This story could have been filed under the loving wives category, but that would have upset the usual haters. This is however a story about mature adults coming up with a practical solution to a biological imperative and then making a decision. No doubt this will attract the usual negative comments, but please try and read it for what is, just a story!
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It was Friday night again. The first Friday of the third month of the year and that meant it was party night. It had become a ritual that every three months my husband and myself attended a company party. The parties were held at various employees houses and they will always raucous drunken affairs.
As for myself as Mrs. Antonia Stevens, I had been initially reluctant to attend my husband Mark's parties on a regular basis. It wasn't because I don't like parties or that I don't like dancing. It was more that I was nervous around my husband's work colleagues and didn't really believe that I would enjoy myself at their parties. We were both in our early thirties and many of them were younger than us.
This changed after the second or third party that we attended when I found the majority of my husband's work colleagues to be good company and that combined with the drinking and the opportunity for dancing which I love so much changed our future attendance at these parties and social gatherings.
My only concern was that of late was that Mark seemed more than happy for me to dance with other men at these parties whilst he watched and drank with other work colleagues. As I said, I loved dancing and so this was never really an issue, it was more the fact that he seemed so willing to push me into the arms of other men some of which I have to admit were quite dishy. Some of these dances at some of the parties got quite steamy with some of the men taking liberties with where they put their hands on my body.
I suppose it didn't help that I have often the dressed to impress at these parties, and more often than not I would be wearing strappy nothing's that clung to my athletic body. Oh and of course heels. I loved my high heeled sandals and knew that they showcased my long legs to best effect. It was probably true to say that I enjoyed being a tease to other men. I knew I had the looks and if my husband didn't mind me pushing the boundaries by being a little daring, well who was I to complain?
Since tonight's party was midsummer and it was a hot day, I had decided to wear a flowery dress with bare legs and my favourite pair of 5-inch heeled stilettos. I wore a red necklace, a red bracelet and these nicely complemented my red painted fingernails and toenails. As we arrived at the party, I was aware of several male heads turning to look and stare at my skimpy apparel. But I didn't care, I had been to enough of these parties now and most of the other guests already knew me and were aware of my love for showing off my body.
For the first time in ages at tonight's party Mark's boss Pete was present. As I danced by myself for a few minutes I noticed the pair of them chatting and I could see that Pete was staring at me as he talked to my husband. As I left the dance area and went to fetch a drink, I was aware of someone standing behind me. When I looked around, I could see that Pete was standing directly behind me looking over my shoulder.
As I turned to move away, drink in hand, he introduced himself to me.
"Antonia, how lovely to see you. You look absolutely ravishing tonight. Mark is a very lucky man you know; I trust that he tells you that on a regular basis?"
As I pondered my reply, I was struck immediately by two things. Firstly, how tall Pete was. Even in my 5-inch stilettos, Pete still towered above me. Secondly, I became aware for the first time of just how handsome this black man was. He had what I guessed was two days' worth of stubble on his face and his close-cropped hair was a complete contrast to my husband's slightly straggly unkempt hair. However, it was his disarming good looks that really held my gaze and looking at his rugged handsome face I replied,
"Thank you very much Pete, it's good to see you at one of these parties. I have heard so much about you from my husband."
"Have you?" he enquired with a twinkle in his eyes, "only good things I hope?"
Slightly blushing I replied, "I was referring to work related issues, what did you think I meant?"
"let's go and dance or if you don't want to dance, we can talk some more."
"Well, I love dancing but.."
Before I had a chance to object, Pete had grabbed my arm and was steering me to the dance area. He pushed through some other dancing colleagues and made space for us. Effortlessly he started to move to the music and pulling me closer, he said, "come on Antonia, loosen up and dance with me, I know you are a really good mover."
I allowed myself to be pulled in close by him and it seemed kind of natural to allow his hands to rest on my back. Once I had relaxed and started to move to the music I looked around and was amused to see some of my husband's work colleagues looking jealously at the pair of us. Sensing what I was looking at, Pete said "you know it's me they are jealous of don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, here I am with the best-looking woman at the party, and they all wish they could be me!"
I smiled at the compliment and said "well, I expect some of the women wish they were me, since I am dancing with the best-looking guy at the party."
Pete looked at me in a curious way and said, "what about your husband Antonia?"
I realised then what I had said and blushed.
"It's okay, I know what you meant. I think it is the colour contrast that makes them jealous. You know with me being black and you being white. After all I am the only black man here and yet I am dancing with the most beautiful lady here. That's kind of amusing."
"Yes, I suppose it is, but I like it. After all this is my first dance with a black man, so I count myself lucky."
Again, Pete looked at me, smiled and said, "enough talk, let's dance."
And we did. He pulled me slight closer so that I had to put my hand on his shoulders, and I lost all track of time. We danced several numbers together and then Pete said "I better let you get back to your husband, or he will get worried. I'll catch you later Antonia."
"Yes, thanks Pete" was all I could feebly reply.
I made straight for the bar and grabbed a large glass of wine. I downed most of it before I spotted Mark moving toward me. He was smiling and after grabbing a beer for himself he moved us into a corner of the room. His first words to me were "that was hot."