“Is this seat taken?” My words brush against your ear, slow and calculated. I can see the goosebumps rise on your skin. The excitement and anticipation that had been building finally coming to fruition.

You shake your head lightly, signaling that it’s okay for me to sit, even though I knew the answer to your question already. I feel a little ridiculous, but this also might be the hottest thing you’ve ever thought of.

Recently, you brought up the idea of spicing up our bedroom life. Not that we’re bland or bored, but just a way to switch it up a bit. We both brainstormed some ideas and eventually came to one that we had in common.

Roleplaying.

It took us a while to figure out which scene we’d play. We searched endlessly for which one would fit us best, but it was hard. From pizza delivery guy to a mythical creature with wings, we discussed them all. But none of them felt right, didn’t feel like us. It was either too extreme or way too tame. But there was one that stuck out, one we both agreed to put on the back burner while both secretly hoping we’d end up doing that one.

The Strangers.

It gives us the opportunity to, sort of…restart, in a way. No longer are we married or have 5 years of relationship behind us. We’re still us, but we’re pretending like we’re strangers. A way to exercise that flirting muscle with the one person we vowed to flirt with for the rest of our lives. It’s comfortable and familiar, but the thrill is the unknown. Sure, we’re ourselves, but we’re playing it up. Seeing if we could still lock each other down if we’d just met today.

You arrived at this bar twenty minutes before me, ordered a drink, and made yourself comfortable. I took a cab and was anxious the whole ride over. What a crazy feeling? To be anxious to go pick up my wife?

Expect, you’re not my wife. Not tonight, anyway. You even left your wedding ring at home. Tonight, you’re a beautiful stranger I couldn’t help but approach at the bar. Someone I’d like to take home tonight and never see again.

That’s the really fun part—the part that will make everything more explosive. We’re treating it like a one night stand. You’ve booked a hotel room tonight so that once we’re done…you leave. You get dressed and leave our home. Just means our night together has to be extra special. Want my wife to be bragging about the sexy stranger she met at the bar the night before when you come back home tomorrow…

“So… You come here often?” Okay…maybe my flirting skills are a bit rusty.