Screw Me Sideways

“Not now, baby,” Graham said, grabbing her hand and spinning her around for what must’ve been an intended hug.

“Um … uh? Yeah. If she’s talking to you, now works for me.” Ansley ducked under Graham’s arm and made a beeline for Katherine. “I’m afraid I didn’t hear you right, so let’s review. Did you just look at my husband and say you could wrap your mouth around him?” Ansley’s head bobbed one way or the other as she prepared to defend her man’s honor.

“Heads up, Kellan,” Reason sang, sticking two straws in the frozen margaritas and serving them to the ladies directly in front of him. “Seven-fifty each, ladies.”

One woman immediately shoved a twenty at him. “Keep the change, handsome.”

Reason shot her a wink. “Thanks, beautiful.”

He opened up the register, slapped the twenty in its slot and turned around in time to grab a keg from Elliott. “We appreciate the help tonight.”

“It’s about to end, I’m afraid,” he said, nodding at Ansley. “Mrs. Andes must’ve rubbed her the wrong way.”

“You heard what she said.” Reason laughed. “Katherine was trying to ruffle the hen’s feathers.”

“She succeeded.” He leaned closer in a conspiratorial fashion. “Between you and me, I don’t know why Ansley cares. She has more than she can handle at home. Besides, Katherine is clearly drunk and she doesn’t mean anything by it.”

Reason chuckled. “Take it from someone who knows. When that woman makes a suggestion, she has every intention of following through.”

“Damn, boy. You get around, huh?”

Reason grimaced. “Hope that doesn’t.”

“Too late.” Kellan scooted by him then with a case of beer on his shoulder. “Let’s rock n’ roll, fellas. It’s standing room only and the door is on a wait.” He honked the full house “tooter horn” and the crowd went wild. Regulars understood what the alarming noise represented. They were among the lucky ones. They’d made it inside the hottest fetish club in the South.

Reason grabbed a few cocktail napkins and checked the end of the bar again. Ansley was still shaking her finger at Katherine, scolding the woman for her “forward thinking” and other dangerous traits.

Ansley’s attention only provoked Katherine. She let out an occasional purr and added a smug comment or two. Reason stood back and observed. “How come Ansley isn’t throwing her out?”

Kellan glanced over his shoulder. “Ha! She can’t. Not unless she wants to bring down the wrath of the political gods in this state.”

“Katherine has that much power?” Reason narrowed his eyes and watched the women go at it. Ansley shifted her upper body back and forth, shaking her finger in front of her face, and just giving her hell. Katherine seemingly enjoyed it. “I’m beginning to think Katherine doesn’t necessarily get along with other women. If she has power, I’m sure she uses it.”

“Yeah,” Kellan replied, grabbing bottles from the top-shelf liquor selection. “Her family owns at least fifteen or sixteen newspapers in seven states. They’re embedded in politics but they support the leather community. She’s not an enemy we need.”

“What the

hell is Ansley doing?” Tristan, the only husband who could seemingly keep Ansley under control, entered the bar.

Graham shook his head. “I can’t lure her away. And don’t go over there unless you want to make it worse.”

“She and Katherine Andes had a little tiff,” Elliott explained. “Katherine made a suggestive comment.”

“Fuck,” Tristan grumbled.

Elliott butted his hips against the bar and crossed his arms. “Can’t wait to see this.”

“Yeah, buddy,” Reason said, mixing up a few mudslides.

Even Kellan took a minute to gawk. Typically, he would’ve been tossing liquor bottles and showing out for the crowd by now.

“There’s my favorite lady,” Tristan sang, grabbing Ansley around the waist and tossing her over his shoulder. He never broke his stride and never really paused. He just swept her up, tossed her over, and carried her straight through the café-style doors.

“Damn,” Kellan grumbled. “And here I expected a real show.”

“I’ll give you a show, honey.” Katherine motioned for Kellan and he sauntered her way, willing to take one for the team, apparently. While they still had another five hours or so to go, part of their job was to take care of the over-forty crowd and Katherine had become somewhat of a permanent fixture. She often referred her friends, too.

“Hey, Reason! Katherine wants to know who the blonde woman is so she can have her fired.” He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Help.”