Part 1:
I walked through town, on my way to meet up with Pearly at the Grand Bar and Hotel. I was excited, a little nervous. I walked slowly and "browsed" in storefronts without registering the t-shirts and caps for sell. A car passed on the main street; some friends honked and waved as they drove, startling me from my anxious thoughts of sex. "Hi, hi" I waved. I wondered if they could see the ribs and lace of the corset I wore under my fleece.
My backpack contents rattled slightly; the small metal ching of a handcuff touching the rings of a strap-on harness or the small bottle of lubricant falling into the bottle of Chardonnay. I continued walking past 2 older ladies, also window shopping. Even though they were oblivious to me, I thrilled they might hear.
"Hey Tori". My friends Mike and Charlotte were standing beneath the Grand Bar's marquee. "What are you up to tonight?"
Hmm "Hiya!! Well, I am meeting someone here actually. What's up with you guys?" I noticed a slight sweaty sheen on my palms, and wiped my hands on my jeans.
"You are?! Can you come have a drink with us first?" Charlotte touched my wrist tenderly, and smiled. I think she may already be buzzing. "Where are you heading?" she asked.
"Right here, Char. So, yes I can have a a quick, wee drink with you first. But then I have to dash." My Chardonnay bottle clanged like a wind chime in my backpack.
I followed them inside the aging bar and we took a seat along the wall. 2 young men played pool on the freshly felted table, and a 30something couple had drinks at the bar. The 1 bartender looked a bit bored, watching local cricket on a wide screen above the juke box. But the place was deserted otherwise.
"Who are you meeting, Tori? A guy?" Mike plopped onto a bar stool across from me, placing a tequila and beer in front of me.
"Yeah, what's in your backpack?" Charlotte chimed in before swigging back her tequila.
I took a deep breath with a smile, then quickly shot the tequila back. The heat scorching my throat, my eyes watered slightly. "I'm meeting a guy here. I met him online. He is from Christchurch."
"What? What are you talking about?" Mike was clearly flustered, his thick brows furrowed as he pointed his finger at me.
"Ah, guys! I'm fine. I am meeting him here. I will give you the room number. I will be fine." I fingered with my beer mug.
"Room number?" Charlotte looked more awake now. "What the hell? No way! Christchurch is dodgy."
Mike shook his head, continued to look at me sternly. "You don't know him. I don't feel right about that."
I sighed. "Yes, I don't really like the whole deal either. But I have little choice." I paused to drink, gather my thoughts. I put up a hand to stop them from further protests. I lowered my voice a bit, "Look, I am into a bit of BDSM." Pause again to let that sink in. "And, it is really difficult to find partners who also like what I am into. Frankly, it scares most people."
"What is BDSM?" Charlotte cocked her head. "Is it like S&M?"
I laughed. "Yes. Bondage and Domination is the BD part. You see, there are certain things that I enjoy in bed that tends to frighten most people. Even when I tell a guy straight off that I like to be spanked, he may say 'ooh, nice' at first. But when it comes down to the nittygritty, he is less enthused and slightly intimidated that I really want to be spanked- hard. Most people just aren't into it."
"Yeah, because beating up people hurts." sarcasm from Mike. I rolled my eyes.
"I didn't know you were into S&M" Charlotte is seriously thinking about what I just said now. She twirls her pretty black curls with her fingers, and lightly bites her lower lip.
Mike runs his hands over his shaved head, almost angry. "No way are you going through with this. I don't trust it." He shakes his head. "Nope. I will not let you get a room with some wanker from out of town just so he can tie you up and beat you and leave you for dead. Are you serious?"
I fidget in my seat, take another drink. Think a bit. My hands are really sweaty now. I haven't told my friends about my fetish before. Every slight or blurt I have made about someone getting spanked has always been a joke before. Now I watch them weigh everything I have ever said.
"I want to meet him. I am tired of boring sex. This is what I am into, it turns me on. And I play safe." I watch one of the pool players bend over the table, his skivvies riding up just over his Levi's. "I'll be fine!! I told you, I will give you the room number." Mike shakes his head to protest, but I raise my hand. "I will text you as soon as I am leaving. And if you don't hear from me by noon tomorrow, you can call the cops."
"So what all do you do?" Charlotte's brown eyes are moist again, almost dreamy. "Is it really painful?"
"Charlotte!" Mike gives his girlfriend a side glance. "Don't encourage her. What's gotten into you?"
She blushes behind her beer glass. "I wanna know. What do you like about it?" Her eyes are so glassy, she must be baked already.
"Ha! You're curious now!" I say, happy the attention is off me for a little while. "Its like eating a jalapeno: it's hot! But it releases the endorphins into your system and creates a kind of high. It helps you enjoy the rest of your food better because your taste buds are wide open. "
Silence as I watch it to sink in. Mike drinks his beer, his hand resting on his head again. Charlotte starts to get a perma-grin on her rosy face, and there is a serious curl in one strand of hair.
Just then, I feel the vibration from my cell phone. Pearly has texted me. "Rm 5. I hope u r ready 2 party. 2 more who want 2 watch and??. When do u think u'll b here?"
Mike snatched the phone from my hand.
"Pearly?? What the hell name is that? Another 2 what? People? This isn't good, Tori. I really don't want you to do this." He balanced between pleading and anger.
"Really, Tori. Why don't you come home with us?" Mike and I looked at Charlotte, startled. She nodded seriously, concerned. "Really! I don't want you to be in a dangerous situation." She looked coy momentarily. She is admittedly bi sexual, but never has come on to me because I prefer men, and she is in a committed relationship. She her doe-y eyes beseech me and she grins like mad. "I'll spank you, if you want."
You know how in the latest movies, the picture pauses on one scene and the camera spins around 180* to view a different perspective of the same situation? Yeah, the room went still and we were the only people on the planet. As flattered as I was, I couldn't help but bust a giggle out loud and shake my head. "Ha! Thank you Chaz, but I don't think that is the same thing. I don't want to scare you, or embarrass you. We're friends, and I want us to stay that way."