Chapter Six

Rowes

 

When Izzy had said a club, he’d expected something downtown, with music busting his eardrums and strobe lights that made his eyes ache. He’d also expected a lot of leather and high boots with maybe some latex. He wasn’t a complete prude, after all.

A castle of a house outside of town after a long gravel lane had not been his first guess. It didn’t even look intimidating…or sexy—just modern with a nice flow to it and little birds fluttering through the trees while chirping alarms. There wasn’t even any music, loud or otherwise.

The cars in the lot outside ranged from a beat-up Ford to a BMW with every model in between. Rowes peered toward the door where a man was leaning against the frame. He would have looked intimidating if his eyes hadn’t lit up, a smile stretching over his face when he spotted them.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Rowes whispered as he stepped out of the car door when Izzy held it open for him. Izzy chuckled as he nodded before sending the stranger a polite smile. Izzy’s eyes were slightly pinched, but he let out a breath as Rowes touched his arm.

The man waiting at the door was attractive as hell, but so far away from Izzy’s type that Rowes had to question Izzy’s judgment. With graying hair and a suit that reeked of money, he was the opposite of the men Izzy usually had flings with.

Not that Rowes was keeping track. They had a simple code between them to steer clear of the room if either of them received the ‘Busy. Give me an hour’ text. Rowes always tried to be generous and give Izzy at least three, but he’d still managed to run into a few guys on their way out.

Thin, twinky with dark hair and big blue eyes fit almost all Izzy’s hookups. This guy was pure Sugar Daddy material. Just like Izzy. Rowes shook his head, warding off those thoughts before they could develop into more. They were here to prove they weren’t kinky, not that they were.

And Izzy would know. He’d been a part of the scene, if only for a short time. He’d kept pretty tight-lipped about it, not that Rowes blamed him. They weren’t ones to get into stories of former conquests, no matter how good the lay was. They did swap embarrassing stories sometimes, but even those were few and far between.

“Hi, Malone,” said Izzy as they approached the door. “Thanks so much for meeting us here. It’s been a long time.”

Malone smiled, showing off every perfect and white tooth in his beautiful mouth. His jawline was nuts, too, with just a hint of scruff that would probably feel fantastic during a make-out session. Stop it!

Rowes’ gut churned. He didn’t want to imagine the two of them together, with Izzy’s fingers carding through that silver hair or going to his knees. He clenched his jaw, looking off to the side as a chipmunk scrambled across the gravel.

“Isthmus,” said Malone, offering his hand. Izzy clasped it, but it looked the same way it did when he shook the producer’s hand, not the way he would touch an old hookup. Rowes took a step closer to Izzy, unconsciously trying to tuck himself under his arm. Izzy didn’t even look at him before throwing an arm over his shoulders and drawing him in. Just being there again drained some of his tension. Izzy was the only thing that always made sense.

“I couldn’t believe it when you called me, Isthmus, but it’s great to see you,” said Malone, dropping his hand to his side. His gaze was steady on Izzy, only sparing Rowes a soft glance. “You’ve gone places since I saw you last… You’ve grown.”

Izzy seemed to stand an inch taller at the words, his chest puffing out like the director had just told him he was the best actor he’d ever worked with. Rowes fought not to snicker, shooting an elbow into Izzy’s side instead.

“Is this your submissive?” asked Malone, a bucket of ice falling directly on Rowes’ shoulders. It sounded so dirty coming from Malone’s lips with his deep voice that twisted his insides. “I didn’t realize you two were together.”

“Uh…I’m—” Rowes started, cutting himself off as Malone looked his way. Those eyes spoke of things that Rowes couldn’t imagine. This was someone who knew exactly who he was and what he wanted. Next to him, Rowes couldn’t help but feel like a stumbling idiot.

“Ro is my best friend,” said Izzy, squeezing Rowes tight. “Something came up recently, and we thought we would look into Dominance and submission.” He was such a good bull-shitter, but Rowes could imagine him preparing that speech the whole way over. “I couldn’t remember enough to be helpful, but there were a lot of good people the last time I was at Unkinked.”

Nodding slowly, Malone gave them a soft smile, looking at Rowes with something sweet in his gaze. “There are still good people. Clint runs the place, but his husband passed some time ago. This build is new, but the people are still the same.” He motioned to the doors.

Rowes’ gut clenched as something clicked in his mind. Malone was something different. There were very few in the world that treated actors like real people. To most, they were stars or someone to fantasize about, which was exhausting.

“Things are a little different out here, too,” said Malone, reaching for his phone. “No pictures, videos or anything that can be downloaded, uploaded or posted online. Anything you see or hear, you keep between you and your play partner. If you don’t like the look of something or it’s not your thing, don’t make a scene, just leave quietly. If you see anything that concerns you or if you suspect something isn’t right with a scene, then report it to me or the Dungeon Master.”

Rowes needed a pen and a pad of paper to start taking notes. They’d signed some online forms that Malone had sent them before they’d gotten there, but he hadn’t read them very carefully, too excited and nervous about the place.

“Sounds familiar,” said Izzy, nodding. “I gave Ro a bit of a rundown on the way, and we got those forms signed before we left. Thanks for getting that to us on such short notice.”

Malone only shrugged. He must’ve owned his own business or something to have such a flexible schedule. Izzy had called him shortly after two, and it was still daylight now—barely.

“You remember about consent, right?” asked Malone, settling his gaze on Rowes when he didn’t respond along with Izzy. “Nothing happens without consent—not a touch, not a scene or anything close to it. No second chances.”

“Got it. Keep my hands to myself. No second chances,” said Rowes, tucking his hands under his armpits. There were a lot of rules… Was he allowed to look? If he caught someone’s eye, was he going to be banned for life?

“And that tongue, too,” said Malone with a wink. “Unless you’re here looking for a Daddy, try not to flirt too much. I have a lovely boy of my own, but I always have a friend who is looking.”

If his face got any hotter, he was going to pass out. The air was suddenly twice as humid, the sound of crickets and a few birds way too loud. Izzy was unyielding next to him, his hand going tight where he’d moved it to Rowes’ waist.

“He’s not looking,” said Izzy, his voice surprisingly sharp.

Thank you. At least Izzy hadn’t lost his power of speech. Rowes wasn’t much of a flirt usually, but he didn’t want someone to take him too seriously when he was already feeling way over his head.

“Thought not,” said Malone, shooting Izzy a wink as if he knew something they didn’t. Hopefully, this guy didn’t have the same track mind as everyone else in the world.

“We aren’t sleeping together—Izzy and me, I mean. If you saw it online, it’s not true. We’re friends. That’s all.” Rowes swallowed when two heavy gazes settled on him.

Letting out a soft sigh, Malone nodded, folding his hands behind his back as he regarded them. “I meant no offense. Kink isn’t about sex, and for some partners, it’s a limit.”

Luckily, that was another term Izzy had explained to him. If something was off the table, all he had to do was call it a limit, and they were good. If Malone asked him, he was going to tell him everything was a limit for now.

“Kink is about power exchange, trust and intimacy. Sometimes the greatest intimacy is between friends,” said Malone.

Okay, so maybe the guy was actually a sweetheart. Rowes probably had stars in his eyes, because he couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard someone speak like that to anyone. And for the first time in weeks, he felt good.

No one had ever told him it was okay to be exactly who he was and nothing more or less, but Malone seemed to get it, and they’d just met.

Malone held the door open for them and Rowes followed Izzy’s sure steps, letting himself be ushered inside a place that would probably change his life forever. He could already feel it prickling along his skin as if looking for somewhere to sink deeper, until he was nothing like the man he’d been this morning.

Last chance. He looked back as the door fell shut, air conditioning wrapping around them like a temple. Too late. There was no going back now. Whatever happened, they wouldn’t be the same people when they left.

“I’ll give you a quick tour of the place before I show you to the open play area. There is no demo tonight, so if you need somewhere quiet, you’re welcome to use the stage area.”

So many rooms. Rowes was overwhelmed in moments. There was so much more than just latex and leather, and as for the people they came across, most of them he could have passed on the street and not known that they were kinky. Hollywood had gotten it so wrong.

He’d thought they wouldn’t see anything scandalous, until they came across a mostly naked man with a G-string, dog collar and suspicious tail. He wasn’t acting like a dog, but he was sitting at another man’s feet, his head tilted to the side with his throat exposed. He barely blinked when they approached, his eyes half-lidded and appearing more satisfied than Rowes had ever been.

“These are the private rooms, and if you two ever apply to become members, access to them will be included with your membership fees after a waiting period,” said Malone, motioning to a hallway with a hell of a lot of doors. “Not sure if you remember, Isthmus, but each of them has themes.” He tapped on the nearest door, and the engraved name. “This one is called ‘impact’ so everything inside is based off impact play.”

Tilting his head, Rowes leaned into Izzy before whispering softly. “What’s impact play? Sounds terrible.”

He really needed some time alone with his safe search off. His time in television had obviously kept him naïve to a lot of things in the world, even as a sex symbol.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” said Malone, obviously catching Rowes’ whisper. “Impact play can be anything from spanking, paddling or even a whipping. If you were interested in exploring that, I would set you up with an experienced Dom to show you the ropes.”

Rowes couldn’t shake his head fast enough. A little spank during sex was fine, but they weren’t here to talk about sex. In fact, Rowes was doing his best to think of anything but, even with the pulsing beat coming from a nearby hallway. It sounded so similar to the song in one of the fan videos that it caught him off guard.

“I think we were in a room before,” said Izzy, rubbing his forehead as he presumably tried to remember. “I think it was called ‘Spoil’?”

Nodding, Malone turned from the hall. “My favorite room.”

Rowes frowned, looping his own arm around Izzy’s waist. Izzy deserved to be spoiled at every opportunity. He didn’t need a special room for that to happen.

More rooms flickered by, one leading to a basement that Malone said would be off limits to them. They didn’t get to see anything past the engraved names, but the names themselves were pretty self-explanatory. Rowes didn’t have to think very hard to figure out what went on in the ‘wet’ room. He doubted it was swimming lessons.

“That’s pretty much it except for the open play area,” said Malone, moving easily past a couple who were speaking in hushed voices. “There are a few people there now, so you’ll get a peek at play partners. Are you both feeling up to that?”

Well, there was no way in hell he was leaving now. Rowes had had a semi since he’d seen the man in the G-string, and he’d spotted a woman in a corset who was smoking hot. He’d worn tight pants for a reason, and after a simple adjustment, none of the others would notice his situation.

There is no way kink has nothing to do with sex.

“We’re good,” said Izzy, threading his hand through Rowes’ hair as he nodded. Rowes leaned into the touch, his heart slowing as he took a deep breath. Without Izzy at his side, he wouldn’t have made it more than a few steps inside the door. But he didn’t have to be worried, not when Izzy was cuddling with him in the same way he had before the videos had ruined everything between them.

I can do this.

They stepped into the open play area, and Rowes’ lungs flattened like popped balloons. He couldn’t breathe. Izzy’s hand in his hair could do nothing to protect him as he was completely overwhelmed, every sense flaring to life until he was drowning in pure need.

I can’t do this.

The things around the room were like something out of a horror movie mixed with a gothic torture chamber, with a few couches strewn into the mix. There seemed to be stations set all around, a few of them occupied while others gleamed as if they were trying to draw him in. And the people…? He forced himself to blink. He’d never seen anything like it.

I need to get out more.

Izzy moved easily beside him, as if he’d expected the skin and the sex all along. Maybe it was easier because he’d seen the club before, or at least, the community. Either way, his gaze didn’t linger, even as Rowes couldn’t drag his eyes away.

I am woefully unprepared.

“Hey, Clint,” said Izzy, raising his hand as someone approached them from his spot on one of the couches. Clint was handsome, even though he looked exhausted, with black under his eyes and bedhead to match. His shirt had at least three holes that Rowes could see, but it suited him in the same way that an alley suited a scruffy cat.

How could Izzy remember all these people? Rowes clenched his jaw so he didn’t start to grumble. It’s in his past. Still…he couldn’t help but wonder how many of them Izzy had slept with and how many had seen him naked.

“Isthmus. I never thought I’d see you back in my neck of the woods,” said Clint, tugging at his shirt collar before offering his hand to Izzy. “I’d ask where you’ve been, but I’m a huge fan.” Shaking his hand a few seconds too long, he turned his gaze on Rowes, his eyes going wide.

“I…” Clint trailed off, his mouth hanging open as he stared slack-jawed at Rowes.

The speechlessness of fans was something that Rowes could easily deal with. Ducking out from under Izzy’s arm, he grabbed Clint’s hand that was still outstretched from his greeting with Izzy, plastering a dazzling smile on his face.

“Nice to meet you, Clint,” said Rowes, ignoring Izzy’s snort. Izzy thought the face he put on for his fans was hilarious. Well, Izzy’s wasn’t much better, but was maybe a touch more believable. “Thank you for allowing us in your—uh—establishment.”

What the hell was he supposed to call it? He glanced sideways at a funky-looking cross that had someone strapped to it who was getting swatted with something that looked like a riding crop. It was closer to a pipe dream than what Rowes usually expected from reality.

Maybe Clint should have called the space ‘a chamber of pleasure’ or something. The guy getting whipped looked like he was blissed out, with the man dealing out the blows in a similar state.

“Holy shit. Rowes Keppel is in my place.” Clint flushed, before going pale. “Holy shit.” He tugged at his shirt again, choking as his eyes only went wider. Clint was starting to wobble, his legs looking unsteady.

Please don’t pass out. That had happened a time or two before. Rowes’ face ached with the effort of keeping the smile on his face.

“Easy, Clint,” said Malone, reaching out to steady his friend with a hand on his shoulder. Clint blinked before shaking his head and wiping a bit of drool from the corner of his mouth.

“Welcome!”

Rowes winced at the volume of Clint’s yell that drew every unoccupied eye their way. From the whispers, he could tell they’d been recognized. He made a mental note to get a lawyer, just in case someone did try to post their pictures online.

“This is fantastic,” said Izzy, covering his mouth with his hand. Rowes shot him a mild glare, toning down his smile for Clint as he turned back. Maybe he was just overwhelming the poor guy.

“Holy, hell,” said Clint, rubbing his chest as he drew his hand back. “Hi—um—hi. Did you find the place okay? Did Malone show you around? Can I get you anything to drink?”

Rowes’ eye twitched, and he almost lost his composure as Izzy started to break down into laughter behind him. Clint seemed like a sweet guy, just a little starstruck was all. It was strange because he didn’t seem that way with Izzy. Most of the fans flocked to Izzy’s corner, and Rowes had become used to being second best.

“Aren’t you a fan of Izzy?” asked Rowes, probably a little rudely with the way Clint bit his lip and looked between them.

“Yeah, but you’re Rowes Keppel,” said Clint. “The Rowes Keppel. You’re like the hottest guy out there—and don’t get me started on your abs. Was that really you in season four, episode ten, or did they use a double?”

Shooting an elbow back as Izzy started to get a little too loud in his laughter, Rowes bit the inside of his cheek. Izzy was always the one to crack up on set and in real life, but now was not the time. He’d rather do a hundred retakes than humiliate himself in this place.

“That was all me,” said Rowes, putting his hands on his hips. He was mighty proud of his abs, especially with the amount of time he’d put into the gym. It almost seemed like a waste to have months of working out summed up in a few seconds of screen time.

Clint’s brain seemed to go offline as he dropped his gaze to the level of Rowes’ belly. Rowes always felt bad for pregnant women and the way people wanted to touch their bellies because fans treated him the same way, even if they just ended up looking.

“Clint.” Malone’s voice was so much sharper this time, stealing the mirth from their bubble. Even Izzy quieted down while Rowes reached for him, clutching his hand tight.

“We’re going to watch a scene together from one of the couches. You’re welcome to join us, Clint,” said Malone, smoothing over the situation as if it were nothing. The guy would make a great manager, not that it looked like he needed the money.

Couch. Good. Rowes glanced in the direction that Malone was leading them. Or very, very bad. The view before him was breathtaking. So much for just a semi.