As one might've predicted, dinner was fantastic.  Sure, the pair were<em>out and about</em>, taking in a sliver of a lifestyle they hadn't really immersed themselves in for years, but there was another sort of energy looming over the evening.  The night was pregnant with possibility, and for once Nikki found herself thinking that maybe -- just maybe -- they might manage to inject a little excitement into their marriage after all.  From lingering smiles, easy conversation, and footsie over a couple glasses of wine to the occasional innuendo, things were feeling flirt -- and she loved it.<br/><br/>The conversation was easy and fun; from lighthearted joking to an in-depth discussion on their mutual career trajectories.  The floodgates were opening, and along with them came a rush of enthsiasm.  As time -- and wine -- passed, her smile grew easier and easier, lingering on her husband as opposed to wandering with curiosity as it often did.  All told, they spent a couple hours at Mario's, and by the end Nikki's cheeks were perpetually flush whilst the toe of her left heel was sprawled far enough out to rock almost continuously against Chris's.<br/><br/><em>"Mmm, I was thinkin'..."</em>Trailing off, Nikki withdrew her phone from the small black handbag she was carrying.  It was the first time she'd withdrawn it that whole meal which was unique in and of itself.  Thumbing through a list of nearby places, she split a small grin.<br/><br/><em>"I was thinking about this place,"</em>she remarked, twisting her phone around to display the cozy looking little club set in a nondescript downtown brick-and-mortar that had been thoroughly updated as a part of the city's<em>urban revitalization</em>effort.  She'd actually heard about the venue from a couple coworkers.  Its emphasis on<em>good music</em>set it apart from the venues more popular with raging kids; while its target market was more in line with the stable twenty or thirty-something who didn't mind spending a little extra on drinks in exchange for purest<em>vibe</em>.  Nikki's eyes flared, ruby-etched lips pursing, as she waited a moment for her husband to digest.<br/><br/><em>"You game?"</em>Mischievous as ever, she gauged her husband carefully, and provided there was no dispute, she'd promptly latch hands with him so that they could go, hand-in-hand a whopping two blocks down to find the outside of<strong>Club Aurora</strong>advertised by nothing more than a low-key embossed metal sign.  Its doors were open, guarded by a lone bouncer, whilst a heavy bass beat carried out onto the sidewalk where a short line of potential patrons patiently waited.<br/><br/><em>"This doesn't look so bad,"</em>Nikki teased, squeezing her husband's hand whilst those heels clicked on the concrete beneath.<em>"So are you still gonna dance with me?"</em>Grinning, she leaned into him, lifting her chin and taking the opportunity to peck his mouth with a quick smooch; provided he allowed it.  Venturing outside of their box had left the young woman feeling more than a little playful.