Ann was also wearing very dark blue pants. What made them special was that they were extremely low-slung. I was not sure then what principal of design it was that kept the pants from slipping off. They seemed to find some support on each of Ann's hips but the pants were then cut in a V-shape both in the front and in the back. In the front, the notched area that was exposed, dipped well below Ann's bellybutton on to her lower belly.
In the rear, the top third or so of the cleft between her bottom cheeks was also uncovered.
When it was time to leave, and as I walked Ann to our car, I made a point of walking Ann direclty through the hotel's crowded lobby, where she cut an audible swath right through the people who were otherwise heading out or coming back.
We arrived at the address which Mike had provided precisely at 8:45 and evidently, Ann was the last person he was expecting. I did not recognize the other three girls who were there. They had not been at Carroway's the night before. Mike commented that it was good that Ann had joined up because one of the girls had gotten sick and he had promised four girls at the party. It was also quite clear to all of us that quite a party was und erway. We could hear raucous noise from the house and even could feel the thump thump of the rhythm being played on the bass quitar of the live band.
Mike walked us out to the rear entrance to the house, where one of the staff retrieved the host. I recognized the host of the party from a recent appearance on the Tonight Show which he had attended to publicize his lat est movie. I was introduced as one of Mike's partners and I watched as our host eyed all the girls up and down. His gaze lingered especially at Ann. He introduced himself to her, and asked Ann her name. "Annie" was the answer, which kind of took me aback as I had never before heard Ann refer to herself as that. I knew that Ann recognized this celebrity.
The girls were given a place to change into their outfits. Ann asked Mike for direction as to what they were supposed to do, and Mike suggested that she and I watch the first two girls. Mike told Ann that she would hav e enough time after the first set to get ready and he suggested that we stand in the back of the ballroom.
At a cue, the band shifted away from the latin music it had been playing to a hard pulsing rock beat. I scanned the crowd to see if there was anyone there I recognized, all the while hoping that there was no one there w ho recognized me. Those in attendance all seemed clustered in the late twenties early, thirties age bracket. Although I could not link any of the faces with any recognizable names, I was sure this was an entertainment i ndustry crowd, in part because of the significant number of absolutely georgous people in attendance.
Mandy and Patty were the first two of Mike's girls to step out on to the dance floor. Quickly, I saw that this was not as tame as Carroway's. The first tipoff was that as the girls danced around a cleared out area, th ey wasted no time in taking each other's blouse off. Then, encouraged by the crowd, they were soon wearing only g-strings as they danced and circulated among the rest of the partygoers, all the while dancing and kissing and hugging all around them. These girls were clearly ice-breakers as they managed to incite some of the others in attendance to emulate their shedding of clothes and as the music blared and the tempo increased, I lost t rack of Mandy and Patty amid the significant number of partially clad women on the dance floor.
Mike took Ann and her partner Diane by the elbows and told them that they were to be ready in five minutes. Diane, who was a tall, willowy blonde and Ann retreated to the changing room. When they emerged they were both wearing identical outfits-all in white- consisting no more than of white bras, panties, garterbelts and stockings. Mike cued the bandleader to introduce Ann and Diane. At an appropriate point, the bandleader stopped the music and asked everyone to form a circle on the dance floor. Then, as the next melody was softly started, he introduced Ann and Diane, who in keeping with the beat started to dance their way into the middle of the r oom. At the outset the beat was fast and Ann and Diane were no more than go-go dancers bopping around in the center of the dancefloor. Unlike, Mandy and Patty, they made no effort either to mix or interact physically wi th the guests. At that point I caught a glimpse of Patty dancing with one of those in attendance. This would not have been remarkable except that Patty's hand was in her dance-partner's pants. But even that was not so extraordinary. One male guest was on his knees with his head well up and covered by the dress of a young redhead. All of this activity was occuring in the middle of a crowded dance floor.
There was then a change in tempo. The band launched into a different type of song, playing the old Righteous Brothers song "You've lost that loving feeling". In that much slower but very intense song, the crowd changed , the dancing and other activity became much more intimate, and Ann and Diane were forced to improvise. Ann took the lead and drew Diane to her. Placing their arms around each other's shoulders, they thrust their pelvis ' forward so that they seemed locked to each other as they swayed together in time to the music. Ann, at one point reached behind Diane and unhooked her bra. When Diane returned the favor to Ann, it was obvious to me th at a significant number of the guests were transfixed by Ann's figure.
One of those whose attention was captured was our host. He came over to Ann and took her away from Diane and started to dance with her. Mike, who was standing next to me, got quite excited. "Oh if he likes her, boy wil l I be set." I think I knew what he meant. As Ann danced, I saw our host draw Ann's hand against him obviously to show to her how she had affected him and I recognized a pained and uncomfortable look on Ann as he nuzzle d against her breasts. Some conversation passed between them, when I saw Ann excuse herself from him and come over to me.
"Bob" Ann began, "he wants me to join him and some of his friends in one of his hottubs outside."
"Do you want to go?" I asked Ann.
Ann's answer was simple and direct. "Bob, if you would like me to go, it is only for you to say so."
With that answer I snapped. Taking Ann by the wrist and with no further comment to anyone, I pushed our way out of the room, through the back area and to our car. I was in a fury but one that was totally inner-directed . Ann had no idea what it was that was upsetting me so and I was only slowly realizing it. As we pulled away from the house, I saw in the rear view mirror, Mike chasing after us on foot, wondering what it was that cause d such a hasty exit.
Ann seemed to be frightened by my behavior and I saw tears glistening in her eyes. My mind was racing in review of the many years I had spent with Ann as we headed back to the hotel. And then I knew. And I spoke. I t alked to Ann as we were driving because I could not contain myself. I did not know, as I spoke one sentence what the next sentence would convey. I only knew that I had discovered an essential truth and that it had to b e said.
"Ann, I love you" was how I began using a phrase I had never before used with another person. "Tonight I realized just how devoted you have been to me, how you have subordinated your own feelings and needs to me and how little I have given you in return."
"Over all these years you have made so little demand on me, that I have realized the one thing which is missing in my life is an outlet for my need to be giving to you too."
Ann was sobbing uncontrollably. "Ann you've been better for me, more caring for me than I had any right to expect and it is killing me now that I have taken you for granted at times. But I know that I cherish you, that the gift of your devotion which I have had all these years, your loyalty, your desire to please me, is and has been the most precious gift I could have ever been given by anyone."
We were nearing the hotel. As we pulled up to the hotel I gave Ann my sports jacket as a cover up. Ann struggled to maintain her composure as we rode up the elevator towards out room. I held my arm around her.