Page 26 of A is for Aftercare

“I’ve got something to ask you both.” From the way he’s bouncing and pressing his lips together, it’s clear he wants to spit it out now rather than wait for Corey.

“Oh?”

“I’ve been invited to a kink party by two hot guys, well, one really, but they’ll both be there. You’ve both been invited too, and I really want to go, so will you come with me?Please?”

I blink and try to take in the torrent of words that have just been spewed at me. “You’re going to have to repeat most of what you just said. I got kink party and please, and that was about it.”

Blake takes a breath. "I've been invited to a kink party." He's speaking slower, so his words are a lot less garbled.

“Okay. Where?”

“At some guy’s house.”

I raise my eyebrows. My gut twists. That doesn’t sound entirely safe. We’ve been to kink clubs and kink parties arranged in clubs before, but we’venevergone to a private party. At least he’s got the sense to invite Corey and me along with him.

“When?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Who invited you?”

“The shibari guy, Gabe.”

Gabe. I sent a party invitation to Gabriel Webb. He signed his reply Gabe. He said he was going to bring the rope. It couldn't be…

Blake’s eyelids flutter. “The rope bondage was so amazing, Archie. I’ve never…” He sighs and slumps against the sofa cushions. “It was relaxing and sexy and…” Another sigh.

“It sounds like you’re in love.”

He glances at me. “With rope bondage?”

“With Gabe.”

“Yeah, maybe, a little.”

Blake falls in and out of love in a heartbeat. He doesn’t have a ‘type’ or a preferred gender. He simply falls in love with people. I say love, but lust would be more accurate. I don’t think Blake and I have ever actually been in love. Corey has, with Lexi’s mum, but I’m not sure if she loved him back even half as much. She broke his heart into a million pieces when she left, leaving him to raise Lexi alone. I push Caroline out of my thoughts.

“He’s got the kindest eyes,” Blake says dreamily. “He’s caring, but fuck, can he be strict when he needs to be.”

“You got all that from a bondage and photo session?”

“Yes.” He sighs again and then sits upright. “Anyway, the party. It’s guys only. Smart casual to come and go, wear what you want underneath, nudity allowed. I need at least one of you to come with me. You know, safety first and all that. So will you? Please?”

“Blake…It doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

His expression falls. “Why not?”

“You barely know these guys. How do you know it’s not some scam to get you alone?”

“They could have done that tonight,” Blake points out. “But they made sure there was a third person there—Calvin’s assistant—and that I felt safe and comfortable the whole time.”

Calvin? Calvin Wright? Another of the guys I invited to Hamish’s party? I tell myself it’s a coincidence, but it’s too big of one to ignore.

“I think if they meant me any harm, I’d know by now,” Blake says.

I shake my head. “You’re too trusting.”

“Anyway, if all they want is to get me somewhere alone to hurt me, why would they extend the invite to you and Corey?”