Page 4 of C is for Comfort

Archie nods.

I shake my head. “We can’t afford for you to be out of a job, Archie.”

“Stop focussing on a worst-case scenario,” Blake says. “Hamish is more likely to spend the evening doing delicious things to Archie.”

I’m far from convinced.

“IfI get sacked, I’ll find something new,” Archie says.

“Before our rent is due?”

“I’ll try.”

I look to Blake. “How many jobs have you had this month?”

Blake narrows his eyes. “Enough. I can pay rent this month.”

He’s a model, so he only gets paid for the jobs he does. Some months he does quite a bit of modelling work; others he gets practically no work. I don’t begrudge helping him out because he always pays us back if we cover his share of the rent and bills. It’s one of the reasons living together works. Archie and Blake help me with Lexi—more so Blake, who saves me a fortune in child care by picking Lexi up from school most days—and Archie and I help Blake out financially.

“Can you cover any of Archie’s rent if he can’t?”

Blake looks away. “No. But Archieisn’tgoing to get sacked.”

I wish I could believe that.

Normally it’s me and Archie making the responsible choices, while Blake is Mr Carefree. In all honesty, I’m jealous that Blakecanbe like that. Sometimes I wish I could do things on a whim and take risks, but I have Lexi to think about, and she will always come first. Archie, on the other hand, could take a few more risks. Maybe going to the party is one worth taking.

“I…” Archie shakes his head. “I’m going.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Okay.” Who am I to talk him out of it? I only hope going to the party doesn’t blow up in Archie’s face.

“Lexi will be at a sleepover at Mum and Dad’s,” Blake says. “Please come with us? You haven’t been out in ages.” He grins. “I know you enjoy being tied up.”

I do.

“It’ll be fun,” Blake adds in a sing-song tone.

After the week I was having, it would definitely be nice to find a Dom who can help me relax for an hour or so. Blake’s right. It’s been ages since I’ve had a night out and even longer since I’ve been to a kink club and enjoyed being a submissive.

“Okay.”

Blake and Archie high-five each other, making me laugh.

“We’re going to have tons of fun,” Blake says.

Hopefully, he’s right. To be fair, I’m sure the two of us will. It’s Archie I’m worried about. He’s taking a gamble showing up to his boss’s party. I hope it doesn’t backfire on him.

2

Spencer

It’s been one hell of a week. I am more than ready for a night of relaxation and maybe some kinky fun. Or just sex. I could go for that too.

I arrive at Hamish’s party about an hour after it officially started. I’m not trying to be fashionably late. The truth is Hamish doesn’t care what time his guests show up. I met him a few years ago at a munch, and then he wound up in Accident and Emergency one night while I was on duty. It’s an embarrassing story, one that makes me chuckle every time I think about it. The upshot is that we’ve been friends ever since. He holds kink parties once a month, and I love attending them when my shift pattern allows.

I’m on the first day of four days off after four cripplingly long night shifts. I’m a consultant, so during my days on shift, I’m also on call out of my normal work hours. If there’s an emergency when I’m meant to be leaving, I stay until it’s over.

I forced myself to get up at lunchtime to try and reset my body clock at least a little bit. Come Tuesday, I’ll be on days again. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m coming or going. My body clock gets so fucked up. There are days when I wonder if I’d be better only working nights or only working days. Fat chance. It’s not an option.