Free Hot Dates: Becoming a Shared Wife by Kirsten McCurran Page B

intentions, and trust me I do, but on their own they don’t mean anything unless you’re out to play tonight.”
    “Out to play?” I laughed. “You make it sound like I’m some teenager who snuck out.”
    “Maybe you didn’t sneak, but I don’t think this is an average night for you. I think you came out looking for a good time.”
    “Sounds like you have me all figured out. Tell me more, please.” The banter was to hide the shiver of fear that shot through me. For a second I thought Charles had figured out what I was up to somehow. Had he noticed the dent on my finger where my rings would normally be? I could not do much about that.
    “I’m guessing recently divorced, or maybe just separated. Either way, you don’t look like you’re used to being out on the prowl. You seem a little nervous, like you haven’t done this for a while.”
    “There could be some truth to that,” I acknowledged. I was not going to confirm or deny anything. If he wanted to think I was some divorcee out looking for a good time that was probably for the best. But I had thought I was doing a good job at covering my nerves. Did Charles come over because he thought I was out of practice and I would be an easy mark? If he thought I was just going to fall into bed with him, he had another thing coming.
    Charles slipped his arm around me and moved closer. His other hand came to rest on my knee, his thumb lazily tracing upward toward my stocking top and the edge of my dress. “But none of that really answers my basic question. What are your intentions, Dana?”
    “I really don’t have any. I am just out to have fun tonight.” I was glad I could answer honestly.
    “Just what I like to hear.”
    Tricia came back with our drinks and we toasted to having fun. His hand went back to my knee when he set his drink down. I clutched mine and nerves led me to drink it too quickly. I was already buzzed by the drinks I’d had before and that last martini pushed me over the edge to goofy and more than a little flirty. I leaned my head on his shoulder and his hand dropped down behind me so he could cup my ass, which only scooted me closer to him. My stocking tops were left exposed by my shifting and Charles traced the lace with his fingertips. His touch gave me the chills, especially when I glanced over and saw my husband peeking when he could.
    Dave watched us together like he was trying to memorize every moment. I wanted to know how he felt watching me sitting so closely with another man—a stranger—and letting him touch me so freely. I knew he had to be rock hard, but I wished I could fully understand his desire to see me like that. The way Dave looked at us I could feel him willing me to go further, but I’d been waiting for Charles to make a move and he seemed happy to move slowly so far. He probably thought that since I was so out of practice on the dating scene that I’d spook if he moved too fast.
    I took a deep breath and went for it. I tipped my head back and brushed my lips over Charles’s neck. He stiffened for a moment and then smiled and said, “I guess I got you drunk enough.”
    “I guess you have,” I replied and smiled, lightly kissing his neck with a quick flick of my tongue.
    Charles smelled good—strong and masculine. I did not recognize the cologne, but it smelled expensive. I did not think there was anything cheap about this man. His fingers brushed through my hair and caressed the back of my neck, urging me on. More chills. I turned my body and place a shaking hand on his chest. The adrenaline rush was incredible. I would have felt it coming on to a man like this in a public place anyway, even when I was single, but doing it now as a married woman, with my husband watching, it turned my whole body into a live wire, vibrating with energy.
    I closed my eyes and even though I could hear the music and the crowd around us, everything seemed to melt away. I focused on misbehaving. Charles guided my lips from his neck to