I like playing at the casinos. You can spend an evening there and as long as you're not expecting to win big (or at all) and stick to your budget you can have fun. Drinks are reasonably priced (and sometimes free) and it's not really an expensive night out.
I'd been playing the pokies and was actually fifty bucks ahead for the night. I was just cruising around wondering whether to invest my new found fortune on another machine, have a drink or go home when I spotted this disgruntled looking young woman.
She was dressed for a night out and should have been enjoying herself, but she seemed to be just moping around. I decided it would be nice to chat her up and just spend some friendly time over a convivial drink.
"You look a little bored," I said, coming beside her. "How about I buy you a drink and you can sit and relax for a few moments."
"I'm married. Go away," she said, showing me her hand, with rings prominent.
"Well, yes, I actually noticed that," I told her. "It was just that I was about to have a drink and you looked a little lonely, just standing around, so I thought you might like to join me for five minutes.
It's just a drink. It's much too hard to seduce a lady surrounded by all these machines ringing and dinging so you're quite safe."
She actually looked at me that time, considering.
"And I suppose you have somewhere quiet you can take me?" the insinuation clear in her voice.
"Not really," I said.
I nodded towards one of the open bars.
"I thought a drink from the bar there and you can relax for a while in one of the armchairs they provide and talk for a while."
"Have you ever sat in one of those armchairs? Not the most comfortable of seats, I assure you."
I laughed. "That's because they're designed to get you back on your feet and out on the floor, feeding the machines. Not wasting your time drinking. Thirsty?"
Finally she nodded. "I have to admit I wouldn't mind a drink. But I can pay for my own."
"I'm ahead for the night," I told her. "I'm just spending the casino's money anyway. If not on a drink for you I'd probably put it back in one of the machines."
I escorted her over to the bar and we ordered our drinks and then sat down to drink and talk for a while.
"I'm Patrick, better known as Pat," I introduced myself.
"Janet, but I answer to Jan," came the reply.
"So Jan, why were you wandering around like a lost sheep looking for the sheepdog?" I asked. "I take it you're here with your husband?"
Jan nodded. "Yes. We only had a small stake each and I lost mine fairly quickly. Bob, however, won several hundred dollars and he's hoping to strike it even bigger. He'll probably go from machine to machine, winning little prizes here and there until it's all gone."
"That's the sort of thing the casinos count on," I pointed out. "They're not in the business of giving away money, after all. So tell me, what do you do? Do you have paid employment? I phrase it like that because some women get upset if they think you're hinting that being a fulltime housewife is not a job."
We settled down to general conversation over our drinks, eventually collecting a second drink and continuing our chat.
Although Jan seemed quite happy to just sit and chat I could sense an underlying irritation. She was not one hundred percent happy with her husband continuing to play the pokies and totally ignoring her.
I finally decided to broach the subject that was on my mind.
"You know, you're a very attractive woman, Jan. Would you object if I asked the staff to show us to a quiet room for half an hour so I can take off your clothes and make passionate love to you?"
Jan blinked. "What did you just say?"
Politely I started to repeat my little speech, but Jan interrupted.
"No, don't bother saying it again. I just wanted to see if you had the gall to. What on earth makes you think I'd do something like that? I've already told you I'm married."
"Well, I won't find out if you'd do something like that unless I ask, now will I?" I said reasonably. "Your husband is busy tied up blowing money through the pokies, so you need to do something to fill in the time."
"I just don't do that sort of thing," Jan protested, but I noticed that she didn't get up and walk away. Women, I have found, are rarely insulted by a man saying that they're attractive and fuckable.
"Why not?" I asked. "It's an interesting way to pass the time and you may learn something. Or teach me something new. I'm always willing to try something new."
"It's a silly request anyway," said Jan. "There's nowhere to go and I'm definitely not going up to one of the hotel rooms with you. Do you actually have one booked already?" she asked me, suspicious.
"Of course not," I said with a laugh. "How could I know I'd meet someone like you tonight. Watch and learn."
Glancing around, I spotted one of the casino's people wandering about. If you keep your eye out you can find them easily enough. If something goes wrong they want someone there at once. I lifted a finger and caught his eye.
"Excuse me," I said. "My friend here is feeling a little dizzy. Would you have a room close by where we could sit for half an hour out of the lights and noise?"
(They would have. It's bad publicity to have patrons dropping over in a faint. They're quite eager to shuffle them into a side room and let them faint there.)
"I'm sorry to hear that," he murmured. "If you care to come this way?"
He led me towards a side door, while I gently towed Jan along behind.
"What are you doing?" hissed Jan. "I didn't say I would."
