Synopsis: Pete has found a job in a cabinet shop. He and Sarah have formed a close friendship with Pete's boss and his wife, and have fallen into the habit of regular weekly card games. Until one night . . .
Part III -- Our Story
Chapter Thirteen
Both women had been sipping wine during the evening while Rick and I enjoyed a couple of bottles of Molson's. Rick and Sarah grossly overbid a hand and went down seven tricks. Rick suddenly threw his cards on the table. "Let's have a real drink," he said. "After all, Christmas is nearly here, and it's time we were getting into the spirit of things." With that, he abruptly stood and walked into the kitchen. Paula excused herself and followed him.
I turned to Sarah. "Think it's about time we went home?"
She shook her head. "I'm having too much fun," she said. "A drink or two won't hurt us. Let's stay a little while longer."
I shrugged just as Rick and Paula re-entered the room, each carrying a glass in each hand. "This is one of Rick's holiday specials," Paula said. "Taste it. If it's too strong, I'll add a little more eggnog."
Knowing Rick's propensity for pushing things, I took a cautious sip. WOW!! I felt tears stinging in my eyes as alcohol burned its way down my throat. I coughed and handed the glass back to Paula. "Is there anything in this besides rum?"
Paula smiled. "Take another sip," she said. "Then if it's still too strong, I'll add more eggnog."
I was astonished to see Sarah and Rick casually sipping their drinks without any trace of discomfort. Although I had earned a well deserved reputation as a two fisted drinker in my younger days, I was clearly out of training. I took another sip. This one went down much more smoothly. I gave Paula a weak smile.
Paula patted my hand. "I knew it would be all right," she said comfortingly.
I wasn't so sure because I already felt somewhat light headed. Rick picked up the cards. "Let's go down to the rumpus room," he said. "Then we won't disturb the kids."
I was evidently missing something, but the ladies seemed to agree with him, so we trooped back through the kitchen and down a flight of stairs into a typical rec room.
We'd never been down there before, and I curiously looked around after Rick flicked on the lights. Some dusty decorations left over from a long forgotten party still hung from the ceiling, but other than that, the room was furnished in typical rec room style. An old sofa and a couple of casual chairs grouped together around a small area rug on the linoleum took up nearly half the room. A small bamboo bar, a card table and a few folding chairs at the opposite end completed the ensemble.
Rick led the way to the card table. He carefully set his drink down and began unfolding chairs for the four of us. Paula seemed to know what he had in mind, but Sarah and I exchanged bewildered expressions.
"I can take only so much bridge," Rick said as he sat at one side of the table and began shuffling the cards. "Every now and then, we have to change our luck. What do you say we play a few hands of strip poker just for the hell of it?"
I felt the same thrill I had experienced on Rick's boat months earlier when I had been mentally urging Sarah to take off her shirt. However, Sarah looked doubtful. She darted a quick look toward me and said, "I don't know how to play poker."
"Our rules are so simple," Rick said, "that anyone can play. The dealer passes each player five cards face down and two cards face up. Then each player picks up the five, and using his two open cards, tries to assemble the best five card hand he can. Here's the list and ranking of the various possible combinations." Rick laid a piece of cardboard in the middle of the table. Then, looking directly at Sarah, he added, "We'll take it easy. Will you play with us?"
I was mentally urging her to agree. Instead she turned to me. "What do you think, Pete?"
"Well, you girls weren't shy when we were out on the boat, and that was out in the open where anyone could see you. I don't see why this would be any different." Actually, truth be told, I was eager for another glimpse of Paula's soft breasts and black nipples.
"I suppose this wouldn't be any different," she said. "OK, what happens after the cards are dealt?"
"That's the easy part," Rick said confidently. "This is like a regular game of poker, only the person with the best hand gets to tell one of the others to give up an article of clothing.
While Rick was explaining the rules, Paula had quietly gone upstairs and now returned with a bottle of Lemon & Hart rum and a pitcher full of yellow frothy liquid. She refilled our glasses.
"I'll deal first," Rick said. "First each player gets five down cards," he said as he swiftly made five passes around the table. "Now you get your two open cards."
"Now pick up your five and build the best five-card hand you can. Throw your discarded two cards in a pile in the middle of the table."
I looked over Sarah's shoulder. She had two pair, queens over fours. I pointed them out. We laid our hands down. I had three sixes. Paula and Rick each had a pair of aces, but Paula also had a king while Rick's high card was a nine.
"Paula, give me one of your shoes."
"OK," she replied, handing me a slipper.
Paula shuffled the cards and dealt the next hand. This time Sarah held the winning hand and Rick lost a shoe.
Without the usual betting or theatrics, the game went almost too quickly. Soon, we were all barefooted. Now the game became more interesting.
Sarah held the winning hand with two pair. I expected her to demand Rick's shirt or pants, but instead, she looked slowly around the table. "Paula, give me your bra."
Paula protested. "I thought the girls were supposed to undress the guys," she said.
"If that's a rule, Rick forgot to mention it when he was explaining how the game is played," Sarah said primly. "What do you guys think?"
