Bluebeard’s wife

"No, see," I said, picking up a sheer mesh shawl I'd left on the table and putting it over my shoulders.

He snorted. "I doubt that will keep you warm."

I smiled as he helped me on with my coat. "Well, you can… help keep me warm."

He kissed my neck, exposed because my long dark hair was put up, making me shiver. "I just might take you up on that later."

Kelly and Chris pulled their little Escort in next to John's dark blue Beemer Roadster just after we arrived.

"I thought you weren't coming," I called out to Kelly, pulling my coat together against the wind.

"Miss a night out of the house without the kidlet?" Kelly said, taking Chris' hand and tugging him with her toward me.

"Plus there's the free booze," Chris added, grinning.

"It's all on me," John said, taking my hand and starting toward the restaurant.

John had rented an entire room and hired a DJ-it looked like a set-up for a wedding, minus all the favors. There were probably thirty people there already, although we were a little early, and they were standing around with drinks in their hands or sitting at tables and talking. I let John take my coat and Kelly's eyes widened when she saw me.

"What?" I asked, touching my cleavage, afraid I was falling out.

"That dress," she said, her eyes dipping below the hem. "Holy cow. I saw it on the hanger and all but… wow!"

"Can I agree without getting hit over the head with a handbag?" Chris asked, smiling and putting his arms around Kelly from behind.

I flushed. "Thanks. I like yours, too," I said, admiring how Kelly's black velvet dress made her hair look even redder in contrast.

We found our seats and ordered a bottle of wine. John came over and joined us for a while, but then went off again. Thank God he let me invite Kelly and Chris, because otherwise I wouldn't have known a soul!

"Shouldn't you be mingling with John?" Kelly had to practically yell now over the music.

I shrugged, looking over to where John was standing with a drink in his hand, surrounded by four women who seemed to be talking at once.

"Ooo! This is my favorite song!" Kelly said, turning to tug at Chris' sleeve. "Chris, dance with me!" Chris had found a guy next to him to talk football with and he waved her away. She made a face, standing and holding out her hand to me. "Come on," she said.

"Me? In this?" I indicated the dress.

"How do you think you show it off?" She grinned as she pulled me out onto the dance floor. I followed Kelly's motions, raising my arms above my head like she was, and moving my hips around like hers. She smiled, and then closed her eyes, letting her body sway to the music. It was a hot, sexy beat, and she ground her hips with it like she was fucking someone. It made me flush just to watch her, and I found myself remembering that day on the phone, listening to her come.

She moved in behind me, then, putting one arm around my waist. "Like this," she instructed, moving her hips with mine, 'round and 'round. I could feel her thighs, her pelvis making circles against my ass. Her other hand slipped around my waist, and I leaned my head back against her shoulder-she was a good five inches taller than me and wearing much higher heels-looking up into her eyes. They were green and smiling, too.

"I think we drank too much," I murmured, enjoying the feel of our dresses slipping together, satin against velvet. Mine was beginning to ride up my thighs, I could feel it, but I didn't care.

"Who says?" Kelly whispered, and she leaned in and kissed me, just like that in the middle of the dance floor. It didn't last long, a few seconds, but it was enough to take my breath away. The song was over then, and I looked at John as I moved away from Kelly and saw him looking at us. I couldn't read his face, but I flushed, and went back to the table to get more wine.

"You two were having fun," Chris remarked, putting his arm around Kelly and squeezing her hip as we sat.

"Just showing John what he's missing, leaving our girl all alone," Kelly remarked, pouring me another glass of wine and handing it to me. I drank it all, thirsty and not wanting to talk.

We ended up closing the place down, John and I. Kelly and Chris headed home about midnight, and I sat and finished another bottle of wine while I watched John move among the tables, talking and laughing. He helped me on with my coat when it was time to go, and held my elbow as we walked to the car.

"Are you drunk?" he asked me as he got into driver's side.

I looked over at him in the dimness. "Are you mad?"

"Am I mad that you're drunk? Or am I mad that you were out dirty dancing with your girlfriend at my company Christmas party?" John started the car and put it in reverse.