When Sue-Ellen and Lucy returned from the salon there wasn't a great deal of time to get ready for the party. Lucy rushed upstairs whereas Sue-Ellen went in search of JR. She wanted to find out whether he had made progress with Julie. "It's all fine, honey. I'm going to meet her where she works and discover what this really is all about. I'll tell you exactly when and I will be straight back on the next flight. I'm not hanging around, trust me. Anyhow haven't we got a party to get ready for?" Sue-Ellen was relieved by her husband's openness with her. "Yes we have" she replied "and I'm running late! I wanted to be ready in time to settle Ella down and then help with any last minute preparations." "If she's still awake why don't we bring her down to the party, just for five minutes, and show her off to our friends?" JR asked. He was very proud of his little girl and he wanted the guests to see how pretty and sweet she was. Sue-Ellen smiled. "Alright, only for a few minutes mind. You are going to be in trouble with that little girl when she is older. I have a feeling that she will be able to wrap her daddy around her little finger!"

Thirty minutes later JR and Sue-Ellen vied for the opportunity to look at themselves in their full length mirror. "Darlin, help me with this bow tie will ya?" JR looked handsome in his tuxedo, his wife thought as she began attending to his tie. In the rush to get ready JR hadn't paid much heed to his wife's attire but now that she was close up to him he began to look at her carefully. She had bought a black silk cocktail dress for the occasion. She hadn't been sure about it at first because it was rather more sophisticated than what she normally chose for herself. However, she had been assured by the sales assistant that she looked amazing in it.

JR inspected the dress carefully. It was low cut at the front and back, he noted, with slender cross back straps that accentuated her graceful shoulders and toned upper arms. It was the sexiest dress that he had ever seen her in. He suddenly felt conflicted. "Sugar, that dress looks wonderful on you but isn't it a little too revealing?" He stroked her décolletage with his finger as he continued. "I'm not sure that I want other men seeing you looking so sexy."

"Look JR. Other men can look all they like. It's only you who ever gets to see and have what's beneath this dress." Sue-Ellen realised that her husband was being insecure about her again. She knew what to do. Taking hold of the lapels of his jacket she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply and passionately. However, she didn't bank on how he would react next. Returning the kiss he backed her up against the bedroom wall. Before they knew it passion had overwhelmed the pair of them and he had his hand inside her panties, making her wet. In return Sue-Ellen stroked JR's crotch over his pants. He was gloriously erect. They were going to do it there and then. As Sue-Ellen hastily took off her panties JR freed his manhood. He picked her up, wrapping her legs around him. Before she knew it he was inside her, thrusting hard and deep, causing her to gasp in short, shallow breaths. He brought her to a climax using his finger. "Oh JR! Oh God that feels so good" she moaned. Within a minute later he had no choice but to let himself go, grunting with satisfaction as he came.

As he carefully released her and set her back on the floor they looked each other in the eyes. They shared exactly the same thought at exactly the same moment. "We did it without you wearing anything!" Sue-Ellen whispered breathlessly. "Sue-Ellen, I didn't intend to be reckless with you, I promise. It just happened" he replied. He was panicked that she might think that he had acted deliberately. "I just love you so much and I wanted you. I think you wanted me too?" "Of course I did but what if we have just made another baby?"

As they began to tidy themselves up JR tried to be rational. "It's possible but unlikely, honey. We just have to be more careful for the next few weeks. Anyway, if you are pregnant we'll manage. You're young and healthy and we have money. I'll help and if we need to hire another nanny, so what?" Sue-Ellen wasn't convinced but she wasn't going to risk another row with her husband not after what had just occurred between them which she had to admit she had been just as rash and foolish about as he had. "Alright then, now do I resemble anything like what I looked like before we got started?" She was anxious to look her best before joining the family downstairs. "You do. You are stunning" he responded. "And you are very handsome. Now let's go and see if Ella is still awake."

Miss Ellie was surprised to see her daughter-in-law join the party several minutes late. She was usually fastidiously punctual. However, as she noted JR and Sue-Ellen emerge into the hallway, Ella in her daddy's arms, she felt reassured that her daughter-in-law's tardiness was nothing to worry about. With beaming smiles the proud parents mingled with their guests, both of them taking pride in the compliments that their baby was attracting. Sue-Ellen made a beeline for Marilee Stone and her husband. She knew that the woman hated her and this was the perfect opportunity to needle her. "Marilee, Seth, how lovely to see you!" Sue-Ellen greeted them disingenuously. "Would you like to see our daughter?" Through gritted teeth Marilee uttered an equally insincere platitude and Sue-Ellen walked away, grinning to herself. I hope the little brat vomits all over her, Marilee thought as she sipped her drink.

All in all the party was a great success. Jock and Miss Ellie were very pleased with how it had gone. JR never left his wife's side and as they kissed on the strike of midnight they were both truly happy. "I hope there's less drama this year than there was last" Sue-Ellen murmured to JR between kisses. "Between you and I there will be darlin, I promise" he replied. His thoughts drifted to Cliff Barnes. On the contrary there will be a whole plague of problems for him this year though he thought as he took his wife's hand for one last dance.

tbc