"Don't mind if we do ladies," said the commander, and the men descended on the drinks table, downing shots and tearing into the piles of cooked meat.
"Cro-Magnon man has arrived at the party," Delphi whispered to Feifei.
"Ooga booga, ooga booga," laughed Feifei, jumping from foot to foot and scratching under her arm in an imitation of a caveman.
"I hope that's not your impression of all of us Miss Sun," said Bo, coming up behind them. He struck out his hand politely. "Ren Bo. You can call me Bo."
Bo's ancestry looked to be Chinese. He was very clean-cut and handsome. Square jaw, golden skin, dark brown eyes, nice lips, good hair. It was virtually impossible for Feifei to be mean to him when his 'pretty privilege' was socking her in the guts.
"May I have this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand confidently.
Even if she wanted to say no, this was what they were here for tonight, so she took his hand and let him lead her under the coloured lights.
Unfortunately, Arrie continued to outdo herself.
The song they started dancing to which had an appropriately slow tempo suddenly sped up, segueing to the less appropriate chorus: "Take me on the floor. I can't take it anymore. I want you, I want you, I want you to show me love."
"Bloody Arrie," Feifei muttered and pursed her lips grumpily.
The couple was quickly joined by Baer and Niko dragging Loveday and Indy with them. The large lads had downed five or six shots in quick succession and were already extremely merry. They hadn't bothered asking their ladies to dance, assuming the answer was 'yes'.
Neither of the huge men could dance very well at all, but they made up for their lack of finesse with great enthusiasm. Though very quickly this descended into grabbing their women, pulling them close and starting to paw them.
Magnus approached Ruby after he had a few drinks on board to bolster his courage.
When he was up close to her, her delicate blonde beauty was even more pronounced, and he found himself completely tongue-tied. She was gentle with him and didn't make fun of him or rush him.
Her first thought was that a man as pretty as this one would be in hot demand with women, and she wished one of the less beautiful men had sought her out.
She steeled herself for what she knew her job was with him tonight.
"Magnus Dorn," he said, sticking his hand out.
"Ruby Rose," she took his hand and shook it gently.
He turned her hand over and kissed the back of it. "It's very nice to meet you. You're a very beautiful woman Miss Rose."
"Thank you," she smiled softly. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't pleased with the compliment.
"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me to this crude song?"
She smiled shyly and nodded. He felt his heart melt a little bit more.
Magnus was a nicely brought up young man, so there was no grabbing and pawing, just fun dancing with each other and lots of catching each other's eye then looking away, like a pre-War young couple on their first date.
Delphi watched them and thought they looked very sweet together.
The commander moved into her line of vision. His eyes told her everything she needed to know about where his mind was…
"Miss Chastain," he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her along behind him to dance, without asking her.
Thank goodness the song about 'taking me on the floor' had come to an end.
Arrie had a slower song queued:
"I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never ever tear us apart."
Alton grabbed Delphi around the waist and pulled her against him, slow dancing with her.
"This seems like a very appropriate first dance for us, Delphi," he smiled a rare little smile at her.
"Why is that, Alton? Are you suggesting we're star-crossed lovers who nothing will tear apart?" she looked incredulously at him. "Or are you suggesting I should believe that's what you want, so you can get in my pants?"
Don't forget you're meant to be seducing him Delphi! she reminded herself. This man really brought out the worst in her… It was one thing to let him access her body, but her heart? She would never let him hurt her.
"Is that so hard to believe?" he asked her.
"Which one? 'Yes', if you mean that we're star-crossed lovers, 'no', if you mean that you want to get in my pants."
"Maybe it's both," he said cryptically. "Would that be so wrong?"
She raised her eyebrows at him.
He danced her across to the drinks table and handed her a shot glass.
"No, no, no," he stopped her from drinking it. "Hold on for a moment."
He picked up his own glass and then crossed his arm over hers in the traditional crossed cupped wine ceremony used by married couples at their wedding.
"Really Alton?"
"To our partnership in life and love," he toasted her, before downing his shot.
She drank her shot, reminding herself of what she needed from this man.
Be nice Delphi, be nice! she chanted. Inside voice, inside voice!
The alcohol hit her hard this time and she swayed on her feet.
Alton reached out and steadied her.
"That might have been one drink too many," she said out loud.
Hmm, inside voice was now outside voice...
She closed her eyes and danced to the next song; "I have my sentence now, at last, I know just how you felt. I dig my fingers in, expecting more than just the skin."
Alton watched the beautiful woman, her little dress hugged her in all the right places and unfortunately for him, he knew that body got better and better the less she wore.
He wished he could carry her off right this moment and have his way with her. He had a plan that should get him there imminently.
"How about a little challenge for you and your team Delphi?"
"Hmm," she swayed her hips, lifting up her long hair and gazing up at him with her big eyes as the female singer hit the chorus; "and I will fuck you like nothing matters".
"Jesus woman, would you stop seducing me, or I will take you on the floor, right here," he pulled her close. "Are you up for some games?"
"Sure," she said easily. "What are the rules?"
"Same as your wrestling matches. Boys versus girls. The winner sets the punishment for the loser."
"Okay. As long as the loser consents. Nothing against their will."
"Done!"