Page 1 of Serenity
MASK OFF
“This one is for you.”
Hand outstretched, Brian offered me the lace-like mask with cat-eye cutouts. Intended to conceal my identity, it would serve its purpose well. The presence of perspiration presented both clammy and balmy digits as I extended my arm to accept it from his hand.
“You’ll be fine. You’re with me,” Brian tittered, picking up on my anxiety. “You nervous?”
Hell yeah, I was nervous.
“No,” I lied, swiping the evidence of dew against my exposed thighs.
Brian and I were friends. Friends on a date. Friends on a date to a… I don’t know what the fuck you’d call Genevieve. It was my idea to come—all caused by curiosity. Having never been to the exclusive club, I wanted to know what lived within the outer walls. The all-black, unassuming exterior gave nothing away, adding to the club’s mystique.
“Zahn-vee-ayve,” it was pronounced, Brian said, of the French-named establishment. The elite members-only club held an air of snobbiness to it. It was in its intrigue. In its obscurity. In the whispers about the place like it was a fucking secret society.
The exclusive organization was as pretentious as it was uncanny. Say Jenna-veev at the door all you wanted. Your ass wasn’t getting in. The mispronunciation of the name was a tell of unbelonging.
Heaviness loomed in my limbs as one foot after another was led forward. Brian’s palm rested on the small of my back, further encouraging my movements. The summer air was rich and dense with humidity and the magnetism of curiosity. The closer we inched to the door, the more wetness coated my palms.
“Good evening, code?”
The curt request for an entry password was requested by a host who didn’t care to issue me a second look. With her attention focused on a tablet’s screen propped on the hostess stand, she tapped away, ignoring us both.
“Three, six, two, nine, eight, delta, omega,” Brian returned.
As the screen changed, finally, the host glanced in our direction, studying Brian’s face. Their system likely had photos and credentials for every member. It was evident in the way her gaze flitted from the screen to him, not once, but twice.
“Have a wonderful evening, Mr. Hadley.”
We advanced inside to the scent of vanilla, lavender, and something citrusy. Cold air wafted over my skin, pricking my limbs and summoning the attention of my nipples. The inside rivaled the Arctic and was nothing like the summer heat.
Red lights broadcasted the presence of several souls already inside. Buckets of black and red paint coated the walls. It accented the space beautifully. The interior was one of seductive allure.
Music I was hardly paying attention to floated over concealed speakers, setting a flirtatious ambiance. The main floor resembled a gentleman’s club—a bougie one, no doubt, with tufted leather seats and ottomans, but a strip club no less.
I was far from amazed, waiting to see what all the hype was about. I’d heard stories and rumors of people’s lecherous exploits at Genevieve. The current setting left me hardly impressed. Still, I trudged forward, staying in close proximity to Brian.
Women, some partially nude, others completely naked, walked the floor and relaxed on loungers next to men with the elegance of queens. One woman took center stage, climbing an impossibly tall pole. Her five-inch platform heels didn’t stop until they reached the ceiling. Feet away, a nude trapeze artist twirled in satin red fabric in the air. Genevieve was like Cirque du Soleil on Viagra.
We were going deeper. Deeper into the walls of Genevieve. She housed many layers. Many secrets. Many pleasures. At the elevator off the main room, we entered.
“Welcome to Genevieve. Please select your depth,” the computerized voice of a black woman requested.
A reprieve from the sexiness and sophistication of black and red accents, we entered the golden carriage covered with panoramic mirrors. The buttons on the elevator’s number pad were far from typical. Nothing about the place was. Beginning with zero, the numbers continued to descend. Brian pressed the button for “-1”.
During the short ride, I eyed myself in the elevator’s mirror. Admired the way the Retrofête mini hugged my curves. Something about my reflection had been amplified. Maybe it was the glass of wine at dinner. Maybe it was the swankiness of our present location. Maybe it was Brian by my side or a compounding of it all, but I looked fucking stunning.
We stepped off the elevator to the sound of Teddy Swims crooning about losing control with a woman. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw as we entered -1. Sex. Everywhere. Some faces were masked. Some weren’t.
We cruised through a sea of souls engaged in one sexual thing or another. From one corner of the room to the other, people were fucking while others just… watched. The awe on the spectators’ faces mirrored mine. Mirrors were everywhere, granting no privacy. Only reflections of souls both curious and… hungry.
I’d been submerged into an alternate world where women were being worshipped. By men. By other women. It made no difference, but it was obvious that this particular floor was intended for women. Brian pulled me closer, sensing my trepidation and awe, though I hoped like hell he didn’t pick up on my arousal.
“Don’t be surprised if you’re approached on this floor. Come a little closer,” he whispered, slinking his hands lower down my waist. He wasn’t touching my ass, but he’d stopped just low enough to do so.
I watched as a woman was hoisted into a swing, fingered, and feasted on by a man half-dressed. The brazenness left my mouth agape, and my chest expanded. Still, I couldn’t bring my eyes to rip themselves from the display. Her lover wore slacks and a tie against his bare chest. It revealed more about his status than I cared to be aware of.
This was where the wealthy white collars came to get filthy. My eyes hiked to the heavens as the woman’s swing was lowered until she was fully seated on the dick of another naked man. The cunnilinguist in front of her continued feasting as she began to cry out. Simultaneously, I wondered what the second man was doing beneath her. His eyes were closed. His lips parted as he began to move from below.