I could see she really wanted to sit on my lap. That wasn’t possible so I pulled the chair outward slightly and patted a knee. We kissed lightly but...any hope for more was ended by Liz’s buzzing phone.“People are starting to arrive,” she informed me. “We need to head downstairs.”We got to the lobby just as three people entered the vestibule. They all looked to be in the mid-20s and their work attire suggested they were headed to one of the telemarketing firms. They all wore shorts and T-shirts.. And if you were stupid, you would not be alive. There is a man here with you, somewhere, I am thinking.” The men nodded agreement. Their eyes drifted at last from her and began to cast about in the darkness. Knowing that this could be their undoing, Silmaria made a desperate gamble. “There are no men here but you,” she said, struggling to keep her voice calm, and even suggestive. The Gnari woman stood, letting her blanket fall away, to stand naked before the men. She rested a hand on her. "So, wanna see that totally hot new dress Igot this weekend that I..." She paused, and blushed. "Oh, you already sawmy babydoll dress, huh?" She grinned like she'd forgotten she was justwearing it in front of me.Maybe she had. Until she said that I really hadn't noticed she'd changedinto some small cotton shorts like the cheerleaders wore during practicein the summer and a tank top that went around her neck instead of over theshoulder and down her back. The top had the words "Too cute" on it,. "I suppose you need some more convincing."I nodded, grinning."You know, what Shelly and I do is private," she said. "It's supposed to be a secret. So I guess the only way I can be sure you won't tell our secret is if you and I have a secret of our own."I had no idea what she was talking about, but it certainly sounded exciting."Now let's see... what kind of secret can we share?" she asked. "Kissing isn't good enough. You won't get in trouble with your parents if they found out we kissed. .