The Stories We Whisper at Night

by Sky Corgan

  I check my phone and scowl. Rodney is already five minutes late. I'm giving him five more minutes and then I'm going to drive to the pool hall down the street. If he wants to enjoy a night of debauchery, he can do it alone. This is not my scene at all.

  I find myself staring at the time, half-praying he doesn't show up. To be honest, I'm not even sure I'm ready for something like this. I broke up with my fiancée two years ago after walking in on her having sex with another guy in our bed. I haven't had any interest in dating since. Jacking off always seemed like the better solution to take care of my sexual urges as opposed to subjecting myself to the possibility of getting hurt again.

  But that's not what tonight is about. Tonight is just about getting laid. If I can force myself to do it.

  I don't want to force myself, though. Coming here feeling like I have a goal makes me no better than all the other douchebags in the world.

  “Thank God,” I say as Rodney's time runs out.

  I turn the key in the ignition to bring my Jag to life.

  “Bye-bye, weird little club.” I back out of the space I'm parked in and start heading towards the exit. I'm halfway there when I see Rodney's Chrysler pull in. I curse under my breath before stopping next to him and rolling down my window.

  “Where are you going, buddy?” He sounds as if he has no clue that I was leaving. Like I had just gotten lost in the parking lot and was still looking for the club.

  “You're late, buddy,” I say the buddy part mockingly.

  “Well, I'm here now. I'll meet you at the back of the line.” He rolls up his window and continues on, pulling into the parking spot I just vacated.

  I roll my eyes, turning my car around to find a new parking space.

  Despite saying he'd meet me in the line, Rodney walks over to my car. I look his attire up and down, wondering if I'm overdressed. He's wearing baggy jeans with sneakers and an oversized t-shirt with a logo on it.

  “Wow. Look at you.” His eyes rake over the black suit I'm wearing. “You going to a funeral?” he jokes.

  “The dress code said classy for men,” I mention as we step in line, noticing that I'm the only guy who seems to have dressed up.

  “Yeah. I think they just say that to chase away the bad elements. You ready for all the hot virgins?” Rodney rubs his palms together as we approach the door.

  “Do you really think virgins would come to a place like this?” I cock an eyebrow at him.

  “They'll be here tonight. It's The Virgin Dating Game,” he says like a game show host, and I can't help but chuckle.

  “Wow. You are really amped up for this.”

  “Gotta get me some virgin pussy. You should get some, too.” He pulls out his membership card to hand to the cashier. Meanwhile, I'm ushered into a different line to fill out paperwork and pay my dues.

  We step into the club, and it's nothing like I expected it to be. I had imagined writhing naked bodies all over the place, but what I see is more like a regular nightclub. There's a bar on one side, a big open dance floor in the middle, ample seating space, and the walls are lined with vendors peddling their adult wares.

  “Want a beer?” Rodney asks, holding up the 6-pack of Milwaukee's Best he brought in. The stuff tastes like piss water to me, but right now I'd drink just about anything to take the edge off.

  “Sure.” I pull one from the holder and twist off the top before drawing it up to my lips.

  “Care for a tour?” His eyes are full of excitement.

  “Sure,” I reply with far less vigor.

  He walks me around the room, spending more time at each vendor than I would like. If I want sex toys, I can go online. The inflation from these little brick and mortar vendors is ridiculous, though I do find some things I've never seen before, not that I consider myself particularly kinky. Once we're done making the rounds, he takes me through a door that separates the private area from the rest of the club. We're forced to leave our beer on a table outside before entering.

  “This is where they'll be busting cherries later,” he informs me unabashedly.

  In the private area are multiple bays with beds. There are bowls filled with condoms throughout. Two of the bays are occupied with couples going at it. I'd be lying if I said the sounds and display of sex didn't turn me on, though it makes me a bit uncomfortable at the same time. It's like I'm looking in on something I shouldn't be seeing. But I know that the couples enjoy being watched. That's why they're doing this, after all.

  “I doubt a real virgin would want to lose it in front of all these strangers,” I mutter.

  “What was that?” Rodney turns to me.

  “Nothing.” I shake my head.

  We stand and watch the couples for a while longer. My arousal is only curbed by my racing thoughts, wondering if I'd have the balls to have sex with someone in front of so many people.

  “This room gets pretty crowded,” Rodney mentions. As it is, there's plenty of standing room left. Only about a dozen people occupy the space. The viewing area could probably accommodate closer to fifty.

  “So is this what you do here?” I nod towards the people having sex.

  “I haven't tried it yet, though I have been to the private rooms in the back.” He glances towards a hallway I hadn't noticed before. “I haven't run into anyone kinky enough yet.”

  “I'm surprised, given the nature of this place.” My eyes sweep around the room.

  “Someday.” He rubs his palms together before turning to me. “Do you want to watch some more or are you ready to go register for The Virgin Dating Game?”

  “Let's find a table first. I think you might be registering for The Virgin Dating Game alone.”

  “Oh, come on, man.” His shoulders droop in disappointment. “Live a little.”

  “I've lived a lot. I'm not really interested in banging pretend virgins.” I give him a side-eye to show him I'm serious.

  “Fine.” Rodney throws his hands up. “I won't force you to do anything. But if you have a bad time, it's not my fault.”

  “Noted.” I follow him out of the private area.

  Just in the short time that we were in there, the club has filled up a lot. We're forced to take a table towards the back of the club away from the dance floor and where they have the area set up for The Virgin Dating Game.

  “It's ours now,” Rodney tells me as he sets his 6-pack down as if that means the table is claimed.

  “Good stuff.” I pull out my chair and sit before reaching across for another beer.

  “What are you doing?” He looks at me like I'm crazy.

  “Grabbing another beer. Is that okay with you?” I hesitate.

  “Man, we've got to go sign up.” He gestures towards the registration table.

  “You go on without me.” I twist the top off of my second beer, settling in.

  He rolls his eyes and opens his mouth like he's about to say something, but then he just huffs and leaves me to go register. I smirk at his back. Nice try, buddy. But this place isn't for me.

  My gaze washes over the occupants of the club, most of which appear to be happy couples. A wave of loneliness hits me. This probably isn't the best place to be when I'm still nursing a broken heart.

  Maybe Claudia broke me completely. It's been two fucking years. I should be over her already. Yet every time I see people happily carrying on in their relationships, I miss what we had.

  I can't be here, I realize quickly. My mood is sinking like a stone. I'm falling into a depression that I typically only feel on Valentine's Day, which I do good to avoid by staying home. This is worse than Valentine's Day. This place is couple's haven times ten.

  I slip my half-drank beer back into the holder and scan the room for Rodney. As soon as he returns, I'm going to leave. My eyes land on the registration table and stick there. My search for Rodney ends as long brown hair and a tight ass in a red dress catch my attention. The woman is leaning over the table, scrawling her name across the sign-up form. When she turns to speak to her f
riend, I discover that the front of her is every bit as appealing as the back. The dress clings to her braless tits. I can see her nipples perked from across the room.

  Something inside me stirs. Something that's been dead for a long time.

  There's no way this woman can possibly be a virgin. She's entirely too attractive. But that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is getting up the balls to talk to her. If I saw her at a normal bar or club, I wouldn't be able to gather up the nerve. Approaching women has never been my specialty. I probably wouldn't have even ever dated Claudia if she hadn't started working as a receptionist at my office. Being together with someone every day makes hitting on them easier. You start a natural dialogue, and things flow from there. Picking up someone at a bar is so rushed. You only have a few seconds to make a good impression. And then, of course, there's always the fear of rejection.

  My stomach turns as dark thoughts overtake me. There's no way this beauty in red could possibly be interested in me.

  But just as I think it, our eyes meet. And I know at that moment I have to register for The Virgin Dating Game just for the chance to meet her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  ADORE

  I feel like a deer caught in the headlights of a moving vehicle. Except he's not moving, for as much as I desperately want him to approach me. If eyes could sear a soul, I would be burning. My body suddenly feels hot. He's the most handsome man in the room, and he's looking right at me.

  I notice that he's the only one sitting at his table. That gives me hope that he doesn't have a girlfriend or a wife. But then my gaze falls to his chest, and I notice there's no number pinned to the front of his suit jacket. He's not here for The Virgin Dating Game, which means he's probably unavailable.

  I tear my eyes away and try not to frown in disappointment. The last thing I want tonight is to be a part of a threesome. His girlfriend is probably in the bathroom or something.

  “Are you ready to check out the private area?” Tanika asks me, already with one foot in the direction of the ominous door.

  “Sure.” A hint of depression makes it to my voice. I glance back at the handsome stranger. He's in the process of standing up, his eyes no longer on me.

  I follow Tanika to the door, and we leave our drinks on a table outside before entering. We wind our way through people before we stop in front of a large glass window separating the viewing area from bays of beds, two of which are occupied. On one, two lesbians are going at it. On the other, a woman is being pleasured by three men. She looks to be really enjoying it, just lying there while they have their way with her. The thought of experiencing something like that is arousing, but I don't think I'd have the nerve to let so many men go at me at once. I'd be worried about what I was supposed to be doing with all their dicks. The woman is stroking one of the guys while blowing another. The third man is eating her out.

  “Wish I was her,” Tanika comments.

  “Yeah,” I reply, mesmerized by the act in front of us.

  “This is where you'll be having sex if you pick someone tonight.” She nods toward the beds.

  “Really?” My body instantly tenses with nervousness. While watching other people have sex here is incredibly hot, I don't know if I have it in me to perform such a public display, especially for my first time. I expect that I'm going to be nothing but awkward. “Maybe I shouldn't.” I start to close up within myself.

  “Nonsense.” Tanika looks down at me. “It's really not as daunting as you think. You'll be so focused on what you're doing that you won't even notice the people watching.”

  “If you say so.” I fold my arms over my chest.

  Everything in me is telling me that this is a bad idea. I feel like it's only fair not to waste anyone's time.

  “I don't think I can do it.” I turn from the couples in the bays, ready to head back to the registration table and turn in my number.

  “Well...” Tanika hesitates. “I mean, you don't have to. No one is going to force you to do anything.”

  “Good. Because I don't want to.” I lead the way out of the area and into the main club, making a bee-line for the registration table.

  My gaze flits up to the man I was looking at earlier. He's back at his table, and his eyes are glued to me. There's something different about him. Pinned to the front of his jacket is a white circle with a number.

  “I changed my mind,” I tell Tanika in a hurry, stopping dead in my tracks.

  “I can see why.” She smirks.

  “Do you know him?” I pry for more information on the mystery man.

  “No.” She shakes her head. “I've never seen him before. But he looks like he wants to get to know you.” Her voice takes on an excited lilt and she giggles.

  I blush and avert my gaze for a fraction of a second before offering him a smile and an awkward little wave, knowing that I probably look like a complete dork. He raises his beer to me in distant cheers.

  “Good evening, members of The SX Club, San Antonio's premier hangout for all things kink related,” a woman announces at the front of the club, drawing my attention away from my admirer. We listen to her spiel on how The Virgin Dating Game works, and then Tanika parts ways with me so that I can be seated with the rest of the 'virgins.'

  This shit just got real, I think as I glance at my competition. There are six other women sitting at tables around me, hoping to find their mate for tonight. One is old enough to be my mother, so I know she's not a virgin. Maybe all of them are pretenders. I feel like it cheapens the experience, but who am I to judge. This is their domain, not mine.

  There are about two dozen guys signed up for the event. They're corralled into a waiting area that the announcer called the bull pin and are made to wait their turn with each of us. My palms begin to sweat as I realize that the dating game is about to start.

  The first man who is sat in front of me looks to be about twice my age. He has yellow teeth and a bad comb-over. I don't even want to talk to him, but politeness dictates that I carry on my five-minute conversation, which is mostly about what I would enjoy doing in bed for my first time. Every time he mentions my virginity, he does it with raised eyebrows as if to indicate that he knows it's all just an act.

  The rest of the night is much of the same. Rarely does a decent guy grace the chair in front of me. And I don't mean decent looking. I mean a guy who doesn't immediately bring up sex.

  I sigh inwardly, trying to remind myself that this is what this place is all about. If my mystery admirer and I do end up choosing each other, then we'll be having sex. Public sex. In front of everyone. My skin goose pimples at the thought, and I find myself glancing in his direction.

  He's finally been fed into the lineup. Knowing that he's talking to other women before me makes me irrationally jealous—makes it difficult to concentrate on the conversations I'm trying to have with my other potential suitors. I find my eyes jerking to the side every few moments to see what he's doing—if he's smiling or appears to be having fun. By the time he gets to me, he might have found someone else he prefers, I think with a frown.

  The anticipation of him reaching me is killing me. It feels like someone is holding me underwater and I'm struggling for just that one breath of air that could save my life. My hand itches to scribble his number down on my piece of paper, and I haven't even talked to him yet. There's no doubt in my mind that he's the only one I'd be willing to take a chance on tonight.

  Finally, he's seated with the woman beside me. It's the longest five minutes of my life. The room feels hotter with each passing second. By the time the announcer tells the men that it's time to switch seats, I'm almost certain I'm sweating. Not very attractive.

  Mystery Man offers me his hand when he reaches my table. When I go to shake it, he places a kiss on top of my knuckles. Heat climbs up my arm to cover my face in rosy pinkness.

  “Hi there,” he greets me.

  “Hello,” I stutter, just happy I'm able to form words.

  He's dressed like James Bon
d but looks like Jon Bernthal. Short dark hair, dark eyes, a bit of facial stubble. Tall and broad. I find myself wondering what his body looks like beneath that suit.

  “My name is Kellan,” he introduces himself.

  “I'm Adore.” I watch him take his seat.

  “Adore,” he repeats my name as if it's the sweetest thing ever. “Do you come here often?”

  “No.” I shake my head, placing my hands on my lap. Is this where my hands should go? Oh God, I can't even pretend to look poised in front of him. “This is my first time here.”

  “Mine, too.” His eyes sweep around the room before returning to me.

  “Sooo,” I drag out the word, not sure how to make conversation with him. I'm so flustered. “What are you here for?”

  He looks directly at me and gives me the most charming smile I've ever seen. “You. Just you.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  KELLAN

  Words flow easily from my lips when I'm so entranced. I caught Adore stealing glances at me while I waited for my turn to speak to her. I hope that I'm not imagining her interest.

  The chemistry between us when we sat together for our speed date was undeniable. She blushed and avoided my gaze, fidgeting with her fingers in her lap. All the signs of attraction were there. It took everything in me not to throw her over my shoulder and carry her out of the place like a caveman, claiming her as mine.

  But I have to be sure she wants me, and the only way to do that is to let this game play out. If she wrote down my name, then I'll be notified, and I'll meet her again in the private area.

  “How did it go?” Rodney asks as he sits down at our table. There's a fifteen-minute intermission before the couples are announced and paired up. I find myself wringing my hands in nervous anticipation under the table, silently praying while I stare at my vixen in red longingly from across the room.

  “That will be determined in fifteen minutes,” I reply, never taking my eyes off of Adore.

  “So you found one you like.” Rodney pulls his chair in front of me to get my attention. Then he turns to see who I'm looking at. “Ah, that one. Yeah, she's a hottie.”