A few months ago, I attended a job-related convention. One of the guys I work with had an novel solution to a problem that has troubled out industry for years. From time to time, I helped him with it, but it was his baby. He was asked to give a presentation about it. Even though I had helped just somewhat, I ended up going to the convention on the company's dime. My job was to sit on the stand while he spoke. I needed to nod knowingly at certain comments and laugh at his jokes. The company didn't mind if I brought my wife along (so long as I covered her airfare). So, I brought her too.
The presentation was scheduled in one of the smaller lecture halls. Along with two other lectures, it started at 7:00 pm. Afterwards there might be some brief Q and A. That meant dinner would have to be either too early or too late. My wife and I decided to eat beforehand. Dinner was quicker than planned, so we arrived with time to burn. My co-worker was already there, and had his presentation set up. He had not thought about eating until we got there. He asked me to watch his stuff while he grabbed something quick. So, I walked up on the stand and found my seat next to his.
The lecture hall was something like you'd see in a university. The seats formed an arc around the podium. That way everyone could watch without craning their necks. My wife found a seat about half-way up on one end. I sat there with a dumb look on my face and watched people start to trickle in. After a while I noticed my wife smiling at someone. Thinking that my co-worker had come back, I looked in the direction of her smile. It wasn't him. Across the hall from my wife (almost a mirror-image of where she was sitting), some guy was finding his seat. He apparently noticed her smile because he gave her a slight nod and a quick smile as he sat down. Did they know each other? Given the distance from home and the nature of the lecture, that seemed unlikely. If they did know each other, you'd think that one or the other would have gone over to say 'hello'. I brushed it off and resumed my glazed expression as I waited. About ten seconds later, she looked towards him again and reached up to play with her hair. I muttered a soft, "uh-huh". He raised his hand slightly as if to say 'hello' again. Now I was paying attention.
Fearing that people would doze off, my co-worker kept the lights on and decided to do his presentation 'old school' with marker and white board. My only involvement was a brief acknowledgment at the beginning. I tried to remain attentive during the lecture, but my wife's exchange with her new 'boyfriend' had me monitoring them both instead of listening to the lecture. I had an epiphany. And a naughty one at that.
I'm not sure what the exact name for my kink is, but I like watching my wife flirt with other guys. She knows this because we have talked about it occasionally. A couple of times (when out of town) she has indulged me with mild and innocent flirting with strangers. Maybe tonight was just another one of those times. Since I had not 'reminded' her to flirt on this trip, I thought otherwise. The combination of being away from home, anonymity, and willing participants had me churning all sorts of fantasy scenarios. I just had to figure out how to get the two of them talking.
The lecture ended on time with polite applause. A few people made their way up front to talk to my co-worker... and maybe exchange business cards. I stood nearby, just in case. The guy my wife was flirting with looked at his phone for a few minutes. He wasn't really doing anything with it. The hall emptied quickly. Seeing my wife still seated, he took it as a sign to go over and talk to her. I couldn't really make out their conversation, but I watched carefully. I fully expected her to point towards me, followed by him making a hasty retreat. It didn't happen.
As my co=worker was wrapping things up with the last attendee, my wife and her BF were still smiling and talking up a storm. He made a subtle, but somewhat bold, move of reaching out and touching her elbow. She turned her eyes towards me as if to say, "Are you watching what he is doing?". I nodded in approval. She winked at me and I knew that this was on.
With just four of us left in the room, my co-worker gathered his stuff and nodded towards my wife asking, "You are...umm...hanging around a bit?"
I answered, "It looks that way. "
I complimented him on his presentation and told him that I'd see him at work in a few days. He just smiled and said, "thanks", then quietly left.
The BF finally realized that it was just the three of us left. Realizing the obvious, he pointed to the two of us and asked, "You two are together?"
My wife smiled and answered, "Yes, but you and I are just talking". She turned to me and said, "Ain't that right hon?"
I nodded knowingly and was about to say something when one of the venue staff poked their head in and asked, "Everything okay?"
I answered, "Yes. We're just friends doing a little catching up. Do we need to leave?"
He wavered saying, "Technically yes. We are wanting to shut down for the evening. But you can stay longer if you'd like. Just make sure the doors close behind you when you leave the room and when you exit the building. The cleaning crew will be here in about an hour. You will need to leave when they show up."
The conversation between my wife and her BF had started to wither at this point. He muttered something about having to go. She feigned disappointment. I drew nearer to the two of them and told them, "We don't to leave right now."
My wife asked, "Do you have something in mind?"
The BF got a concerned look on his face. I guess he was trying to figure out if he was going to get lucky or have his ass kicked.
I answered, "As a matter of fact, I do have something to suggest."
My wife said, "Let's hear it then."
I continued, "I'd like both of you to return to your chairs."
She interjected, "And?"
I finished, "...and without talking to each other. We'll just see what happens."
We both looked at the BF to gauge his interest. He said, "I'm not sure I understand. You want us to sit in our chairs and do what?"
I answered, "Whatever the two of you decide." I paused a moment before continuing, "Look, I caught that little elbow touch you gave my wife."
"Oh shit, she's your wife.", he exclaimed.
I answered, "Yes, she's my wife." then continued, "...who knows I like to watch her flirt. The two of you were getting along nicely. Do you know each other's names yet?"