Always up for a new adventure, Sylvie said: "We're going and that's that."   I tried to pump her for info but she just said they were friends of a friend from work, this couple, and it was called Dark Dining.  And I'd better hold onto my hat, 'cause it was going to be different.

There were six of us, not counting our hosts and we were seated around a long table, led to it like the blind; the seating designed for mixing.  It was the darkest room I'd ever been in.  Somehow they'd managed to snuff out ever particle of light.  I imagined duct tape around blackout curtains and along the cracks under the doors.  A hand came up to my mouth.

"Try this," a woman's voice said, an inch from my ear.  Her breath was warm and sweet.  It was the redhead.  I was sure of it.

"Wow," I said, tasting something entirely new to me.  I tried to tease out the various spices and couldn't. "Ummm…"

I heard Sylvie giggle from the other end of the table.  It was her flirty laugh I hadn't heard in some time.  The next two dishes were equally intriguing and served in the same manner.  Those fingers to my lips with something savory and exotic—her own lips to my ear saying, "Open up" or "Down the hatch."  I even licked her fingers once as they lingered there.

She was the attractive woman, the host we'd met at the door.  She had long red hair and a pair of night vision goggles atop her head, making her seem otherworldly.  Her husband stood beside her donning the same equipment, greeting guests.

There was a lot of low chatter around the table and pleasurable sighs.  She left for a time, leaving me with an alcoholic drink of some sort which went straight to my head and other places.  After she returned, the chatter quieted.  I thought I heard Sylvie whispering and then a slurping sound.

The redhead handed me another beverage and I drank it down without hesitation.

"I can't figure…"  I began, but she put a finger to my lips.  "Don't analyze," she said.  She bent closer and her hair swung down across my face.  I didn't bother to brush it away.

I heard her behind me fidgeting with something.  Then she said, "Here", slipping the night vision goggles over my face.

"My God," I said.  "Fuck."  When I turned to look at her she was naked and smiling down at me.  She removed the goggles and there was that sweet breath again.

"Try this," she said and like a little bird I opened my mouth.