Author's note
: Hey friends, welcome back. I've got something a little different in store for you with this chapter. Although this chapter can be read as a standalone story that exists outside the rest of the narrative (which is why I've included more explicit story notes below), my intent is for it to sit after Chapter 4 and before the events of the forthcoming Epilogue. So if you're a new reader who's just discovering this series, feel free to keep reading, and don't worry -- yes, the title of this chapter is the same as the title of the whole story. I hope you'll go back and read the rest of the series as well, and see how we got here. For the returning readers, I think the additional context you already have will add some color to this chapter, and vice versa. In either case, thanks for reading as always, and enjoy!
Story notes
: Sarah's friend Natalie decides to set her up with some kinky anonymous sex for her birthday, and enlists their friend Ryan to be the top. Contains bondage and pain play, CNC (consensual non-consent), light humiliation, and playing with come as a kink.
------
Chapter 5: Careful What You Wish For
The July sun was hot as Ryan made his way into his favorite pub on a Saturday afternoon. His t-shirt clung to his athletic frame and he ran his hands through his blonde hair, slick with sweat from the short walk. The air conditioning was just slightly too cold, but he was grateful for both that and the two open seats at the bar.
"Need a beer list?" asked the bartender as he sat down.
"Do you still have the Smuttynose Old Brown Dog on draft?"
"Yeah, just tapped a fresh keg this morning."
"Great, I'll have one of those. And I'm saving this chair for a friend."
"No problem."
Minutes later, fresh glass of beer in his hand, Ryan spotted the distinctive curly red hair of his friend Natalie at the front door. He waved her over, and she gave him a quick hug before sliding into the barstool next to him.
"Hey. Good to see you."
"You too, Nat. What are you drinking?" He tried to flag down the bartender, but Natalie had beaten him to it.
"Hi, give me a pint of Guinness, please, and two shots of Jameson's." The bartender immediately flipped two shot glasses onto the bar and filled them with whiskey.
Ryan looked at her askance. "Shots?"
"We're celebrating. It's Sarah's birthday!"
"... isn't Sarah's birthday in August?"
"Yes, which is why we're doing shots in July." She handed one to Ryan, quickly clinking the other glass against his and throwing her shot back, slamming the glass back down on the bar. Ryan followed suit more slowly, shivering at the harsh flavor.
"Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, explain yourself."
"It's Sarah's birthday!"
"You said that already, Nat."
"Consider this your invitation to her party."
"You didn't ask me to meet you at the bar just to make me drink Jameson's and invite me to a birthday party that's a month away."
"No I did not," Natalie said, grinning. "I also have something I want you to do for me."
Ryan took a sip of his beer and considered Natalie over the rim of the glass. Nat, as everyone called her, was one of the worst instigators among their circle of friends. She kept tabs on all of the gossip and rumors, the comings and goings, and who was secretly lusting after who. That meant if you needed to make something 'special' happen, Nat was your best bet. However, she also had a habit of using things against people that they didn't want other people to know... which meant if you needed to make something 'special' happen, Nat was your best bet.
The fact that Natalie was coming to Ryan to ask for a favor about Sarah made Ryan nervous. Natalie was one of the few people that knew about the time that Ryan very drunkenly asked Sarah out and she very drunkenly turned him down. Ryan had never mentioned it again, which meant it was only a matter of time until Natalie made use of that fact.
"So what's the favor?"
"Well, you see, it's a very
special
kind of party."
Ryan smirked. That particular emphasis meant that Natalie and Sarah were planning some kind of sex party, and given the fact that Sarah was one of the kinkier folks in their social circle, it was really just a question of what kind. "Oh really? How special?"
"So special that you're the only guest."
Ryan choked on his beer. "You've got to be kidding. There's no way Sarah would have asked you to set her up with
me
."
"She didn't. Not exactly." Natalie was still grinning like a maniac, which didn't make Ryan feel any better.
"I can't wait to hear how you're going to explain this."
"Does that mean you're in?"
"What, just like that?"
"You're either in or you're out. Right now."
"Come on, Nat. This isn't
Ocean's Eleven
, you're not George Clooney, and we're not robbing Las Vegas."
Natalie laughed and sized him up. "You're not a bad replacement for Matt Damon, though."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Come on, Ryan! This is a perfect setup. You've been after her for years and this is totally your chance. I guarantee she'll be into it."
Ryan squinted at her. "... you're serious."
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"You don't want me to answer that."
"Okay, fine. Look, Sarah was over my place last week..."
------
"Damn, girl. We need to get you laid."
Sarah groaned. "I knowwwww."
"What happened to Robbie? You liked him!"
"I did. He took one look at my box of toys and ran for the hills."
"Oh. That's probably for the best, then."