don’t want to have happen. No means no.”

“Did you bring me here so we could be part of some sort of orgy or something?” My nerves resurfaced. I’d barely met her and wasn’t ready to share her with others. Or for that matter, sharing myself with others either.

“Sweetheart, this is my lifestyle and my business. If you’re not open and accepting of it, then I’m afraid this just won’t work out.” She told me while we stood in the hallway. The sad look in those hypnotic eyes made me not want to fuck this up. Whateverthiswas.

Staring down at the floor, I nervously toyed with my clutch. “I just got you,” I whispered. “I don’t want to share you.”

Reaching over, she pushed my chin up so we could make eye contact. “Love, I’m fully capable of having a monogamous relationship. But I want you to see what I see when I’m here. If we’re to work out, know that I will be open to trying other things if you are so inclined.” She said before hugging me.

Timidly, I trudged on as she showed me the various rooms including a small BDSM dungeon. Something I’d only seen on the internet, but it piqued my interest. “See something you like?” The half grin she wore showed the wheels in her mind were turning and that she was enjoying my reaction to this particular room. I ran my fingers along the floggers and whips on display. Loving the feel of the leather as it grazed my skin, igniting my senses.

“Yes,” was all I said before leaving the room.

“Come,” she slid her fingers between mine. “Let me show you my loft upstairs.”

“You live above the club? Doesn’t that get loud at night?” How could someone sleep with music blaring below them?

She unlocked a hallway door, and we walked up the flight of stairs before stopping at another door. “The club is soundproofed very well. I sleep like a lamb when I’m in my bed at night.”

We entered her loft, and I was in awe. It was a combination of modern meets industrial. With a wall of windows that had an unobstructed view of Lake Washington. I walked over to them, taking in the impressive scenery.

---