11.
The ristorante was elegant in its simplicity in the way that many Roman restaurants can be, and managed to convey its high class status with the attentiveness of its wait staff rather than lots of ornate fixtures. The group of six had been pampered by a helpful sommelier since being seated and as a result, all of the diners had a nice buzz going and there was much laughter and chatter all around. Only Anne and Joseph refrained from alcohol. It did not escape Michael's notice that occasionally Joseph's dark hand would casually rest on Elizabeth's sleek thigh, or that Joseph would turn to Elizabeth, lift her hair and lean close to whisper something in her ear.
Michael was extremely uncomfortable at first but noticed the overly familiar, almost possessive way Patrice treated Anne, sitting across from him. He thought that perhaps it was simply the social norm for Nigerians to be gregarious and fun loving. In fact, he had been to parties with Joseph's brothers which had been by his standards a little on the wild side, so tonight seemed restrained by comparison.
Across the table from them, Patrice whispered something to Anne, and she ran her hand gracefully across his chest and nodded her head in agreement. She spoke up saying, "Nigel, Patrice and I are going to dance." It was a statement rather than a request for permission.
Nigel looked at them and replied quickly, "Of course! Nothing would please me more."
The restaurant was exceptional, almost unique by Roman standards, in that it had a dance area courtesy of a mid 1980's expansion into an adjacent bar which had fallen on hard times after the collapse of disco. They were seated adjacent to tiny dance floor where tightly packed couples rocked out to a small combo covering current hits. As Patrice and Anne danced vigorously, Michael found himself unable to tear his gaze from them. Inexplicably, his face flushed and he had all the signs of sexual arousal, including a sudden erection. He became painfully aware of this, and felt annoyed with himself. Elizabeth rose from her seat next to Joseph and walked to stand directly behind her husband. She leaned over and kissed his cheek tenderly and whispered in his ear, "Darling, why don't you ask Joseph if he'd like to dance with me? He is all alone in a strange country and doesn't really know anyone outside the diplomatic corps here. Besides, as you pointed out, it might be good if he had nice things to say about you to his brothers back in Nigeria."
She excused herself to go to the ladies lavatory, and Michael leaned over to Joseph, speaking loudly so he could be heard over the rendition of "Proud Mary", just reaching its high volume crescendo. "Are you enjoying your time here on Italy, then Joseph?" he asked.
Joseph looked at him and arching an eyebrow, replied, "Well, I must admit I encounter rather more racial enmity than I expected. In fact, you and your lovely wife are amongst the few whites I have met here who didn't look at me with veiled distaste -- and sometime not so veiled! I am thinking of leaving here and recommending to my family back home that we should sign oil lease and mineral rights agreements with China rather than western companies.
Michael reacted with genuine concern, saying, "I am so sorry to hear that. Please don't assume we are all like that. May I add that I am very appreciative of your friendship with my wife. She speaks glowingly of you and has said that she really enjoys jogging with you."
Joseph smiled to himself thinking, that's not all she enjoys, as you may soon learn. Instead he spoke appreciatively of his new friendship with Elizabeth, whom they both could see wending her way back to the table. She leaned over and kissed Michael then handed him something and whispered, "Darling, my panties ripped somehow. Can you just stuff them somewhere without being conspicuous? Be a dear."
Michael reddened with embarrassment, but recovered shoving them in his inside coat pocket, then nodded his head, and whispered, "Liz darling, it just occurred to me how much you like to dance and what a terrible dancer I am. Perhaps Joseph would like to dance?"
Elizabeth raised a brow, and Joseph nodded his assent, then rose quickly from his seat. In a moment, they were off, making their way through the throng. When a fast number started, some of the dancers departed the floor, leaving Michael and Nigel with a clear view of their black dinner companions and their wives. Michael and Nigel continued to nurse their glasses of wine without conversation. They both admired their wives and their grace and energy with their dark dance partners. When another slow number started, Nigel leaned over to Michael and said smiling, "God, don't our wives look spectacular with their black lovers! Have they treated you to watching them in bed yet?"
Michael's eye popped open wide and his jaw dropped. He hardly knew how to respond to such a provocative and unexpected comment. He blurted out, "Lover? Lover? What the fuck did you . . .? I mean, Uhhh. My Elizabeth would never be interested in something like that. What the hell are you talking about?"
Nigel patted him on the wrist reassuringly, "Calm down old man. I'm sorry for offending you! I thought you knew of our situation and just rather assumed you were doing the same thing with Joseph. Really, you must admit they look incredibly sexy together out there. Just look at the way Joseph is holding your wife. Why, it's as though they truly are lovers. Look at his dark skin against her paleness. Honestly, look the way his hands move over her body."
Michael looked more intently at his wife and the powerfully built Joseph, having had his attention called to them. The Alto sax player held the last notes of the song, "Meglio Stasera: It Had Better Be Tonight," and as he did, he saw Joseph dip Elizabeth, one hand supporting her back and the other firmly cupping her buttock.
The contrast between their skin colors was especially striking since Elizabeth's dress was backless and her alabaster skin seemed almost luminescent on the dance floor. When Joseph assisted her back to a standing position, his hand slid down her back and was stopped only when it caught in the material an inch above the swell of her petite derriere. Michael found himself unaccountably aroused by this and his dick even twitched spasmodically, depositing a little squirt of precum on his Y-fronts.