The Rainbow Bar, or as most people called it, “Rainbows” was firstly a drinking establishment, primarily used by females of the city, as it offered a warm, friendly place to socialise.
Situated in the heart of the gay quarter, Rainbows was the best-known city lesbian bar. It was certainly very different to Club o-X-o; that place felt almost clandestine. The Rainbow Bar was anything but that, as it was often advertised in the local papers, especially, The City Echo.
Of course, not all its clientele were gay women. Many were straight and there were always a few men dotted around. However, the thing about Rainbows is that it seemed to morph depending on the time and the day of the week.
At lunchtime, the courtyard became a popular restaurant, while most evenings the place would have live bands or some form of music. But the big nights were Friday and Saturday when they had a deejay and opened up the back of the main room to become a dance floor. It was when the city's lesbian crowd moved in and took over the place.
After Paula parked on one of the nearby backstreets, we walked towards the bar; the streets becoming livelier with each step. I was in apprehensive anticipation, my mind inquisitive and alert; and my stomach a little queasy. I needed a drink to relax me and help me find my groove.
Once again, Brenda’s hand had slipped under my long cardigan; it was resting on my bottom. With my heart pounding so strongly, I wondered if she could feel it beating.
We walked in past the security lady who gave a warm greeting to both Brenda and Paula, as they were both regulars. It was only eight, still quite early, and after getting our drinks at the bar, we retired to a booth at the rear. It was near the small dance floor; a popular spot.
On the booth table, I noticed there was a reserved sign. Brenda removed it and told me she had phoned ahead and booked the table. As far as I knew, you could not do that, but then again, my girlfriend often surprised me, so I didn’t bother to question.
As the light outside started to fade and with a glass of white wine in my hand, I took in Rainbows. My particular interest was watching the new customers coming in the door. I was wondering if they knew Brenda and whether I would be introduced to them.
However, Brenda and I weren’t sitting there in silence. Sometimes she would say to me, that so-and-so, or then ask me what I thought of this lady. She was trying to understand my perspective on the vibe within the room. I felt on edge, even nervous, which was unlike me. It wasn’t long before I needed a second drink, the first one having seemed to have evaporated.
With Brenda gone to the bar and my long cardigan still covering me, I chatted to Paula and got to know her a little better. She told me that she had been in several long-term relationships since Brenda, but had for now chosen to live the life of a single woman.
As we talked, the background music became just a gentle noise. I knew in another hour, the deejay would start playing her music and the bar clientele would be invited to dance.
The dim inside lights were taking over as darkness fell.
Brenda returned with a bottle of champagne. I should have guessed. She poured me a glass, Paula happily drinking nothing more than Coke Cola. It was getting close to the time when I knew my girlfriend would ask me to remove my covering cardigan and show off my body to her gay friends; many of whom were bull lesbians.
I shivered at the thought.
With my girlfriend's arm back around me, I snuggled up to her. The champagne tasted perfect as I looked across the ever-increasing crowd that continued to fill the room. Tonight, like Saturday nights, Rainbows didn’t close until 2 AM.
“My dear, you need to relax. No one here is going to bite.”
I realised I must have looked as nervous as I felt; though I was also curious, and, of course, horny. With a large swallow, I finished my glass of champagne, which my girlfriend quickly refilled.
“Do you see Helen over there?” Brenda indicated to a lady who was a similar age to her. She had curly strawberry blonde hair and was not unattractive; but dressed dull, almost dowdy.
“Yes,” I replied, suddenly very unsure.
“She would be a good choice for a first date, as she is kind and interesting to chat to. She is also single.”
The trouble was I felt no attraction towards her. I knew Brenda wanted me to regularly have sex with other people and, in a way; she was just like David, as they both preferred their women on the slutty side.
We glanced at Helen once again. She was looking our way and my girlfriend gave her a little polite wave. I nodded in recognition while my eyes scanned her body once again. She may be a little short for me, but I did notice she had a large chest.
“Are you good friends with her?” I nervously asked, my eyes returning to Brenda. I was sure that at some point in the evening, Helen would introduce herself.
Brenda smiled at me. She could see I wanted to say I was not interested in Helen.
“Yes, my dear. She will be at all my parties, and like me, she has an eye for a younger girl.”
I finished my drink and then asked if I could go out for a cigarette, though as I said it, I realised I didn’t need to ask for permission.
“Be my guest, my dear. Though, be warned, Helen might be out with you in a minute, as she hasn’t taken her eyes off you since we talked about her.”
I glanced her way once again; Brenda was right. Helen was staring at me.
“When you come in, it will be time to lose the cardigan. I want my fellow bulls to see what a hot ass my girlfriend has. Remember, tonight is about you introducing yourself… and picking up dates for the future.”
I almost blushed at Brenda’s words; she was talking about “Brenda dates.” These were evenings when I went out with a new, unknown woman; with the view to ending the evening in her bed. There was also one somewhat shocking condition that my girlfriend had put on these dates. That was, I had to agree to do whatever my date asked me to do unless it was dangerous, painful or illegal.
Tonight was the first step to these sex dates, though I did have one get-out clause; I had to agree to them. Brenda and I had talked about it, and she had promised me that there would be no pressure, just a bit of teasing and gentle reminders. For now, it had been agreed that I was not ready for them; especially as I was already dating Karen.
Brenda handed me a refreshed glass of champagne, my third, and I picked up my handbag and headed to the rear courtyard. As I walked, I was thankful that my long cardigan covered the rear of my shorts. I needed a little more time and a couple more glasses of fizz before I took it off. When I did, I suspected my bottom would become the target of many hungry eyes.
Looking around, I chose to sit at the least lit of the high round tables; thinking it was less likely that Helen or anyone else would see me in the falling night gloom.
As I opened my handbag for my cigarettes, I noticed two unused condoms, and I thought of David. Now I was safely on the pill and in a “monogamous” relationship with him. They weren’t needed. But I wasn’t yet ready to throw them away as I knew risky sex and even cheating seemed to be in my blood. I still had urges to look at and have sex with other men. Though I was trying to stay faithful to David. It helped greatly that he had given me the green light to sleep with other women.
I smiled.
Though when that was agreed, I don’t think either of us thought I would be having nights like the one planned for me tonight.
Then there was Brenda. She did not mind what gender I had sex with. The important thing to her was that I did have regular sex with other people; as many as possible. Though her words were a little more colourful…
“Clare, my dear… I don’t care if you fuck an entire football team or, better still, fuck a rugby team, as I believe they have more players.”
She just wanted me to be a slut, and tell her all about it after I had slept with someone.
From behind, someone spoke to me… “You must be, Clare; Brenda’s new girlfriend.” The sentence was followed by a short giggle and then a touch on my arm.
I glanced around.
It was no surprise to see Helen’s bubbling face as she sat next to me without invitation. Then she introduced herself before I had a chance to say anything.
We chatted. Well, Helen talked, and I listened to all about her life and that of her three cats. But to be fair, it wasn’t that bad. She didn’t mind me smoking, and I thought, the longer we chatted, the later in the night before I had to remove my cardigan and put on a show.
However, Helen had this habit of touching you every time she spoke, which was often. Her hand started on my arm, then went under the table and rested on my knee before travelling upwards to my exposed thigh. When it landed there, I couldn’t help but glance towards Brenda.
I wasn’t surprised to see that she was watching Helen’s and my every move. She even gave me the thumbs up, as it was evident she was enjoying our big night. Or perhaps more correctly, watching me put on a show. So, I let Helen’s hand remain where it was, resting then almost involuntarily stroking my thigh.
It wasn’t until I finished my cigarette that touchy-feely Helen stopped talking, and that was because another woman had joined us.
“Hi, I am Shannon,” she said as she introduced herself, and then she gave me a full glass of wine. “I thought you might like this.”
She was right; I did!
Shannon was younger than Helen, slimmer too, but lacked those feminine qualities that I normally found myself attracted to. She had a shaved head, tattoos and a pierced tongue which when she talked, would occasionally catch what light there was.
With now two girls chatting me up; their actions seemed to help dissipate my nerves. That was true, even with Helen’s hand on one bare thigh and Shannon’s on the other; it felt like they were both trying to claim me.
In the end, I made my excuses; I wanted to get back to Brenda. As I stood, the two lesbians simultaneously asked for my telephone number; their words were almost in stereo. That brought a giggle from me. I took their numbers to give to Brenda, but I told them there was no way I could give mine and instead contact my girlfriend. I explained that even though I was out as gay, I could not have a string of ladies phoning my home number, as my mother would go spare.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” They were the first words Brenda uttered when I returned. She had seen it all.
As I joined her in our booth, I realised it had got a little cosier as Tina and Jaz had joined us. That was a surprise to me, as Brenda hadn’t mentioned that they would be there tonight.
“Well, that is two potential dates,” I remarked to all, then passed the two telephone numbers to Brenda. I was quite pleased with myself, though I wasn’t sure if getting two telephone numbers was good or not. We had not discussed how many Brenda wanted me to collect.
But I did know that if I went on “Brenda dates,” then I would be going on them with ladies of my choosing.
Brenda brought something out of her pocket. It was six more pieces of paper.
“My dear, your two and my six make the total eight… and the night is still young.” She chuckled excitedly. “Clare, that is a good start, but it is time to remove your cardigan and show a little more skin. I am sure that will stir a lot more interest in you.”
I guessed Brenda was right. Furthermore, I looked at Paula, then Tina, and lastly, my ex-girlfriend, Jaz. She was dressed similarly to me; though not nearly as revealing. They were all staring at me, seemingly waiting for my big reveal. I just hoped the dim light meant my nipples were hidden. As for my ass, well, there wasn’t much I could do. The lower part of my bottom cheeks were exposed, and it was unlikely Brenda would allow me to sit down all night!
