3 for 3! But what about number 4?

"Could someone get me a drink of water?" you say. Your nose is itching and you resist the urge to push up the blindfold and scratch it.

"No water on the snack table here," Dan says.

"I'll go get it," said Melanie brightly. "You might as well be comfortable. For now."

"What is it, John, need to clear your palate?" Melissa asks.

"Perhaps some crackers too?" Marcia adds.

"If you had a wine-tasting in mind," Gordon says, "I think we have some plain oyster crackers."

Sniggers ripple in the air around you.

You clear your throat "Uh, no thanks," you say. "Just water." You breathe in and out slowly and deeply.

Footsteps approach, and you catch the scents of gin and Tommy Girl. Or maybe Gamine. "Here, ducks," Melanie says, pressing a glass in your hand. "Drink up and get to it!" You drain the glass and Melanie takes it back.

"Well John, are you game?" Martin's low baritone asks.

You think you hear Mark asking Anita, "Did you really...?" and being hushed.

You put your hands on the table again. One... two... three pairs of knickers. Cotton knit, small... damp at the crotch. There's a stirring in your trousers. Satin with scratchy lace, a little bigger. Damp again, at the crotch and the waistband. Satin, rather bigger than the others, with a wider waistband. Faintly damp in the center.

"Well, I think I know who's missing," you say. You try and recall if Melissa's tight shorts revealed any pantie lines. Sheer silk might not show through, and you guess that would be her choice for tonight... if anything.

"Big talker," says Marcia. "So who is who?"

"I just want to be sure," you say. You lift the cotton knit pair close to your face and breathe in. Above the cunt musk of the wearer, there's a sweet, incense-y, almost candy-like odor. You nod.

"Vintage year?" Martin asks.

"So who's that?" Melanie asks.

"Not you," you say, and reach for the next.

The satin-and-lace pair has a stronger woman-scent, with a trace of perfumed body powder. You trace your finger over an embroidered heart-shape on the front. You smile. Yes. "Red, I think." you say. Tracing your finger lower, you add, "And I'd say... she's finding the party... rather exciting."

"Come on, you!" Melanie says. Anita giggles.

"Did you want a cracker before the next one?" Martin asks.

"No, I'm alright," you say.

The last pair, satin, with a broad elasticised waistband, smells only faintly of its wearer. You also detect plain soap, body lotion and a sticky little dab of... grape jelly? Your forehead crinkles as your eyebrows go up under the blindfold.

"Well, what do you think?" Anita asks.

"Cat got your tongue?" Melissa asks.

"Mee-ow!" Melanie chimed in.

"Ready for your forfeits?" Marcia asked, keeping most of the glee out of her voice.

"All right, then," you say. "First," touching the cotton knit, "the inimitable Anita."

"S'right," she says.

You hear applause and cheers, mostly from the fellows.

"Third," you say, touching the elasticised satin on the other side, and gently rolling it between your fingers. "the indomitable Marcia."

"Too true," she says. More clapping comes from round about. "Hear, hear!" says Martin.

"Second," you say, reaching for the satin-and-lace in the center. You touch the embroidered heart with the pad of your thumb. "second, the irrepressible Melanie."

Melanie snorts. "The... he's done it!"

Melissa says, "Well done, John! Gordon dear, remove his blindfold."

You blink at the sudden light. The women are in a semicircle in front of the table. You glance down. Anita's cotton knickers are athletic grey. Melanie's are bright red, as you thought. Marcia's are champagne-peach colored. They're only there a moment before their proper wearers have them in hand. They're otherwise fully dressed, more's the pity.

"So who will it be, Ace?" asks Marcia.

"Well," you say. "I would love to see one of you beautiful ladies giving 'Blow The Boys'" a try. You look from Anita to Melanie, from Marcia to Melissa, looking for some genuine interest in one of their faces. Melissa and Anita look at you with curiosity. Melanie pushes up her glasses and puts her hands on her hips. Hmmm, maybe Melanie. "But I'm really curious about that fourth pair of knickers. If there is one..."

"Would you like to find out?" asks Melissa. She turns her back and looks over her shoulder at you, running her thumbs along the waistband of her white shorts.

"I think the boys are due to show us something next," Melanie says. You glance at the fellows. You can see Mark and Martin are showing obvious trouser bulges. Martin smiles and nods, and Mark looks a little dazed. It's harder to tell with Gordon and Dan.

"Right!" Anita says.

"Well, that's sort of the point of Blow The Boys," you say. "Though the participant's blindfolded, the rest of you can watch."