Free Traded for Love by Michelle Hughes, Dahlia Salvatore Page B

herself around it, giggling as if we were on our first date together. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea. I wasn't here for her.
    The back of the building was neither seedy nor fancy. In fact, it was so ordinary that nobody could have guessed what took place inside.
    Julia rapped on the door and it opened a crack.
    A single blue eye looked out. "Password?" asked a deep male voice.
    "Tiramisu," she answered.
    At first, I thought it was strange, but I quickly remembered we were at a bakery after all.
    The door swung open and a man in black stood there. He let us pass through.
    We found ourselves in the kitchen. The smell of sugar, flour and syrups invaded my nostrils. My stomach complained of hunger. I'd missed dinner, so I wasn't too surprised.
    The bouncer stepped in front of us. “Would you like masks?”
    “Masks?” I asked.
    “Some patrons prefer to be anonymous,” he said, holding out two black eye-masks.
    At first I was going to refuse, but then I remembered it might affect my seat race. I took the mask and fixed it over my face. Julia shook her head and the second mask disappeared at the bouncer's side.
    He led us to another door, one which had escaped my notice. He unlocked it and held it open for us.
    We stood on a landing, with a staircase in front us, comprised of two separate flights. "Down the steps,” he said.
    The door closed, and we were left in the almost perfect darkness. All we could see was illuminated by a single flickering bulb above us.
    “This place is safe, right?” I asked Julia.
    She cleared her throat. “I think so.”
    We carefully took the steps down. It got progressively colder and darker as we went along. Once or twice, I almost suggested we turn around; however, I didn't worry long for our safety. Soon, I was distracted by the sound of hard, grungy music, and the scent of liquor and—cookies?
    The way was open at the bottom landing. Around the corner, we came into a large converted basement with a twenty-foot ceiling (give or take a few feet). I expected it to be dank and humid, but there were large vents and cool air was blowing.
    The cinder-block had been covered by false walls which had been painted white. At intervals, the creamy white was interrupted by floor-to-ceiling lengths of dramatic red fabric. A half-round stage was on one side of the room, which was empty at the time of our entrance. Round tables and chairs were set up in front of the stage for viewers. As Julia had promised, there was a bar with an extensive selection of wine, liquor and beer displayed on mounted shelves. The rest of the room had what looked like separate stations or sections. Two or three had stripper poles and were flanked by large black leather couches.
    “Is everything done out in the open? I'm not sure I like that,” I whispered in her ear.
    She bristled, I assumed, in anticipation of the punishment she'd receive if this experience was not pleasurable.
    We sat down at a couch some distance from the stage.
    “I wonder what we're supposed to do.” Julia cast a furtive glance around the room.
    Patrons sat drinking at the other stations, but we were alone, a fact of which I was glad. I could only imagine how awkward the conversations might get. 'So, you're here to fuck strangers? Me too!'
    I sat back against our couch's cushioned backrest and pulled out my wallet. I handed her a fifty. “Here. Go and get us some drinks.”
    She walked off toward the bar. We'd spent enough time together that I trusted her with buying my drink of choice.
    I let my eyes float closed, took a deep breath and lost myself in the music. It wasn't the type I usually listened to. I was struck by how remarkably soothing it was. Underneath the grunge was a steady drum riff and a heavy bass line. A few minutes passed and I could feel my heart-rate slowing. There was tension in my shoulders that I hadn't even realized was there until it began melting away.
    “You look relaxed.”
    Startled out of my trance, I opened my