Well, hello all you beautiful people.
You know what time it is.
Ladies and gents, guys and dolls and
everyone in between.
Gather around. Get you something real
nice to sip on and comfy to slip on.
Cuz it's time for Smite Club. Here's
your hosts, Chelsea and Hannah.
[Music]
Announcement time. Um, so we have been
doing this podcast for several years
now. Um, we launched in 2022 and we've
built such a wonderful community over
these last several years and are looking
for new ways to kind of expand and be
able to connect more deeply. So, the
first one of those ways that we've been
talking about is life coaching. um which
is a chance to work one-on-one
individually to help make life feel a
little less sticky. Um spots will be
limited as we launch that. So if you're
interested, we will have a link in our
show notes and in our Insta bio. So
definitely go and join the wait list so
that as soon as we launch, you are first
in line to grab a spot. And if life
coaching really doesn't feel like a good
fit or not quite your jam, but you're
still interested in connecting and
engaging more with our community, we are
also looking into launching a book club.
So, if you're interested in that option,
follow the same link and uh you can get
on the wait list for that as well. And
now back to the show.
[Music]
Hey everybody and welcome to Smuck Club.
I'm Hannah. And I'm Chelsea. And this is
the show where we are two licensed
professional counselors and life
coachers. Life no life coach who offer
life who offer therapy and life
coaching. Is that what I'm trying to
say? Man, I have [ __ ] our elevator
pitch today. I I should just try again.
I was going to say, do you want to start
over?
I don't. Life is about embracing our
moments where And you know what?
The people knew what you meant.
Yes. Spiritually, everyone knew what I
meant. Yeah. Welcome to Smut Club. We're
Chelsea and Hannah, two licensed
therapist and life coaches who enjoy
reading romance novels of varying
caliber and reviewing them together
while we drink alcohol of different
types.
Still not my best elevator pitch, but
again, the people knew what you meant,
you know.
And if you didn't like that elevator
pitch, then maybe maybe we're not a
match.
Yeah. And that's okay,
right? But I I think it was a good
pitch.
It was
I think it shows who we are.
It does. Yeah.
It shows our zest.
Zesty. Yeah.
Off to a strong start today. Le Let's
just jump in. What book are we
reviewing? We are reviewing Give Me More
by Sarah Kate, which is
Kate with a C.
Kate with a C,
not with a K.
Correct.
Yes.
And um this is the third standalone in
the Salacious Players Club series.
Okay. I haven't made it that far in the
series.
Yes. So,
by that I think I made it through one
and a half.
So, I think it's like actually coming
back to me now as I'm talking about it.
The first one is praise which we have
talked about.
The second one I think is Eyes on Me. I
think
that feels correct.
And then this one is Give Me More. And
this is the one we're talking about
today. So you don't really need to know
anything about the previous books except
that we open the prologue 7 years ago.
Everybody's prologue starts seven years
ago. So, they were all at a bar
drinking, talking about how they all
have different kids.
Yes.
And they are having a really hard time
finding compatible partners
who are accepting.
Exactly. So, how do they handle that to
me?
So, this is where like at this bar, this
group of friends who all work together,
they decide they're going to launch a
dating service specific for the kink
community. And then they expanded past
that around year 6 or 7 to an actual
physical club. And so that's kind of the
vibe of where we're starting. You know
what I like about that? I was expecting
it to go from like they started as with
a dating service and then went to an app
and made it more accessible instead.
It's like they started with a dating
service and then went to a more
exclusive brickandmortar.
Yeah, they did. They did. I was going to
say what would the app be just field?
Well, kind of. And that's sort of the
vibe that it gives, but it also they
they try to say that it's more like
boutique and individualized for people
and stuff and they're they have like
safety measures in place and things like
that.
Um, so we opened 7 years ago. They
Hunter is our main guy. Um, and he and
uh his wife whose name I should know
Isabelle, sorry.
Hunter and Isabelle.
Yes. So, currently his girlfriends, they
are at the bar with their friends
hanging out. Um, his best friend Drake
is also there and he is a contractor.
They've been best friends their whole
lives.
Drake the contractor who likes to [ __ ]
everyone in the club. I remember him
because he was there was some tension
with Drake in the first book and praise.
Yeah. where he hit on the guy's
girlfriend, love interest at the time or
whatever.
So Drake is there. He is already off
like about to get it with a birthday
girl who's got like a sash and a tiara
tiara on and stuff.
That does seem to be Drake's energy.
And um
have vagina will travel.
Exactly. And Hunter's like, you know, I
have literally known him my entire life.
Like we came up really hard. Our lives
were really hard. we got out of that
together. We will always be like
together like we will always be best
friends and
we will always be bonded no matter where
life takes us.
Exactly. And um as they're having this
conversation around the table about
kinks and stuff, his girlfriend, who had
been a virgin when they met, all of a
sudden reveals that her fantasy is to
have a threesome. And um he's like
absolutely flabbergasted, floored, like
oh my god. Like
like Isabelle like like excited or like
horrified
more confused because he was like really
like and
like that really hadn't been on my bingo
card for what you for like anything I
thought you were going to say that like
was your fantasy that was not on on my
list of of guesses. Okay. So, like not
like he's like
disgusted by the idea. He just didn't
anticipate it.
And one of the other guys is like, "Oh,
okay. So, like boy or girl?" And she's
like, "I don't know. I guess either kind
of." And he was like, "Damn, okay."
Like, interesting.
Boy for me,
right?
And I think for Vance it would be a
girl, which is likely why
that that likely is not written in our
stars.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I'm reading a book
right now where there is uh three dudes
and one woman and two of the men are
together and the third one is the um
axle diesel energy of the group. He's
truly insane.
And so he like approaches the two guys
one day and he's like, "Listen, I get
it. We're all together. So I think that
means like I'm pretty sure I'm pretty
sure I could [ __ ] you guys." And they
were like, "What?"
And so they like call his bluff and
they're like, "No time like the present,
babe. Come on over." And like
immediately when they start touching
him, he's like, "Nope, nope. Straight.
I'm straight. Never mind. I'm so I can't
do it." And they're like, "Dude, we know
we weren't going to
I feel like that almost reads like a my
ego says I could do this."
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. like my ego says
that you would want to and so I should
be also into it.
But it's also like the truest thing
ever, right? Where I'm like,
"Yeah,
yeah." You know, I think I am the first
person to compliment a stranger's ass at
the grocery store 100%. And I also don't
personally look at women and think like
I want to make out with them. Like I'm
not sexually attracted, but I can
appreciate
the aesthetic.
The aesthetic, their beauty, and the
same with men, right? And want to
compliment everyone all the time.
Yeah.
But I do think that like it might be a
similar thing for me
where I'm like, "Yeah, I not that you
and I are going to start making out by
any what?"
That's on our Patreon. Just kidding.
If you're wondering what our exclusive
content looks like, it's actually going
to be nothing like that.
Nothing like that.
That's when Smut Club ends up on Only
Fans and we all have more questions than
answers at this point.
Yeah, 100%. But
but all that said,
so that's kind of the the vibe is
they're all talking about their
different kinks. So, one guy is like, "I
like to watch." One is like, "You know,
I like to dominate." Like all these
different things that they're into,
which is fine. And um
they launch it. They decide like the
company they all work for goes under
literally like the next day. They all
get laid off. And so the guy from
Praise, the main guy from Praise, is
kind of the
the driver behind most of the stuff in
their friend group anyway. And so he
calls everybody and is like, "We're
doing it." Like sign from the universe.
This is it. So
we are now 7 years in the future and we
get Drake's perspective.
So Drake, the best friends,
Hunter, Isabelle, and Drake.
Drake, correct?
So Drake, these are his words. He is a
man [ __ ] He's like, I prefer a
scoundrel.
That's a little dated. I am a [ __ ]
He's like, "That's just the truth." Like
whatever.
It feels different when you're using it
as your own self-proclaimed title
versus someone else using Cuz if someone
else calls you a [ __ ] it's never meant
as a compliment. It's always meant to be
degrading at some level.
Yeah. Except for my one friend Gary, he
calls me a [ __ ] a lot, and it's usually
from a place of love.
I I feel like we all have one friend who
doesn't. It's It's the same friend who's
going to be like, "You know me, I'm a
[ __ ] for a sandwich."
Literally. Yes.
Yes.
He got another friend of ours a cake
that said, "Boo you [ __ ] when she quit
her job where we all worked and was
going somewhere else." Like brought it
to work. Boo you [ __ ]
Um Okay. What's the Is it Carll? Is that
the ice cream?
Yes. Yeah.
Okay. Um, I had a friend who worked at a
carell growing up and like with all of
the fudgy the whale ice cream cakes.
Ironically, he like worked there through
college and is a dentist now. Um,
sometimes I like got to just hanging out
with him. I'd help like fill the soft
serve machine and like learned a little
bit about ice cream along the way. But
my favorite was just watching this dude
who you would have no idea he could pipe
lettering so beautifully with frosting.
And one day, one day I was there and
like the a girl was quitting like the
local Hooters or something like that.
And so I'm watching him pipe onto the
cake. Boo you [ __ ] We'll miss you.
Love all the [ __ ]
That's lovely. And he did it so well. He
fit it all on the cake. The spacing was
great.
I love that Gary put you [ __ ] on the
cake himself because he didn't think the
Engles in Cleveland, Georgia would be
willing to do it for him.
Don't dox yourself, Hannah.
Well,
that's not where I live. But
you're right. That's not where you live.
But where But the Engles in North
Georgia
Yeah. They weren't going to be willing
to do that. And so he did it himself.
And it was not professional, but that
made it better.
Yeah. Yeah, I feel like that adds to the
aesthetic.
It does. It does when it's your own.
How if you ever need a polished one, you
need to go back to Carll in like
09
in Palm Harbor, Florida. Ali will hook
you straight up.
Shout out to Ollie. Um
Oh, I miss him. I should find out where
he is and call him.
Shoot him a little message. How you
doing, Ollie? Did I tell you I did that
recently with someone where I had like
an old friend been had been thinking of
them constantly
and like hadn't probably hadn't talked
in almost 20 years text them and was
like, "Hey, is this still your this is
like this is Chelsea. I was just
thinking about you. I thought about you
like five times in the last couple
weeks." So like I felt like the universe
was telling me to check in just like I
hope you're well wherever you are.
Like 10 minutes later, I get a text back
that just says, "They're no longer at
this number, but this is lovely." A
that's nice.
I was like, "Oh, well, I wish all those
good things for you as well. Have a
great day." They're like, "Thank you.
You, too."
These sentiments were not limited to
this one person. This is my hope for
humanity.
And then I deleted the contact since it
was clearly no longer correct.
Won't be making that mistake again.
Nope. Okay. Sorry. I'm deeply directed.
No, we're good. We're good. We're good.
So, Drake is on a cross-country road
trip with his two best friends, Hunter
and Isabelle.
Does she go by Isabelle?
She does.
Okay. Yeah.
I feel like a lot of books we end up
with Izzy. So,
every now and then one of them will call
her Izzy, but primarily or is even, but
primarily they refer to her as Isabelle.
So, um they are touring different sex
clubs around the country. um just trying
to get fresh ideas and kind of see how
they stack up um how the club they have
opened stacks up.
I've done that with psychiatric
psychiatric facilities. I get it. Like,
oh yeah, we got to go around. We're
opening a new one. Got to see what what
safety features other companies are
using.
Yeah. Yes. Um
and I like that that also happens with
sex clubs.
Yes. And it is really interesting like
Oh, I bet
they go to several different ones
throughout this which is part of the fun
I think of it is like all the different
sort of vibes and energy. Um
so are they just like on a sex club road
trip on this whole book?
Yes. Yeah.
Ooh.
Yeah. And all of these sex clubs like
know they are coming. These are business
trips. They are going to meet with the
owners like all that stuff, right? So
yeah, they're going during daylight
hours. No, they're going while they're
open. But
welfare, I meant to get a general tour
of the facility. Like there can be
business meetings that are happening,
right?
Like with this sort of
business trip is really more more how
that was meant.
Yes, it is all very structured like the
plans for the trip.
So Drake can hear Hunter and Isabelle
[ __ ] like in the next room. Um and he
is currently with two women whose names
he cannot recall. and um he is just kind
of bored with it
and he is like
let's see how loud I can get him to be
right if I have have to listen to
Isabelle and Hunter [ __ ] then they're
going to have to listen to me and the
the Double Mint twins or whatever. Um he
does not refer to them that way. He does
not refer to them that way.
Um he's actually fairly respectful. Um,
but he is also kind of processing he's
never been in a relationship with
anybody before. Um, he's always been uh
the third wheel in Hunter and Isabelle's
marriage. Like when they go on vacation,
he is there. When they have dinner, he's
there like three or four nights a week.
Like that's just kind of the dynamic
that they have. Um,
and he does construction for the club.
So, I was thinking like, isn't that a
sort of one-time deal? But in the other
books, they talk about different events
they're putting on, and he will create
structures like for all the different
like events and stuff that they do.
Yeah. I knew someone who had that exact
job at a church.
Each sermon series needed a whole
different
different background. Yeah. So,
literally the same,
but a little different.
just like there's a code word to get
into this one.
The work is the same, the vibes very
different.
So, um he is also thinking about like he
was there the first day that Hunter
first saw Isabelle um and has been there
pretty much every day since. And um how
old are they?
So, they are like 30sish and Isabelle I
want to say is like 28. The guys are
like 3 or four years older than her,
but not by a lot. I want to say it's
three. Yeah.
So, um, he and Hunter were actually like
drug dealers and really not doing very
well kind of in life in general. Um, but
Hunter literally as soon as he saw
Isabelle like from a distance, he was
like,
"Well, I got to clean it up cuz that
woman is going to be my wife and she's
not going to be into all this." Um, and
so literally,
I've never been that sure of anything in
my life.
Never once. No. No. But he starts going,
they're outside the library trying to
sell drugs and they see this girl with
her arms full of books and he's like,
"That's the one." And so they start
going to the library every day so that
she can see him and then he like slowly
starts to like talk to her and stuff,
her.
Yeah. And so basically Hunter was like,
"Well, if I'm clean up cleaning up my
act, Drake, you have to clean up your
act. So what do you want to do?
Construction?"
He's like, like, "You will rise with
me."
So Drake works construction because
Hunter saw Isabelle from a distance and
was like,
"Yeah,
so we're going to get our [ __ ] together
for her."
Yeah.
And Drake's like, "We're doing what?"
Drake's like, "We who tanto the fuck?"
But also he's like really grateful
because he's like yeah I would be in
jail or dead by now like if it weren't
for the two of them. And so he also he's
just kind of like you know what I am
happy with my life. Like I love these
two people. They are my family and I
also love banging randoms. So like it is
all coming up golden. Like
but is it Drake? Is it
It feels like like Drake is trying to
convince himself of that.
Yeah. The Lady Doth protest too much.
Yeah. In that way of like,
you know, no, like I guess I have a
beautiful life and like if this is what
it is, I'm I'm Yeah. I'm happy with it.
Yeah.
And you're like, are are you
right when they say it as a question?
I'm really happy with it. Are are you
I'm happy. Right.
No, really. Really? Really?
Yeah. Yeah. No, I definitely I I am I
am.
Yeah, for sure.
So, we switch perspectives here. We get
all three perspectives throughout this
book.
Oh, that's nice.
So, we switch perspectives here um to
Isabelle. So, this is a few hours
earlier in the night. She and Hunter are
at an anniversary dinner um for the two
of them and she feels weird that Drake
isn't there because he has literally
been there for everything.
Yeah, that's definitely a sign cuz I'll
say my anniversary was last week and no
part of me was like someone else should
be
I had that thought too. I was like who?
Nope. There are people who have been
with us from the moment like we met and
everything, but still I don't I don't
know that I would invite them to my
anniversary dinner. You know, it's
different vibes. I guess
it's it's a it's an increased level of
intimacy for sure.
Yeah, 100%. Um, so
Isabelle is also reminiscing about when
she and Hunter first met. Um, and how
he's like dark and covered in tattoos.
Um, you know, dark hair, dark eyes, kind
of the whole bad boy vibes. Um,
but he was always gentle and kind and
patient with her. And she was like,
that was like, if there was a version of
kryptonite for me, it would be the bad
boy aesthetic with like this gentleness,
you know? And so, um,
she was really grateful for him. And,
oh, here's where we get for sure. So,
she was a virgin and not quite 18 and he
was 22. So, he refused to touch her
really at all.
Hunter
Hunter refused to touch her. Yes. Until
Isabelle was about was 18.
Thank you for removing the about from
that.
But even then, he waited like 6 months
after she turned 18 for them to actually
have sex. It's like he never touched her
at all before that, but then was really
intentional with everything they did
physically.
Oh man, I remember listening to the
radio when Billy Isish was about like
her like 18th birthday was on the
horizon.
And the way in which people were talking
about her.
It's so gross. Especially because like
as with like the the six month of like
hey before this like really escalated.
I'm like yeah. You know we don't go from
like one day they're a child to the next
day they're a human. So the way we view
them is now okay or different or like we
suddenly feel justified.
It's okay to objectify them now or
something like it's very icky. But this
felt much more like like wanting to do
right by her and also not being sure
what that even means because he didn't
have that experience in life. Well, this
and I'm obviously looking through the
best case and I haven't haven't read
this book, but just less of the um the
grooming lens if you like less of like
the oh
I found her when I was 22 and she was 17
and we were just like preparing the way
for this versus like hey like we're in
each other's orbit. We're interested in
each other, but there's there's clearly
several things at play, and we're very
mindful and conscientious of those
dynamics as we navigate them.
Yes. Which
and she was only like 3 or 4 months shy
of 18 when they met. Um, but still he
was very intentional with like making
sure that she was always on board for
everything and comfortable with
everything to the point where at one
point in the book she says like it was
honestly kind of annoying. I'm like,
dude, like come on. like, okay,
it's been slow enough. Like, let's go.
Um, but so,
but I do think we all appreciate that.
Yes, I would rather him be overly
cautious. Um,
every time.
But when they get back to the rental, so
they're basically doing like Airbnbs for
the most part. Couple of hotels, but for
the most part, they're doing like
apartments or small houses, and they're
all staying in them together. So, they
get back to the rental and they can hear
Drake with two women in the room. Um,
and
uh they go to bed themselves, Hunter and
Isabelle do. And he starts like taking
her from behind and she starts thinking
about what Drake is doing in the other
room with those other women. And she's
like kind of turned on by that and like
wondering what he's doing. And then
she's like, "Oh,
shouldn't be thinking about my husband's
best friend while he's inside me." Like
awkward, you know? Um, so she doesn't
feel great about that, but she also kind
of lets it go. Like on some level, it is
normal for your imagination to do stuff
while you're listening to it on the
other side. Yeah, that that was the
thought that I just had was like, oh, if
you're listening to him bone these other
two women in real time. That feels
really different than like, yeah, so
Hunter and I are on this like
cross-country road trip and Drake is
back home and I'm daydreaming about him
in that,
right? Um it it is different, but
there's a lot of um very open
communication in this book, which I
really appreciate, which we'll get to in
a minute. But
we now switch to Hunter. So Hunter can't
sleep and he finds Drake in the kitchen.
Um and Hunter is like noticing that he's
admiring
Drake's physique of like he's so lucky
that he does construction and barely has
to go to the gym. Like he looks awesome.
that kind of like framing where it's
like dude bro admiring
your how cut you are or whatever. I saw
a Tik Tok earlier this week where this
woman was saying her teenage son had
come home and he was like no I'm
straight but like I'm a homiesexual
like stop it right now.
I'm just like a little gay for my
friends.
That's so good. Oh my god that's really
good. And that's what it feels like in
this moment.
Very much.
Like Hunter's like, "No, like I'm not
into dudes. I'm just like a homie
sexual." Like Drake works hard at his
construction job. Like good for him,
man. I see it. I respect it.
That's literally in my notes. It says
strictly platonic because he's like very
much couching it in his own head.
Nobody's talking to you about it, dude.
Nobody's questioning your sexuality.
He's like totally straight though. Like
nobody panic. So, see, and that's where
when I I've complimented women's asses
to their faces at daycare drop off that
I don't know, and I'm like, I see we
both dropped off our children.
I also see your ass.
We're all fighting mom butt at this
point.
Mom, but
got to keep doing my squats to stay on
top of it, right? But I'm like,
hey, not to be weird since we don't know
each other, but our kids are in the same
class. Your ass looks great.
Yeah. Have nobody told you today like
100%.
Yeah,
I feel it.
And when I've done that, I haven't had
to be like purely platonically that like
I'm not actually looking for a third.
Hey, hey, that was just to be a mood
booster for you. That was not to boost
anything for me personally.
Right. Right. This is about you.
Stay in your lane.
Right. Don't make it weird.
Yeah. No, I'm not into you that way.
Men are such weird creatures. So,
at this point, Isabelle then gets up
because she can like hear them talking
in the kitchen.
Are the two women still asleep?
They're gone. Okay, they're gone.
They're gone.
Um, and Hunter notices that Isabelle,
she's in like her tank top and shorts
and is scantily clad in her PJs or
whatever, super casual. Um, and but
Drake's eyes never leave her face. He's
like, "She is like serving cleavage
right now." And he is not. That is a
best [ __ ] friend, dude. Incredible
work. Like,
and Drake's just like, "Keep your eyes
on her face. Keep your eyes on her face.
Keep your eyes on her face. Do not
blink. It might be construed as looking
down."
Exactly. Meanwhile, he's like, Isabelle
is definitely giving him elevator eyes
like up and down.
And he's like, but also I get it
platonically. So
platonically
he's like, you know, cuz they're having
like banter, making each other laugh and
being kind of goofy. And he's like, I am
so grateful that the two people that are
the most important to me in the world
like make each other laugh and like each
other. Like this is really incredible
that I've struck the lottery this way.
Um,
and
he does notice that Drake kind of
deflates a little bit when he starts to
take Isabelle when Hunter starts to take
Isabelle back to bed and he's like, I'm
going to check on him. Like,
maybe things aren't as good as he's
trying to make them out to be.
Um, so the next night they are touring a
sex club in Phoenix and they Where are
they out of? Remind me.
California, I think. like the LA area.
Oh, wow. I would have lost that bet. It
It's been a while since I've read this
series.
I'm pretty sure.
Girl, I was going to say Milwaukee.
Like, are there a lot of sex clubs in
Milwaukee? Like, no judgment, but like
that's why I assumed they were so
successful.
They have very limited options.
I can't wait for us to get a slew of DMs
that are like, "You know nothing about
the sex club scene. Milwaukee is
popping." I was going to say like I know
enough to know I don't know about the
sex club energy in Milwaukee.
No,
outside of that I I don't have a lot to
give you. I don't know much about
Milwaukee. Full stop. It's not that I
don't know about just the sex clubs in
Milwaukee. It's just in general I don't
know very much about it.
My knowledge about Milwaukee is not
limited just because of the sex clubs.
Right.
It's just because I live in Georgia and
I've never needed to know about
Milwaukee.
I have not needed that. No, it's never
come up.
All I know is I once accidentally left
my wallet at the airport there and they
mailed it back to me on like and they
were so kind Midwestern [ __ ]
That was my exact experience. Yep. I was
like, "This feels like the Midwest. Got
to love them."
Yeah.
And I'm like, "That's all I can tell
you."
They were so kind when I when I left my
wallet in their state.
So, they're in Phoenix. They are not in
Milwaukee. They're in Phoenix. Um, and
they do not like the vibes of this club
when they get there.
Oh, the vibes are off.
It's like super uptight. So, like
there's no space to mingle. Like, they
show up and the host person is like,
"Oh, yeah. Like, the owner is aware that
you're coming tonight. Um, she set aside
a room for you guys. Feel free to use
it. Hang out in it. she'll be with you
in about an hour. And Hunter is pissed.
He's like, "Uh, no,
we didn't come here for that. We came
here for a meeting." Like, this is
weird.
Um, and there was other stuff in the way
the guy was saying it that sort of
justified his response a little bit
more.
Um,
and Isabelle is like super nervous
because the only sex club she's ever
been to is theirs and she knows she is
always going to be safe there. And like
what are their jobs?
So Hunter's job was in developing the
compatibility
like tests and stuff for the dating
service app or whatever. And so he his
whole job was to learn as much as he
could about different kinks and how to
keep people safe and like all of that
kind of stuff. And he put that sort of
thing into place. And now basically he's
sort of like in charge of membership
like recruiting new members and stuff.
Mhm.
Um Isabelle doesn't really work there.
She's a yoga instructor. Um
but she's there all the time. her
husband owns it
and all of their friends like this is a
friend group that started this business
very much so.
So, um they go to the private room uh
and
basically the guy is like
as they are being dropped off in the
room or maybe it was the owner, I don't
really remember but it doesn't matter.
Somebody was like, "Hey, it's really
weird that like you're just shuttling
people into this room and there's no
space to mingle. It feels very like
uptight or whatever, like awkward."
Well, and mind you, as someone who
hasn't spent a lot of time in sex clubs,
so like take everything I say with a
grain of salt. I do just like always
imagine every sex club has like a hub
room like with a bar even if that's like
non-alcoholic options, right? Like
there's a
a communal space for people and you
aren't just automatically like siphoned
off into
because at that point it might as well
be a hotel room basically. And so, um,
the owner is like, "Have you ever The
owner is a woman." And she's like, "I
understand that, you know, that's how
you have your club set up." And that's
great. Um, but for safety reasons and
for the comfort of some of our members,
we keep it as anonymous as possible. And
Hunter is like,
"We don't think people should have to
hide if they don't want to." And so we
want people to be proud and like, you
know, secure in who they are and to feel
safe.
We want it to be a safe space, not a
space where people like come and then
still feel like they have to cower.
Yeah. He was like, that's that is our
goal for the women who come into our
club that they feel safe and comfortable
every single time, 100% of the time.
Cuz it almost feels like a club who
forces you to be as anonymous as
possible. Yeah. Like there's almost like
a a shame element kind of
unintentionally built into their
structure.
Exactly. And so they're basically having
a conversation around that. And the
owner
fascinating conversation.
Super interesting. And the owner is
like, I really admire that that is the
stance you are taking. And I wonder if
you have spoken to your wife or any of
your female members about how safe they
feel
when others are able to see them and
know who they are.
And it was very like oh like we're
talking about real [ __ ] right now. Oh
yeah. Um,
but there's like this awkward tension
between all of them and Hunter is
basically like, you know, Isabelle and
Drake don't really need to be around for
the rest of the tour and conversation.
There's a Shabari workshop going on. Why
don't you guys go to the Shabari
workshop, right? You know where this is
going.
Yes. As we all casually go to our
Shabari workshop,
right? And um Isabelle at that point is
a little bit irritated because the guys
do this like macho eye contact headnod
where it's like you got her cool and
she's like I really don't need to be
handed off. I'm not like you know
the nuclear codes or something where we
need to have like a firm hand-tohand
transfer. very few times where that like
head nod transfer you're like
yeah oh I feel safer
right
this feels better
right she's like in fairness it is sweet
that they're doing this when we're in a
new club and we don't know anybody
that's sweet but also guys I'm a grown
woman hey guys all we do is sex club
what's our hobby
it is the hobby
we've been together for 10 years like
can we chill out no answer is no So,
but on the flip side, we do also love
that they're like, "Hey, it's a new
space and the vibes are off here. We are
going to be vigilant."
Yes. And so, she and Drake are just
hanging out, watching the the
demonstration, and it's a lot, you know?
I mean, there's a fully nude dude there
getting tied up and then blown, I think,
if I'm remembering right. And then the
instructor is like, "You two, beautiful
couple. You would be great for my next
demonstration. and what do you think?
And um Isabelle is like, "Yeah, that
sounds great." And Drake is like, "The
[ __ ] is it? Is it great?"
Um she's like, "What?"
Drake's literally about to like opening
his mouth to be like, "Oh, no, thank
you. We're just here to observe." Yeah.
As Isabelle's like,
"Sounds fun."
"Oh, yeah. Take my shoes off. Put them
there. No problem."
Yeah. She's like, "Oh, I need to get
naked. Cool beans." and she's like
standing there in her underwear and
she's like, "This is not really
something I do regularly, even at our
own club." But again, I trust Drake. The
instructor was really like intentional
and kind with the way he was like
coaching the two of them and, you know,
undressed to your comfort level, all
that kind of stuff. And so just think of
John Melany being like, "So I put on
three sweaters and then I felt safe,
right?"
Um, so, okay. Also, not related to
anything at all. Have you seen photos of
John Molany more recently?
No, not recently.
Damn it, Anna. Okay, we'll have to have
an off-pod convo about this.
I think he got jaw filler.
Oh, yeah.
And I think Vance just thinks he might
be a man now. And I'm like, "No, I
his jaw did not look like that and knew
it in town." No.
Jaws or size is not going to do that
much for anyone.
I have questions.
I'm going to have to look it up now.
Yeah. Like different questions than I
have about like Bradley Cooper's face
right now. But I still have questions
because John Melan's jaw like it's like
Zack Efron's jaw where you're like, "Oh,
no, that shifted."
Yeah. Yeah.
And I don't think it was just like
sucking on hard candies gave you that
definition.
Either way, God bless. As long as you're
happy with your face. But
well, and all Yeah. thinking I'm like,
"Oh, that like any level of
sure
construction is what I was
construction."
Yeah. Face construction
like Yeah, you're going to feel that.
Yeah.
His jaw doesn't look bad by any stretch.
Please do not hear me dogging on John
Melany. It was just more of like a
That's different than it used to be.
All I could think is he said, "Thanks,
Drake." I was like, well, you know,
Isabelle does do a lot of facial yoga by
the end of this, so facial yoga. I mean,
a lot happens.
[Music]
Follow-up announcement time.
Announcement two, Electric Booaloo.
Friendly reminder that if you have any
interest in life coaching or Smut Club
book club with your fellow smut [ __ ]
follow the link in our Instagram bio or
the show notes.
[Music]
Okay. So, like two weeks ago, I went and
tried out a new yoga studio.
Oh, that's always like a kind of a
harrowing experience.
And like, and you know me, right? Like I
taught for years. I feel I feel pretty
confident walking into any yoga space
for the first time that I'm like, I
might not nail everything that's
happening here, but like
yeah,
I can navigate this well.
Comfortable enough.
I thought she was trying to kill us.
Like at the end of class, she was laying
the lavender towels on like all of our
heads and I literally went I was I'm
willing to do unspeakable things for
this towel. Like it was that level. Like
an hour and a half later, I had made it
home, showered, and was still sweating
on my couch.
Oh no.
Oh no. Yeah. I went to a class like that
where I was like, you know, I've been
doing a lot of yoga for a long time. I
haven't necessarily done a ton of like
the ashtanga, like really intense yoga
that I've done in the past, but like
I've still kept up my practice. I'll go
to this flow class. It'll be fine cuz I'
I've been doing flow. And I was like,
"Oh, your definition of flow and my
definition of flow are different
definitions."
I'm like, "We're both flowing. We're
flowing at different speeds and and
rates. Yeah. This class.
Yeah. And depths.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Like I was like, "Oh,
we don't even have the fans on." Like
the way in which we were just like
building heat in that room.
And as soon as the instructor got on the
mat and like she was one of those women,
I loved her. Like she's the ideal
iconic.
Yeah. lots, tons of tattoos in a small
town that you don't see tattoos. She has
not a ounce of fat on her body. I'm
like, all you do is hot yoga all day,
every day. And you
raw vegan or something.
But yes, as soon as I saw how loose her
her like tight leggings were on her
figure, I was like, I I've made a
horrible mistake.
Oh, no.
Will I go back? Absolutely.
Yeah, for sure.
It was the most humbling thing.
But yeah, it it was Sorry. Once again, I
am really
That's all right. I'm having fun.
We have a book we're we're reviewing
today.
We are. And they're doing Shabari. So,
um, which for the uninitiated, I guess,
is, uh, a particular ti type type of
Japanese rope bondage, um, that's really
focused on the aesthetics of the knots
and the different ties and how they
look. Um, as well as the emotions that
can be pulled up. Um,
there's like a lot of beauty in the
practice and a ton of intention in it.
It is.
It's not just like a we threw we slapped
a sailor's knot on this and called it a
day,
right? There's a lot of safety stuff.
There's a lot of focus on the aesthetic.
Um, all those different things. And
Isabelle is getting more and more turned
on like as they're going through these
things. Um, and then the instructor asks
Drake to um demonstrate thrusting in a
particular like hold. And
um she at that moment realizes that
Drake is also pretty turned on. She's
like, "Whoop! Okie do." Um, which Yeah,
of of course he is.
Yeah. And then she's like, "Oh, good.
Hunter is here.
Oh, so Hunter's tour has ended.
Hunter reappeared and she's like,
"Okay." Um, he doesn't seem mad at all,
but she is kind of freaked out. Um, and
he
Hunter is basically like, "That was
really amazing. Like, you guys did a
great job. That was really cool." Um, so
let's go home. Let's get some rest.
Like, no issues at all.
And the ride home is so awkward. And
we're in Hunter's point of view and he's
like, it is hilarious how uncomfortable
they are right now. He's like, it is not
that deep. Like, y'all need to chill
out. Um, he's like, I know that these
two people would not ever go behind my
back. Like, the fact that they are being
so weird about doing something in front
of my face that wasn't even really doing
anything is ridiculous right now. was
like a clinical shabari demonstration
and they're like, "Oh my gosh,
we're so sorry."
Betrayal. And so he's like, "Also, uh,
that was super hot." He was like, "I
mean, I was kind of turned on, so like,
oh, who cares?"
Like, I think we're all experiencing new
emotions from this
experience. He's like, "Oh, I'm
experiencing different sensations than I
had in the past. Look at that."
Where do you feel that in your body? in
my downstairs. So, sematic therapy does
not work in that moment.
That's where you go.
You do. Um, if I ever said to a client,
where do you feel that in your body? And
they said
in my downstairs.
Oh my god. So, I listened to this
podcast that does a lot of like wellness
stuff and really interesting things. And
they were talking about this medication
or food additive or something from the
'90s that gave everybody like brutal
diarrhea.
And he cannot stand poop talk. That's
like one of the things that he discusses
regularly. He cannot stand it. And he's
like, "Why did I pick this topic?" and
he just kept saying like it makes you
feel funny in your downstairs.
So yeah, shout out to maintenance phase
Michael Hobbs. There you go.
Although if anyone tells me something is
going to make me feel funny in my
downstairs, it sounds like we have
different definitions of downstairs.
Yeah.
Um
Yeah.
So I'll have more questions if if he's
like, "You'll feel it in your
downstairs. Don't worry about it." Oh,
I'm worrying. We have different
downstairs.
Yeah, we do. We do. So,
they get back to the rental. Isabelle
goes um to take a bath, which is kind of
her ritual that she does, like a
lavender Epsom salt bath kind of a few
times a week or whatever.
I don't know if I poured too much Epsom
salt in a bath, but one time I my legs
broke out.
I remember you telling me about that.
Like it. Do you remember like salt burns
where you like do like that? You pour
put the salt and the ice. Like that's
what the backs of my thighs looked like
after this salt.
Yeah, I think you
But there wasn't a there wasn't a lot in
there.
So
maybe the water wasn't hot enough. Maybe
it didn't like dissolve.
I don't know.
I don't know either.
I'm gonna have to do some more research
because Epsom salt baths sound so lovely
in theory, but I'm like I can't have my
legs
looking
like I've had an allergic reaction
whenever I've done one.
They're just like really the backs of my
thighs that are touching the
bottom of the tub where there's extra
salt,
right? Itchy.
Yeah.
Yeah. Like fully red. Like can't do that
in summer. Not if you're wearing shorts.
Nope. make everyone feel a little weird.
Fair enough.
Okay, so she's taking her bath where she
does not have an allergic reaction to
the salt.
Um, and Hunter and Drake are kind of
having a drink in the kitchen. And
finally Drake like loses his [ __ ] and
starts having a meltdown. Um, and he's
like, "Go ahead and hit me. Like just
hit me. Just punch me in the face. I get
it. I deserve it. I earned it. Like it's
cool. I can't believe I did that shit."
And Hunter's like, "Dude,
what?
Chill out. Like
it was a clinical demonstration, dude.
Yeah. Um
you were not in a private room. There
was an instructor guiding you through
it.
Yeah. Yeah. And Hunter's like, "You
should literally be punching me in the
face. Why are you not punching me in the
face?"
So there's a lot of like
Wait, Drake.
Drake is saying that to Hunter
to Hunter. Okay.
Yes. And so Hunter's like, "Man, I am
really I am really not upset. Like it is
really okay." And so then he goes in to
the bathroom where Isabelle is taking
her bath and basically has the same
conversation with her minus the punching
in the face where she's like, "I'm so
sorry. I can't believe I did that. Oh my
god." And he's like, "Sweetheart, it's
really really okay." Um, and then he
finger bangs her in the tub. And um,
hopefully that made her feel better
about it all.
Yeah. Yeah. Um, and there's a moment
when Hunter is like, you know, Drake
should be here. He's here for everything
else. And then he's like, that's [ __ ]
weird. He's like,
never had thoughts like that before. Big
yikes. Not into that.
We'll call that pre-contemplative.
We will call it pre-contemplative. And
it is hilarious how fast um Hunter moves
through the stages of change. So
the next day they are at like a
roadside, you know, touristy trap kind
of place um where they're it's like a
UFO thing. It's ridiculous. But Drake
has gotten a phone call from his
landlord. He is being evicted because
they sold his building and uh he only
has a month to find a new place. So
Isabelle is immediately like, "Oh, well,
just move in with us, right? Like you've
lived with us before, like way back.
We have the space. Yeah. Stay with us
till you figure out your next step.
Exactly. Um and cuz Hunter or Drake,
sorry, Drake is like, "I'm going to have
to go like I'll just catch the quickest
flight back home cuz I'm going to have
to move and find a new place. I'm going
to have to do this and that." And and
Isabel Isabelle is like, "No, like
obviously just stay with us for a
while." Um
and um Hunter comes out cuz he had been
in wherever they were and Isabelle turns
to him with no context and is like,
"Tell Drake to move in with us." And
Hunter is like, "Drake, move in with
us." Like he's like, "What?
Sure. Okay,
sounds great. Whatever." Um, and Drake
is trying to like
ignore the new tension there is in their
dynamic that hasn't been there before.
Why?
Cuz he's uncomfy. And he's like, I
really want to just leave because this
is so [ __ ] awkward for me right now.
Because Isabelle is kind of the girl of
my dreams, but
I have never allowed myself to look at
her that way. Because from day one,
Hunter was all in. and I would never
ever do that. And so now that I have
allowed myself to sort of consider that,
I'm kind of freaking out. And so, um, it
does feel good that they are still
kind of goofing off and joking in the
same way. Um, and Hunter and Isabelle
still very clearly want him around.
They're like, "No, man. Like, this trip
was for the three of us. Like, you can't
leave. like
we're doing this together. Um, but he's
like, "How am I going to feel
living with them again and having to
listen to them together?"
And like I can't bring people home.
Like
I could have before, but like I don't
think I can now. Like I feel real weird
about all of it.
So, um, Hunter
is having an internal dialogue about
like, "What kink have I unlocked
cuz something is different?" And, uh,
I've done a lot of research on all the
kinks. And he is like, "Uh,
is it cuckleding?
Is it hot wifeing?"
Which is a kink where like you share
your wife cuz she's hot or whatever. Um,
and he's like, "I don't think it's
cuckleding." Cuz it's not about like my
embarrassment or like the humiliation of
watching your partner with someone else,
which is for some people the kink.
He's like, "That's not it."
So, what is it? I'm not really sure, but
it's something cuz woo. All right. Yeah.
We're moving into contemplation for
those of you who are
following along with the stages of
change,
following the motivational interviewing
stages of change.
Um, but he does think about it and he's
like, it is only Drake though. Like if I
think about
even one of his other friends from the
club, he's like, "No, don't like it.
Don't like the thought of any of them
with her." Um, it is literally only
Drake I feel good about.
And so Isabelle is like in their
apartment, whatever that they're staying
in in the next town, and she is like
scrolling through different brunch
options. She's like, "Where should we
have breakfast?" You know, she's looking
and Hunter just blurts out like, "Hey,
would uh you and Drake want to have sex,
you guys, the two of you together with
me watching?"
And Drake is [ __ ] livid. Like he is
so angry. He is like, "How dare you say
that [ __ ] to me?" And like takes off.
Like leaves.
And um
he's like, "I'm going to get a drink.
I'll see you when I see you." And is
gone, right? And so Isabelle is like in
tears and she's like, "Oh,
is
well that was uncomfy,
right?" She's like, "So you don't want
me anymore? Like this is your way of
telling me?
Oh, I misunderstood some different cues
that I thought I'd been picking up on."
Yeah. She's like, "Okay, so you don't
want me anymore, and this is your way of
like telling me that? Like, what are you
doing here?" Because there was no
context. They're like hanging out
deciding where to have breakfast and
he's like, "You guys want to fuck?"
Like, "What?"
And he's like, "No." And I'm so mad that
you would ever imply it that I'm going
to leave. And then you're like, "Oh,
well, now I'm just in this awkward
moment." So then Hunter does explain
himself. He's like, "Hey, listen.
Watching you guys do that Shabari
demonstration like really turned me on
and if you would be into it, like I
would enjoy watching it, I think." And
so like, you know, yeah, but if you say
no, I will never bring it up again. And
she's immediately like, yeah, no,
no,
no need to bring that up. Thank you for
asking.
And there is no like,
why would you even [ __ ] think of that
or anything like that. It's very much
like,
I'm not trying to shame you, but this is
arguably the most important person in
our lives. I refuse to potentially
damage relationships by doing this for
you to explore your kink just for fun.
Like that is not gonna I'm not
comfortable with that.
And so Hunter is like,
"Yeah, don't put us in the line of fire
for your curiosity,
right? Because what if it turns out
you're not okay with it?" Or what if it
turns out like Drake and I get weird
feelings? Or what if it turns out like
this could destroy our marriage? the end
like our best friend like wow that's a
lot you know
yeah for you to throw it out there so
flippantly
right and I don't think Hunter was
considering all of that he was just like
that's hot
full stop
yeah if they want to explore it let me
like make it a safe space for them to do
so
right but that his intent did not match
his impact on that
no intent versus impact very much
matters
100% so Hunter then takes off to find
Drake. And we switch to Drake's point of
view. He is drinking alone. Um, and he
is basically of the mind that Hunter was
just testing his loyalty. He's like,
"Oh, that'd be gross,"
right? He's like, "I pushed him too far
with that Shabari thing." And so, like,
this was his way of testing if I would
cross the line, right, given the
opportunity. Um, and he is livid that
Hunter would do such a thing, which he
did not do, but he is really upset even
at the idea. Um, and so then Hunter
shows up and uh he's like, "No, it's not
a test, [ __ ] Like, that was really
hot. Like, you guys are hot. I don't
like you guys are hot. There's clearly
some sort of tension between you. I had
really just been trying to create a safe
space for y'all to have a conversation
and explore it if you'd like. I realized
maybe how I worded it didn't make y'all
feel that way.
Yeah. Yeah.
But but no, it was never to test you. It
was just because I love you.
Yeah. Yeah. And so
Drake is like, "Yeah, I don't believe
you." like like I I don't believe that
you would want to watch another man have
sex with your wife. Like that's I don't
believe that. And so Hunter's like,
"What about this? Let's make a bet. We
have a new club to go to tonight." I
think they're in Austin, Texas at this
point.
And he's like, "What if you guys go to
the club together and pretend that
you're together and just behave as if
you're on a date, right? and let's just
see how it goes. Let's see how it feels.
And as long as Isabelle is on board, if
it goes badly, if I get crazy jealous or
if anything weird happens, um I will
never bring it up again.
And so that's what they decide to do. So
they go to the club, which again is not
the vibe. It is very bright. Like as
soon as you walk in, it sort of has like
um almost strip club energy where all of
the women are topless, like serving
drinks and stuff, which is fine,
but they just weren't really prepared
for that. And there's a lot of
It's a different club energy than than
their club for sure.
Right. And there's a lot of people like
openly having sex like out in the middle
of everything. Um
uh but they're still trying to be open
to the vibes and it's very much like um
comfort and support and safety are all
really like you know honed in on and
everything.
I forgot to mention the previous club
they were at no alcohol at all.
Their club is a two drink max and this
club does not have any rules around
alcohol consumption which
is not the norm for most sex clubs.
They're usually very intentional about
any substances just so there are no
questions about consent and stuff. Um,
I haven't spent a lot of time in sex
clubs, but I do feel like a sex club
with an unlimited alcohol policy.
Red flag for me personally.
Yeah. Would make like that just like
makes me very nervy.
Mhm. So, Hunter went ahead of them to
meet with the owner and stuff. So
Isabelle and Drake get there together.
Um they get a few drinks. They talk
about the whole situation with Hunter.
Um and then they start making out. Like
Drake is like, "All right, he said to do
it. Let's do it." So they start making
out. He puts his hand up her dress and
Isabella is like kind of shocked by how
turned on she is. Um, and then Hunter
shows up and like rips her away from
Drake and takes her to a private room
and like apparently he's so turned on he
doesn't know what to do with himself and
so they [ __ ] like crazy in this private
room. Um, and Isabelle is like, "Listen,
has that been explained to Drake as to
why he like pulled her away or Blake or
No, Blake. Drake just saw
Hunter showed up looking ragy, ripped
her away,
when really the ragy was just horniness.
Correct. Yeah.
But I'm guessing Drake is now going to
be like in his head about like, oh,
whoops. Um, and so Isabelle is like,
"Listen, if Drake is down with it, if it
turns you on this much, like, all
right." She's like, "Cuz it also turned
me on this much, so
yeah, had a great time.
I guess we can give it a chance."
Meanwhile, they're having this beautiful
moment and Drake is like, "I am the
worst piece of [ __ ] that has ever lived
on the planet."
I felt it. I felt that.
Yeah. Yeah.
Once again, intent versus impact.
Mhm.
Very much matters.
Hunter is not great at understanding
those things. M.
So, um Isabelle then appears next to him
looking very clearly freshly [ __ ] and
uh tells him like they should go back to
the rental or whatever. And he's like,
"Yeah, no. I think I'm going to hang out
and just hook up hook up with somebody
here. Like I don't want to go back." And
she's really hurt by that. But another
dude overhears
Drake rejecting her.
And so this other dude is like, "Hey,
if he doesn't want to go, I'll come.
Like you don't have to beg, honey. Like
I'll be there." And she's like, "No,
thank you." And like tries to walk away
and he like grabs her and like pulls her
into him. And Drake loses his [ __ ] and
he and Hunter basically start a brawl in
this sex club because this man like
manhandled her and then a bouncer showed
up and also manhandled her like to get
her away from them cuz she was like like
that guy was trying to hurt me like they
were just protecting me and the the
bouncer like calls her a mouthy [ __ ] or
something and like shoves her out of the
way. So, they get kicked out of the
club. Uh, which is no um
not a loss.
I was going to say it's no loss really.
So, they're walking back to the hotel,
which is just a couple blocks away. And
Drake gives Isabelle like a piggyback
ride um cuz she's wearing heels or
whatever. And they get street food and
they hang out and everything seems like
it's going to be okay. um until they
talk about continuing the arrangement
and Drake is like what?
Like are what?
Okay. So, okay. So, you weren't mad. You
were into it, but also like it seems
like for as open as their communication
is, they're not really great at
communicating.
No.
Like they're very willing to engage in
like some like harder conversations, but
like they aren't always great at
navigating them,
right? or like the timeliness of them
isn't great. But um Drake essentially is
like I don't
I don't think my heart can take this
because also up until this point it
hasn't really been highlighted but he's
by and he very regularly hooks up with
dudes and stuff as well. like primarily
it's women, but it's also men. And he's
like, "Yeah,
these are the two people I could fall in
love with, and I'm not sure that I can
blur that line and come back from it,
basically."
So,
which makes sense. They haven't really
decided anything until they get to New
Orleans and there's some kind of um jazz
festival in town and they messed up
their booking and oh my stars, the hotel
only has one bed. So Drake admits to
Hunter that basically he says, "I know
you think that I am just a man [ __ ] and
that I could just bang anybody and not
have emotion around it, but Isabelle is
different
and I don't think I can do that." And
Hunter's like, "I don't think that." And
he's like, "Dude, yes you do, because I
think that." Like, it's not a bad thing,
but I'm telling you that Isabelle is
different. like it's not going to be the
same.
Um so they all get in bed together cuz
again there's only one bed and Hunter is
like maybe you guys should just cuddle
and um eventually like Drake is eating
her out and like Hunter's giving a lot
of instruction. Everybody's very into
it. There's a lot of like pausing and
checking for consent. Everybody's still
good.
All of that kind of stuff. Um, and then
Isabelle goes to like she's like, "What
do I do now?" She's like, "Should I You
guys are both hard. Like, should I do
something about that?" And they're like,
"Just go to sleep." Like, like, "This
was for you. Just go to sleep.
Whatever." Okay. And um they're like,
"No need to reciprocate or anything like
that." And then while Drake is in the
bathroom, Hunter asks Isabelle to cuddle
with Drake. He's like, Drake said he was
worried that like we were just using
him. That is not what this is at all.
And I want him to know that like
he is important and he matters. Um, so
he's trying to be very intentional with
his feelings. And there is I'm kind of
like skating over some of like
Hunter is not pushing it as hard as it
I'm making it sound like. It feels very
organic when you're reading it that it's
not him being like, "Now go eat her
out." It's very like a gradual build
that everybody's on board with. Um,
so
the next day, Isabelle and Drake wind up
in the hotel like gym or whatever, and
they're like, "Hey, so uh, we need to
have rules." Yeah, cuz this is weird.
And so, um, they are like, "Yeah, okay.
No touching in a sexual way without
Hunter present. Obviously,
um, open communication always. If
anybody's emotions around it changes or
if we want to stop, we got to tell each
other immediately.
Our safe word is namaste.
Walls.
Um, and they are going to use protection
every time, like condoms all the time,
even though they're both clean and
everything.
Um, and Isabelle is on birth control.
Um, and then they also say Hunter can
get involved if he wants. So, if he
doesn't want to just watch, he can
partake. Um, and it's a very sweet like
emotional
moment. And Drake is like, I just want
you to know like I am treating this
seriously. Like, I know I'm not always a
serious person, but like
I was there the day that Hunter first
saw you in that green dress. I remember
like, you know, you are you are
important to me and I want you to know
that.
Um, and so Drake also says, "I want what
you guys have and I refuse to settle for
less." I think that's why I've been
single all this time is I'm looking for
that like love at first sight immediate
like feeling
and I know not everybody gets that, but
like that's what I want. I want what you
guys have and I'm not gonna like waiver
from that which is really really sweet.
Yeah.
Um
and so at this Austin sex club they are
at a Shabbar or sorry New Orleans.
They're in New Orleans now. New Orleans
sex club. They are at a Shabari workshop
again.
And um
are the vibes better at this club?
Much. Okay.
Yeah. And Drake gets tied up and there's
major flirting with the instructor. Like
he is flirting hardcore with this woman.
And Hunter is
livid. Like
only for Isabelle's sake, obviously.
Like, how could you do this to Isabelle,
right? Um and he like storms off and
Hunter is like or sorry, Drake is like,
"We've had no discussion about this."
Like, yeah.
What am I?
I'm flirt. I didn't [ __ ] her. Like, I
always flirt with everybody. Like, what?
I don't understand what I did wrong
here.
But he's also on some level trying to
protect himself emotionally because he's
like,
I can't just be a part of their
marriage. So, like,
right,
I can't like what am I supposed to do
here? So, the instructor invites Drake
on a tour of the place. Um, which is
clearly code for like, let's go to a
private room and [ __ ] Um, and he goes
with her, but then Drake is like, I'm
I'm turning her down, I think. Why am I
doing that? Like, she's pretty hot,
but like it doesn't feel right. And then
the vibes are better at the club, but
off with her specifically,
right? And so he winds up, he's like,
"Oh,
this woman is a stranger. I'm never
going to see her again. I am going to
process everything that's happening to
me right now." Which as a therapist is
my worst nightmare. Like on a plane or
whatever is people being like, "Oh,
you're a therapist.
My cousin's
third niece removed from whatever might
have bipolar. Do you think she has
bipolar?" I What? I once had someone be
like, "You're a therapist. Can you tell
me what these dreams mean?"
Yeah. Yeah.
Still no.
No.
Right.
I really can't.
What do you think they mean?
I mean, Google it, I guess.
Yeah. As the person who experienced
them,
right?
Why don't Why don't you process through
that? Oh, you want someone to process
through it with you? No, that I can do,
right? For a fee.
It did. That did happen to me once while
I was getting a massage and I was like a
baby therapist. Like I had just
graduated and I did not know that you
have to lie about your profession
sometimes. And so or just
couch it. Yep.
You know, in a certain way.
I wasn't aware of that. So I had booked
like a 90minute massage which was a big
deal for me on my like very pitiful
fresh graduate money deal.
I but I was like I'm investing in my
self-care or whatever and I go and this
woman no [ __ ] talked for the full time
about like personal family issues she
had and I was like this is the worst
thing ever. I once had a woman talk
through the entire facial that she was
giving me to the point that I've never
respected a business owner more. At the
end of it, she went, "I'm so sorry. I
talked that entire time and this was
meant to be relaxing for you. Let me
reschedu you for next week where we can
try this again."
That is so mindful.
Yes.
So, demure.
Truly,
we love that.
1,000. Yeah. I was like, I've never seen
someone this self-aware in this moment
cuz like while it was happening, it was
kind of like, man, like we're talking.
It's been a fine conversation. Like it
wasn't draining, but it was also just
like
I would have liked quiet maybe.
Yeah, we we've been And the next time
silence.
Incredible. Love it.
But yeah, love that she was like, I'm
aware that this is not what this
typically looks like. Let me redo it.
Incredible. Um, so Drake does not have
that self-awareness
and like basically word vomits on this
woman and is like
who's trying to [ __ ] him,
right? He's like, "Listen, you're super
hot. Please don't think that this has
anything to do with you, but I'm sort of
seeing someone or maybe I'm not. I'm
really not sure." And she's like, "The
couple that you were with,
all of you were making eyes at each
other. That
picked up." I picked up on the vibes.
And he's like, "I can't just like be a
part of their marriage." And she's like,
"Literally, why not?
I'm not understanding if everybody's
into it. Why are you being weird?"
Basically, is her energy. Um, and she's
like, "Hey, you know what? Why don't you
take the key for this private room and
maybe go find them and have this
conversation because you're not going to
solve it talking to me. And if you
decide that they are not for you and you
want to find me later, hit me up. Have a
great day.
Which
we love a self-aware queen.
She is a queen. She's a queen. So Drake
finds them. Um Hunter immediately as
soon as he sees Drake is like, "The deal
is off." And he's like, "What?" And he's
like, "How could you?" And he's like,
"Dude,
follow me. This is some weird [ __ ]
that we're not doing out at the bar in
this sex club. But
this one finally has a communal area,
but we're not using the communal area to
air our business.
Correct. Um, and so Drake then explains
like she was giving me a key to this
room, guys, like so that we can use it
if we want to. And Hunter is like,
we do want to.
Why don't you guys dance? And so he
literally like puts music on for the two
of them to slow dance together. Um, and
there is a ton of dirty talk and a lot
of consent.
I'm glad And I'm glad that like there's
sexual tension in the scene's clearly
going to build because in my head right
now, if Vance was like,
"Dance for me. Go dance with that man
for me." I'd be like, "The I'm putting
on this music for you to dance with that
man."
Literally.
Yeah. It's like some Ed Sheeran song and
I think it's perfect maybe. I don't
remember but it's some Ed Sheeran song
and so like there is a lot of dirty
talk, a lot of consent, a lot of like
buildup and emotion in it. Isabelle is
having a really great time and she comes
very hard while Drake is [ __ ] her and
then Drake kind of like picks her up and
sets her in Hunter's lap and then
Isabelle and Hunter also [ __ ] but when
they finish they realize that Drake is
gone. Like
oh he like did his part, handed her off
and then left the room. Um.
Ooh, that feels weirder.
Yeah. So, Drake is at the bar and he is
really confused. He's like, "Yeah,
that's the best sex I've ever had." And
not because we did anything particularly
different, but because it was Isabelle
and because Hunter was watching. Like,
what am I supposed to do with this?
Like, Isabelle is truly my best friend.
Like, yeah, it's Hunter, but really at
the end of the day, it's also kind of
Isabelle. And so Hunter comes out to
clear the air and he's like, "What what
are you doing?" And he's like, "Well, I
I served my function in the scene,
right? Like I didn't want to intrude on
you guys." And Hunter is like, "Dude,
you are not intruding. You are not like
a rando we picked up at the bar. Like
you're important to us. You're a part of
this with us."
Yes.
And so um he's he's also like and uh we
are doing that again. Like this, you
know, like that was pretty good. Um and
Drake is like, "Oh man,
I really love both of them a lot.
Like
this is going to suck, but also if this
is what I get, I'm gonna take it."
And it's really sad, actually.
My heart.
I know. I know. I know.
Drake is just like, I love them so much.
And like if if I can get scraps from
their relationship, I'll take it.
Yeah, a little bit.
But like neither Hunter or Isabelle want
to give him scraps,
right? They want to give him all of it.
But I don't think any of them are fully
conscious of that really yet.
Like none of them know what they're
doing. Like like the idea of polyamory
has never like come up. This is just
like is it a kink that you have? Cool.
Let's try it. Uh, so
they're on the road to Nashville.
Isabelle is like, you know,
I'm pretty sure that Hunter needs to
explore his sexuality
cuz I don't think he realizes the way
that he looks at Drake sometimes. Like
I see it,
but and this is where we get some
illusion to like Hunter grew up um in a
pretty abusive home. there was a lot of
homophobia going on and so he has a lot
of internalized messages around that
stuff.
Um,
and so she's like, you know,
this is like hot as a fantasy, but
really like
I wish that this were a real
relationship that like we could all just
like be together, but I don't know how
we do that. Like I don't know what that
actually looks like.
And then they get to the Airbnb,
which Hunter booked, which he forgot and
did not tell anyone is a kink Airbnb. So
they walk in and it looks like a normal
Airbnb. And then Hunter or no, sorry,
Drake goes into his room and is like,
"What the [ __ ] There's like a St.
Andrews cross and like a spanking
bench." And then you start looking
around and it's like, "Oh, there there
are eye hooks in the walls in a lot of
places." And that Sha's lounge has some
movable parts that a standard Sha's
lounge does not have. So
Hunter's like, "Oh yeah, I did do that."
So um
they're also like Hunter is like this
could also be a potential like business
making thing if we opened like a small
resort or something with different
cabins that are like dedicated to
different kinks. Like all of these
things like this could be part of the
business. And meanwhile, I'm out here
being like, you know what? I have no
interest in doing
the cleaning crew.
100% for a shortterm rental.
Yes. Yes. Yes. You're correct.
The number of black lights you your
cleaning crew needs to have just to make
sure everything.
So, I cannot credit this person because
I don't remember the name of the
stand-up comedian, but I saw a bit on
Tik Tok, I think, where the stand-up
comedian was like, "Listen, period sex,
there is no shame in it. Sounds great.
You just got to lay a towel down and be
careful and intentional about it. It's
more about me having to clean my sheets
than it is about the blood. But I'm not
here to judge. If other people aren't
into it, you're not into it. I will tell
you in a hotel all bets are off. He's
like, "It's not my sheets.
It's not my sheets." And man, that is a
similar vibe to the Kink Airbnb.
Yeah. Yikes.
I hope their cleaning fee is
astronomical. The number of Airbnbs. And
I'm like, "Wait, why do you want me to
spend as much as I'm spending per night
on the cleaning fee? This is ridiculous.
I'm not going to pay that." Um, a a kink
Airbnb. Yeah, take triple, baby girl. I
will give it all.
That plus tip. God bless. Like, I'm
leaving cash on the nightstand. I am so
sorry. Like, what the [ __ ] So, so
anyway, Drake goes out for takeout. He
brings back Indian food and Isabelle
goes to like grab one of the boxes and
he freaks out and he is like, "I said
the like the box without the X on it is
like what are you doing?" And she's
like, "I'm sorry, Jesus." And he's like,
"Honey, you are allergic to coconut.
Like, those two don't have coconut." And
she's like, "You remembered that I'm
allergic to coconut?" And he's like,
"What?
You have literally been my best friend
for 10 years, Isabelle?" Yes, I
remember. Jesus Christ.
Okay, Isabelle, as someone who's rooting
for you, I need you to respect yourself
a little more. Like,
right. Come on, babe. I do anticipate
that my husband's best friend of how
like
right
knows what I can't eat if I haven't been
able to eat it
the entire time we've known each other
you know
and they're not trying to [ __ ] me
they're just thoughtful humans
correct so like the direct quote that I
wrote is like you've been my best friend
for 10 years of course I remember why do
you think I don't eat coconut cream pie
anymore you always eat my crusts
And she was like, "Oh my god, he doesn't
eat coconut cream pie anymore, but he
did when we first like when I first
started dating Hunter." And like he
intentionally did that so she could eat
his crusts. And he has been doing that
for 10 years.
The crust off his pie.
Yeah.
That's never been a sharable crust in my
head.
Me either. That is always something I'm
going to consume.
Like that's not the same as like me
cutting the crust off my son. Like,
right. Eating a PB&J crust. It's a very
niche.
You You always eat the crust off my pie.
What?
Get your own pie.
This This one is sweet, but I have
questions.
It is very sweet. Um,
and yes, girl, you've been like that
allergic to coconut.
Yeah. He's like, "Oh my god." She's
like, "Oh my god, he
he he cares."
Set the bar higher.
He does. He does care.
So that night, we're going from 6:00 to
midnight. They cuff Isabelle to the
spanking bench. Hunter Hunter because of
his childhood trauma has never been able
to like spank her even though he knows
she might be into it. And he's like, I'm
pretty sure I could watch though. I
think that would be okay. But like me
doing it feels like like I don't want to
I don't want to be engaging in anything
that could be violent. But maybe it
would be okay if Drake did it. So
they do a spanking spit roast and it is
a lot to experience. Um
Hannah, you've read so much smut. So you
saying it's a lot to experience is like
I'm like you read almost 300 books
a year.
Yeah.
You've read a lot of sex scenes.
I have. Yeah. But it's a lot of like
Okay. Okay. All right.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, sure. Why? Why not? We're doing
that now. Okay. So, um
the question marks return,
right? So, Hunter finds himself making a
lot of eye contact with Drake while they
are engaging in this spit roast and um
he's questioning things himself now.
A little bit. Yeah. So, later he like
Hunter does Isabel like does afterare
for Isabelle and then Hunter goes out
and talks to Drake and Drake is like,
"Is she okay? Did you make sure she had
like a whole glass of water? Like
and Hunter's like, "Dude, you know, you
can help with afterare if you want. Like
that would be okay."
And Drake's like, "Well, I just didn't
want to cross any boundaries." And
Hunter's like, "Hey, I appreciate that
fully and I'm inviting you. Like clearly
it's something that is important to you
and I want you to be a part of it." And
it's very nice. So, um,
yeah, there's a lot Yeah, because then
we go straight into another sex scene
and like,
okay, so Hunter is sitting and Drake
puts Isabelle onto
Hunter facing him and he is still
[ __ ] her. Like Drake is still [ __ ]
her while she's on top of Hunter. Okay.
Which is important because
Drake is then like, "What happens if I
touch his leg a little bit?"
Yep.
Nothing. Okay. Maybe he's into it
actually. Maybe it's not nothing. Maybe
it's a lot of something and it's good.
He's like, "Okay."
And so he's like making a lot of lusty
eye contact and there's a lot of
touching between the two of them. M
um and then
Drake is eventually just more confused.
He's like, is he just not aware that I'm
touching him because I'm [ __ ] his
wife on top of him or like is he into
it? I don't really know. So after they
finish again, Isabelle is, you know,
asleep or whatever.
They are in the kitchen again. It's
another late night heartto-heart. And
Hunter is like, I want to try something.
and then just like kisses him. And Drake
is like, "Okay, um, listen,
that was hot and all, but also we've
been naked together a lot in the last
week, and I don't know if this is like
real life or if you're confusing things,
so it's totally cool. Maybe let's get
some sleep.
Love you. Bye."
It's weird because I feel like there's
both like a lot of self-awareness and
insight and then there are other moments
with like no self-awareness and insight.
Mhm.
And we're all taking turns having both.
Like it's not like Drake has all of the
insight and Hunter has none. No. Like it
feels like all of them are having a
moment of like having their own insight
but then just like having a moment that
like they're missing
Yeah.
within it. Well, and in some ways I
almost feel like that's more real
because I don't think any of us are like
totally aware in all ways and have like
good insight into everything.
It feels so much more accurate of like,
oh yeah, this is a messy thing to to
navigate and figure out,
right? But we can still do it with
intention and then own it when we mess
up.
Yes. Intention and curiosity and not
like this like anger or frustration
along the way. Mhm. So then the next
day, Hunter is kind of freaking out and
he's trying to sort of like downplay his
own feelings for Drake. He's like, "It's
he was right. Like this is just really
confusing. It's none of that. Whatever."
Um, and the other thing I appreciate is
that Hunter immediately is like,
"Isabelle, I have to tell you something.
I kissed Hunter. There was or I kissed
Drake." There was no like hiding it or
like, "Oh my god, she's gonna be so
mad." or any of that. It was immediately
like, "Hey, I did this thing. You need
to know about it." Um, and Isabelle is
like, "Hey,
okay, did you like it?" Like, that's
cool. Like, feel free to
I was sitting on you yesterday while I
[ __ ] him. So,
feels like you guys kissing is not that
deep.
Yeah, not really a problem for my
purposes. If anything, it'll actually
maybe make things a little more fun.
Yeah. Yeah. Feels good to me. So, um,
Isabelle is on her period and not
feeling great. And so, she's like, "Hey,
you had me and Drake try out pretending
to be together at that last club, right?
So, maybe you guys do that tonight
because I don't feel good." And it it's
funny in the book, not like funny funny,
but kind of nice. Hunter is like, "Oh,
yeah. No, I know that you're basically
like out of commission for life on the
first day of your period. I get it." And
he's like, "They're really bad for her.
So, we'll set her up with snacks and
water and everything and make sure she's
okay." It's like, "No stress." Like I
was like, "First of all, relatable."
So, we set her up with some snacks and
water. Yeah. And like movies that she
wants to watch. And like basically they
made her a little nest before they went
to this next sex club. And um Hunter is
like, "Okay, I'm just going to try to be
open
and honest and let's just see what
happens." And this next club is
fascinating. It is in Nashville and it's
called Pitch. And I was like, "Is this a
softball fetish?" It's not. That was
literally my first thought. I was like,
"Pitch, like pitch perfect. Are is this
a chorus?
Is this an ac capella fetish?"
Right? I was like, "What is it? It's
darkness.
So they have three rooms set up, right?
One room is all men, one room is all
women, and one room is for all. Whoever
would like to enter is welcome to do so.
So basically, it's very, very
fascinating. They have like condoms are
mandatory, so you have to put a condom
on before you enter the room and the
bouncer checks, which is a lot, but it's
a safety thing. We're making sure
everybody is safe.
Um, you undress only to your comfort
level and there are bouncers inside that
have night vision goggles for safety and
they do not allow alcohol or substances
of any kind for safety.
Super fascinating. I'm
I was thinking like, can you imagine
being a bouncer?
That's all I'm thinking of.
Yeah. With militaryra
night vision goggles watching people
[ __ ] Incredible.
Even if it only pays $12 an hour, you're
what benefits?
I've done
a lot worse for a lot
for a lot, right? Like
Yeah.
Like Yeah.
It's a little above minimum wage, but
like what a fascinating position to
hold,
right? And you get to see a lot of
fascinating positions held for varying
lengths of time. So Drake when they get
there is like, "Hey Hunter, why don't
you go do your thing? I'm just going to
go to the lounge, you know." Um, and
then he's like, "Actually,
I kind of want to go check out the
rooms." Kind of. I do want to do that.
So there's a lounge and then the three
rooms. So there's a communal area and
then male only, female only.
Yes. And then they have
mixed living.
Other mixed living. Yes. They also have
other like um events and different types
of rooms, but this is really kind of
their
gimmick. This is their shtick that they
do.
Okay.
So, fully dressed, Drake goes into the
men's only room because he's like, I
don't want to be doing that to Isabelle,
right?
Just with his dick out with a condom on.
Fully dressed. Okay. I forget
who this was. Oh god. I just remember
hearing the story at some point of like
a high school boy
Yes. putting the condom on first thing
in the morning.
Yes. Because they're like, "I'm going to
lose my virginity after school." So, he
wore the condom all day.
I'm like, "Did you take it off to use
the bathroom then put it back?" I had so
many questions that I don't want answers
to.
But yes, that is what it made me think
of.
That's the vibe is like all of these
people pre-conumed.
Yeah.
But fully dressed. Yeah. Well, and most
of them are nude. Drake just chose to
Oh, no. I fully understand that. But for
the mental image I have in my head,
they're all just dick out.
It's all just like a bunch of high
school boys who are excited to lose
their virginity. So, they all put the
condom on under their clothes and
they're all doing the wallflower like at
a middle school dance where they're all
just standing there looking at each
other, which is literally what Drake
does cuz he goes in and he's like, "I
don't want to participate. Like, I'm
literally just trying to do research."
the group. He's in the the
the men's only room.
The men's only room. Okay.
So, um
he is like, "This is really
interesting." And then my notes say a
little guy comes up and offers him a BJ.
Basically, he's like a 20-year-old
twink, like very young guy based on the
voice cuz he can't really see him, but
he's like he's very short and he's
touching me a lot and he sounds very
young like, "Thank you, sweetheart.
appreciate it so much. I'm not
participating tonight.
Yeah,
you have a good time.
And as soon as he turns down this guy,
um, suddenly someone is in front of him
and grabbing him and kissing him and
he's like, I'm pretty sure this is
Hunter.
Hunter. I am feeling some um uh night
vision goggles and I really hope it is
not an excited bouncer. Awkward. He's
like, "What is happening?"
But he hears the goggles hit the floor.
He hears Hunter's voice. He's like,
"Okay, I'm pretty sure this is Hunter."
Like, I've never really heard him this
like sexed up before, but I'm pretty
sure. And so
I think we're we're all hoping it's
Hunter at this point.
Yes. And it is. So Hunter basically like
grabs him by the throat and puts him on
his knees and [ __ ] him his face with no
condom. He's like, "Oh, so this is
Hunter." He just like walked in here.
Um, and literally as soon as he comes,
Hunter disappears
and Drake is on his knees in the pitch
dark like what what the [ __ ] just
happened?
That's a valid question.
And he is extremely hurt by that. Um, so
he makes his way out and sees Hunter
like in the main area and he's like,
"Yeah, um, I'm going to go to a bar. do
not follow me. Like, do not follow me
this time. Like, I'm really serious
about this. And Hunter is like, "Please,
can we just talk? I'm really I I really
need to." And he's like, "No, I don't
really care what you need right now. I
am going to a bar.
Follow me." Right.
So, Isabelle is asleep on the couch. and
she knows that something is wrong
because Hunter came home in a foul mood,
like really bad mood, and basically went
straight to bed. And she's like, "I
don't know what happened, but clearly it
was something."
Yeah. You're like, "Drake's not here.
Hunter is livid about something."
Yeah. She's like, "Something went wrong,
obviously." So Drake comes home drunk
off his ass
and she gets him into bed and she lays
down with him, which is something that
they have done in the past, like you
know, so it's not weird or anything.
And Drake tells her everything.
And she is really disappointed in
Hunter. She's like, "I am so sorry that
he did that to you, Drake. like you did
not deserve that. I am really sorry that
Isabelle decides to stay in bed with
Drake and just like basically holds him
all night cuz he's really emotional and
everything.
Yeah.
And one thing that this is just an
aside, but I did appreciate the reality
of sometimes I will sleep on the couch
when I'm on my period because my
insomnia is really bad. And so like if
my cramps feel funny or if like I just
don't quite feel right, I will just go
like snooze on the couch. If anything
isn't right, like Princess in the Pea
style, I was like, "She gets it. She
really does."
Um
that does not work in my relationship
with Vance. If I go to the couch, he'll
be like, "Oh, we're going to the couch."
So, so years ago I was going through a
really bad spell of insomnia and Matt
had started snoring a little bit at
night which is like
you might as well run a chainsaw for me,
right? I am very
a very soft snore and it's still like
well there goes the whole night. I'll
try again tomorrow.
Like we could make the argument that
you're just breathing like that level of
snoring I'm out. And so he got so upset
about me sleeping on the couch so much
that he just started buying all of these
different like snore remedy things like
a band to go around your head to keep
your mouth from opening and like all of
these different things. And it's mostly
fine now. But he did he would get really
upset every time I would go like sleep
on the couch.
Well, like even like cuz I've been like,
"Oh, like I'm sick. I should go sleep in
the guest room,
right?
And Vance is like, I've already been
exposed to your germs 15 times today. Do
you think being exposed overnight will
make a lick of difference to me?
You are not sleeping in another room.
Okay.
Same energy.
It'll be like 2:00 a.m. and I'm like,
"Yeah, I think I'm just going to go like
turn the TV on something stupid and like
maybe sort of snooze cuz I'm not really
going to sleep tonight." And Matt the
next morning will be like, "What
happened? Are you okay? Was I snoring?
What? I You should You should be You
should be in in the bed.
Why were you there? Why were you not
where you're supposed to be?
Yeah. What? What?
Like what? What? I don't I didn't like
it.
I don't have a deviated septum, but I
did buy the thing just in case I have a
deviated septum because I want you in
bed.
Yeah. Literally. Um
what a beautiful angel baby.
I know. Bless is the most precious
person on the planet.
So,
okay. to the point where I have to tell
this very cute anecdote about my
husband. So, I told you a couple of
friends of mine found a couple of
kittens.
Yeah.
And gave them to different people,
whatever. And we were trying to name one
of them a very sweet little black boy
cat.
Mhm.
Totally precious little snuggle bug.
Just as like happy to be in people's
laps. And so I was texting Matt about it
and I was like, "Yeah, so these are some
of the names we thought of, but like
none of them are hitting." And I got
home and Matt presented me with a list
that he had written. He was like, "I
also brainstormed. Here are some
thoughts that I have. Maybe share them
with Aaron, who's my friend who had the
kitten." And I was like, I took a
picture and I sent it to her. And she
was like, I literally love him. I was
like, I know. It's so cute.
He's like circling the ones that he
liked the most. Like
so precious.
And the funniest part is I've never met
your husband in person. We've text.
We've never we've never met in person.
For those who have never even seen a
photo of Hannah's husband does have like
a little bit of like an like when you
look at photos of him, you don't think
this is like a warm, cuddly, you don't
think that
man who's like
just wants to take care of everyone and
the animals around him.
That is not the vibe that his look
gives. No.
No. His aesthetic does not align with
his like
I'm not even going to say golden
retriever cuz I wouldn't say he's a
golden retriever.
Cinnamon roll.
Yes. Very cinnamon rolly.
Yeah.
But you would not anticipate it from
from photos.
No, you wouldn't. You wouldn't. I love
it so much.
So anyway, the next day.
So, okay. Isabelle stays in Drake's room
that night and it's now the next day.
I've got it.
Yes. So, Hunter wakes up alone um after
having very weird and chaotic dreams
about like his dad and Hunter and Drake
and Isabelle all together doing weird.
He's like, "What the fuck?" He's like
super overwhelmed and freaked out. Um
and he realizes that Drake and Isabelle
are in bed together and he's like sort
of standing there in the doorway and
he's like, "You know, even if they did
do something together, I probably
deserve that." But then he's like,
they're fully clothed, so clearly they
didn't do anything. And also Isabelle
wouldn't on the first day of her period
just cuz of how she feels physically.
Yeah.
But like I [ __ ] up real bad. And
however Hunter chose to deal with that
is probably okay.
Drake.
Yes. However Drake chose to Sorry.
However Drake chose to deal with that is
kind of okay.
Mhm.
And so he admits to himself that Drake
has done nothing wrong. He has been
incredible and perfect.
Do we have insight into why Hunter did
that at this point?
So, not yet.
Okay.
But he is like, "Yeah, I [ __ ] up real
bad." And so, he gets into bed with
them.
Um, as Drake is waking up and is
immediately like, "I am so sorry. Like,
I never should have done that."
And he's like, "Listen, I just got
really freaked out and in my head and I
should never have treated you that way.
Like, you are not like disposable like
that. Like, you're important to me." And
basically, they talk about they're about
to go home and Drake is like, "Listen,
this was a fun road trip experiment or
whatever and I get that it's coming to
an end. We don't have to talk about it
anymore." like
and
Hunter is like I don't Isabelle wants to
continue this and so do I. I think that
like maybe we could still explore it
when we go home and I would really like
a second chance because I know that I
messed up and I want to make it right.
And Drake is like
no. He's like no thank you. Um,
like it's one thing to be with Isabelle,
but the way that you treated me was not
okay and I'm not comfortable like being
vulnerable with you like that anymore.
Full stop. And so
way to hold that boundary.
Yeah. Really? So, they're on their way
back and Isabelle is driving the last 4
hours back to LA when she sees a sign
for Vegas and is like,
you know, shit's been real weird since
yesterday. Why don't we check out Vegas
and see what happens? And so, um,
they go out together, like all dressed
to the nines. They're all dancing
together and all of them are making out
and just having a really good time. And
um my notes say DP threesome to end the
night which is a lot but a good time for
everybody apparently.
So um
I mean we did go from we're not going to
explore this any further to
right
DP threesome.
Well they're all like just because we're
going home doesn't mean we have to stop
like you know. Um, but Drake, I think,
is very much trying to protect himself
from getting hurt. So, he just assumes
it's gonna end rather than like actually
having the conversation. So, the next
night, um, Drake is like, "Oh,
we're not really [ __ ] anymore, are
we?" Like, this is emotional. Like,
there's a lot of like emotion coming up.
Um, and he's like, "I don't know really
what to do about that
because I'm moving in with them." So,
like the next day he's moving all their
[ __ ]
I forgot about that.
I Me, too. They're moving all of his
[ __ ] into their house. Um, and Drake and
Hunter go to the the their sex club for
a meeting to kind of talk about the trip
and everything they learned and blah
blah blah.
And Drake is just hanging out at the
bar. Um, and he has genuinely no idea
what the [ __ ] is going on between the
three of them because they've talked
about like it'd be cool to continue, but
they haven't talked about that means
we're exclusive or that means the three
of us are in a relationship or anything
else. So, he's like,
normally I'd be here [ __ ]
Yeah. So,
but also not going to like piss him off
by
Right. So, like
flirting with Rand.
Should I be [ __ ] He's like, I'm not
really sure. I don't know.
And so, um,
he's like, "What's my role here? Just
someone tell me."
He does have the thought. He's like, "I
probably need to start like [ __ ]
somebody. Like, I this has to end. Like,
I can't just be their third wheel
forever. Like, this is worse now than it
was before. Like, I want a relationship.
I don't want to keep doing this." And
so, he starts flirting with the
bartender.
And um Hunter is feeling very
overwhelmed and he's like
in this room board meeting with all of
his friends and he's like they're all
going to know. Everybody's going to know
that we've all been [ __ ] Oh god.
Oh, I don't think they give a [ __ ]
Like they can't see it on you, dude.
Like
you're not wearing a name tag.
You work in a sex club. It's not like
you work in a nursing home or something
and the board of directors is going to
take issue with you having a threesome.
You literally started this business
because none of you could find a safe
space to show up authentically
and you're literally doing the most
vanilla [ __ ] of anybody else in the
room. Like
dude, chill out. Like chill out. Um but
he does share about like all the ideas
that he has for all these different
things and he's like, "Yeah, um we
thought about quickie closets, right?
Like rooms where it's like we don't need
to rent a full room for an hour. We just
want a spot to bang it out like real
quick, you know?" And one of the guys
was like, "Oh, did you guys like try
that out?" And he's like, "I was with
Isabelle." And they were like, "Yeah,
but like
Yeah. So, did you try out a closet like
that with Isabelle?
Did you think like maybe Drake could
build one is what we were asking you?
Like what are you doing?"
Um, and it's very, very awkward. And
it's clear that everybody in the room is
like, "What? What? Are you good? You're
being [ __ ] weird, dude." So then he
finds Drake flirting with the bartender
and is mad. And Drake is like, "Hey,
we all said we would like it to
continue, but we never said yes, this is
what we're doing. I can't keep doing
this." Like,
yeah, it's an it's a bit of a no man's
land right now. We need a little bit
more clarity.
Exactly. So then Hunter says some
hateful stuff to Drake about his mom
because Drake's mom kind of had a
revolving door of men throughout Drake's
childhood and stuff.
No.
And immediately, like as soon as it
comes out of his mouth, he's like, "Holy
[ __ ] I am so like that. I'm like, I
didn't mean it like that. Oh my god."
And Drake is like, "Hey, you know what?
you did mean it and that's okay.
I understand. And I've been thinking for
a while now that maybe it is time for me
to settle down. So, um I think I am
maybe going to start dating.
Um so, yeah. No, I know. I know about
myself. Thank you.
And Hunter is like he can't quite get
the words out of like, please don't do
that. Like, please just come home with
me. And so he just leaves Drake there at
the bar and goes home.
Hunter is the person I'm getting annoyed
with the most throughout all of this.
And that is like the consistent theme is
like Hunter is the one that seems to
lack the most insight and to struggle
with the communication the most
because then Isabelle is very
disappointed in Hunter's lack of
willingness to open up about his
feelings
because he comes home without Drake and
Isabelle is like what happened and he is
having a very difficult time kind of
processing it and she's very gentle with
him but she does kind of call him out.
And she's like, "You need to be honest."
Um, but he just keeps saying like, "I'm
straight. I'm straight. I'm straight."
And she's like, "Okay."
And it's cool if you're not, right?
Yeah. And if you're not, what does that
Right.
Nothing in our dynamic has to shift
unless we want it to.
Yes. So then that night, Drake gets home
pretty late and Hunter is asleep. So
Isabelle goes out and they have they do
like all of their heartto-he hearts at
like midnight in the kitchen.
They really do. So Isabelle goes out and
has a heartto-he heart with Drake and
they basically declare their feelings
for each other and they're like yeah
like I love you and I have loved you for
a long time and this trip has kind of
like opened it up into a different kind
of love that I wasn't expecting but like
I do like I really care about you and
without Hunter being fully on board
this has
yeah we can't continue and So, um, Drake
then says like, "You've always been my
girl and you will always be my girl."
And I think it's at this point he
reveals that like Hunter didn't remember
the green dress, but Drake remembers
like he's the one that remembers the
green dress when they saw her for the
first time and stuff like that.
So,
Drake decides he is going to go out with
the bartender.
We're going to go on a date and see how
it goes. and he's like, "Yeah, the spark
just isn't really there." Um, and he's
like, "Yeah, I could [ __ ] him, but like
the desire to wake up with him and like
do life with him isn't there."
Mhm.
And he just goes home feeling more
confused and sad.
And he finds Isabelle doing what I refer
to in my notes as baked baking, which is
where you get high and bake.
which is one of my favorite activities.
Yeah.
And so she's like dancing around the
kitchen and she has not clocked that
he's there and Hunter comes in and
Drake or Hunter.
Hunter comes in.
Okay. and Drake is while Drake is
watching her and they kind of have a
laugh at her antics and stuff and um
they suddenly engage in some like light
food play ex like and it starts to
escalate and stuff and Hunter like sucks
whipped cream off of Drake's dick
and then
things did escalate quickly. They then
do
DVP
and
that one
makes me drier than the Sahara.
The thought of DVP
like locked up. Yeah. I'm like, that
seems like a I was reading a book where
he shoved his fing like two fingers in
with his dick and even that I'm like
see that I'm more like but
I think it depends on I'm also like why
right
who's that for in this moment
right who is that for
because I feel like there are times
where it sounds hot but then I'm like in
practice not is it
yes okay so DVP
Yep.
And um Drake then starts to admit to
himself that like the reason that he
didn't feel that spark with the
bartender is because
he hunter,
right? He feels it with the two of them.
Yeah.
Right. So the next few days they're
respectfully. We've all [ __ ] known
this.
Oh yeah. Like literally everybody.
Oh what? This is brand new information
that we've been watching the three of
you figure out this whole time.
Shock and all. So, the next few days,
um, Drake is doing renovations at the
club for the the Quickie closets. Um,
and Hunter goes in to help. And then he
finally admits how attracted to Drake he
is. Mutual handies in the shower at the
club. It's all very hot.
And Isabelle wakes up as the guys are
coming through the door. And she hears
them like kind of banging around.
and go into the guest room and she's
like, "This is it." She's like, "This
has landed.
It's finally happening."
She's like, "Nobody panic." And so, um,
she eaves drops on them while they are
[ __ ]
Mhm.
And she is like touching herself in the
hallway, but then also really emotional
that like they're finally getting there.
I, as respectfully as I can say this,
it's taken them so long to get there. I
kind of don't give a [ __ ] at this point.
I'm like I feel like we like needed to
get there like 15 back and forths ago.
Yeah. Well, and I think that that is one
of the only qualms I have with this book
is that it is like we could have done
this in like a hundred fewer pages and
had like one or two less of these. Um,
and it would have felt maybe a little
bit more like exciting when it finally
happened. But regardless, the next
morning, Hunter tells Isabelle
everything. Um, and uh they're like,
"Okay, so like what do we do now?" And
um lots of like calling each other on
their [ __ ] of like this is serious.
Like Drake is important to us, blah blah
blah stuff we already know.
Yes.
Things you've been telling him for the
last 150 pages that you like weren't
acting out in practice. Hunter.
Hunter is like, "I'll think about it."
Which,
oh my god,
Isabelle's like, "Okay,
shut the [ __ ] up, Hunter."
So, a lot of stuff happens where like
the Shabari instructor from New Orleans
shows up because they liked her so much
they brought her in to do a workshop and
then Drake's like, "Oh, balls." Um,
and basically she's like, "Hey, have you
ever thought that maybe you deserve
better and you should ask for that?"
Like, "Love you. Bye." She's like the
drive by therapist throughout this whole
thing. She's like, "Um, that's [ __ ]
Have you thought about not doing that?
Call me later." Like, that's her energy
the whole time. So,
yeah. Basically, Drake finally confronts
Hunter. Um, and he's like, "How long are
we going to do this? This is [ __ ]
stupid."
I'm saying,
so Hunter is like, "Please tell me what
to do." He's like, "I just don't know
what to do." Like,
oh my god, Hunter, what the [ __ ] do you
mean you don't know what to do at this
point?
Yeah. So, at this point, Drake's vibe is
similar to your vibe where he's like, I
[ __ ] figure it out, dude. Like
seriously,
do you want me to be a part of this or
do you not want me to be a part of this?
Stop saying I matter and I'm important
and then be like, but I just don't know
what to do with the fact that he
matters.
Right,
Hunter?
So, at this point, Drake is like, "Yeah,
so um I have a job offer from that sex
club in New Orleans. I've made a lot of
my own connections. Maybe it's time for
me to go." Like, I this is hurting me.
Like, I can't do this anymore. And
Hunter is like, "Oh my god, don't leave
me." Like, and so
basically then Hunter goes home and
packs all his bags and waits for them to
come home together. So they show up and
he's like, "Hey, listen. You told me to
fix it and the only part of this that is
broken is me. So I'm going to go fix
myself and then I'm going to come back
and we're all going to be together.
Yeah. For a couple of months. He leaves
for a couple of months
and goes and stays with a friend and
they have almost no contact for a couple
of months.
So Hunter is like, "You guys stay here.
Take care of each other. I love you guys
so much. We'll get through this." So
yeah, she and Drake are basically
platonically supporting each other
because they don't feel good about like
exploring sexual stuff without Hunter
there. So 2 months later, Drake is very
pent up because they've had no sex for 2
months. And so um he's also really
depressed because
Hunter is just like not around. Like
they see him in the distance at the
club, but like they have no interaction
with the club. Yes, he's staying with
one of the other owners.
I thought he like at least like went
from like LA to Vegas. Like he was gone.
No, he's just lurking around.
I'm okay.
So, he sometimes calls Isabelle to do
brief check-ins of like, "Are you okay?
How's things going? Hang up." Like,
oh, good for him, checking on his wife.
He gets all of the kudos and credit for
that. I love how agitated you are with
him right now.
So,
and with each new thing you say,
get more mad.
It's just like twisting the night. I'm
like, "Hun, I know. I know. I know." So,
Drake gets home to a sobbing Isabelle
cuz she cut all of her hair off. So, she
had really long like auburn hair like
down to her ass and she cut it up to her
collar bones and she's like sobbing her
eyes out and she's like, "What if Hunter
hates it and he doesn't come back?" And
it's very like clearly her own childhood
stuff coming up. And Drake, who also has
long blonde hair, is like, "No stress,
babe." And shaves his head. He's like,
"See, it's just hair." And he's like,
"What have I done?" Like, like in the
moment in his head, he's like, "Oh,
that might have been too far." But it's
a lot of very sweet support for each
other and like showing up together. And
then they finally [ __ ] and declare their
love for each other. They've been
holding off for 2 months and they're
like, "Yeah, no, we do love each other
without Hunter present."
Hunter is finally ready to come back and
to admit that he is by. Um, he comes out
to all of his friends who are like,
"Uh-huh." Yeah.
The reason you've been living with us
for the past 2 months, this is brand new
information. Well, they're all like,
"Dude, we've literally thought the three
of you guys were [ __ ] this whole time
for years." Like,
okay,
should we throw you a party or
something? Like, what?
Oh my gosh.
And Drake has or Hunter has obviously
like really built this up in his own
head. So, then Hunter shows up at
Isabelle's yoga studio to apologize with
like, you know, a bouquet of flowers and
everything and says he's ready to
commit. Um,
I know, I know, I know, I know.
I'm sorry. I
I know. So then he's already married to
her.
He showed up with flowers for his wife.
His wife wife who he has a legally
binding contract with and is like, "I'm
finally ready to commit to you, baby.
File our taxes together. How much more
committed do you need to be? [ __ ]
We've bought property together and
you're telling me now that our name our
name is on the property deed of a of a
place and you're telling me now you're
ready to commit.
Good. We've only been together for 10
[ __ ] years, dude.
Muscle top hunter like what what do you
want a cookie? Like
oh my god. So they go to the club. They
find Drake. He takes them to one of the
rooms he has recently built and it's a
pitch dark room that he built and so he
shuts all the lights off. Um
Hunter tells Drake to [ __ ] him while he
[ __ ] Isabelle. It's a very big moment
for everyone.
Um they have a debrief conversation
afterwards clearing the air. Everybody's
committed. Hunter is like while I've
been away. I've been doing research
about polyamory. I understand now we're
all together. Open communication blah
blah blah. What are the boundaries? Like
it's a really good like conversation
related to my a decade of doing research
for the sex club he opened and this is
the first time where he's like and now
that it's applicable to me.
Yeah, I finally get it.
And then they a few days later do
they have sex in her yoga studio in like
her aerial
area. Oh.
Um, so that was a lot suspension. Um,
I was going to say I too have had sex in
the yoga studio I was working at.
There was there were no straps. It was
I was going to say in Ariel's because
that's like I'm impressed by that. That
feels like a lot of coordination.
No. Bless my husband who had attended
the class that I was teaching and then
stayed as I was mopping the floors.
Hot,
right? Yeah, that's
so at the epilogue 6 months later,
Isabella is pregnant with twins. They
don't know who the dad is, but they are
going to find out. She's like all that
weird [ __ ] about like it's everybody's
baby. She's like, okay, like we're not
going to treat them any differently, but
if these kids are Drake's, I would also
like Hunter to have his own biological
children. So, like we're going to find
out, which I appreciated cuz in a lot of
these it's like we don't need to know.
And then it's like but look into his
cornflour blue eyes just like his
father. And it's like okay.
Or my favorite is when like it's reverse
her and the men are multiple races. And
they're like we don't need to know. And
I'm like respectfully you will though.
No DNA test needed.
Respectfully. Um so um they are happy
and healthy. The club is doing great and
that's the end. They're getting their
their nursery ready for the Bet.
So, I will say what I liked about this
one was a lot of the angst did not come
from where I thought it was going to
come from. Like, it didn't come from any
secret keeping or like hurting each
other in that way. It was much more
Hunter needed to work through his own
[ __ ]
and Drake needed to work on his own
self-esteem, but like it wasn't the
I needed like at I needed at least four
to five less back and forth.
Yeah, that is my only complaint.
Like at at some point I'm like, "Okay,
I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with
you." I'm like, "Wait, we're still we're
we're again
again." I do think in reading it, it
felt more of a gradual build like
than me trying to explain it. It felt a
little bit more like they got deeper
every time and like it was a different
Hey, it was a different vibe reading it,
but it was irritating by like the last
time. And I was I really don't like in a
lot of books where there's a big gap
where they go away from each other and
then come back. I often just personally
dislike that sort of trope.
There are very few times where I feel
like that trope is justified.
Right.
And this is not a situation in which I
necessarily felt like it was justified.
Right. On some level I was like, "Okay,
I get it. you're working through your
own internalized like homophobia and
stuff like okay okay okay um but at the
same time it felt like he did it in a
really hurtful way and probably could
have gone about it differently. Um yeah
because the number of times in which
they're like telling Drake he matters
and that he's important and then their
actions and behaviors
directly
show Drake that that is not true.
Right. Like there are only so many times
that like someone can tell you you're
important and then show you you're not
before you need to accept
that you're not
that yeah that those aren't are never
going to align. And I get like here
there were things that needed to be
worked through but just also like
I will say I liked this one the best. I
think of the three in this series that I
have read. It felt the most relatable
with the messiness of it. Um, but it
also was in some ways the most annoying
for that reason.
Yeah, cuz I do like in some way it
catches a lot of like the human angst of
that like hey like
a coming out process.
Yes, these are hard things to reconcile.
Yeah.
And
Hunter is stunted AF.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah. Maybe you should have gone to
therapy earlier, but
not with me though.
Not with me either.
No, I would have struggled with you as a
client.
I need you to make some make some
choices and commit.
Yeah, this a [ __ ] or get off the pot
situation.
Yes. Okay. What's our rating system?
I don't know. I was just thinking about
that. We could do um spanking benches.
We could do uh
Indian takeout. We could do
shabari ropes.
There is a lot more chabari in there
than I
mentioned. There's a lot of shabari.
Hell yeah. Let's do shabari ropes. Okay.
So, I'm gonna say
out of
Oh, I was going to say three cuz there
are three of them, but that doesn't feel
like enough out of five cuz I think they
went to five sex clubs. So,
I would give it like a three, three and
a half. Like it was an enjoyable read.
Yeah. And I think I was not as irritated
with Hunter as I was reading it as I was
when I was explaining it.
Is it my irritation with Hunter that's
really being fueled?
No, because I did have the thought when
he was like, I have to go away for 2
months where I was like, [ __ ] what?
Okay.
Do you though?
Right. Like I don't feel like Okay. All
right.
Okay. But you didn't go away. You went
down the street and still showed up to
work where we also all work. It was
really like, okay,
like that was a moment where I was like,
yeah.
Yeah. You're like, I guess this is how
this can play out.
Yeah.
Three out of five Shabbari ropes.
Yeah. I'm going to settle on three. It
was an enjoyable read. I would recommend
it because again, I felt like it was
more honest about the dynamics than a
lot of other books are. Um, and it also
feels like it's like a pretty accurate
portrayal of a lot of those dynamics
that have to be navigated.
Yeah. Mhm.
Um, versus so many books we read, we're
like, they don't talk about anything.
No. And then all of the plot comes from
the fact that they aren't communicating.
Yes.
And it's very annoying.
Yeah.
So, this was annoying differently and I
appreciate that.
We We do appreciate that. All right.
Three out of five. Shabari ropes.
Let us know how many ropes you would
rate this book. Don't forget to like,
subscribe, comment. Let us know what you
would like us to review next. And we'll
see you next time. Bye, smudsluts.
Bye.
Well, that's it for this week, Smud
[ __ ] We hope it was good for you cuz
it sure was great for us. If you're
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And we'll see you next week. Stay
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