IN the corner of a dark bar, a lingerie-clad blonde takes a man by the hand and leads him behind a red velvet curtain.
Teasingly, it is deliberately left ajar so attendees - kitted out in elaborate erotic masks and little else, while enjoying their cocktails - can watch them in the throes of passion.
Welcome to Carpe Noctem III - a Halloween sex soiree where boundaries and convention melt away.
As I step inside the opulent Georgian mansion at a secret location in Marylebone, London, members exchange knowing glances as the doorman covers the cameras on my phone with stickers.
A naked blonde hostess dripping in diamonds reads ‘The rules’ to me, which include no photos, no kink shaming and no 'playing' without consent.
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The exclusive play party is hosted by private members club Dominium Vita and is set over three floors. There’s a speakeasy in the cellar, a dungeon on the ground floor and a large playroom on the top floor.
Seduction lingers in every corner and I am instantly struck by how young and beautiful everyone is.
The ladies look like Victoria Secret Models and the men - who are all suited and booted - are channeling Christian Grey.
Most of the women are wearing nothing but designer perfume and I feel a tad overdressed in my black mesh chemise.
As The Sun’s sexpert, I have been invited to cover the members-only event by co-founders Emma Hartman, 29, and Richard Burton, 34.
“To be a Dominium Vita member means to be part of a society that celebrates sexual freedom and sensuality,” explains Emma.
“The name is based upon the culture of the Ancient Romans, who pioneered hedonism with their opulent feasts and banquets. We aim to recreate this for our members at each one of our events.”
Emma - who’s worked in the sex industry for over 10 years - tells me how she met Rich on ethical non-monogamy dating app Feeld in 2021. The pair became friends and decided to throw their own sex soiree.
“I’ve seen it all - literally!” laughs Emma. “Having been to lots of sex parties I know what works, what doesn’t and what makes non-monogamy truly beautiful.
“I wanted to create a luxurious safe space where like-minded people can come and explore their desires without fear of people who might never understand them.
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“So after Covid, Rich and I decided to throw our own sex party. We bought lots of bottles of prosecco and condoms and invited our friends over for a play party.”
Rich adds: “People loved it so much that we decided to turn it into a business. Now we throw monthly parties and have over 150 members here tonight.
“This is one of our naughtiest, sexiest and most indulgent events ever! A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into a night like this and we personally choose everyone who is here tonight which is why we get such a great crowd.”
Rich - who’s wearing an erotic headdress - tells me how his other passion is educating men on how they can explore their desires in a ‘healthy way’.
“Consent is key,” explains Rich. “Sex parties like this are much safer than an average nightclub where some men get very drunk and handsy, people don’t behave like that here because they respect the rules.”
Exclusive crowd
To be accepted into the ‘DV community’ you have to submit an application. They have three different membership options and their top tier is £39.99 per month. This gives you a free bar at play events for three hours and early access to tickets where the secret location for the party is revealed at the eleventh hour.
Over 30 per cent of nightclubs across the UK have shut down since the pandemic - pushing parties underground.
But it’s not that people have stopped going out - some are just doing it differently.
“Why would you ever go to a normal club when places like this exist?” says Adam, a member here tonight. “I’ve already slept with two women and it’s not even midnight yet.”
Research shows younger Millennials and Gen Z are behind the sex party boom. Our Autumn sex survey found 40 per cent of those aged 18-35 are monogamish and 13 per cent are polyamorous.
What’s more, more than one in ten would like to go to a sex party.
Why would you ever go to a normal club when places like this exist? I’ve already slept with two women and it’s not even midnight yet
Adam, a club member
Back to tonight and a flustered brunette is desperately looking for something. Presuming she's lost her bag, I offer to help her look.
“Have you seen the baby oil?” she asks, searching tables nearby.
I try to stifle a giggle as I help her look, but unfortunately we can’t find it, so I go to the bar and order a glass of prosecco.
The playroom is now in full swing and the smell of sex hangs in the air. Beautiful women - wearing nothing but designer perfume - are hooking up with hunks in a sumptuous seating area in the middle of the room.
In the corner, couples are massaging one another - their cries of ecstasy drowned out by the trendy dance music.
“I love your headdress,” comes a low voice behind me. “You look like a goddess.”
I turn around and see a handsome man wearing a perfectly tailored tux and a masquerade mask.
He tells me his name is Andrew, an investment banker from New York, who’s jetted in from the US specially for the event.
“How many DV parties have you been to?” he asks, taking a sip of his Hennessy.
I am under the guise of a shy newbie so I tell him it is my first time.
“You’ll soon become addicted,” he smiles, as his ice blue eyes bore into me. For a moment, I feel like Anastasia Steele when she meets the powerful and intoxicating Christian in Fifty Shades of Grey.
As the evening unfurls, I almost lose all sensibilities and throw caution - and my LBD - to the wind and invite him to join me in the sex auditorium. But then I remember I’m here for work and I need to try and stay professional.
At 3am, it’s time for me to leave this fantasy world and return to reality. But tonight I’ve unleashed my inner goddess and delved into an erotic underworld. Bring on next Halloween!
