‘No, with those people. That man beats that girl. What are they doing now?’
‘I’ve no idea! I guess he repeats the experience with the other three.’
‘You don’t know? Don’t you watch them before?’
‘No! I’ve never seen it. It’s the first time they’ve left the blind up. That’s why I wanted to watch – because I wanted to know what was going on in there.’
‘Really? So it’s not because you are a pervert?’
I spill my vodka. ‘No!’
‘Hey, hey, calm, relax. I don’t want to insult you. I think you enjoyed the show, that’s all.’
My face flares into fiery heat. Was it that obvious? I can’t look at his sly grin, and I can’t think of an answer.
‘It’s OK,’ he says, after a few seconds of silence. ‘I enjoyed it too. Why not? It’s just a bit of sexy fun, right? Oh, now you are embarrassed. I don’t mean to embarrass you.’
One slender finger touches my cheek, brushing it tenderly. A high-voltage shot of desire streaks down to my groin. Fuck. I think I fancy this freak show of a dude.
‘This is just too weird,’ I mutter. ‘I don’t know what I think.’
‘You don’t have to be shame,’ he says. ‘Everyone has their little different what’s the word?’
‘Quirks? Kinks?’
‘Kinks. Right. You like this spanking kink, no shame.’
‘I think shame is kind of the whole point.’
‘Oh, OK! You like to be shame! I get it.’
‘Why am I discussing my sexual preferences with you?’
‘Because you like me. Anyway, what happens next in there? You think they all are spanked. Do you think it becomes sexual? Does he fuck them?’
‘What, all four of them? I doubt it.’
‘True, four in a row is hard. But possible.’
He winks at me and I slap the air in front of his face. What a cheeky bastard this man is. What a sexy cheeky bastard.
‘Maybe they all have an orgy on the desks. I haven’t got a clue.’
‘You think they pay him? Or he pays them?’
‘Oh, perhaps. Or they could just be like-minded friends who get together and play ye olde boarding schools every third Wednesday of the month. I guess that happens.’
‘Hmm.’ Dimitri’s eyes cloud over for a few moments and I watch him lose himself in thought. I start to wonder about him. Who the hell is he and what is
his purpose in coming to London? Is he as mad, bad and dangerous to know as the vibe he emits suggests? ‘You see, Rosie, I need work. I need money. I think I could beat some asses for a living. Easy, no problem. And I will enjoy it too. Better than working in some kitchen, right?’
‘I’m not sure the market for that kind of thing is exactly huge,’ I demur, and then I break off and hide my face with the food menu because the ‘teacher’ and his four pupils have just walked through the door.
‘Hey, great, I can ask him!’ exclaims Dimitri, ignoring my wail of ‘Fuck, no!’ He springs out of his seat to confront our new acquaintances.
I follow him, trying to stop him, but I am too late. I hide my face in my hands and utter desperate prayers while he accosts the teacher.
‘Excuse me, I am new in town and I have a question.’