This time, Nelle beat me to the bar. It was a first. I threw my arms around her.
“Dang, girl! You almost knocked me off my chair,” she said. “Are you okay? What’s up with the dramatic hug?”
Was my neediness that obvious?
“Oh gosh, sorry. I’m just so glad to see you.” I waved the bartender over so I could join her in a beer.
“Well,” Nelle started, “I’m off to London next week for work. I’m psyched.”
“Oh my god, that sounds so glam.”
She giggled. “It sort of does, doesn’t it?”
“Hey, whatever happened with your office crush? The one who asked you out?” I asked.
She pursed her lips. “Ugh. He was a dick. We went to dinner. He had bad manners, was boring, and then was pissed I wouldn’t let him up to my apartment at the end of the night.”
“Oh, yuck. Well, glad it didn’t go anywhere. You don’t want to get involved with someone you work with, anyway.”
“You’re right. It could have been a freaking mess. Crisis averted,” she said, dramatically swiping her hand across her forehead. “And what’s up with your job?”
I hesitated, but I was desperate to talk. “That’s pretty much why I wanted to see you tonight.”
Her eyes opened wide. “No! Did you sleep with that guy in the office? And now everything’s fucked up?”
“No, I did no such thing.
Disappointment washed over her face. She always loved a drama.
“What I have to tell you is way better,” I teased.
Her disappointment was replaced with glee. “Ohmygod! Tell me.” She slid to the edge of her seat.
“So…I told you I lined up a good assignment, something I hoped would really kick start my career and earn me some respect at the office.”
“Yeah. I remember.”
I took a sip of my beer. “I’m doing an undercover investigation.”
“Get. Out.” She cuffed me on the shoulder.
“It’s true. And I want to tell you about it, but you’ve got to keep this top secret and confidential. You cannot tell a soul until the story comes out.”
“Promise, I promise.” She did the whole cross my heart motion.
“Have you ever heard of Club Silk?”
She ran her hands through her hair while she thought. “You know, I have. Wasn’t there some story in the news a few years ago that it was some secret sex club, but every time it was discovered, they moved it to another location?”
I nodded.
Her eyes bugged out of her head. She looked around and whispered, “You’re doing a story on a sex club? Holy shit, tell me everything! Have you been there?”
I nodded.
“Was everyone just fucking with abandon, right there in public?”
“Pretty much. I mean, that’s what goes on there, basically.”
“Oh my god. Did you hook up with anyone?”
“I knew you were going to ask that.” I laughed. “Yeah, there’s a guy there who I’ve played with a couple times.”
“So that’s the term? Play with? I like it! Now tell me about him.”
“Well. He’s very sexy. Kind of commanding, which I like. A lot.”
She looked like she was going to explode. “Is he hot? What’s he look like?”
Some things were going to be hard to explain. “I don’t exactly know.”
“What?”
“I know that sounds crazy, but I don’t know. He wears a mask.”
She grimaced. “Okay, that is creepy. Really weird. He must be ugly. Not sure I’d be down with that.”
“I suppose he could be ugly. He says he wears it to protect his privacy. Whatever that means. Anyway, it’s been quite the experience. It’s also a mysterious place.”
“Yeah? How so?”
I leaned closer to her. “When I ask questions—really basic stuff like how long the club’s been around, how many members it has, etc.—no one will answer them. It’s the weirdest thing.”
Nelle put her elbow on the bar and propped her chin on it, her brow furrowed.
“Do you think it’s safe to go sniffing around there for info? Don’t you think you should leave well enough alone?”
“I feel safe, I mean I’ve been pretty discreet. But without some background on the club, I don’t have a well-rounded story.”
In truth, the story wasn’t the only reason to go back. The masked man had been intruding on my thoughts all day long. And left an ache between my legs.
“Just be careful, okay?” She grabbed my arm. “I’m serious. Don’t take any chances. But I do think it’s super cool you’re going to a sex club.”
“Shhh. You don’t have to announce it.” I looked around the bar.
She clapped her hands. “So, what’s it like? C’mon, tell me.”
I lowered my voice further. “At first it’s jarring to see people fucking in public. But once you get beyond that, it’s hot. I mean, it’s a real turn-on, actually.”
“After I come back from London, will you take me there?” she begged.
“I’m not sure, I’ll see. I mean, once my story comes out, they may never let me in again.”
“Right. Enjoy it while you can.” She threw her head back and laughed.
“My little friend, Saffi. Sex goddess.”
Actually, I did feel like a sex goddess, thanks to G.
Nothing wrong with that.