Page 33 of Forbidden Fruit
I give an excited squeal and finish my cocktail before I leave Jade to her job and take the bus home, daydreams of red ropes leaving marks on my skin accompanying me all the way to bed.
When Sunday comes, I’m a mess of conflicting emotions.
I haven’t seen The Marquesis all weekend, as if Lino is avoiding me. The thought shouldn’t make my heart squeeze with an emotion akin to disappointment. Why should I care that he wants me around the kids or himself? I’m just an employee. He’s just a job. And I see the kids all week anyway.
I shake my head to dispel thoughts of my boss and enter the lavish entrance of Lady in White. A hostess I don’t know in a white suit encrusted with red gems welcomes me and asks for my name before guiding me to a waiting area.
Located just above the main level, the view from this balcony is clear and all-encompassing. My eyes dart to the bar where Jade is serving a couple that lean towards each other and seem to exchange secrets and promises. The low light and baroque decor, with the soft piano melody coming up, soothes my nerves. My shoulders drop and after a few deep breaths, I relax and enjoy the view of people kissing, enjoying their drinks and disappearing behind curtains that I know lead to private rooms where they can enjoy each other however they prefer.
Multiple people are waiting here with me and give a polite smile as I pass and sit on a velvet sofa, the soft fabric caressing my thighs where my shorts have ridden up.
I count thirteen of us.
I guess that means I’ll be paired with the instructor. The knowledge is both reassuring—at least, it will be a pro who ties me up on my first time—and making me nervous. What if I suck at this? Not that I think I need specific skills to be tied up. DoI? My palms sweat and I’m about to jump ship when the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen walks towards us with a beaming smile and calming energy.
I remember him well from when I waitressed here. Milo’s smiling at us, his dark brown eyes alight with excitement, his thick hair now braided in mesmerising patterns on the crown of his head and his relaxed outfit made of grey sweats and a white cotton t-shirt put me at ease.
“Hi everyone, I’m Milo. I’ll be your instructor for our introduction workshop to bondage. Before we go in, I’d like you all to take a moment, if you need to change into something comfortable or go to the bathroom. They’re located to your right.” He smiles at each of us before continuing, “This workshop will go quite quickly. It’s only two hours. We’ll have a break at the end with snacks and tea, and I’ll be available to answer all your questions. And we’ll make our way out so as to not disturb the patrons or, if you’re in the mood, you can join in as part of your workshop pass.”
His tone is cheerful and open, and I smile at him. The nervousness I felt a moment ago dissipates, replaced with excitement.
“Hi, you must be Vanessa. Jade mentioned you’d be coming alone.” Milo extends his hand and I shake it, slightly disappointed when no tingles or spark buzzes between us.
“Jade can never shut up.” I roll my eyes playfully. “I wanted to do something new, and she thought this would be perfect.”
“So, you’ve never played with ropes?” he asks without a hint of desire or innuendo.
“Nope. First timer.”
“Don’t worry, most of the people here today are also first timers. I’m happy to guide you through your first knots and coax that playfulness out.”
When everyone is ready, Milo guides us into a room on the second floor. As I enter, I can’t help but notice that one side of the room is actually a glass wall exposing us to a corridor. It’s empty for now, but it’s not hard to imagine its purpose.
Milo walks to it and pulls a heavy black curtain across, closing the view from outside.
The room is well lit. Mattresses and meditation cushions, along with red hemp ropes, are placed in a circle and each couple finds a place to settle together. The people in this workshop are surprisingly diverse. The couple next to me are two women in their sixties and they smile kindly to me as they take their seat on the cushions.
As I sit by myself, I can’t help but wring my hands together. I glance around me but no one seems to pay me any attention, which helps me relax and calm my racing heart.
We all introduce ourselves and Milo starts by folding the rope into two equal parts to reveal ‘the bite’, the place where the rope bends to become two. “For our first exercise, decide who will tie and who will be tied. We’ll start with a simple knot at the waist and move our way down the legs.”
Everyone begins to tie their rope around their partner while I awkwardly do it by myself. Milo approaches me. “I can tie it for you, if you’re okay with that.”
Before I can answer, the door of the room bangs open, hitting the wall with a resounding bang. It’s so loud above the soft music, everyone’s gaze is drawn to it.
Including mine.
And it collides with Lino’s.
NINETEEN
FUCK IT
Sunday has come and almost gone and for the first time in weeks, I have the energy to go out, to be around people, to seek pleasure. To relieve myself of the torment of not touching who I desire most.
“Lino, fancy seeing you here,” Jade welcomes me back with a smirk that has me frowning. We know each other, but this familiarity isn’t like her. I greet her with a nod and she serves me a glass of Macallan. I want to drown in it.
Removing the memory of sweet Vanessa grinding against me on her soft sheets has been difficult, to say the least. It’s all I think about. From the moment I wake up, hard and aching, to the moment I go to bed, still feeling the same. I refuse to touch my cock to the idea of my employee, so here I am. At the club. Irritable. Frustrated. Painfully aware of how her dress was riding up her legs as she got on her tiptoes to grab a bowl from the top shelf in the kitchen last week.