Let's Swing

by Piquette Fontaine

  Chapter Three

  In the days leading up to the party Paul was in more of an upbeat mood than normal. Those at work noticed it, for it was a marked different to his normally gloomy countenance, but when pressed he would not tell them why things were different, and merely implied that it was something to do with his life at home, and left the rest to the imagination of his colleagues. They hadn’t arranged to go to any swingers’ parties yet, although they had looked into a few in the area and some seemed promising, although they were apprehensive about meeting anyone they knew. The office party came first though, and the two of them were getting ready. Being in the buoyant moods they were, they both decided to put more effort into their outfits than usual, and looked smart. Helen wore a long backless black dress that had sparkles woven into the fabric, so when any lights shone on her she looked like a precious jewel. Paul dressed in a tuxedo, and the two of them made quite the pair. They made their entrance and all eyes were on them.

  “Showing us up aren’t you?” Steve said, who was wearing an open-necked shirt. Paul merely shrugged, and walked in step with his wife. Still no-one was quite sure what the party was in aid of, everyone seemed to be having a fun time, but everyone was waiting for the arrival of Jack and Isabel. The boss was a beloved one, but mainly because the woman all wanted to be with him and the men were all enamored with his wife. Jack was the typical square-jawed American hero, with a thick mane of sandy-brown hair and broad shoulders. He always wore well-tailored suits that showed off his v-shaped body. He had kind eyes, but there was always the hint of erotic mystery hiding in them, and this attracted every woman to him. He always wore masculine aftershave as well, leaving a lingering scent of himself behind, as though he had marked his territory, and everything in it was his.

  Yet he was also a good boss; he always had a friendly ear and an open-door policy to his office. No-one was turned away, and the men considered him as not just a boss but a friend. Charm came effortlessly to him and the only surprise was that he settled for being the manager of a small office that was part of a larger business, for everyone who met him thought that he could have been in politics or something with more importance.

  Yet then they inevitably met Isabel, and they immediately understood why he was happy in being a big fish in a small pond. Having a more stressful job would have meant more time spent away from home and with a wife that looked like Isabel it was a wonder he could tear himself away from her. She had olive skin and long, dark hair that ran down to her waist. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds, and her flawless skin glowed as though she was the personification of sunshine, beauty, and purity. Her figure had curves in all the right places and she exuded sexuality without having to wear clothes that revealed a lot of flesh. Like her husband she wore lingering perfume, but hers was fruity and sweet-smelling. Her voice had a pleasing lilt to it, and she moved with the utmost grace.

  “She’s like a goddess,” Steve commented, having sidled up to Helen and Paul as everyone gathered around to welcome Jack.

  “Thank you all for coming,” he began in his warm, commanding tone, “I realize that this party came somewhat out of the blue, and for a while I struggled with the idea of throwing this because it feels a little egotistical. I understand that some of you have been confused about what this party is actually for. Well, I hope you don’t mind indulging me or Isabel but it’s actually the anniversary of the day we met. Normally we just celebrate it by ourselves but you’ve all been such good friends since I came here, and you’ve always been good to the both of us, that I wanted to share this day with you all, and to throw a party in Isabel’s honor, because she’s the light of my life and I want her to glow brightly for you all.”

  That speech was followed by a round of applause that rippled around the room, and was met by a sweet kiss from the celebrating couple that inflamed envy in a great many people.

  The party soon got in full swing and Helen and Paul remained by each other’s side, talking about whether anyone in the room was a swinger.

  “There’s no way I’d ever do anything like this with people I worked with!” Paul exclaimed.

  “I know, it’s just a little bit of fun,” she said, but the game didn’t last for very long. They ate and drank and socialized, but Paul didn’t get a chance to talk to Jack until later in the evening as he was taking the last prawn from the tray.

  “Damn you beat me to it,” Jack said. Paul flushed red and motioned to give it back to Jack, but he chuckled.

  “I was only joking. I can get plenty more where that came from. Are you enjoying the party?”

  “It’s great, and congratulations on your anniversary. I’m surprised you remember the day you first met, most people just celebrate when they got married, or their first date.”

  “I’ll never forget it, it was the day my life changed,” Jack said, looking wistfully into the distance, “I never thought I’d ever meet anyone like her. I didn’t think women like her existed, but then I met her and I was completely dumbstruck. For the first few minutes I didn’t know what to say, but eventually I managed to stammer something out, to be honest I’m surprised she even bothered to talk to me. Still, that was years ago now, funny how things turn out. I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without her so I don’t know that I believe in fate or destiny or anything like that, but I feel like there has to be something magical about it because the chances of us meeting like that were astronomical.”

  “And years on and you’re still madly in love.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s not without its efforts. You’re a married man, you know what it must be like.”

  “I might be married but I’m not married to your wife,” Paul said offhandedly, but then his face fell as he realized what he had just said, and he instantly tried to backtrack. However, Jack instantly reassured him.

  “Don’t worry, I know she’s a beauty, and I’m very lucky. But you know, sometimes in marriage things don’t work out the way you want them to. It’s a tricky balance to strike. Helen is looking lovely tonight by the way, and I have to say you’ve seemed happier over the past week or so, have things improved at home?”

  “Well, I’m not sure exactly, but we did talk about things and we’ve come to an agreement so I think we’re on the right track.”

  “What was the problem? Sexual?”

  “Ah, I um, I don’t really feel comfortable talking about this,” Paul said. Jack slapped him on the back.

  “We’re both married men, I know how it goes. I know you probably think I’ve never had any problems being married to Isabel but it’s perfectly natural, we’ve had our share of ups and downs.”

  “So what’s your secret at being happy then? What words of wisdom can you give?”

  “I’m not sure I have any words of wisdom other than communicate and be honest with each other, that’s the most important thing. We all think we’re thinking different things and that we should be ashamed but you’d be surprised at how similar people think. The moment we were both honest with each other things were so different, and it’s like we started to know each other all over again.”

  “I think that’s the stage me and Helen are at. It’s a good feeling, a nice feeling.”

  “Yeah, it is,” they said, and both men took a moment to reflect upon their respective wives, when Jack added, “Of course, the swinging helped too,” and Paul almost spit out his drink. The party was going on as normal around them and Jack was waving and smiling at everyone around him. Paul stared at him, almost disbelieving that Jack had said what Paul had thought he had said.

  “Excuse me?” Paul asked.

  “You know, swinging. I’d highly recommend it. It’s breathed new life into our marriage, you should definitely try it.” Paul was shocked and almost shut down completely as he imagined two godlike people doing the same thing that he and Helen were considering, and then his heart jumped with a thrill as he dared to think that there may be the slightest possibility of actually sleeping with Isabel, and he found himse
lf starting to sweat.

  “Excuse me it’s um…it’s getting a little hot in here. Do you mind if I go and find my wife for a moment?” he said, and Jack excused him with a cocksure smile and a wink. Paul wasn’t sure what to think as he went back to Helen.

  “This party is a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” Helen said, embracing Paul and kissing him. He could taste the wine on her lips and almost gagged.

  “Look, I just found something out,” he said, and she looked at him with wide eyes. She was giggling (inspired by nothing) and Paul had to speak low and clearly so that she understood what was going on. When he told her that Jack and Isabel were swingers, Helen’s mouth hung open and she cursed loudly, so that a few people near them looked at them. Paul dragged her away and told her to be quiet, but Helen couldn’t take her eyes off Jack.

  “What did you say?”

  “Not much really.”

  “Oh Paul, come on, they’d be perfect!”

  Paul was visibly uncomfortable. “Maybe for you, but do you really think I’d stand a chance with her? It’s not fair if you get one of them but I don’t, maybe we should go for a couple that are more…our level.”

  Helen shook her head. “This is exactly why I’m not attracted to you anymore. I don’t know where it’s gone but you have no self-belief, and it’s completely unacceptable.” Paul’s nostrils flared as he took the insult. Helen raised an eyebrow to challenge him, and evidently was not going to apologize. He huffed and marched back to Jack, sidling up to him.

  “Look um, we’re new to this whole thing but we were actually talking about swinging so if you knew any parties or anything that would be a big help actually,” he said in a low tone, his eyes darted about fervently, making sure that nobody in the near vicinity was listening. Jack smiled and reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled out a small card. It had an address on it.

  “Go here on Thursday. It starts at eight thirty. And relax Paul, it’ll be fun.”

  Chapter Four

  Helen was relaxed on the day of the swinging party but Paul was filled with nerves. He kept asking her opinions about his outfit and continuously changed, trying to find the perfect ensemble. Even when he was dressed he had to mop the sweat off his brow, and as they drove there he kept muttering to himself that they should turn around, that they weren’t the type to do this and it was completely out of character, but then Helen told him to think of Isabel, and although it felt wrong to think of another woman while in the same car as his wife it felt liberating too.

  Yet, at the same time, it was odd to think that, most likely, she was thinking about somebody else as well.

  “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he asked, glancing out of the window at the dark suburbs whizzing by.

  “Of course, why, are you having second thoughts?” Helen replied.

  “No, it’s just that, well, you know, it seems like a good idea in theory but have we really thought about the consequences? Are we really going to be okay with each of us sleeping with other people? Have you actually tried to picture me having sex with someone else?”

  “It’s not like that though, is it? We’re coming back to each other, we’re doing this so that we can appreciate each other more. That’s what I’m focusing on.” She took one hand off the wheel and clasped his hand tightly, and for the moment it reassured him but he was still undecided.

  When they finally arrived at the address they were both a little nervous, and spent a few moments working up the courage to enter. Eventually they walked out into the balmy night and rapped their knuckles against the door. They heard the sounds of people chatting, and Paul didn’t know whether it was a good sign or not that a lot of people were there. A man opened, wearing a friendly grin. When he saw the couple he looked at them with puzzlement.

  “Hi, er, we’re friends of Jack and Isabel, I hope it’s okay that we turned up?” Paul said.

  “Oh, of course! He said we could expect a couple of new people. Come in, please, now, have you done anything like this before?” The two of them stepped through the door and were shown into the lounge. A great deal of people were already there, drinking and having fun. It wasn’t like Paul expected, because they all seemed so…normal.

  “We haven’t actually,” Paul said.

  “But we’re quick learners,” Helen added. This received a smirk from the man, who then introduced himself as Adam.

  “Okay, so basically we’re a group of people who enjoy each other’s company both mentally and physically. Most of us are just regular people who wanted to spice up our lives, but everyone here is pretty easygoing and we’ve all vouched for each other so it’s not like anyone can simply walk in off the street. So just get in and mingle, if you get on with people then feel free to take it further but I want to make it clear that you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. If you just want to get the lay of the land that’s fine too, so yeah, just grab a drink, meet some people, and have some fun!” With that he pushed them into the lounge and Paul and Helen were on their own.

  “This is so weird,” Paul said in a low voice as he smiled at the random people.

  “Anyone take your fancy so far?” Helen asked. Paul shook his head. He knew who he wanted to be with, and he didn’t want anyone else.

  They fell into conversation with a few people but Paul was constantly craning his neck, looking around to try and spot Isabel, but it was only after a couple of drinks that Jack and Isabel turned up. Again, all eyes in the place turned on them and Paul was filled with an immense, irrational jealousy at the thought of how many other people had gotten to sleep with Isabel. It even shocked him because he had no claim to her and he had to admit to himself that he envied people enjoying experiences that he would like.

  “Okay, be cool,” Paul said. Helen insisted that she was always cool, and Paul didn’t have the heart to tell her that he was talking to himself. He smoothed down his hair and wiped his clammy hands on his clothes as Jack spotted him and approached. Jack went up to Helen first and wrapped his arm around her. His hand rested on the lowest point of her back, and her slender frame was engulfed by him. Paul felt a swell of jealously for it was difficult to fight the natural instinct to hate the sight of his wife, the woman he had promised his life to, being basically groped by someone else, especially someone far more handsome than he. But he did not have much of an opportunity to indulge the feeling because soon enough Isabel was in front of him. She leaned in to kiss him softly on the cheek. Her sweet perfume was intoxicated and he felt himself go weak at the knees, and as she pressed her soft bountiful curves against him he got aroused immediately and flushed crimson, but Isabel pulled back and gave him a sly smile. Her hand lingered on his arm and as he looked into those dark, exotic eyes he thought he was going to faint.

  “It’s good to see you here,” Jack said, with his arm around Helen. It seemed as though he had already made his intentions clear, and Helen certainly didn’t mind. She looked up at Jack with the infatuation of a high school crush. Isabel linked her arm with Paul’s, and his heart thundered so fiercely that he thought he was going to have a heart attack before the fun had even begun.

  “How are you liking it so far?” Jack continued.

  “Yes it’s, well, it’s certainly different but they all seem like nice people.”

  “Oh, they are indeed. It’s a good crowd,” he said, and winked at Isabel. She giggled, and as her body quivered beside him Paul had to take a deep breath. She whispered that she’d like a drink, and Paul glanced over at Jack and Helen. They both nodded, and Paul took Isabel to get a drink, leaving Helen and Jack alone. As he was pouring he felt anxious sweat pepper his brow, and he had to concentrate to stop his hands from shaking.

  “Are you okay?” Isabel asked in her tender, honeyed voice. Paul inhaled and handed her the drink. As he did so their fingers brushed against each other, and as he felt her soft skin he tingled all over.

  “Yes I…I’m fine,” he stammered, “but look, I have to
ask, I mean, is this normal? Like, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and-”

  “What about your wife?” she asked with narrowed eyes, and Paul floundered. However, Isabel quickly slapped him and laughed, and made it clear that she was only joking. She sipped her drink. “I know what you’re thinking, you think that me and Jack are the perfect couple and why should we ever need to do this? We both have different needs and desires, and honestly we get a little bored of each other sometimes. It’s nice to mix it up, explore different things, different types of men.”

  “Yes, but you could have anyone, why me?”

  “Oh, you’re such a sweetie!” she said, and embraced him tightly. She hugged him and he felt her breasts press against him, and he was as hard as a flagpole once more. She kissed him on both cheeks and then let her hand fall down from his chest to rest against his belly.

  “Jack spends so much time in the gym to create his perfect physique, but sometimes I’d just prefer to have something to cuddle up to, a real man,” she said, and this completely reassured Paul, and as they spoke some more he stood with his shoulders held back and his head upright, feeling proud and confident – a feeling he hadn’t enjoyed for so long. He glanced towards the other side of the room and saw Jack leaning down and whispering into Helen’s ear. His hand was still around her waist, and they looked completely cozy together.

  “This isn’t going to work if you keep looking at them,” Isabel said, placing a hand under his chin and turning his face to look at her. “What happens here, there’s no place for jealousy, we’re all mature adults and we’re going to be going home with our partners. I know it’s difficult to accept at first but we’re not doing anything wrong.”

  The struggle to accept this was still evident on Paul’s face, but when he saw Jack and Helen walk out of the room he nodded, and when Isabel led him away he smiled, and tried to remind himself that this was a situation in which everybody won.