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“Can I be honest?” Cass asked.

Ari nodded, nervously gulping down her iced coffee.

“I think I can help you learn how to… ask for what you want. But, in order to do that, you’re going to have to really trust me and I’m going to have to tell you something about my past that I’m… not ashamed of… it’s not something I tell everybody,” Cass said.

Ari wrinkled her brow,could this be the answer to the strange bar she had gone into?

“Okay,”

“Are you sure?” Cass asked.

Ari considered it for a moment, why should she trust Cass? She hardly knew this woman. But… something about her made Ari feel more comfortable than she had in years.

“We can stop at any time and you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to,” Cass finished.

Ari asked, “Is this about that bar?”

Cass nodded, swallowing hard as she looked into Ari’s eyes.

“Okay,” Ari said. This was Cass’s second event, Ari owed her some trust and an equal deal.

Cass stood up and tilted her head toward the door, telling Ari to head outside.

Ari did so, grabbing her coffee and following Cass’s lead toward the bar on Allen Street.

Once they turned onto Allen, Cass’s demeanor changed. She held her shoulders higher and it wasn’t until that moment that Ari realized she was carrying a duffel bag.

As they approached the mysterious, black door, Cass walked ahead and knocked.

They stood for a moment before the door opened a crack.

“Hey, Pearl, we’re here for my reservation,” Cass said.

Pearl swung the door open, revealing a red-lit hallway. She was in a simple black t-shirt and black jeans but something about the way she held herself made Ari’s body tingle.

“Hey girl, glad you came by,” Pearl said as she brought Cass in for a hug.

Cass smiled, “This is my friend, Ari.”

Ari waved and held out her hand, “Nice to meet you.”

Pearl laughed and went in for a hug, “Not a hand-shaked kind of place, buddy.”

Ari hugged her back and Cass proceeded inside.

Pearl held out her arm for Ari to follow.

Cass was a few feet ahead of Ari, having already passed the massive, black leather St. Andrew’s Cross right by the entrance. The hallway was long, lined with matching black doors, all shut.

Ari looked at each one as she passed, unable to hear or see anything through them. Loud, sensual music blared through the place. Cass stopped at one of the rooms toward the end of the hallway.

Before she pushed open the door, she turned to Ari, “Are you sure about this?”

Ari took a breath, considering it.What did she have to lose?

“Yes,” Ari said.

Cass nodded and opened the door.