Beth - Out in the Wild

This is my second story in the Beth series.

Would appreciate any feedback, especially from female readers / writers on her character as I have a couple more stories in development. Thankyou!

Also, please forgive the small continuity error with my first story where Tara was incorrectly named Emma.

1

It was a muggy mid-summer's night.

Beth and Jake's bedroom was set in the converted loft at the top of the house. When there was no breeze flowing, the thick heat would collect there and make sleeping intolerable.

Jake had long since drifted off. Work had been crazy busy for him these past few months: long days in the office, lots of travel and many evenings spent on his laptop catching up on email. It had exhausted every minute of his attention and sapped every ounce of his energy.

Beth remained frustratingly awake.

The twisted bed sheets had been kicked to the bottom of the bed and she lay on her back, naked, her body coated in a light film of moisture, staring up at the blank ceiling, trying to remain as still as possible.

It had been a whole year since Jake had surprised her at the hotel in London. In the breathless aftermath of that crazy night, her body rushing with adrenaline, she had committed herself to the youthful pursuit of sensual pleasure.

And for a good few weeks, she'd succeeded.

Twice they returned to the same hotel for illicit meetings with Myles. Neither was quite as thrilling as the first, but long afternoons extended into late nights, late nights into lazy mornings as Beth indulged in the lascivious fantasies of her youth.

But soon enough, things began to cool off.

You see, it's one thing to commit oneself, philosophically, to a life of sexual adventure, it's quite another to do so in reality.

Tiredness, deadlines, work stress, school-runs, the commute, coughs, colds, doctors' appointments, parents' evenings, grocery shops, business travel, periods, endless errands and a multitude of other family obligations meant weeks would go by with Beth and Jake scarcely finding the time to have sex with one another let alone anyone else.

So, here she was.

Staring up into the darkness, unable to sleep with a nagging frustration gathering inside her.

Breathe.

She inhaled deeply through her nose. Then exhaled steadily through her mouth, releasing the tension in her chest.

Closing her eyes, she let her fingers wander. Circling the smooth surface of her stomach, ploughing trails of moisture in her wake, she dipped into the warm hollow of her navel before cutting a path across her hips, down over her greasy thighs towards the damp biome of her sex.

The heat made everything slippery and loose. Even the crimson lips of her labia had unfurled like a sail to capture what scant breeze wafted across her body.

Her fingers slid easily inside.

And when she pressed against the swollen bud of her clit, she felt the dull throb of need pulsing back at her.

2

"Red or white?"

"Um..." Beth hesitated.

"I've got a Pinot Noir or there's a very nice Chablis. Both open"

"Chablis then please."

Beth was in her happy place.

Deep enough into the week for a much-needed workout but close enough to the weekend to enjoy a glass of wine afterwards, her Thursday evening yoga classes with Tara were sacred.

Tara lived in a large red brick house in a nearby village where she had - or rather, an ex-husband had - converted one of the old farm buildings into a yoga studio.

This was so typical of Tara. Her life was full of drama, but she always came out on top. A beautiful home, two children from two different husbands, ten years apart, both being funded through private school and a thriving little business as a yoga therapist that kept her in immaculate shape.

Her classes were intense - a full power hour combining vinyasa with more intense ashtanga flows that made Beth feel totally energized - but it was the chats they had afterwards that Beth had grown so fond of.

"So, which one is Pete?"

"Blue t-shirt" Tara replied, sipping her wine. "At the back next to Gita."

Pete was a client. And now a lover. Mid-forties, divorced, in pretty good shape as far as Beth remembered, and now benefitting from twice-weekly PT sessions that invariably ended up with them shagging on a yoga mat.

"He's still got a lot of anger to deal with" Tara said, "it's quite exhausting."

Beth snorted with laughter. Not only was Tara kind and generous she was extremely funny. Sitting together, sharing a glass of wine and listening to her outrageous stories was like therapy.

"And what about Bill?" Beth asked.

Bill was another man Tara was casually dating. In his early fifties, he was a retired investment banker who whisked her away for skiing holidays and weekend city breaks. He was probably-definitely sleeping with other people but so was Tara, so neither seemed to mind.

"Bill is the same" Tara sighed affectionately, "He comes and goes. When he's with me, he's adorable. But then he disappears, and I don't see him for weeks."

Tara opened the fridge, grabbing the Chablis by the neck.

"O my god though" she erupted, "you'll never guess where he took me the other night: a fucking sex club!"

"What?!" Beth exclaimed.

"Yes!" Tara said emphatically, "I can't believe I didn't tell you."

"No, you didn't!"

Topping up their glasses, Tara continued, "He took me out for dinner in London. We had a bit too much to drink. Then he said he was taking me to his private members' club. I thought, okay, sounds pretty boujis, could be fun. I assumed it would be in Mayfair or somewhere central, but we get an Uber and head way up north. And he's telling me, in the back of the cab, that this place is VVIP."

Tara was such an expressive storyteller. When she spoke, her whole body moved to the flow of the story: bare feet gliding across the polished concrete floor, her toned legs springing like a ballet dancer, elegant arms and long manicured fingers gesticulating with every moment.

"Anyway, we get there" she continued, "and it's like this old townhouse, tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood. To be fair, it's names-on-the-door, invitation-only and all that. So, we go inside and, o my god, it's a proper sex club."

"Noooo!" Beth cried open-mouthed.

"Yes!" Tara said, "It was full on, Eyes Wide Shut style: naked people everywhere doing, well, everything you can imagine".

Beth could feel her cheeks flushing as flickers of excitement ignited inside her. She'd not confided in Tara, nor any of her friends, what had happened in her marriage over the past year. To them, her relationship with Jake was rock solid. They were seen as the perfect family unit: neat, safe, conventional. Whilst the drama of divorce, affairs and general marital tempestuousness was played out by other people in the group, namely Tara.

"So did you..." Beth paused "...do anything?" She was trying to remain guarded but dying to hear more.

"No, no way" Tara replied coyly, "Bill would've done given half the chance. But no, I'm not brave enough. And besides, it wasn't just couples, there were so many men there."

With that comment alone, Beth's heart quickened and a little pool of liquid spilled down her inside thigh.

3

In the days that followed, Beth could think of nothing else.

At work, she was agitated.

At home, she was distracted.

This idea had been planted in her head and she couldn't see beyond it.

With a little online investigation, she identified the club as Dionysus: an exclusive, adult-only private members club in North London. She enquired via the website and got a prompt call-back from the owner who spoke with a pronounced Italian accent.

Andrea described an open, respectful environment with a diverse membership made up primarily of couples but also solo men and women. She made a point of emphasising how their high standards made Dionysus a particularly safe space for women.

Asked whether she wanted membership for a couple or solo, Beth didn't quite know the answer. She hoped they'd be a couple but hadn't yet confirmed that with her husband. She was advised to call back once she had.

"A club?" Jake exclaimed, "what, like a seedy sex club? No way."

They were sat at the kitchen island, eating a plate of pasta when Beth broached the subject.

"It's not a seedy sex club" she replied quickly, "It's members-only. They have a strict policy on who can and can't attend." Jake was shaking his head, looking highly doubtful. "From what I can tell" Beth continued, "it's just like a normal club. But one where people, you know, get it on."

"No way" Jake repeated, his tone surprisingly definitive.

"I spoke to the owner" she continued, trying to reassure him, "she said that most first-timers just come and have a few drinks. And when people start doing stuff, you can just watch. Honestly, there's no pressure to do anything."

"It's too much" Jake replied, "it's too public. Being in a hotel, behind closed doors is one thing but out in the open with other people... what if we see someone we know?"

"I asked her about that too" Beth retorted, "she said that was a very common fear. Understandably, right? So, they give you a mask. Not a horrible covid-type thing, but a proper Venetian-style mask that covers your whole face. You can wear it for as long as you like. But after midnight, they don't let anyone else in, so it's basically like a lock-in."

Beth was doing everything she could to persuade him, but he wasn't convinced. "I'm sorry, babe" Jake said wearily, "I've just got so much on at the moment." He got up from the stool and kissed Beth on the top of her forehead, "let's talk about it another time, yea."

Frustrated by his apathy, Beth made one final plea. "I know you're crazy busy" she acknowledged, "but this isn't just about you, it's about what I need too."

"What you need? Or what you want?" Jake darted back, clearly triggered.

"Excuse me" Beth replied defensively. His tiredness was excusable, his rudeness certainly wasn't. "It's been months since we broke up with Myles so forgive me for trying to organise something new to bring us together."

Jake's eyes narrowed. "We didn't 'break up' with Myles" he retorted sharply, "we just stopped meeting him for sex." Beth immediately regretted using that expression. This was a conversation they'd had before, and it rarely ended well. "Unless..." Jake continued, "...you feel like it was a break-up?"

Beth declined to answer. It was true that Jake had pushed for them to finish with Myles much harder than she had. She'd have gladly met with him again. So much so that Jake even suspected that she had, which wasn't true. But it had caused an almighty row which Beth had no intention of revisiting.

"You know what, just forget it" she said ruefully. And with that, the conversation was over.

The rest of the evening passed in awkward silence. They loaded the dishwasher, tidied the kitchen and prepared the kids' packed lunches before Jake ironed himself a shirt for the morning and headed upstairs to bed.

By the time Beth followed, he was already fast asleep.

The heat was stifling again.

She lay back on the white cotton sheets, her skin coated in a light dew. But when she looked up once more into the darkness it was no longer a blank ceiling she stared up at, but a vivid kaleidoscope of images and visions projected by her insatiable imagination.

She saw Jake. And Myles. And other men too. There were hidden figures lurking in the shadows. She could sense their presence and feel their attention. She imagined them slowly advancing, emerging from the dark, faces hidden but their masculine forms appearing all around her.

Her breath quickened; she was lightly panting. And she could hear the faint squelching of her pussy as her fingers rubbed against her clit, inducing little surges of delight throughout her body.

Closing her eyes, she imagined a black, windowless room - a basement, a cellar, a crypt, a dungeon - somewhere cramped and confined, a place to be kept. It's hot and dark and breathless, bodies pressing up against her. Invisible hands leaving indelible marks.

She opened her mouth wide, willing there to be someone - something - out there in the shadows. Something she could touch with her lips and taste with her tongue.

But there was only heat and sweat and want.

How had a whole year passed?

How had she not pursued these feelings?

She pressed her legs together as her fingers furiously beat against her clit, summoning the gathering tide inside her. Then suddenly her spine tensed, her thighs locked and her white-hot pussy imploded with glee as wave after wave of pleasure flooded through her.

As her spasms finally subsided, all she could do was lay still and whimper quietly, trying to regain control of her breathing.

Silence once more descended.

She looked across to Jake, his chest rising and falling to the gentle rhythm of his breathing. He was a good man, a wonderful father and a generous husband who had indulged her fantasies without jealousy or judgement.

For any other woman he'd be plenty.

But Beth was no ordinary woman. She was different. She had thoughts other women didn't think and needs no man could satisfy alone.

It had been long enough, she resolved. Her commitment was undiminished, her longing unabated. Her next adventure could wait no longer.

4

It was late afternoon, the heat of the day had subsided, but the city was still bathed in gorgeous warm light.

Beth ordered a large gin and tonic which was served to her in a round, stemmed glass with lots of ice and a generous garnish of lime. Taking a table outside on the terrace, she sat down and held her face up to the evening sun.

Earlier that day, she'd taken the midday train into London and checked into a little hotel in Clerkenwell. After rummaging around the vintage clothing shops and retro boutiques of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market she'd come to The Temple Spa in Shoreditch for a few hours of indulgent beauty therapy.

She enjoyed the ceremony of stripping off her clothes, bathing in salts and purifying her skin in a hot sauna. There was something ancient and earthy about having a masseuse anoint her body with oils then a parade of therapists' cleanse, exfoliate, massage then decorate her body, painting her feet and hands, preparing her for the night ahead.

But now - as she watched the sun fade and the night draw closer - the mildly nauseating feeling that had sat lightly in her tummy all day was getting stronger and she couldn't tell if it was the anticipation building or the guilt magnifying.

Because she'd come to London alone.

As far as Jake was concerned, she was in West Sussex on a digital-detox retreat with Tara. It felt awful to lie. She'd have much preferred him to be there with her, but he'd made it abundantly clear he didn't want to participate. And she had to respect that. Just as he had to respect her wishes in return.

There was time for one more gin and tonic on the terrace to settle the nerves before she returned to her hotel to change.

Hanging in the wardrobe was her long black satin gown which she would wear with a pair of silver heels. But first she slipped into the brand-new underwear set she'd bought that afternoon, a black lace thong with delicate floral embroidery and matching balconette bra that made her breasts look magnificent.

As she sat cross-legged at the dressing table, looking into the mirror to do her make-up, it was hard not to judge herself. She knew what she was doing was reckless and wrong. But she had made a promise to herself and was intent on fulfilling it. And there was something undeniably exciting about that too: she was putting herself out there, experiencing something new, something which - every time she thought about it - triggered this irresistible longing in her body.

It was a thirty-minute taxi drive to the club.

Beth planned to arrive just before 11pm: early enough to orientate herself but late enough for there to be a crowd amongst whom she could be inconspicuous.

She arrived outside a beautiful Georgian townhouse. The entrance was via a paved courtyard to the rear that was divided by a secure, cast-iron gate. To the right of the gate was a buzzer marked with a thyrsus crest that Beth immediately recognized from the website.

She took a moment to calm herself, straightening her dress and checking her lipstick in the camera on her phone. She hovered her finger over the buzzer before pressing it.

A woman's voice immediately responded. "Yes"

"Hello" Beth replied falteringly "I'm here for the club".

"Name please?"

"Beth."

There was a pause.

Then the gate buzzed "Come in Beth, I'll meet you at the door."

Beth continued across the courtyard towards a black, unmarked door which opened just as she approached. She was met by the friendly face of Andrea, co-owner of the club.

"Welcome" she said warmly, "I'm so glad you made it." They'd talked so many times on the phone, it felt like they knew each other already. "You look stunning" Andrea complimented, "even more beautiful than your photograph." The club had a strict entrance policy and photo ID for first timers was one of the rules.

Beth was led down a narrow corridor to a small, ground-floor cloakroom. "You can leave your jacket and bag here. As you know, we have a strict no-phone, no-camera policy so please switch off your phone and check it in."

Andrea had a polite but direct manner and Beth did as instructed. She continued, "Right then, I know we've been through this on the phone but a few house rules before we go in." Beth smiled and let her continue. "Our club is strictly members-only. We do not have an open-door policy and all our guests must be through the door by midnight. We are an adult club. All people attending do so freely by choice and are free to express themselves without inhibition. Becoming a member - as you have done - implies that you wish to be in the company of other like-minded adults. Standard adult etiquette and rules apply. Always ask first. No means no. No pressure, no pestering, no exceptions."

Beth was nodding along obediently, taking in every word, acutely aware of how imminently real this was all becoming.

"Right" Andrea concluded, "quick word on hygiene. We try and keep the play areas clean and refreshed throughout the night. However, we expect our guests to do their share too. So please use the bins provided for tissues and wipes. And we do have changing rooms with showers in case you want to freshen up at any time."

Beth could feel her legs trembling. Until now, this whole idea had been a fantasy: an imaginary event happening in an imaginary place sometime in the distant future. But suddenly it was real, it was here, and it was now.

"And one last thing before we go in" Andrea added, handing Beth a black eye mask encrusted with purple and silver sequins, "if you're feeling nervous - which I can see you are - this works a treat. Word of warning though" Andrea winked suggestively, "it does make you stand out so don't be surprised if you get a bit of extra attention."

5

Beth entered through a large oak door into what appeared to be the main room of the club. The lighting was low - a soft purple neon punctuated by amber spotlights - and it took a couple of seconds for her eyes to adjust.

Down one side of the room were low slung armchairs and Chesterfield-style sofas where a dozen or so people were seated. Down the other was a long marble-topped bar where four or five groups totaling about twenty people were stood talking.

"This is the main bar area" Andrea explained "where guests can meet, talk and socialize. Down there on the right," she said, pointing to the end of the bar "are the changing rooms and showers."