James
1306 Words
James
“How about an evening at the Club?”
Michael casts a speculative eye at Charlotte, who grins broadly.
Ever ready….
*****
It’s still early as we arrive, and most people are still at the socializing stage of the evening.
“Hi, Michael…”
He waves to a dainty blonde by the bar. “Hi, Abi. How’s it going?” She turns big brown eyes onto him.
“Great Michael, Doing good.”
Charlotte hooks his arm to chat with Michael’s old friend Chloe and the guy she’s with….
Do I know him?
Don’t think so….
….. catching up on gossip.
Small talk….
Something flags at the corner of my eye: Borje Helloing me from across the floor….
Probably looking for an invitation to meet Charlotte again….
Let him down gently….
I nudge Michael on the elbow, then wander across, glass in hand, moving slowly to take some of the ache from my leg….
Cold, damp weather….
Fucking lousy winters…
A voice from the side. “Hello, James.”
I nod… “Marcie…”… and keep walking.
Her over-made face twists from some version of a winning smile to a scowl as I cruise by, the wind in my sails.
A smile flirts around Borje’s mouth as I arrive. “James, good to see you. How’s it hanging?”
Given the venue, doubtless he thinks his choice of phrase is cute….
Borje nods to where Marcie is circling, looking for another unwary swimmer. “I see you still have a fan club there.”
I grimace. “Not if she were the last woman on earth….” He grins. “…. It’ll be Michael next, just watch.”
“I am watching.” Amusement glints in his eye. Sure enough, she’s heading for Michael who is determinedly not noticing her. “What are her chances?”
“Zero. Michael’s married now. To Charlotte.”
Borje’s eyes widen, then he tilts his glass to them. “Lucky man.” He sucks at his teeth. “And you?”
“It’s the three of us, yes.”
He nods, absorbing that. “Any chance that….?” He nods towards Charlotte.
“No. We keep within ourselves now. Since that evening with Kris.”
He winces. “Don’t blame you. I thought I was going to be locked up after that.” Then, with a smile, “A man can dream.”
Who doesn’t?
“Nothing personal.”
“You don’t mind if I…?”
“Not at all. I’m sure she’d be pleased to see you.” I knock back the remains of my drink. “Got to go.”
“Of course. I’ll be sure to call by and say hello to the delectable Charlotte.”
I re-join Michael and Charlotte to find them talking to, of all people, Kirstie.
What’s brought her here again?
Useful though…
Get to know her socially….
Wonder if that Dom of hers is here?
I scan the room but don’t see him. “Hello, Kirstie. I didn’t know you were here.”
“Hello, Mr Alexanders….” She has a wide-eyed look about her….
Something happened?
I touch her shoulder. “Kirstie, we discussed this before. We’re not at work now. It’s James….”
“Hello, James.” She smiles widely. On her strong-featured, rather austere face, the expression is rather becoming. “Michael here was just telling me how you saved Charlotte’s life….”
Oh, crap….
Him and his freakin’ great mouth….
“I thought we agreed not to advertise that,” I mumble sidelong.
Michael is unapologetic. “We agreed not to advertise it unnecessarily. Sometimes it is appropriate.”
“Like when?”
“Like when Marcie gets disparaging about my best friend and risks my wife punching her teeth out.”
?
“Have I missed something?”
But no-one replies. Kirstie’s face suddenly lights up….
You’re a beautiful woman when you do that….
Michael’s gaze follows hers. “He’s here then?”
She’s flushing. “Sorry?”
“No woman smiles like that at the arrival of a random stranger.”
Michael’s right. Kirstie has the light of love in her eyes. But she looks awkward at his words.
Embarrassed?
She was seeing Ben….
Michael speaks softly. “Kirstie, it’s alright. Ben’s a good man, even if it doesn’t look that way to you right now….
Hmmm…
“…. but he’s not the right man for you.”
It doesn’t seem to calm her down. Her eyes are glossing. But now, at the far side of the room I see….
What the hell is he called?
…. Ryan standing by the door, scanning the crowd.
“Want to introduce us properly to your friend?” I say. “In a situation where we’ll talk about something other than cooling systems.”
Kirstie flashes eyes at me then crosses the room to greet Ryan. The expression she wears is nothing like the one she wore for Ben….
Devotion?
Infatuation?
Passion….
Michael is watching too. “If that’s not love,” he murmurs, “I don’t know what it looks like.” He blows air and takes a mouthful of his drink. “I don’t think Ben was ever in with a chance.”
No….
The pair meet in the middle of the room, linking hands and talking before he pulls her close and gives her the kind of kiss movie stars would envy. After exchanging a few words, she nods back to us, then leads him by the hand.
Her tone is shy as she introduces him. “Um, this is Ryan…. and er, you met James earlier. This is Michael and Charlotte.”
“Please to meet you, Michael.” The two shake hands before he turns to Charlotte and gives her a light ‘social’ kiss on the cheek. “And you too, Charlotte.” Then he coils a proprietorial arm around Kirstie’s waist. “You’ve known each other long?”
I keep a straight face and Michael’s eyes briefly meet with mine.
Has she told him how we first knew each other?
Here…
“Charlotte and I only just met when I started the new job,” says Kirstie. “We don’t really know each other very well.”
I swallow a smile at her prevarication. Michael’s face is also suspiciously bland.
No, she hasn’t….
Kirstie looks at me, beseechingly….
Poor kid…
As if I’d drop her in it…
“I suspect that will change,” I say. “Charlotte doesn’t have too many female friends. Another intelligent woman might be welcome company for her? Someone to talk to.” I cast an eye to my mermaid to see how she reacts to the idea.
Charlotte sucks in her cheeks. “No question of finding an intelligent woman to be good company for a man, then?”
Wtf?
Michael scratches an eyebrow, looking perplexed. Ryan frowns. Kirstie turns away, clearly trying not to laugh.
“Have I said something amiss?” I ask.
Kirstie and Charlotte lock eyes in an ’All we girls together’ kind of look, both grinning broadly.
“What are you talking about, Charlotte?” says Michael. “We talk with you all the time…. don’t we?”
Ryan turns to Kirstie. “You’re a bright, intelligent woman. Why would I not want to talk with you?”
Her voice is dry. “Lots of men say they like intelligent women. I’ve never encountered one who, when it came to it, really felt that way.”
Ryan looks perplexed. “But I do like intelligent women….”
You and me both….
“…. It’s one of the things that I find attractive in you; that I can have a conversation with you, rather than just meaningless chit-chat and socialising.”
Kirstie arches brows. “Yes? Really? Can’t say I’ve ever been asked to get my brains out for the boys.”
Michael coughs into his drink…
Touché….
… but Charlotte creases up
Good friends for each other, those two….
Must encourage it….
Ryan is lost for words….
So much for the Dom/sub relationship….
Better give him some moral support….
I try hard to keep a straight face. But I don’t succeed. And Michael doesn’t even try.
Ryan recovers himself, taking Kirstie by the arm and steering her to one side. “Excuse me for a moment while I discipline my woman.”
Good luck….
He mutters something to her….
She blushes beautifully….
Wonder if she’ll be sitting down tomorrow?
I turn to Charlotte. “I hope you’re ready to bear the consequences of that kind of conversation.”
Her face burns and her hands move as though to cover her backside.
Later, we have her together; naked, flushed and sweating, displayed. Michael pumps her from behind as I trail the falls of my flogger over the soft skin of her shoulders and breasts. From among the audience gathered by the viewing window, Borje watches, smiling as Charlotte’s arousal spirals.
Michael looks outward, towards the audience.
What’s he looking at?
And I notice the blonde who was making eyes at him earlier; another girl with eyes of ebony and skin of black velvet. A tall, willowy brunette stands, her head tilted as her eyes wander his body.
Then Michael curves to burrow his face into Charlotte’s glorious hair, to kiss her neck.
*****
- Writer
