Dallas, Texas

Standing in the cocktail bar bathroom, Sue Ellen slipped her engagement ring and wedding band off her left hand, before hesitating about her next move. She could place them in her purse, or she could move them to her right hand, next to the interlocking ring JR had given her before John Ross' birth, it just depended on how seriously she wanted to take their game. Staring down at her bare ring finger, she smiled to herself before slipping her third ring off too, opening her purse and placing the three rings into a secure side pocket, she loved her husband and her son, but tonight she was a college girl again, young and unmarried, this time though, not inexperienced or abstinent. Checking her appearance in the bathroom mirror a final time, she then opened the door and headed back to her and JR's table, feeling shockingly self-conscious as she did so. It had been years since she'd had a bare ring finger and where she had felt confident in the bathroom, now she felt a bit naked, as if she was advertising herself as potentially available to every man who looked at her. It was ridiculous, she was no more visible now than she had been before she'd walked into the bathroom, but that didn't stop her from feeling different.

Nearing JR, she pushed herself to regain the confidence she'd had in the bathroom as she'd removed her rings; they were only playing a game and games were supposed to be fun. Walking the final few steps toward their table, she slid in next to him, "did you miss me?" whispering in his ear she gripped his thigh possessively, much the same way he had been doing to her all evening. "Mhm, of course darlin'", responding to her comment, it was apparent from the way he was looking at her that she held all of his attention, a fact which made her feel good, it also made her feel like she held some power. "Good", holding eye contact with him, she decided to push through with what she had been thinking about earlier, "how would you feel about getting out of here? Finding somewhere a little quieter to talk", emphasising the word talk, she knew he understood exactly what she meant. She'd started the evening with one idea of what she wanted to happen but as they'd spent time together other ideas had developed; dancing still sounded like fun, but if he wanted to 'invite her back to his dorm room', she had no problem with that either. Their evening was not so much an exact repeat of something that had happened to either of them in college, instead it was more about bringing back the attitudes and freedoms they had had back then, even if in her case she was freer now than she had been in the past.

"I'd say yes, absolutely, but isn't that supposed to be my line?" grinning at her as he spoke, she knew he didn't really mind her being forward, even in their regular relationship he appreciated her expressing her interest in him. "Mm, it is, but I was thinking, my college was full of modern women, going after exactly what they wanted…" trailing her hand from his thigh up his body, she eventually settled on his face, stroking his cheek gently before leaning in to kiss him very gently, only enough to give him a brief preview of what was to come. Hard to resist though, she lingered longer than intended, she didn't drink bourbon but she enjoyed the taste on his lips and tonight that taste was addictive. "Is that right? Well, I think that's a very good suggestion", reaching his own hand out to touch the hand she had on his face, he ran his fingers down her arm and back up again, sending shivers up her spine.

"I'm glad", playing with his wedding band, she brought his attention to their hands, "one more thing. Seeing as we're not married…" Understanding her intentions completely, he slipped the ring off his finger, pulled his wallet out of his pocket again and stashed it inside in a quick motion she told herself not to let bother her; he accessed his wallet all the time, that was why his movement seemed smooth and natural, not because he was unfaithful to her anymore. She had to stop thinking so negatively, they had struggled with tough times in their marriage but had come out the other side stronger and more understanding of each other's needs, besides that though, she kept pushing that they weren't married tonight, so stressing about their marriage seemed counterproductive.

"Well then Miss Shepard, shall we go? Like you said, we're a little overdressed for that party at the fraternity house you were so interested in, but I know a couple of places that might be suitable", standing, he held out his hand to her and she nodded wordlessly before following his lead, standing and taking her place safely at his side. From the way he was looking at her it was clear to her that he appreciated her dress selection as much as he had told her earlier in the evening, because although he could be a real gentleman, he couldn't help but stare at her chest every so often, not so discreetly either. Claiming their coats, they headed toward the elevator, equally thrilled when the doors closed and they were the only two people inside.

Taking advantage of their circumstances, and her role as a modern woman going after exactly what she wanted, Sue Ellen turned toward him and placed a soft kiss on his lips again, this time gently sliding her hands under his jacket too. Running her hands over the top of his shirt covered chest, she enjoyed the way his hands equally explored her body, one hand seeing what her chest had to offer, the other her behind. Kissing slowly and passionately, she audibly groaned as the elevator slowed and they had to break apart, they were not on the ground floor yet, nor alone anymore, and that was torturous. Separating, they smiled politely at the new additions to the elevator, completely aware it was probably obvious what they had been doing before creating a little space between them, not caring too much though, because it really didn't matter what strangers thought of them.

Eventually exiting the elevator, the next couple of minutes were a blur to Sue Ellen, with JR muttering something about picking his car up in the morning and a taxi seemingly appearing out of nowhere, most memorably though, they had quickly resumed their actions from where they had paused in the elevator, this time taking no notice of their company. Unaware of the route they had taken, it was only the taxi slowing that really told her they had reached their destination, and as she pulled away from JR, she looked around, grinning herself as she noticed their location; he'd taken her suggestion and found them somewhere quieter to talk, and she was not complaining, not at all.

To be continued…