[Author's note: Marlowe has been learning about his wife's objectification fetish. Now, under Cassie's tutelage, he puts Victoria to the ultimate test, in public, helped by veteran scene players Adam (
I01
) and Eve (
I02
)]
---
THE OBJECT OF HIS ATTENTIONS
Marlowe led his wife by her hand through the club, his bulk moving easily between the cocktail tables and the throng of people. It was a Saturday night, and the Lost and Found was in full swing. He could feel how tightly his wife's fingers were wrapped around his, how nervous she was, and Marlowe had to steady himself to not also get caught up. Even so, when he saw the empty booth in the corner of the club, partitioned off by a red velvet rope, his adrenaline surged.
"Take a seat, Vicki. I'll get the drinks."
He saw instantly the look on his wife's face, how she reacted to being called Vicki rather than Victoria. Not for the first time, Marlowe found himself reflecting on just how perceptive Cassie had been. Silently, his wife stepped around the velvet rope and slid into the booth. She crossed her legs, demure in her midnight blue silk slip. Her shoulders were bare, just the shoestring straps holding up her dress. Victoria had done her make-up very carefully, with dark red lips and smoky eye-shadow, her long, black hair gathered back in a French twist, tucked neatly out of the way.
Marlowe managed a smile and turned away hastily, bustling through the crowd to the bar. He spotted Eve on a barstool and slid into a spot next to her.
"Nice night for it," Eve remarked.
"For what?" Marlowe replied and Eve laughed.
"Oh, everything."
She squeezed his forearm.
"It's okay," she continued, "We're ready, whenever you are."
Marlowe grunted and tried to attract the attention of the barman. He felt Eve's hand on his arm again.
"I'm not sure I'm ready," the big man confessed.
"Sure you are. Look, if it all doesn't go to plan, then just see where it goes. It's not Swan Lake, it's not got to be perfectly choreographed."
Eve was grinning now.
"If it turns into slam dancing, then that's half the fun."
The barman arrived, and Marlowe turned to Eve. "Whatcha drinking?"
"Oh, just yourselves. We'll take care of us, don't worry about it."
Marlowe nodded to the barman. "Beer and a soda water, please."
"Sure," he replied and moved away.
"Which one of you isn't drinking?" Eve asked.
"Victoria. Didn't seem sensible."
"Yeah, I tend to agree. Just one for yourself? To steady the nerves?"
"Something like that. Man, this place is, uh, a lot more crowded than I thought. I didn't think there'd be this many people."
Eve shrugged. "Sometimes it's better that way. There's a lot going on, everywhere, and you'll be tucked in a corner. You get the experience without the mass audience."
The barman returned with the drinks and Marlowe paid. He took a gulp of his beer, feeling Eve's eyes on him.
"Safewords?" she asked.
Marlowe put his glass down on the bar. "Yeah, we talked. She's got a safeword. We're good there."
"And what about you?"
Marlowe baulked. "I... uh. Do I need one?"
"If Adam's doing his part and you don't like where it's going, I'd suggest we have a way to signal."
"I guess."
"Intense," Eve said. "Let's use that. You can put it into a sentence and we'll know, but your wife won't be distracted."
"Intense. Yeah. Pretty appropriate."
Marlowe took another swig of beer.
"Very busy," he remarked, looking across the floor.
"Busier than I ever remember it," Eve replied, "Not in years."
He was watching her face now as she looked out at the people.
"Strange vibe," she murmured, "Intense. Like the party at the end of days."
Suddenly, she stood and waved, her mood lifting instantly. A rangy-looking man in black leather pants and a dark collared shirt was making his way through the crowd towards them. When he arrived, Eve went up on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. He grinned back at her and then turned to Marlowe.
"Marlowe," he said, holding out his hand.
Marlowe shook it. "Adam," he replied.
Eve stood between them, her head at shoulder height, beaming. "Jeez, I feel like I'm at the bottom of a well down here," she laughed.
"Good to go?" Adam asked, looking from Marlowe to Eve then back again.
Marlowe nodded.