Chapter Text
“This is the last straw,” Sigewinne declared, smiling tensely at Wriothesley with a devious glint in her eye when he finally emerged from his bedroom long past noon on a Saturday. “I’m setting you up with someone.”
“Huh?” Wriothesley blinked at his melusine roommate, still bleary-eyed, his hair sticking up in several directions it didn’t normally stick up in. “You’re what now?”
“I’m setting you up,” she said, kicking her feet off the edge of the chair where she sat at their shared kitchen table. She was tapping away at something on her phone, and Wriothesley sank into the chair across from her with a low groan, dragging his palm across his face, rubbing the heel into his tired eyes.
“Fuck, it’s too early for this.”
“It’s two in the afternoon,” she said, little rhinophores twitching in irritation.
“Yeah, well.”
“You couldn’t sleep, could you?”
It might as well have been a physical jab from the way he flinched. “No,” he admitted softly and reluctantly, scrubbing one hand back through his hair.
Sigewinne lowered her phone, glaring at him over the top of it. “When was the last time you went out to the bar to meet people, or did anything you enjoy?”
“I enjoy my work!” he tried to splutter, but she held up one finger.
“How long ago?”
He shrugged. “I dunno, like three weeks maybe?”
“It’s been. Six. Months.”
“Ah.”
He scrubbed his hand through his hair again, scratching at the back of his neck. “But, you know, the business is going well, we have a big client who maybe wants to hire us for a huge renovation job! So...” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Yeah, I’m getting my tea. Fuck, I need it.”
Sigewinne was quiet as Wriothesley prepared his tea and sliced some bread for his mid-afternoon breakfast.
“Look,” he said at last, setting the knife down on the cutting board. “I’m fine, Sigewinne. I really appreciate it, but I don’t need your help. I like being single. Means I have more time for work.”
“Mmhmm...”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “All right, fine.” There was no point arguing with her about it. Sometimes, living with Sigewinne meant humoring her. Anyway, he told himself she was mostly wrong, but maybe a little bit right. He’d broken up with Gerard years ago, and none of his flings since then had sparked anything more than a fleeting passion in him. Just enough to get a good fuck or to get the shit beaten out of him for one rare night, and that was that.
He didn’t need sex, but he couldn’t deny that he was pent-up without it. He didn’t need a relationship to be happy, but yeah, maybe he was a little bit lonely. It was part of why he was still rooming with Sigewinne, aside from the lower cost. Having a roommate meant that when he came home from work, it wasn’t to a dark, empty apartment, and the little melusine was a spark of joy in his otherwise uninteresting life, even if she did nag at him all the time.
And, okay. Maybe he was stressed out, never knowing when and where his next paycheck was coming from, or how he was going to pay his handful of employees if some new client didn’t appear. He just tried not to let it get to him. Most of the time.
Wriothesley sighed.
“Who’s the guy?”
“Monsieur Neuvillette!” She announced, sounding incredibly pleased with herself.
Wriothesley scoffed at the fancy-sounding name.
“Don’t be rude!” she chided. “He’s been my friend for a long time.”
“Then why’ve I never seen him?” Wriothesley shoved half a piece of jam-covered toast into his mouth as he stirred two sugar cubes into his tea.
“He—” She pouted at him. “He’s shy, okay? And I don’t see him that often because he’s very, very busy. But I’ve known him for ages.”
“Shy?” Wriothesley raised an eyebrow, swallowing his mouthful. “Sigewinne, you know that’s not my type.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “He’s only shy about coming to the houses of strangers! We meet up at the cafe sometimes. But I think you two would get along, even if you just decide to be friends. He’s kind and capable, he has a strong sense of justice, and he likes historical novels.”
Wriothesley perked up at that. “He does?”
She nodded. “When we met up last week, I recommended the one you were reading, and he was excited to try it.”
Wriothesley rolled that over in his head. Still, he’d known Sigewinne for years and she’d never mentioned this guy before. Not that he was presumptuous enough to think he knew everything about her. She didn’t know everything about him either. So, maybe if this guy liked to keep to himself, that was why she’d never mentioned him.
“So, aside from that, why suddenly introduce us now?”
“Well... he told me he’s been looking for someone,” she said simply. “Or, it was more like, he hasn’t found someone he likes that much yet, and he’s getting older, and,” She shook her head. “Yeah, if you want to ask him about that, I think you should ask him yourself. He’s kind of private.”
Wriothesley leaned back against the counter, tilting his head from side to side to stretch out his neck. “Okay, fine. So, invite him over for tea or something.”
“No, no,” she said, “I told you I was setting you two up, remember? I’ll send you his number and you two can figure out where to meet. I already told him I would introduce him to you, so he already knows.”
Wriothesley sighed. Sigewinne was always dragging him around, trying to get him to go outside, go to festivals and events, take her to the carnival, to museums and parks, and she was damn good at it. It was almost impossible to deny her once she had her mind made up.
“Fine, fine. Do you at least have a photo or something so I know what I’m getting myself into?”
She hummed at that, scrolling through her phone. “I told you, he’s pretty private.” She giggled. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t try to sneak some photos when we meet up.”
Proudly, she turned her phone to show him one. She and this Monsieur Neuvillette were seated outside at a round cafe table, an umbrella shielding them from the bright midday sun. The man in question was on his phone, so presumably the photo was snuck while he was taking a call, and...
Oh.
Wriothesley felt his mouth go dry as he took him in. Long, white hair that flowed over his shoulders. A crisp grey suit with a dark blue tie. It was hard to tell what his face looked like, half-obscured by the phone he held to his ear and the angle the photo was at, but Wriothesley could tell he had sharp features to accompany his tall, slim build.
His heart thudded in his chest.
“Tell me again why you never introduced us before?”
“I told you,” she swatted at him, giggling at his reaction. “He’s private, and busy.” She hummed softly as she locked her phone again. “Your face is all red.”
Wriothesley choked back an indignant sound and turned back to his breakfast and tea.
“Hmm, there’s actually something else I should mention.” She looked all too pleased with herself as she said, “He’s an Alpha.”
Wriothesley’s heart jumped in his chest, and she giggled to herself as she went back to tapping at her phone screen.
Wriothesley turned away from her, hiding the intensity of his flush in his breakfast, but melusines were incredibly adept at picking up the scents of Alphas, Omegas, and even Betas. There was no way he could keep his own Alpha pheromones at bay as they shifted from his normal scent to one tinged with the spice of his interest.
He tried to focus on eating his toast and drinking his tea to calm down and properly digest the idea. Then, after some time had passed and Wriothesley had finished his breakfast, he turned back to look at her. “So, about this guy’s number...”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled like she knew she’d already won.
--
Be normal, Wriothesley reminded himself later that afternoon as he sat down on his bed, typing and deleting words until he had a text message that hopefully wasn’t too weird or too cringe, holding his breath as he hit send.
Wriothesley: Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Wriothesley. This is Monsieur Neuvillette, right? Sigewinne gave me your number, I hope that’s okay. She told me she mentioned that she was going to introduce us. Anyway, let me know if you actually do want to meet up, or if you want me to tell her to back off. 😉
Maybe the emoji was a bit much. He didn’t know, honestly he’d never been good at this, and that was why his longest relationship had been with his boss at the construction company he used to work for, and when they finally broke it off and he reflected on it years later, he realized with startling clarity that it hadn’t even been that good.
Sure, Gerard had been an Alpha, and a hot one too, but he’d been brash and blunt and sometimes mean and not in a sexy way. He’d dominated Wriothesley thoroughly and sometimes tenderly, always the way he asked, but the aftercare had left something to be desired, and there were too many times they’d rubbed each other the wrong way and ended up in near-violent arguments, the fact that they were both Alphas only exacerbating the pre-existing issues.
It was for the best that they broke it off in the end. And then Wriothesley quit, because he couldn’t handle seeing that guy’s face anymore, and started his own little handyman business.
Letting out an exhausted sigh, he flopped back onto his sloppily-made bed. At least it was made at all.
Resting his phone on his chest, he threw his arms up over his head. It had been way too long since he’d been with someone who could really dominate him. Not that he expected it of this Monsieur Neuvillette, but maybe Sigewinne was right. Maybe he should get out and meet people more often.
Maybe he would.
Anyway, he knew he couldn’t just sit around and wait for a message forever. It was Saturday, but he had no work aside from keeping an eye on his phone in case Estienne needed him for something since he was out on a painting job that afternoon.
To his surprise, though, his phone buzzed a moment later and he reached over, holding his breath as he opened the message.
Anonymous: It’s lovely to meet you as well, Wriothesley. Yes, I am Monsieur Neuvillette. Sigewinne has spoken very highly of you, and it would be my pleasure to finally meet you.
Short, but sweet. And gentlemanly.
Wriothesley let out a shuddering exhale. Monsieur Neuvillette's language seemed a bit formal but straightforward, and he tried to pin those words to that face in his mind, to imagine what he might sound like, the way he might turn a cool, fond gaze upon him.
Damn Sigewinne... maybe she was right. Maybe he was lonelier than he thought, if he was already starting to fantasize about someone he’d never even met.
Wriothesley: Great! 👍Let’s meet up! My schedule is pretty flexible in the evenings but I hear yours is busy, so let me know a time that works for you. If you have any suggestions on where to meet up, that would be great, too.
So professional and awkward. He sighed, but he didn’t know how else to put it. He barely knew this guy. Regardless, he added him as a contact so at least he’d show up properly in his phone.
The reply came through just a few seconds later.
Neuvillette: My evenings are somewhat flexible as well. Is this Friday acceptable? Perhaps at 8pm? It would be quite convenient if we were to meet at Palais Mermonia, would that be amenable to you?
Wriothesley nearly dropped his phone on his face, grabbed it, and sat bolt upright.
Palais Mermonia, as in the BDSM club Palais Mermonia? As in, the BDSM club in Fontaine that primarily catered to Alphas looking for Alphas?
“Sigewinne!” he called, unable to keep the sharp growl out of his voice as he whipped his head in the direction of the living room, where she was busily sketching on the couch and listening to podcasts.
“Yeah?” she called back, so Wriothesley threw himself to his feet, trying not to put off too much of an irritated scent as he went to lean in the doorway to the living room, folding his arms.
“Why is Monsieur Neuvillette asking me to meet him at Palais Mermonia?”
The corner of his lips twitched, trying to decide between a grimace and an unnerving smile.
“Hmm,” she hummed as she lowered her sketchbook. “Well, I maybe told him you usually like to hook up with other Alphas, but I thought that would be obvious, anyway.”
Wriothesley sighed. She had a point, and it was better than the guy assuming he was an Omega or something. But still... “It sounds like there’s an ‘and’ in there.”
“And,” She hummed again, chewing on the end of her pencil lightly, as if trying to decide whether or not to tell him something.
Wriothesley squeezed his own meaty bicep, gritting his teeth. “Just say it already.”
“I’m not sure if I should say...” She glanced at the floor, then to the side. “But you’d probably find out soon anyway so, he might be asking you because he’s the president.”
Wriothesley’s brow furrowed as her words cycled through his brain.
The president?
Oh, she meant—
Oh.
“The president of Palais Mermonia,” he said flatly.
She looked at him, just as chipper as ever, and nodded. “Mm-hm!”
He squeezed his bicep a little harder, his heart thundering in his ears, his scent undoubtedly some mix of irritation, disbelief, a tinge of anger and something else he didn’t want to name.
“You set me up with the president of Palais Mermonia.”
“And my friend,” she added, folding her arms with a huff.
“Right...”
This was already getting out of control. His knee-jerk reaction was to call it all off. He didn’t need her to interfere in his love life or his sex life.
And yet.
His heart was pounding. His ears were flushed. It was getting a little hard to breathe, and it wasn’t because he was angry. A man like that, as little as he knew about him... he was the president, huh?
Wriothesley let out a slow breath through his nose, pinching and rubbing at the bridge of it. “Right, so if I embarrass myself and you, we’ll just never talk to him again and pretend this all never happened, right?”
“You won’t embarrass yourself,” she said, as though absolutely certain of it.
Wriothesley clenched his jaw but pulled his phone from his pocket to look at the message again, fingers moving before he could stop himself.
Wriothesley: Sure, sounds great. I don’t have a membership, though.
He didn’t want to say he couldn’t afford it, so he left it at that. The reply came back again, remarkably fast.
Neuvillette: That is no issue. I will speak with the staff about waving the fee this time. Simply give the man your name and ID when you enter. Unless you would prefer to meet at another location? If so, simply say the word.
Wriothesley sucked in a breath at the casual offer, but he wasn’t about to turn that down.
Wriothesley: Nope, no issue at all. I really appreciate that. It’s a date.
Neuvillette: I’m glad to hear it. I look forward to meeting you.
--
Palais Mermonia was known among the Alphas at the gay bar Wriothesley used to frequent, as being a little bit posh. Some preferred to avoid it because of that, but Wriothesley had no issue. The issue for him had always been the membership fee. It wasn’t exactly incredibly high, but more than he could afford with his constantly fluctuating paycheck from his handyman business.
While the dress code was technically open to anything, those who frequented it liked to dress up to attract the wandering eyes of other Alphas. Or to dress down so to speak, as in, to wear next to nothing at all.
Without the sense of compatibility that often attracted Alphas to Omegas, it made sense to try another tactic to draw someone in, and as he entered the club and took note of the many Alphas in various states of dress or undress, he couldn’t deny that it achieved its effect. The mingling scents of so many Alphas sharing one space didn’t even set his instincts off in a negative way like he feared it might. Maybe it was because so many of them were laced with an undercurrent of desire that made his own arousal stir.
After a short flight of stairs into the building’s basement where the club was situated, a sign near the door laid out several ground rules in large bold letters.
BEYOND THIS POINT:
Only bonded Omegas permitted
NO Alphas in rut
NO Omegas in heat
So they allowed Omegas, but only bonded ones. A thought crossed his mind that it was highly likely some of those were, in fact, former Alphas, given the nature of the club. The thought settled strangely in his gut, and Wriothesley swallowed.
He couldn’t deny that the thought had crossed his mind before—wanting that. But, he was content as an Alpha. It just didn’t always mesh well with his preferences in bed, and the instincts grated him at times to the point that they gave him a headache. Some days, he thought it would be easier if—but no, there was no sense thinking about that now.
He busied himself with adjusting his tie as he stood in the short line to check in, just behind a female Alpha in a long black sleeveless dress, a collar around her throat, and a prominent bite mark situated just below it.
Different crowd than what he was used to, but not in a bad way. Really, the opposite. He was starting to feel like he should have come here a long, long time ago. They were all just so comfortable. Comfortable being Alphas mated to other Alphas, comfortable showing off their preferences despite what society might say, comfortable being themselves. Even standing in line, he could already feel the sense of community he’d been sorely needing lately. No one was looking at him strangely, no one was expecting anything of him. It was just... nice.
“The name’s Wriothesley,” he said when he reached the front counter, producing his ID for the man to inspect. The Alpha in question was a tall, slim fellow done up beautifully in makeup, his eyeliner and nail polish shimmering gold. Gay without question, Wriothesley determined immediately, and his gaze fell briefly on the leather collar he wore, decorated with diamond studs and complete with a closed lock dangling from the D-ring.
“Ah, here you are,” he said in a voice that flowed like silk. “So, you’re a new member?”
The man fluttered his eyelashes flirtatiously. Wriothesley cleared his throat, suddenly extremely aware of the man’s gaze trailing down the front of his neck. He wore black wraps around the scars there, just like he always had, and the man’s eyes glinted curiously, flitting down a little lower to where Wriothesley had left the top few buttons of his shirt undone, a bit of his hairy chest peeking out beneath white cotton. He wore a grey waistcoat, one that accentuated his slim waist and wider hips. It was a little tight on him these days, but he used to wear it to the gay bar sometimes. Sigewinne said he looked dashing in it, so he went with it.
“Yeah,” he said.
“And have you been to our introductory tour?”
Again, the man fluttered his eyelashes, somehow both innocent and flirtatious, and Wriothesley swallowed.
He was teasing him, he realized belatedly.
“No,” he said. Then, when the man’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully, he added, “I’m meeting someone here.”
“Ah.” His eyebrows raised, and Wriothesley’s gaze flitted to his name tag which read Pup Domino. So, it was like that, then. A dog beginning to recognize another dog. Wriothesley relaxed just a little, tension easing from his shoulders. “In that case, you’re welcome to wait for your friend here if you’d like.”
His tone curled around the word friend, and Wriothesley swallowed. It wasn’t like that. Well...
No. No, it wasn’t like that. They were just meeting up because of Sigewinne. That was all. For all he knew, tonight would be it, and it would go absolutely nowhere.
“Do you know where I can find Monsieur Neuvillette? He’s the one I’m meeting here.” He said it with all the casual confidence of someone who knew exactly what they were talking about, even as he glanced around the space, trying to peer further in, to get a better feel for it.
“Monsieur Neuvillette?” The man’s eyebrows raised. He glanced down at his list again, as if that would hold the answers to his sudden questions. He hummed thoughtfully, then turned and pointed further inside. “Some nights, you can find him at the bar. It’s directly on the left in the main area.” He smiled as if he knew something Wriothesley didn’t. “Have a good evening.”
As Wriothesley stepped around the corner into the main area of the club, he was greeted by the increasing thumping of club music that pounded through the room. A long branching hall led to bathrooms and changing rooms, and before him sat what was definitely the main hub of the club itself.
The walls were painted cerulean blue like the depths of the sea, the space dotted by black tables and leather couches, situated for the club’s patrons to mingle in small groups. At 8pm it wasn’t overly crowded, but it was far from empty, several groups of people already gathered around, chatting and laughing with snacks and drinks.
Towards the back, he could make out other rooms branching off beyond, the lighting dimmer there, though he could already make out several large pieces of furniture—a table, a spanking bench, a bondage cross—and to the side, another set of stairs led further down into a sub-basement.
This club was huge.
A few others brushed past him, giving him odd looks, and he realized belatedly that he was standing there like a fool. Letting out a slow breath, he eased one hand back through his hair, smoothing it down before winding around tables and chairs towards the bar.
It was, as Domino said, situated along the left side of the room. A short line of patrons were waiting to order food or drinks, but on the bar’s right side there were a few bar stools and there...
There sat a man in a full white suit, crisp and clean. His fine pointed shoes were a dark blue with gold at the tips, his feet crossed at the ankle with one heel on the stool’s bottom rung, his long white hair braided neatly down his back. A wine glass sat before him, holding a clear liquid within, and his gaze was fixed on a book he held open in one hand.
Wriothesley’s mouth went dry, just as it had when he’d seen the photo.
Well, if he tried to back away now, he’d never hear the end of it from Sigewinne, and standing a man up was rude, so... he might as well give it his best shot.
“Nice club,” he said as he slid onto the bar stool beside him, leaning one elbow on the counter. “I like the energy of the place.”
Slowly, the man’s gaze slid over to take him in, and as he turned, Wriothesley could see that Monsieur Neuvillette’s eyes were a striking lilac color, the pupils slit and white. Wriothesley did his honest best not to fidget or let his scent shift too much to one of sudden desire-tinged-anxiety as Neuvillette closed his book.
He was wearing gloves. Black leather gloves.
Wriothesley played up his grin, giving him a coy, teasing look.
“You must be Wriothesley," Neuvillette said, and the way he purred his name with just the slightest of smiles—it was a wonder Wriothesley wasn’t already half-hard. He didn’t miss the way the man’s gaze drifted downwards, lingering first on the wraps around his throat, then on his partially open shirt before snapping back up to meet his eyes. “I see the photo Sigewinne sent me hardly did you justice. You’re much larger in person, in more ways than one.”
Wriothesley grinned wider, trying to tamp down his flush. Sigewinne had sent him a photo!? No, of course she had, it was only fair, after all. Damn, he should have asked her which one it was.
“You flatter me,” Wriothesley laughed, waving his hand, then allowed himself to indulge for just a moment, raking his gaze appreciatively over Neuvillette’s form. “But I’d have to say the same to you, Monsieur.”
Neuvillette hummed at that, that subtle smile playing across his thin lips. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. She has always spoken very highly of you.”
And she’s not spoken of you at all. “I’m touched,” he said instead. “She said you’ve been friends for a long time. I’ve been dying to ask how you two met. She wouldn’t tell me.”
Neuvillette lifted his glass, swirling the liquid inside, bringing it to his lips as if to taste before pausing. The liquid, Wriothesley noticed, was incredibly clear, no hint of bubbles or flavoring, and he doubted they served alcohol in a place like this. Could it really just be plain water? In a wine glass?
“I am a friend of numerous melusines in this city,” Neuvillette said slowly, tasting each word as though savoring them before speaking. “One of them initially introduced me to Sigewinne many years ago. At the time, I also happened to be an acquaintance of the doctor who eventually trained her, as I am sure you are more than familiar with her current profession.”
Wriothesley stared at him, brow furrowed ever so slightly. Melusines were long-lived creatures. As far as he knew, Sigewinne had received her formal medical training over a hundred years ago...
But, maybe he was trying to make a subtle joke? Or maybe he had his timelines mixed up. Either way, Wriothesley smiled and nodded.
Neuvillette fixed his gaze upon him, expectant. “And you? How did you come to meet our mutual friend?”
“Oh,” Wriothesley waved one hand dismissively. “Well, she was my doctor actually.” He laughed softly. “Imagine that, I liked her so much, we became friends. And now we live together, have for the past few years. She’s really something special.”
Letting out a low hum, Neuvillette took a slow, thoughtful sip of his water. “Indeed she is. She has a certain draw to her that is difficult to deny.” He smiled softly, and when he nearly turned that warm, full smile upon Wriothesley, he felt as though his heart might leap right out of his chest. Instead, Neuvillette’s expression faded back to seriousness, his gaze flicking up and down Wriothesley’s body, brow furrowed. “Ah, you must forgive my rudeness. I should be properly welcoming you.”
Wriothesley shook his head, trying to wave him off. “Not at all, you’ve been perfectly welcoming.”
But Neuvillette cleared his throat and hailed the bartender. Even though the man was busy mixing other drinks, he turned to attend to Neuvillette immediately.
“What can I get for you, Monsieur?”
Neuvillette motioned to Wriothesley, and Wriothesley tried hard not to flush as the bartender’s attention turned to him. “A drink for my companion. But as he is new here, perhaps he would appreciate a look at our menu before deciding.”
“Of course.” A drink menu was slid in front of Wriothesley, displaying a wide variety of sodas and non-alcoholic mixed drinks, but it only took him a second to decide.
“Tea,” he said without hesitation before sliding the menu back. “Earl grey, if you have it.”
“With sugar or cream?”
“Two sugars.”
“Earl grey with two sugars for the gentleman.” The bartender turned to Neuvillette, then, and Neuvillette held out his nearly empty glass. “For myself, a refill of the Cider Lake water, if you please. Put both on my tab.”
“Right away, sir.”
Wriothesley turned to Neuvillette as the bartender whisked away again. “I can pay for my own drink, you know,” he said, not sure if he should be annoyed or not.
Neuvillette gave him a look. “I insist,” he said, narrowing his eyes just slightly in a way that left heat curling in Wriothesley’s abdomen. “Please, allow me to treat you. This is a date after all, is it not?”
“It is,” he admitted. And what else was he supposed to do but let it slide? He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been treated to a drink. Not since...
No. No, he wasn’t going to think about Gerard, not here.
“So,” Wriothesley began slowly, a grin curling across his face again. “What else did Sigewinne tell you about me?”
“She told me some about your business,” Neuvillette said, folding his hands neatly on the countertop. Wriothesley stared at those thin, gloved fingers, and found his mind wandering as Neuvillette mentioned some other things off-hand. His fine character, his ambition, his kindness, his desire to do good above all else, his sense of humor...
Despite how that subtle praise left him flushed, he found he suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about how those fingers would feel carding through his hair, leather dragging along his scalp, touching his jaw, catching his chin, those bright lilac eyes boring into him...
It took him a moment to realize that Neuvillette had stopped speaking and was staring at Wriothesley, that subtle smile on his lips again. All around them was the tell-tale scent Wriothesley was putting off—one of thinly-veiled desire.
Something else tangled with it as it hung between them. It was the scent of the open sea, and for whatever reason, it left Wriothesley’s mouth watering.
“There’s something else Sigewinne told me about you,” Neuvillette said carefully. Their drinks arrived, a teacup and saucer placed before Wriothesley, the liquid steaming hot. A new wine glass filled halfway with crisp, clear water was placed before Neuvillette. He took the stem between two fingers, lifting it to his lips to taste as Wriothesley continued to stare, unable to tear his gaze away.
“What did she tell you?” he found himself asking, the words leaving his lips as he leaned in just a little closer. The bar stools were not all that far apart, and when he sat with his knees spread and turned to face the other man, he found his knee very nearly brushing the crisp white fabric of Neuvillette’s slacks.
“She told me that you are often stressed, that you have trouble sleeping and are rather... pent-up.” That gaze fixed on him again, wine glass held gingerly against his palm. “Is that true?”
“Is that why you invited me here?” Wriothesley asked with a cocky grin, expertly avoiding the question.
Neuvillette let out a soft hum, as if that was all he needed to know. “Yes, and no. Did she happen to mention my relationship to this club to you?”
“She told me you’re the president.” Though in all honesty, he had no idea what the president of a BDSM club even did.
“Indeed,” Neuvillette nodded. “I am. And admittedly, though there is quite a bit of work involved, it does come with several perks.”
“Such as?”
Neuvillette held his gaze. “Priority access to a wide selection of private rooms.”
Wriothesley tilted his head, a smile playing at his lips. “You’re propositioning me.”
Neuvillette huffed. “I would not, had I not already judged our mutual friend’s words to be quite true, and for the strength of your scent. Regardless, if you wish for such a thing, there are certain guidelines I prefer to abide by. And that is only if you are interested. I would never take a man’s scent alone as approval.”
Wriothesley considered that a moment, glancing down at his slowly cooling tea. “I’d like to know more about you first,” he said, for once without any hint of a joking tone at all. “She didn’t tell me much about you at all, just that you’re a private kinda guy.”
Neuvillette let out a slow breath through his nose and nodded, setting his glass on the counter, finger and thumb pinching the stem. “I would be happy to share. For one, I believe you have been curious about my drink?” Lilac eyes turned towards Wriothesley, and Wriothesley took in a sharp breath at the sheer intensity in that gaze.
He eyed the glass. “Sure. That’s a good start. What’s with the water?”
Neuvillette swirled the liquid in his glass. “I am particularly perceptible to the unique flavors of water. I find that I can detect even the subtlest differences, whether it be crisp or sharp, vibrant, bitter, or sweet. As I cannot tolerate the intense flavors of most other drinks, I prefer the subtle differences between waters sourced from various regions. For example.” He lifted his glass a little higher. “I find that the crisp, clean flavor of Mondstadt’s Cider Lake water is well-suited to drinking during long conversations, as the flavor easily lends itself to one that can be enjoyed as well as one might enjoy a flavorful mixed drink.”
“Huh.” Wriothesley leaned his chin on one hand and found that he couldn’t look away from Neuvillette. There was just something about the way he spoke so passionately about something as simple as water that had him captivated. “Well... maybe I need to try some of this special water of yours sometime, then. You make it sound like a real treat.”
That sharp gaze turned upon him again, eyebrows lifting in what seemed to be slight surprise. “You would be more than welcome to it.”
Wriothesley smiled at that, sipping his tea. “Can I ask you something else?”
Neuvillette nodded. “By all means.”
“This club... how long have you been the president? Were you involved in the founding, too?”
Neuvillette nodded at that as well. “Indeed, I was. Around that time, I had noticed a distinct lack of spaces that were fully welcoming to Alpha-Alpha couples. I had also recently returned from my training in Liyue as a professional dominant. Thus, I sought to fill a need in this city and used both my skills in business and law, as well as former connections to start this club.”
Wriothesley couldn’t help his brow raise. He had more questions... a lot of questions. But, at least at the moment, he was trying to get a feel for the beautiful man before him. These days he could never be too careful, even if Neuvillette was a friend of Sigewinne’s. As they talked, though, he didn’t pick up any red flags from him at all. Only extremely green ones.
“You’re a professional dominant,” he said. Sigewinne hadn’t mentioned that, not that he’d expected her to. He tried to keep her out of his sex life as much as possible, despite her nosiness.
“Was,” Neuvillette said firmly, gaze narrowed ever so slightly.
“Was,” Wriothesley repeated slowly, respectfully. “May I ask why you stopped?”
Neuvillette stared into his glass. “I retired,” he said. “I found that, though I enjoyed holding classes, training others, having sessions and bringing pleasure to my clientele,” there was a slight sag to his shoulders as he sighed. “There was always something lacking. I found it easy to step into the role, but I never fully enjoyed it. I found myself seeking a deeper connection, but none who could fulfill that wish. Nor should they, in a professional setting. And so, I thought it best that I leave it to those more dedicated than I. We have no shortage of them here at the Palais,” his gaze slid towards Wriothesley, “if that is what you seek.”
“It’s not,” Wriothesley said, without hesitation, then felt the tips of his ears flush. “It’s not—” he stammered. “I’m not looking for a professional. I—” His gaze slid back to his own steadily cooling drink, the cup half-empty. “I was looking for something deeper too, after my last relationship ended a few years ago. Never found it either, though.”
It was quiet between them for a moment. Wriothesley found that the silence wasn’t awkward, though. It was... comfortable. Both of them lost in their own swirl of thoughts.
Instinctively, he scented the air between them, and was surprised to find a hint of spiced interest, but with a touch of brine and salt to it, like the ocean at high tide. When he looked back up, Neuvillette was inspecting him, gaze casually flitting down his body, then up again, meeting Wriothesley’s icy blue eyes.
Something stirred in his chest, and he realized with a sudden startling clarity just how easy it would be to go to his knees for this man.
Neuvillette nudged his glass aside and Wriothesley turned to take a long sip of tea, drinking it down in the hopes of washing away some of the encroaching heat in his veins. When he set it down with a click, Neuvillette tilted his head.
“Shall I give you a tour of the club?” he asked.
Wriothesley turned on his best smirk. “Absolutely.”
As they stood, Neuvillette reached for a cane that Wriothesley hadn’t seen before. The length of it was black entwined with a deep ocean blue, the head in the shape of a silver dragon, long horns curling back, mouth open to show rows of sharp teeth. Its bright lilac eyes gleamed like jewels.
Wriothesley could already think of a thousand things he wanted done to him with that cane, and he fiercely fought off each and every one.
Neuvillette absolutely caught him staring, but said nothing except for, “Come,” a single word that did nothing to absolve Wriothesley’s budding arousal.
He swallowed, taking a few hurried steps to catch up, walking beside him through the club as Neuvillette showed him the various rooms and equipment they had. Some were intended for harder kinks, some for the more sensual, with an entire half of a room dedicated to shibari and suspension. They held classes there, Neuvillette whispered to him in low tones so as not to disturb the club’s patrons, and Wriothesley nodded before they left, keeping their distance from those using the space.
Not many were actively in scenes at the moment, but he couldn’t help his gaze drift across those currently involved as they passed through the other rooms. A large muscular man being spanked with a paddle drew his eye, a spark of jealousy flitting through him, and oh... yeah, he missed this. He missed it more than he even realized. Not just the experience, but the intimacy of it. Having someone who cared enough to deliver that pain, that pleasure, and at the end of the day, cared about him.
Neuvillette didn’t show him the private rooms, merely the place they were located in the sub-basement, gesturing further down the stairs. He said there were also several rooms that could be booked overnight like a hotel, and when Wriothesley teasingly asked if he'd ever had the luxury of testing them for himself, Neuvillette only said, stoic and calm but with subtle interest, that he had not yet had the pleasure.
At last, they meandered towards the bar, and as they stood together in the main room, now significantly more crowded than it had been before their tour, Wriothesley realized that Neuvillette was intending to walk him to the door, and still, Wriothesley couldn't keep his eyes off him. No others in the club, no scents or wild outfits or states of undress called to him like the man before him did, dressed head to toe in a full suit, not a single white hair out of place, gloved hands folded neatly over the head of his cane. The eyes of the silver dragon head, too, seemed to stare at him as he stood there, transfixed.
“About your offer,” Wriothesley said at last, and that lilac gaze honed in on him. Wriothesley gave his best coy grin, even as his heart pounded in his chest, the beat of the club’s music pulsing through him. “Is it still on the table?”
“Most certainly,” Neuvillette said, and Wriothesley swore he saw Neuvillette’s white pupils widen ever so slightly, like a cat's. “Come with me.”
He led Wriothesley to the hallway that led to the bathrooms and changing rooms. From a rack above the wall holding numerous light jackets, he pulled down a black leather briefcase, reaching into the zipped front pocket to produce several sheets of paper.
“As you can imagine, I employed quite a bit of paperwork during my years as a professional. But for a—” he trailed off, licking his lips as he thumbed through them, “personal relationship, we certainly needn’t go through them all. Regardless, I encourage you to read through my list of preferences at the very least.”
“Yeah, makes sense.” Wriothesley took them, eyes widening ever so slightly as he flipped through the truly massive list of kinks, organized by preference and experience.”
“Perhaps this will shed further light as to whether we are, in fact, compatible.”
Wriothesley nodded, lowering them to his side. “I should send you mine.”
“Indeed, that would be most appreciated.”
“Then,” he hesitated, uncertain where to go from here. Neuvillette seemed a bit unsure himself, and Wriothesley scratched at the back of his neck. “Maybe we could set up another time to meet?”
Neuvillette perked up at that, fingers shifting on his cane. “Yes, perhaps we should. Let us review each other’s lists, and reconvene to discuss them. Would next Friday at the same time be amenable to you?”
“Yes,” Wriothesley said, maybe a little too fast. He grinned, let out a little laugh, and shook his head. “I have no other plans. I’ll be all yours, Monsieur.” He smirked at that and reveled in the slight tinge of heat in Neuvillette’s scent as it shifted between them. Those long gloved fingers clenched the head of his cane just a little bit tighter and oh, Wriothesley already knew he’d love to tease this man until he lost his cool, wondering what he’d look like when he finally got tired of Wriothesley being a little brat.
“I look forward to it,” Neuvillette said, a slight smile curling upon his lips. “Shall I see you out?”
“It’s all right,” Wriothesley assured him, waving his hand. “I can find the way on my own. But maybe next time.” He shrugged. “You might get your chance, yet. It’s been nice talking to you this evening. Thanks for giving me your time, Monsieur.”
Neuvillette gave him a cordial nod, a slight tension in his shoulders and the set of his jaw as Wriothesley turned and left.
Only when he was outside did he flip casually through the list again, heart pounding in his chest in time with the pulse of the club’s music still throbbing in his ears. He didn’t even fully realize he was looking for something very specific until his gaze settled on it.
Oh. He was so fucked.