--1—
Rebecca didn't want to go to the office party. Being only one of a few women in her company she had little in common with her colleagues and she could count on one hand those she'd want to see after working hours. She already knew who would get drunk and who would argue too loudly. There would be bad chicken and a deejay playing music that she didn't like. Yet, here she was, in a hotel room, putting on a party dress.
Rebecca's husband Ben loved these events. He liked the food, the liquor, and talking with the guys from her office. He loved any chance to get out and feel sophisticated. When she showed reluctance, he insisted they go, that it was good for her career, and it was fun to dress up like adults. He booked the room at the host hotel and said they'd make a night of it.
He stood in front of the bathroom mirror with no shirt on, shaving and happily chattering. She glanced at his bare, lean chest and its sparse little black curls of hair. Ben kept in shape and he loved for people to know it.
"Will Carl be there?" he asked.
"He wouldn't miss it," Rebecca answered. Carl was one of her bosses. Ben got along famously with him. They played tennis together and Ben couldn't wait to tell him about his new racket and how it would give him an advantage.
At least the room was nice. The bathroom and tub were huge, and the bedroom overlooked a long green expanse of golf course.
Usually the summer parties were casual, a picnic or a barbecue. This year someone had decided on a cocktail party. That was another reason Ben loved it. He had bought a tuxedo a few years earlier and looked for any opportunity to wear it.
The attire was another reason for Rebecca to dread it. She stood by the bed staring at her only cocktail dress, a little black one she hadn't worn in five years. It wasn't tight, but it was clingy. It had thin shoulder straps and went to just below the knee. When she bought it, she loved how flattering it was, how it complemented her blonde hair, hugged her almost C-cup breasts and clung to her long legs and trim stomach. She was now 34 and had maintained her figure by running, but she hadn't maintained her desire to draw attention to herself.
Ben kept talking while she held the dress up to the window. The fading sunlight leaked through the thin material. A wave of uneasiness washed over her. She quickly considered feigning illness and skipping the party.
"I love that dress." Ben stood in the bathroom doorway.
"That makes one of us."
"You look really good in it." He walked over and kissed her. She could smell the menthol of his shaving cream.
"Model it for me," he whispered into her ear.
"I don't know," Rebecca protested.
He kissed her on the neck. "Please."
She nodded. "Stay here."
Rebecca loved that Ben found her attractive, even after ten years of marriage. She liked that he lusted after her. It was one reason she was still in love with him.
She took her little black dress into the bathroom. She slipped out of her jeans and T-shirt and pulled it over her head. It still fit, and it still flattered her shape. She allowed herself to feel sexy, at least in their hotel room.
When she came out, Ben was standing in the room, waiting. He grinned and nodded. "Oh, my God. That is so hot."
"Thank you." She turned so he could see the back.
"I can't wait to take this off of you." Ben pulled her to him, and kissed her.
"Why don't we skip the party?"
"Why?" he asked teasingly.
"We can go to bed early," she said.
"And do what?" Ben wanted her to say something dirty. He knew how uncomfortable that made her and how good it sounded.
She blushed, but she wouldn't bite. She did, however, look forward to later, to returning to the giant king bed and hot tub, letting him pull the dress over her head, running her hands over his chest. Hotel sex was her favorite because there were no distractions, no household chores. In a strange place she could pretend to be a slightly idealized, more sexually adventurous version of herself.
Ben ran his hand up her leg, pushing the dress up until he reached the hem of her underwear.
"Um," Ben paused.
"What?"
"Are you going to wear panties?"
Rebecca said yes. Five years ago, she had worn it without panties or bra. On that night, Ben had pulled down the straps as soon as they were alone. He had cupped her breasts and licked her nipples until a busboy walked in on them. It had been exciting, and the memory had fueled many sex sessions. But that was five years ago.
"I'm just saying," he argued. "Panty lines."
She laughed, knowing his real motive. "I'll leave them off in the bedroom." She returned to the bathroom to put on her makeup.
Rebecca looked in the mirror to confirm that her bra and panties weren't visible. After what Ben said, though, she had a more critical eye, and the lines were clear to her. The pale bra straps could slip out from under the fabric of the little black dress. The outline of her panties disrupted its smoothness.
Rebecca had to decide. She imagined everyone in the ballroom noticing her frumpiness. She unhooked the bra and pulled down the panties. Now it looked better. Very nice, she decided. Flattering, even. She also felt exposed, practically naked. She rationalized she was doing this for Ben's benefit and that it could abbreviate their time downstairs.
When she came out, he was fidgeting with his cummerbund and cufflinks.
"How do I look?" he asked, still focused on his buttons.
"Very nice," she said. "Do you really want to go to this?"
Ben smirked. "Of course." He looked up and saw her, then added, "Maybe just briefly."
--2--
They were fashionably late. About fifty co-workers and spouses were already in the small ballroom. Rebecca sighed with relief when she saw that hers wasn't the only black dress, and not the most revealing. She was also pleased that she fit into hers better than most.
"You want a rum and coke?" Ben asked, not waiting for an answer. He left Rebecca alone as he headed to the bar. She surveyed the room, looking for the faces of anyone she would want to talk to.
"Hey." A hand touched her elbow. It was David, one of the company's new accountants. David was just out of college and ten years her junior. They had worked on a few audits together and she had taught him the corporate shortcuts. He was a quick learner.
He was also attractive. Tall, skinny, dark-skinned and so young. But he had no social graces: no small talk skills and entirely focused on work. After six months, she knew almost nothing about him. He kept asking to be assigned to her group, so she guessed she was stuck with him.
"Hi, David," she said. "I didn't expect to see you."