9. Sloane
Sloane
“And this,” I say, gesturing to the wide-open space behind me, “is where we would put the tarp.”
Lotus casts an appraising eye over the main bar area of Salt.
She’s dressed in jeans and a soft wool jumper today, and it occurs to me that this is the first time I’ve seen her outside of her studio, where she does sensual massage and hosts small, intimate sessions of Slick Love.
It’s weird to see her out of a kimono, if I’m honest.
She tucks a loose strand of hair back into her long blonde braid and nods to me and Jessie, who’s hovering nearby.
“I think this space will work beautifully,” she confirms, as relief floods my system.
“And you’re confident we could keep the oil contained?” says Jessie, ever the pragmatist. “I can’t help but have visions of a health and safety nightmare.”
“We have a process where anyone who needs to remove themselves is towelled off before they leave,” Lotus says with a nod.
“Only myself and my team are allowed to walk on the oil. Everyone else must be lying down. We take every participant’s safety very seriously,” she adds, nodding to Jessie.
“I think we could safely manage thirty or forty people. It would be our biggest Slick Love yet!” She beams.
“Well, we can definitely trial it,” replies Jessie, a note of caution in her voice. I can tell she’s not 100% sure about Slick Love being hosted at Salt, but I’m sure she’ll see how magical it is once it begins. “Lotus, would you like a tour while you’re here?”
Lotus accepts, and the two of them stroll off in the direction of the playrooms. I’m just scrolling my phone at the bar when I hear a voice calling down the stairs.
“Hello?”
“Hello?” I call back. Cole Avery, friend of Freddie Lane the purveyor of full-body orgasms, appears at the bottom of the stairs and visibly startles at the sight of me.
“Cole Avery,” I say with a grin at his obvious discombobulation.
“American girl,” he replies, and I laugh. I extend a hand as he strolls over, a small smile tilting the corner of his lips. He’s got those slutty little glasses on again, and I swear to God my vagina does a little twinge at the sight of them.
“Sloane Reed,” I offer, shaking his hand. “Nice to see you again. At noon, in a sex club.” I quirk an eyebrow and he chuckles.
“Nice to see you too. Freddie won’t shut up about you. How’ve you been?”
“Not bad, thanks. What brings you to Salt today?”
“I’m here to see Jessie about some design work. Do you know where she is?” He casts his eyes about.
“She’s taking someone on a tour. She’ll be back in a moment.” I grin. “He won’t shut up about me, huh?”
“Nope. He’s been trying to get your name out of Luke all week. Though Luke did say he’d pass on a message.”
“Oh, he did.” I give him my most innocent smile.
Cole raises a single eyebrow.
“I enjoy keeping your friend in suspense. It’s too much fun.
But I was intending to message him later.
” I see Cole visibly relax, the slight frown instantly smoothing out.
“In fact…” I hop off the barstool and come stand close to him, noting the way he tenses slightly as I throw my arm around him and raise my phone.
Snapping a selfie of us both, I laugh at the slightly sheepish expression on Cole’s face in the photo.
Pinging it to Freddie, whose number I saved when Emmy handed over his little note, I pocket the phone and lean back to give Cole an assessing look.
“Slutty little glasses,” I mutter to myself, shaking my head.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
My phone pings in my pocket and I pull it out, Freddie’s name on the screen. I tilt it to show Cole.
FREDDIE
WHAT?!
A moment later, Cole’s phone pings too and he shows me.
FREDDIE
WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING? EXPLAIN.
“He’s a little intense,” says Cole, laughing as he puts his phone in his pocket. “But I swear he’s got a really good heart.”
“He’s certainly entertaining,” I reply.
Just then, Jessie and Lotus reappear through the playroom doors. Jessie spots Cole and strolls over.
“Nice to see you again, Cole. Welcome back to Salt. Shall we go and chat upstairs?” she asks, giving me a sideways glance.
He nods and turns back to me.
“Will we see you soon?”
“Maybe,” I reply. Then I’m struck with an idea. “If you boys want to impress me, sign up for Slick Love. Lotus here is hosting a night you won’t forget.”
He looks over to Lotus, who gives him a warm smile, and he shrugs.
“No idea what that is, but we’ll be there.” And with that, he follows Jessie up to Luke’s office.
“There’s a story there,” comments Lotus, as my gaze lingers on the door he disappeared through.
“There might be one,” I admit. “Not sure what it will look like yet, but I’m intrigued to see where it goes.”
“You deserve something special, Sloane. Whether that’s just a wild night with a beautiful man like that or something more, I get the feeling a new adventure is beckoning. Your aura is positively glowing.”
I smile at her, despite the nonsense she’s spouting.
My phone pings in my pocket.
FREDDIE
Dream girl, tell me you two didn’t start without me. I’ve been hoping to hear from you all week.
A happy coincidence, Freddie Lane. But I’ll see you at Slick Love in two weeks. Wear something you don’t mind getting ruined.
FREDDIE
Ominous but ok… are you ever going to tell me your name?
I smile as I leave him on read.