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“That’s not good enough.”
I twisted my hands into the hem of his shirt, tired of the distance between us. “You brought me into this place and helped me find a family, a place to belong. You’re smart, handsome, funny, sometimes charming, sometimes irritating beyond belief, and you make me feel safe. I trust you with my life, regardless of your feelings towards me, because I know who you are. And you wouldn’t have done those scenes with me without a reason. I need a reason, Reese. Please.”
My face reflected back at me in his glasses, my eyes filled with pure desperation. For a moment he looked at me,reallylooked at me. Then he cut his eyes to the floor.
“I can’t give you one.”
The weight of an unrequited love was a torment, almost too much to bear. At that moment, I crumbled beneath it.
I released my hold on his shirt, letting my hands fall to my sides. I allowed myself a moment, just one, to shut my eyes and breathe in the smell of him. Reese smelled of the lavender body wash we shared, the faintest hint of his afternoon coffee lingering on his breath. I knew that no matter how many years separated us after this, the scent of lavender would torment me.
Then, I opened my eyes, and smiled at him, one last time.
“Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, but I’ll find a way.”
Confusion flickered across his brow. “Logan, you don’t -”
I didn’t let him finish. “I’ll see the auction through. I’m expecting the Byrnes to buy me tonight, so I’ll go home with them and come back to pick up my things later, if that’s alright with you.”
I moved to step away, but this time it was his hand that reached out to mine. “You don’t have to…do anything with them,” he said. “We aren’t that kind of place.”
I chuckled. “I know. But I might as well give it a try. They’re both attractive, and it’s kind of nice to know they’re interested in me. Don’t worry, I’m a big boy, I won’t do anything unless I want to.”
His fingers tightened around my wrist, digging into my flesh. He was almost…trembling? A lifetime of emotion crossed his face as he started to crack. When he spoke his voice was quiet, weak. Broken. “I don’t want that.”
“Then keep me here.” I didn’t waver, didn’t let him get to me. “Keep me here, with you, or let me go. It’s up to you.”
His lips parted, but no words came out.
I sighed, trying to control the storm within. In one final moment of weakness, I lifted the hand he had latched onto and pressed a gentle kiss into his skin. It was soft. Everything about him was soft, from his skin to his eyes to his heart. And I loved it all.
“Goodbye, Reese.”
He didn’t stop me as I pulled away, and I didn’t look back. All that was left was the auction and then I would leave this place to my memories.
***
If there was one thing Katie could do, it was put on a show.
The club looked amazing. All the tables were draped with sparkly black gauze that caught the lights and turned the space into a dream world. Neon glinted off of people’s faces, the pinks, purples, and blues reflecting off of smiles and excited eyes. It took only a moment to be swept away in the sea of chatter and laughter, and the energy was infectious.
If this was to be my last night at Requited, at least it would be a good one. The room was filled with faces I had come to know during my time here. This place had become more special to me than I would ever be able to explain.
Sure, it was a sex club. It was a place for deviant sexual desire to run rampant and free. But it was also a safe haven for those who had been cast out and forced to hide themselves. That was why Reese started it. It didn’t matter what kind of kink or desire you had, as long as there was enthusiastic consent, all were welcome. It had only been a few years, but I was proud of the time I spent there.
Katie pulled me away to go stand with the others being auctioned off. Most were staff, but there were some performers from the roster. The woman who taught shibari once a month was sure to start a bidding war.
Though my last conversation with Reese weighed upon my heart and mind, I couldn’t help but join in the excitement of the evening. At its core, the auction was just…fun. The audience had dressed in their best formal attire - though many included their own twists, like the latex gloves one woman wore, or the diamond-encrusted collar and leash on one of the men. Those of us being auctioned wore a variety of ensembles, either dripping pure sex appeal or to show off their skills. One of the most popular drag queens that performed with us had a whip in one hand and a paddle in the other, while the shibari master had elected to wear only her ropes.
For my part, I had let Steven, one of the bartenders, give me a strong smokey eye and donned the outfit I had ordered weeks before. It was a lovely thing - a sheer shimmery black fabric that revealed far more than it hid. The top was essentially two thin strips that made a sharp V from my shoulders to my hips, the material making my nipples perk as it rubbed. The bottom was more or less a pair of black hot-pants, specially designed so the outline of my cock was on full display. There was a secret clasp at the base of my spine that would cause the back to drop away, leavingeverythingopen.
Reese never appeared, either because of how we left things or because Katie threatened his life if he didn’t clean himself up. I was more relieved than anything that I didn’t have to face him again.
When Katie stepped onstage the music died down and everyone quieted. She was the MC of the night and looked stunning in a long emerald green dress with slits up to her waist. Her auburn hair danced around her shoulders in waves, and she was ethereal beneath the lights. This moment had been a year in the making, and she was going to shine.
Everyone in the audience had received a list of who was participating in the auction along with a few sentences about each person. She had put us in an order of her own devising, and we were sat on chairs at the back of the stage as we waited, giving everyone time to look us over.
The first name was called and the auction began.
