Everyone filled their plates buffet-style and adjourned to the dining room, where they set about stuffing their faces with Carla's delicious food. All of them ended up going back for seconds, and some for thirds; the conversation got louder and louder as the wine flowed and the THC-infused pasta sauce began to take effect, and so no one heard the doorbell when it rang. Fortunately Annabel was on her way back from the bathroom at the time.
When she opened the door the faces she saw were familiar, but it took her a few seconds to place them -- they were the two women Carla had talked to at the restaurant. The older one, who introduced herself as Constance, was fitted out like a dominatrix: black leather bustier and skirt, black gloves, and thigh-high spiked boots. In her hand she held one end of a chain, the other end of which was attached to the younger woman's collar. "And this is Caprice," she said.
Annabel looked Caprice up and down appreciatively; she'd looked beautiful in the restaurant, but today she was absolutely radiant: Dressed all in white, with a midriff-bearing white fur crop top, an extremely short white leather skirt, and knee-length matching socks. All the white combined with her angelic face lent her a certain innocence, but hers was a body clearly made for sin, with generous curves on an otherwise thin frame.
In the dining room the meal was wrapping up, and Constance and Caprice had already eaten anyway; but Katya offered them the special cookies and Caprice, after looking to Constance for approval, happily gobbled one down. After that everyone adjourned to the deck to get ready for fireworks.
Unfortunately the fog had started to roll in while they ate, and by the time the sun was down the house was completely socked in. It became quite chilly and several people went inside to layer up; Carla allowed Annabel to put on an overcoat over her bikini.
Arming herself with a snifter of brandy against the cold, Carla settled back in a deck chair, and Annabel snuggled in between her legs. In this weather the fireworks were more like patches of colored fog, but Carla enjoyed them anyway; it helped that she was as stoned as she'd ever been in her life.
As soon as the fireworks were over the group headed back inside for dessert. The mood of the party had shifted; as if by mutual agreement, all inhibitions were now shed. Carla, thinking it looked unlikely that Asha was going to show up, decided to go ahead and indulge herself. As soon as she finished her dessert, she made a beeline for Jude, who was sitting on the living room couch finishing her chocolate mousse.