24. Max
Caughtin the whirl of sultry performances at the MirageGuild, I found myself relenting to the pull of desire, the need to be close to Isabella overpowering the awkward tension that lingered between us since last night. The charged atmosphere, the captivating acts on stage, all of it attempted to melt away the walls I’d wanted to maintain.
Evenas every rational thought urged me to put distance between us, to protect myself from the inevitable downfall we’d experience, the moment our eyes locked—a mix of relief and evident desire swirling within hers as the echo of a climax reverberated through the club—I felt an irresistible pull toward her. In that charged silence, filled with the raw intensity of everything unfolding around us, words became redundant.
Seeingher get all worked up as the performers were on the stage had made me unbearably hard. Luckily, I could hide behind the coverage of the bar all evening. Watching the next performance would bring back memories of the last time I had Isabella on that stage.
Thecharm sounded through the club, and the curtains closed, shutting off the trance everyone was in. Chatter and giggles filled the room as the stage was reset behind the curtain. This was the gap where people would order new drinks and snacks, so I shook my head and focused on the crowd walking up to the bar.
Sevensignature cocktails, two mock-aritas, and four bowls of snack mix later, the room was ready for the next and final set. After this one was over, the rooms would book up quickly with couples who required a more private experience. But the rules of the MirageGuild stated that open displays of passion, lust, and even sex were all allowed.
AsI watched Isabella make her way around the lounge, dropping off drinks and picking up empty glasses, the curtains on the stage parted again. This was perhaps our most elaborate scene of the evening.
Twoanchors came down from the ceiling holding black silk bands that floated down to the floor. Two women, fully nude, stepped up to the bands and began winding them around their limbs. One man and another woman joined them on stage, helping the aerialists get secure. As they helped wrap the bands, their hands roamed over their bodies and placed kisses on their mouths.
Thisscene was going to overwhelm all of my senses. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but based on the bodies on the stage and a heavy-breathing Isabella next to me at the bar, I was in for a show. I decided to focus on one pairing at a time, taking in what they were doing before moving to the next.
Thefirst aerialist, a black-haired, pale-skinned woman, wound herself in the shimmery black silk bands. Her body was strong and toned as she wrapped herself up, the flesh of her thighs squeezing out through the edges of the fabric.
Herpartner walked up to her, grazing his hands across her skin as she spun slightly from the anchor. I moved my eyes to the next woman, already secured in the silk bands, her red hair trailing down her back. Another woman with short cropped blonde hair circled her, running a black-painted fingernail down the middle of her chest.
Softmusic played from the speakers as the scene unfolded. My eyes flicked over to Isabella, who leaned against the end of the bar. She swallowed hard as she took everything in. The crowd was quiet in respectful anticipation. Soon, the aerialists began to twirl slightly in the silk bands.
Theirpartners trailed hands over their flesh as they helped guide their movements. I wasn’t totally sure of the protocol, but I figured my tasks shouldn’t include standing here staring like a gaping fool. Especially as the man’s cock slipped out of his tight shorts, and the black-haired woman took it in her mouth as she stretched back.
Tobreak the spell the scene had on me I focused on some tasks behind the bar. I would need to be quiet, but with everyone’s full focus on the stage, I had a little bit of leeway. AsI glanced down the bar at Isabella, no longer looking at the stage but staring over at me instead, my plans shifted. This, right here, is what I was good at. Giving one last show for the road.
Itilted my head back and silently directed her to come closer. She walked to me like she was in a trance. My hands were on her hips instantly, guiding her to stand at the counter, facing the stage. I pressed my body against hers without hesitation. I grinned at the intake of breath as she felt me press into her back. Even if I knew where she stood on things, I was confident I could give her this.
“Watch,” I said as she turned her head back to me to say something. “Just watch.”
Izzymight want to walk away like our time together meant nothing. LikeI meant nothing.
ButI wouldn”t make it easy for her.
Myhands slid up her thighs.
God, I loved the feel of her warm, soft skin. I would never forget it. But when I felt her trembling against me, I smirked.
Shewouldn’t forget how I felt either.
Good.
“Keep your eyes forward, and don’t make a sound,” I said. I trailed a finger over her panties. “Can you do that?”
Isabellanervously nodded.
Ipushed the material to the side and ran a finger up and down her middle. Her arousal coated my fingertips, and I grinned like a maniac in her hair. This woman was just as filthy as me.
“Do you enjoy watching them up there?” I asked. “Do you like it when he pushes his cock down her throat?” Isabella trembled beneath me. “Do you like watching when she rubs her partner’s clit?”
Isabellashuddered as I pressed a single finger past her entrance and into her warmth. On the stage, the man pulled himself out of the black-haired woman’s mouth and helped her sit more upright in the silk bands. She repositioned the bands around her wrists and thighs so she could use the bands as leverage.
Then, the man walked closer to her, and she sank herself down onto his waiting cock. As she began fucking him, I timed the push of my finger to their movements. Isabella’s hands pressed against the edge of the bar top as she watched it all unfold.
Myeyes flicked over to the other aerialist as she lay back comfortably in the bands as her partner knelt in front of her. Her face was buried in her pussy, and her fingers pumped in and out of her. Moans and wet sounds came from the stage as the tension intensified.
Itook advantage of the distraction and added a second finger inside Isabella. Only the slightest gasp left her mouth as she adjusted to the new sensation. I rubbed my knuckles against her clit right before I buried my fingers deep inside, and based on the soft shakes of her legs, Isabella was close.
“You’re going to come all over my fingers, but you can’t make a sound, got it?” I whispered in her ear.
Shenodded furiously, her knuckles white in their grip on the counter. Based on the slapping of skin coming from the stage, our performers were also close. I needed to get Isabella there with enough time for me to rinse my hands and slow my breathing before the crowd’s attention was again pulled to the bar.
Icurved my fingers in the way she liked and pressed tightly into her clit. The walls of her pussy clenched around my fingers, and her body arched forward in a wave as the orgasm hit her. I held her up with one arm wrapped around her middle, but she kept her word and stayed quiet.
Iwaited until the goosebumps faded from her skin to pull my fingers out. I was washing my hands as our performers on stage were reaching their own climaxes. Isabella’s eyes were full of fire as she glanced up at me, and I wanted nothing more than to push myself into one of the side rooms and sink myself inside her.
Ihad to tear my gaze away from her before I did exactly that.
Thecharm sounded from the speakers, and the heavy curtain dropped from the ceiling, signaling the end of the on-stage acts. Now, the club would transition to private rooms and public displays from members who weren’t shy.
AsI glanced at Isabella, taking a deep, steadying breath, I noted the subtle signs of our recent closeness—a faint blush on her neck, the nervous bite of her lip. The lounge buzzed back to life, murmurs of excitement and desire filling the space as the performance concluded. The grand opening was a success. The club’s new daring direction was resonating with our guests.
Couplesnestled into secluded spots, the room alive with whispers and laughter, a testament to our club’s unique appeal to both exhibitionists and voyeurs. Our communication about the openness of the Mirage had clearly emboldened them. Already, the club buzzed with energy, guests exploring their desires openly.
Izzyquickly put herself back together, grabbing her tray to head back into the fray of the lobby. Watching her from my spot behind the bar, a pang of sadness hit me. It was time to be up-front with her, to let her know that, for me, this couldn’t continue. We needed boundaries. Izzy had made it clear enough times that I wasn’t in her long-term picture, so it was better for both of us to start moving on now.
Asshe headed back to the bar, the familiar tension that had wrapped around us since our last encounter tightened. It wasn’t just the events of the evening that were weighing heavily on me. It was her words, the boundaries she had set without saying them directly. I understood her hesitations, her need to protect herself from whatever complications our relationship could bring, especially given the age difference. But understanding didn’t ease the sting of rejection, the sense of being placed in a box marked “temporary.”
Hergaze, always so piercing and revealing, met mine as she navigated her way back through the lobby. I often wondered if she realized how transparent she was to me, how her eyes were the windows to the tumultuous thoughts swirling in her head. It seemed we had both reached a silent agreement on where we stood, but I felt the weight of voicing it fall heavily on my shoulders.
Drawinga steady breath, I prepared myself for what had to be said. “I think it’s time we set some new boundaries,” I began, my voice steady, even if my heart wasn’t. She stopped in her tracks, a testament to the seriousness of our conversation. “I understand where you’re coming from,” I continued, gesturing vaguely in the space between us, the physical representation of our undefined relationship. “And so, I think it’s best I give you the space you seem to need.”
Herresponse was immediate, a quick inhalation of breath, and then her lips pressed together in thought. “Yeah, I think you’re right,” she said, her voice tinged with a resignation that didn’t sit well with me.
Itwas a strange dance of giving and taking, of opening up only to pull back. Isabella was cautious, wary of rushing into something neither of us was ready for, especially with the looming reality of our age difference and what she perceived as my lack of readiness for the kind of commitment she envisioned. On my end, it was a protective measure, a way to shield myself from the potential hurt of being another temporary thrill in her life. My decision to step back wasn’t just about respecting her boundaries. It was about safeguarding my heart from the ache of being seen as not enough for someone I was, against all logic, falling deeply for.
Asshe nodded in agreement, I couldn’t help but wonder if she truly understood the depth of what I was offering—space, yes, but also a silent plea for her to see me as more than a momentary diversion.