The champagne disappeared quickly. Then came the tequila.
One particularly mischievous club member arrived carrying an enormous tray of shots, complete with salt and lime. The women exchanged amused looks before knocking them back together. That was the moment everyone realised the evening was no longer going to be “one quiet drink.”
The atmosphere inside The Leather Club grew louder as the alcohol flowed. The hosts became increasingly giggly, flirtatious and gloriously unsteady.
Dimonty lounged back confidently beside Mrs Leather, stretching out her long legs beneath the table as the leather of her skirt caught the warm club lighting. Jasmin somehow still looked completely composed and powerful despite matching everyone shot for shot.
Donna, naturally, had attracted the attention of several admirers nearby and seemed to be enjoying every second of it. Meanwhile, Carol had reached the wonderfully dangerous stage of cocktail drinking where every laugh became louder than the last.
Soon cigars appeared. Jasmin lit one elegantly before offering another to Mrs Leather. Thick clouds of cigar smoke and sweet vape vapour slowly drifted above the increasingly tipsy hosts.
“It’s good having you here at The Leather Club,” Mrs Leather whispered to Dimonty as the drinks continued to flow. “Feels like yesterday we first worked together.” Dimonty smiled warmly.
“It’s been far too long.”
Then she leaned in and kissed Mrs Leather, softly at first, before the pair completely lost themselves in the moment while the others laughed around them.
“Get a room, you two!” Donna teased from across the table.
Mrs Leather burst into laughter.
“That’s not a bad idea…”
By now, the table was covered with empty glasses, scattered lime wedges, champagne bottles and half-finished drinks. The women were officially drunk. Standing up became an adventure in itself. There was a lot of giggling, wobbling and desperately holding onto each other for balance. Mrs Leather somehow managed to completely miss the sleeve of her long leather coat several times in a row while the others laughed uncontrollably.
“Thatsss… hic… not like me at all…”
Luckily, Jasmin stepped in to help her while keeping one arm wrapped firmly around her waist to stop her collapsing back into the chair. Eventually, the hosts stumbled toward the exit to a mixture of cheers, smiles and amused looks from the remaining club members.
Outside, the cool wet London air only made things worse. Black cabs lined the street while the women clung to each other beneath the glowing lights outside The Leather Club entrance. Jasmin still held her cigar elegantly between gloved fingers while Donna and Carol disappeared into the first taxi together, still laughing hysterically in the back seat as it pulled away.
Jasmin soon followed in another cab after kissing everyone goodbye. That left Mrs Leather and Dimonty alone together in the final taxi. Which turned out to be a terrible idea. Within minutes the pair were kissing again, giggling like schoolgirls as the cab rolled through the rain-covered London streets.
“What will our husbands say?” Mrs Leather laughed drunkenly.
Dimonty grinned wickedly.
“I think I know…”
The next morning, every single Leather Club host was extremely grateful they had the day off. But deep down, they all knew another messy night was never very far away.