by PJ Bayliss
Savannah secretly cursed her friend from denying her from her first vaginal orgasm. However, as the heavenly waves of abandonment cascaded over her body, she knew it was in impossible grudge to hold. The best she could do was to hope for another opportunity in the future.
14
There was a sombre atmosphere amongst the trio as they headed toward the outskirts of town. The quaint city of Saint Andrews had been their home for several years now where they all had fond memories of friendship, adventure, love, and laughter.
The silence between them was almost unbearable and prompted Chaise to speak up.
‘This feels strange, you know what I mean?’
‘Yeah,’ Carlos replied. ‘I'm going to miss this place,’ he gazed out the window at the passing scenery, ‘Definitely going to miss it.’
Julie quietly agreed with the twins from the back seat. Chaise glanced up at the rear vision mirror to catch Julie wipe a sentimental tear from her cheek.
He took a breath, ‘I guess we all arrived here thinking St Andrews had gained a new soul. Now we’re just realising that we actually gained a soul.’ He watched her smile in the mirror afterwards.
They rounded a corner and Julie let out a deep sigh as the final roundabout came into sight. She glanced at Chaise in the mirror, ‘Last time…’ she whispered.
‘Freedoooom…’ Carlos cried out from the front passenger seat and punched his fist into the air mimicking Braveheart. They all chuckled and laughed off the tension as Chaise shifted the car into gear and accelerated into the countryside. Julie turned back to watch the outskirts of old town disappear over the horizon as they sped south.
They had all travelled this journey many times before during Christmas and school holiday breaks when they had returned to their families. Julie had driven the road many times over the years. She was desperately homesick in her first year of study before meeting Chaise and spent most weekends making the trip to her parents’ house in Blackpool. That was when they were married, but now her father had moved out of the house.
The journey south from Saint Andrews was an easy drive. The road was safe and easy to navigate with languid corners seeping through the open countryside like a dreary grey river on its way to the sea. There was little choice but to queue behind traffic if a local farmer happened to be driving his tractor on the road, but it was only a short distance through the dozy countryside to Largoward and the little seaside village of Lower Largo where most of the slower traffic would soon disappear. South of Largo, the urban views returned with tiny cottages, shops and bustling city streets before the A915 stretched out into the countryside once again.
‘Who’s up for the scenic route?’ Chaise enquired as he approached the turnoff to Kirkcaldy.
‘Why not?’ Julie replied. ‘Can we grab a bite to eat up here?’ She thought a quick snack might settle her nerves.
‘Sounds good.’
‘I’m easy,’ Carlos added. ‘I’m probably outnumbered here anyway.’
Chaise grinned. ‘You’ve never complained about being outnumbered before.’
‘Ha! Whatever...’ Carlos paused. ‘… Apparently, I’m not the only one that doesn’t mind being outnumbered.’
Carl’s comment sparked a warm glow that emitted from Julie’s throat and burst upward toward her cheek. Just as her lips pursed to compose a reply, Chaise interjected.
‘Everyone has a right to their own fantasy, and you’re fortunate enough to be invited.’
‘Yeah, don’t I know it!’ Carlos replied, ‘Tonight’s going to wicked!’
‘Literally, I hope.’
Julie giggled from the back seat, ‘There’s never any hope with you to. Always a guarantee.’
The twins laughed at her joke and agreed.
Chaise shuffled in his seat and focussed on the road ahead while Carlos slumped back in his seat, taking in the views as they travelled through the seaside town of Kirkcaldy.
◆◆◆
Kirkcaldy marked the half-way point between Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The roundabout at Gallatown marked the town’s entrance and he drove past Lord Gambier wharf to the esplanade where he stopped in a car park by the sea. The brisk sea breeze submerged them as they got out of the car and stretched their legs.
‘Can you grab us a bite please Carl? We’ll wait here for you.’
‘All good. The usual then?’ Carlos queried.
The others replied and he started walking toward the shopping centre on the opposite side of the road. “The usual” meant fish ‘n chips from a local shop that they had become familiar with over the years. It was a regular stop for the group on their previous trips, although typically it was a late-night Friday meal rather than a lunchtime snack.
Carl’s departure provided Chaise with an ideal opportunity to spend time with Julie and get his news off his chest. They walked hand in hand down the cobbled pathway by the sea.
‘I’m pleased you stopped by here Chaise.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I just adore this place. It’s beautiful, being by the sea ‘n all.’
‘Yeah, the sea does make it special.’
‘And the memories…’
They stopped walking and Julie moved in closer for a hug. She embraced him firmly to commit this moment to her memory.
‘I can’t wait until we can do this stateside,’ he remarked.
‘Hmm. Me too.’
‘It’ll be colder at this time of the year, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate it regardless.’
Julie was a little confused over his comment as she wasn’t paying full attention to his words. She was swept up in the motion of the waves upon the beach and thought nothing much of his slip of the tongue.
‘I’d appreciate any view with you, no matter what the weather,’ replied Julie.
Chaise felt this was the moment to tell her, with her warmth in his arms and sun upon them as the cool sea breeze cascaded over their faces. He linked his lips in preparation when Carlos appeared in front of them.
‘Lunch has arrived!’ he announced.
His timing was impeccable. Chaise was disappointed but also knew there would be plenty more opportunities to tell her the news. They sat down and admired the views of the North Sea as they ate their lunch. The tide was out and people were walking along the shoreline enjoying the midday sun.
Once they finished their meal the trio set off to Edinburgh. Chaise opened the car door for Julie and she sat down in the back seat. The butterflies in her stomach remained in flight. She thought the meal might have settled them down but the cause of her anxiety had since transformed. Previously she was concerned over his departure back home, now she was curious about if he intended for her to possibly visit him in New York. The way he was talking suggested it might be the situation, and now she was curious.
Her emotions were truly mingled together. Worry with a dash of apprehension and curiosity. It was a potent concoction that would sit with her for the entire 1-hour trip to Edinburgh.
◆◆◆
‘Nearly there,’ Chaise called out.
Julie had barely closed her eyes and woke to her senses in the back seat. There was a large modern block building on the corner.
‘Is this the hotel?’ she queried, rubbing her eyes.
‘No. We’re staying just up here at Number 11.’
‘Eleven?’
‘Uh-huh. Here it is…’
Julie had her doubts based upon the name but they were quickly passed aside once she saw the building.
It was an impressive Georgian block building that had served various masters’ over the generations. It was steeped with history and Julie admired the plush interior of the entrance as Chaise and Carlos tended to room reservations with the staff. Everything had been elegantly decorated and furnished to please and entertain the eye. Julie was memorised by the building when her train of thought was interrupted.
‘Shall we, my lady?’ said Chaise, offering his arm to lead her to her room.
‘We shall,’ she replied with a cheeky grin and curtsy.
Carlos was taken to the second floor to his room as the others were guided to their room on the first floor. They were staying in the Georgian Suite with lavish furnishings, a separate lounge area and beautifully decorated ensuite bathroom with a freestanding bath. Julie admired every angle of the room until her eyes rested upon the large four-poster bed where Chaise was gently pressing upon the mattress.
‘Testing the bounce, are we?’ she snickered.
Chaise laughed, ‘I don’t mind if there’s no bounce. A hard surface suffices just as well as any other.’
‘Hmm. Quite true,’ she replied. ‘There’s a few of those in this room too mind you...’ she approached him and they hugged each other next to the bed.
‘We have a couple of hours before going to The Caves tonight. Perhaps you’d like a bath?’
‘Maybe. Or maybe we should make sure the bounce is right?’ said Julie with a raised eyebrow.
‘First things first,’ Chaise replied. He walked toward the entrance door and opened it.
‘First things?’
‘Yes,’ replied Chaise, and he flicked the sign over on the door handle before shutting the door.
DO NOT DISTURB
15
Julie stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, dried her hair and prepared herself for the evening. Chaise walked in behind her and wrapped his arms around her and watched her in the mirror.
‘Looking forward to tonight?’ he asked.
‘The caves? Yes! But you haven’t really told me much about it.’
‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’
‘But I already know we are going there?’
‘I realise that, but you don’t know what is going on tonight.’
‘A show?’
‘Kind of,’ replied Chaise, ‘I guess you can call it a show.’
Julie turned around to face him eye to eye. ‘What have you booked us in to now? I can from that look in your eye that you’re up to something.’
He sniggered and denied any wrongdoing before explaining his intentions for the night.
‘It’s a club meet, sort of.’
‘What kind of club are you talking about?’
‘A fetish club,’ he replied cheekily.
Julie stared at him and was speechless for a moment. Never in her lifetime did she imagine this would happen.
‘What the fuck?’ she exclaimed, ‘A fetish club, what on earth are you talking about?’
‘Precisely that. It’s a local club. They’re meeting tonight, and I have three tickets,’ he fanned the tickets’ out in his fingertips to show her the event.
Julie snatched them out of his hand. ‘Feather and Leather Club?’ She fanned the tickets in his face. ‘Are you serious about this?’
‘Never more so.’
‘But why?...’ Julie was confused. She walked out of the bathroom into the hotel bedroom, stopping at the windows. She looked at the tickets in her hand.
‘What do you mean, why? Do you want to try this or not Julie?’
Julie turned around to face him, Try what?’
‘This! This lifestyle?’
‘You’re talking about BDSM?’
‘Yes! Of course I’m talking about BDSM.’
‘God Chaise, I just don’t know…. Yes! I mean No! Oh hell! I don't bloody well know what I want…’ she sobbed and sat down on the bed, her hands raking her forehead.
‘What?’ asked Chaise, he approached her. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘I don’t know Chaise. I just don’t know what I want, and how the hell am I expected to know when we’re like this?’
‘Like what? Whaddaya mean, when we’re like this?’
‘Well, we’re not…’ she took in a big sigh and looked out of the window in contemplation. ‘We’re not forever.’
Chaise sighed. ‘I see, so that is what it’s all about. Forever, huh?'
‘Precisely,’ she looked back toward him. ‘I’m sorry, but I just don’t know what I feel right now knowing that one day you’re going to pack your bags and leave and return home, leaving me here all by myself.’
‘It won’t be like that,’ he assured her, ‘I promise.’
‘How can you say that Chaise? In a couple of days, you’re going to Italy, and then we’ve only got a couple more weeks together back at Saint Andrews to pack the flat up and go.’
‘But…’
‘No excuses Chaise, that’s all we have together.
I thought I could cope with it, and I have handled you going back for a week or two at a time, but I just can’t face it this time. I’m sorry, I just can’t.
So, with all that going on and now this lifestyle adventure you’re insisting upon playing with right now…’ she turned away and looked down at the floor, looking for a hole to swallow her up and take her away.
‘Babe, listen to me, I have it sorted out this time,’ Chaise approached and rubbed her shoulders to comfort her, ‘I know what you’re feeling, and I guess I’ve just been waiting for the right time to tell you…’
‘Tell me what?’
‘That we can be together after all this. I’ve made arrangements…’
‘Arrangements? What arrangements?’
‘Arrangements for you to come back home with me, back to the States…’
‘What? What are you talking about?’ Julie was in complete disbelief over his news.
‘You’re coming back to New York with me, or if you like, in a couple of weeks once you’ve sorted things out here and had time with family.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yeah, well I know you want to spend some time with your father, you always do. I think that’s why our holiday breaks have been bearable for you. So, in your own time…’
Julie could feel her own heartbeat long with the anxiety rushing through her body. Finally, she could define the feeling she felt throughout the journey. That feeling that turned her stomach into knots until she finally fell asleep to make it go away. That feeling was apprehension.
She looked around the room for an escape from his gaze until her eyes fell upon the luggage on the end of the bed. The sight of it compounded her emotional fear and she sat down beside it. Her chest tightened up and she focussed upon her breathing before continuing.
‘I’m not so sure Chaise.’
‘Sorry?’
‘I’m not sure if I’m ready yet. I need to think about this.’
Chaise was stunned by her confession.
‘What’s wrong Jules? What’s on your mind?’
‘It’s just that this is all so sudden Chaise. I never imagined it would turn out like this so quickly. Travelling to America? That’s like huge! And I guess, I just need some time to think about it.’
Time. It was one of the things Chaise hadn’t fully considered in his devious plan, and there was very little he could do about it. But her reluctance made perfect sense in the end. An awkward silence fell across the room as he looked out the window and reflected upon her words. Julie remained seated upon the bed, wishing the floor would swallow her up whole.
Chaise turned around, ‘Time is good…We’ve got time to think it over.’
‘And my dad. I want to be here for him as well.’
Chaise had factored that part of the equation in and did consider possible delays as she spent time with her father. Her parents had just separated and her father moved to London while her mother remained in Blackpool. There wasn’t a question of custody over Julie, but her mother had taken to drinking and smoking to relieve the pressure and her latest boyfriend was an abusive arsehole.
‘I understand Julie. And yes, spending time with your father is an excellent idea right now. I know it’s been a difficult time for you and your family lately. Like I said before, we have plenty of time up our sleeve.’
‘It’s not just time though Chaise. I really can’t afford to either. I need to
find a job’
‘Relax, my father has taken care of that, he’s going to pay for the tickets.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yes, and you have a job waiting for you at the firm too, a working visa. You’ll have up to twelve months to stay there, so plenty of time to sort ourselves out.’
Julie was running out of excuses, other than flat out declining his offer and potentially tossing their future away. There wasn’t much more she could say or do, other than take the time to think harder about her final decision.
‘Why didn't you say something before?’
‘I’m sorry. I was trying so hard to find the right time and place to tell you. Every time I thought it was right, something interrupted me.’
‘Like what?’
‘Well, like the whole Tim and Savannah thing for starters…’
Julie burst out into laughter and wiped a tear from her cheek. ‘I guess that stopped me too Chaise. I’ve been wanting to talk to you like this for days. I’m so pleased I’ve managed to get this off my chest!’
‘Maybe it’s just fate and why it turned out like that?’ he chuckled, ‘not that it wasn’t a bad ending to the night, eh?’
Julie blushed.
‘So how is my night going to end up like tonight then?’ she asked.
‘Oh boy, I dunno if you’re ready for this one, it’s a bit of a mind fuck,’ Chaise stood up and rifled through his luggage to pull a plastic shopping bag out.
‘I’m game,’ she said, ‘I’m up for anything you can throw at me. I promise.’
‘I hope so…’ he reached into the bag and pulled out a long leather leash.
Julie gulped. ‘You bought me a puppy?’
‘Nuh-uh,’ Chaise shook his head. ‘This is all yours tonight,’ he smirked and reached into the bag once again. ‘Oh, and so is this one,’ he said, holding up a second identical leather leash.
