Page 84 of Give Me a Chance
“What if I have other plans?”
“I wasn’t asking.” He throws me a devilish smirk, as butterflies erupt in my belly.
Though my mind was guarded for so long, my body doesn’t seem to have a problem remembering the elated feeling. Every causal touch, every secretive smile sets the little fuckers into flight inside my abdomen or makes my skin prickle.
Still, I was avoiding this for so long the butterflies mix with nerves. My dates have had one goal—sex. This date is something different, something I don’t feel comfortable with.
What do people even do on real dates? Fuck, I’m a mess.
Getting ready for it gives me nausea, so I do what I always do—overcompensate with confidence. I have no idea where we’re going, but I’m going to look damn good. The little black dress I pick out fits me like a glove. The deep V puts my breasts frontand center, where they belong, the short hem of it showing off my long legs. I think about straightening my hair but decide against it. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. Bright red lipstick and some eyeliner and I’m ready for whatever he has in store.
At 7 p.m. sharp he rings my doorbell.
“Hi. You look...wow,” he says, opening the car door for me. He doesn’t look half bad himself, the grey suit fitting him immaculately.
“This old thing? I just threw it on.” He chuckles in response. “I didn’t even have the time to do my hair.”
“Don’t. I love your hair.” He stares right through my confidence mask, before pressing a soft kiss on my lips. I suppress a whimper, not ready for the kiss to end, but he’s already walking around the car.
“So, where are you taking me? For someone with not a lot of experience with these things, I would have preferred the heads up,” I ask as we get going.
“Sorry, not telling you.” He smirks. “But I have a feeling you’re going to like it.”
“Confident, are we?” I joke.
“Not at all.” His gaze connects to mine for a second. “I’m nervous as hell.” His confession relaxes me. Guess I’m not the only one freaking out.
“You? But you’re the romance guy. Dating is a sport to you.”
“Yeah, but the dates weren’t with you.”
“So, you’re saying I’m difficult?” I playfully punch his shoulder.
“Nope. Just that I never had this much to lose before.” His voice drips with sincerity, and I realize he’s not going to let me hide behind the humor. Not tonight.
“Oh.” Is all I manage to respond. Before long, we’re parking in front of what looks like an older building. The windows are pitch black, and there’s a small, iron sign on the front door.
“Is this what I think it is?” I say, reading ‘L&L’ from the sign.
“It is.” Lace & Leather is the sex club Rina and Connor frequent. But I still have no idea what we are doing here.
“Come on,” he says, taking my hand.
Hand holding is not something I normally do, but with the confusion happening in my head, his hand around mine grounds me, making me feel small and taken care of.
We enter the building, walking the typical looking hallway before reaching two huge bodyguards guarding a black curtain. They check our IDs and let us in. I’m too stunned to speak—which is a feat in of itself.
Matt talks to the hostess, while my mind swirls with random thoughts.
“Here’s my membership card.” He hands her a black card. “We have room 2 reserved for tonight.” Matt’s a member of a sex club? What the hell is going on?
The hostess nods, giving us each a bracelet. “I’ll walk you there.” My leather bracelet has a G on it, meaning I’m a guest, as she explains.
We bypass another bodyguard and walk through the club while she introduces us to the rules. Rules I’m too distracted to catch, hearing only keywords like ‘privacy, safety, and consent’.
She takes us through a large, dimly lit room with a shiny black stage. A gorgeous dancer performs on it, her moves seductive and fluid. Most of the booths around the room are empty, but it’s still early in the night. Before I know it, we approach another bodyguard, in front of a sign saying, ‘Private rooms.’
The hostess shares a few words with the bodyguard and hands Matt a brass key.
