14. Sloane
Sloane
“I have to hand it to you, babe, tonight was a great success.” Jessie slides a spicy margarita over to me as we sit at the bar at Salt.
Managing the aftermath of Slick Love was not quite as glamorous and sensual as taking part. By the end, Lotus, Jessie, and I were all sweaty and covered in even more oil.
Thankfully, all the tarps and such have gone home with Lotus and it’s just Jessie and I left. I managed to wash the oil out of my hair in room three’s glorious shower, and now we’re both barefaced in leggings and sweatshirts.
I’ve never seen Jessie without makeup before and I’m struck by how beautiful she is, both with and without her armour.
There’s a softness to her when she’s off duty that Salt’s members simply don’t get to see.
Her dark hair is twisted up off her delicate neck, the coils and curls trailing slightly.
She must get so much attention here, and yet I’ve never seen or heard of Jessie using Salt’s facilities for herself. Curious .
“See! I know I explained it horribly, but it’s not as weird as it sounds.”
“Oh, it’s definitely as weird as it sounds,” Jessie replies cheerfully. “But it also totally works. I had four of our members asking when the next one will be on their way out!”
I beam, and we clink glasses together.
“You going to tell me more about what’s going on with those boys, then?” She cocks an eyebrow at me and I fail to suppress a smile.
“Not sure there’s anything to write home about, as you Brits would say,” I reply with a shrug. She raises her eyebrows sceptically and waits me out. Urgh . Jessie has the infallible ability to see through me.
“Ok fine, I like them, alright? There’s something…
kind of magnetic about the two of them. Freddie’s got this happy-go-lucky scamp energy that should be annoying and yet is somehow endearing?
And Cole’s got this slightly quieter, more commanding vibe going for him.
He totally draws me in. And you’ve seen them, right? They’re not exactly hard to look at.”
“All true.”
“I will always maintain that men are terrible until proven otherwise,” I say firmly, as Jessie nods. “You can’t change my mind on that. But I’ll see how it goes. I’m enjoying making them work for it a bit more than usual, that’s for sure.”
“As well you should, my darling.”
“And how about you, Jess? Anyone caught your eye lately?” I raise my brows as she gives me an eyeroll.
“You know I don’t date anyone connected to the club,” she replies crisply. “But no, no one outside it recently either. I had an ugly breakup a few years back. I’m perfectly content on my own.” She takes a sip of her marg.
“Fair enough,” I reply. “I was pretty happy on my own until recently too.”
“What changed?”
“Emmy, to be honest. She and Luke just seem so happy. It’s disgusting, really. I brought her here to get all kinky and shit, and she went and fell in love with Daddy Dom.”
That earns me a laugh.
She sighs. “They’re pretty bloody cute together, that’s for sure.”
“I didn’t think I wanted it. But now I’m not so sure.
Threesomes can be kind of lonely when you’re always the third wheel.
” My voice catches ever so slightly as I say it.
Most people wouldn’t even notice, but Jessie smiles, then leans over to squeeze my hand for a moment.
The move is so kind and so fleeting that I almost feel like I’m about to cry.
“You’re a catch, Sloane. If guest-starring in other people’s fantasies isn’t serving you anymore, then fuck it. If you want to date someone – or multiple someones – the old-fashioned way, then do it. If those boys are worthy of you, then they’ll show you that.”
“It’s so boring of me though, right? To think I might want to stop fucking around and settle down.”
“Why boring?”
“It’s just so predictable. Woman in her late twenties starts pining for a steady relationship instead of kinky fun with strangers. I’m basically on my way to Stepford.”
Jessie frowns at me.
“Babe, you’re talking about dating two men at once. I hardly think you’re on track for a Volvo and house in the suburbs.”
I snort-laugh.
“Seriously, though, don’t overthink it. It’s fine to want a deeper connection.
It’s ok to decide you’re open-minded about falling in love.
You’re living your life, not performing it.
You don’t need to stay the same. You should absolutely explore that with whoever you’re drawn to, assuming the feeling is mutual. ”
“You’re very wise – anyone ever tell you that?”
She grins. “I know. Watching you with those two earlier was fucking hot. Chemistry like that doesn’t just happen, believe me.
I see every manner of connection in this place, and you can’t manufacture that sort of heat.
I’m amazed we didn’t have to blow a whistle and escort the three of you off the tarp. ”
“Well, I couldn’t go breaking all the rules given I’m the one who got Lotus in the door.” Though good God, I was tempted. I can feel my temperature rising just thinking about it.
“Damn straight,” she replies, then finishes her drink. “Shall we close up?”
I nod, and take a moment to drink in the beauty of Salt before we go. I found so much of myself in this very room. But maybe it’s ok to look for love as well as just a good time. The question remains: are Freddie and Cole the ones I’ll find it with?
The following morning, a new group chat pings up on my phone and I struggle to hide my smile as I read the opening message.
FREDDIE
Good morning, beautiful people. Did everyone successfully de-oil themselves after the weirdest and yet hottest night of my life?
COLE
Three’s a crowd? Seriously?
FREDDIE
It’s the perfect name for the group chat!
COLE
FREDDIE
Come up with something better, I’ll wait.
COLE
You’re an idiot.
FREDDIE
Yes, but I’m your idiot and you love me.
COLE
Mmm.
I quite like it. You know, at college, someone genuinely put flyers through the doors of our freshman dorm offering a service called ‘virgin breakers’. On the back they had written: two’s company, three’s a crowd, and four’s a square.
FREDDIE
A square?
COLE
Freddie.
FREDDIE
I don’t get it.
Oh, my sweet, summer child.
COLE
I will explain it to you separately.
Don’t take it elsewhere on my account. You’re going to be so much fun to corrupt, Freddie Lane.
FREDDIE
A square like… ohh. Ok. I get it.
COLE
There we go.
FREDDIE
Sort of gross to offer to take people’s virginity through a flyer.
The names on the back were for Wrong Tom and Chad, so yeah, I’d say we’re not talking about upstanding members of society. I suspect they run a large investment bank or a major first world country by now.
We plan a date for Friday night, which means I have exactly five days to get myself into the headspace for it.
Jessie’s right – I shouldn’t overthink this. It’s just a date. Worst case scenario, I’ll end up with a bad date and a great story.
Best case… well.
Best case might be dangerous. And maybe that’s the best part.