By Kim Couples
Copyright 2003

As the launch approached, they could see James through the cabin window, then Jane appeared on deck, just as she had a year ago. She took the heavy ropes in hand, ready for the delicate manoeuvre as they pulled alongside. She looked up, gave a brief smile, and refocused on the task ahead.

Helen and Roger loved their time alone but they’d looked forward to that moment.

Fifteen tons of hull nudged the timber frame and the jetty swayed slightly. Jane had the ropes secured and she was off in seconds, arms out and beaming. James wasn’t far behind and the four of them hugged and slapped each other’s backs, then talked all the way back to the house as if their usual lively conversation had been momentarily interrupted.

They settled around the table on the deck of the old house overlooking the water, chatting energetically about grown children they had never met and cities and jobs that seemed irrelevant in this lonely, tranquil place.

Most of all, they talked about homes without children and their hopes for the new stage in their lives. Jane ran her hand over James’s knee. ‘We're determined not to slip into the old married couple thing - aren't we? We suddenly realised where we were heading – the empty nest, same house, same chores on Saturday morning, night after night in front of the television, everything very predictable.’

James turned back from watching gulls on the shore. ‘We talk about growing old disgracefully but so far, Jane’s skinny-dipped in the pool at home a couple of times. Hardly outrageous, but it’s a start.’

‘You wanted to!’ She put her head on his shoulder.

‘We’re so used to doing everything the way everyone expects, it quite hard to get out of the rut.’

‘We can relate to that’, said Roger. Though he and Helen had only talked about it a few times and done nothing.

Jane was on a roll. ‘We've started being more adventurous; more spontaneous. This is the only stop we’ve planned this year - we'll make the rest up as we go along. We've taken to going out for dinner more often and we take off for the park or the movies or a drive in the country at a moment’s notice. We got rid of our sedan and now we get around in one of those little sporty convertibles with the top down.’

Roger has always found Jane's quiet enthusiasm and James' humanity attractive. He enjoyed their closeness too. It wasn't an exclusive clinging to each other, but a warmth that would raise anyone’s spirits. Now he was admiring Jane's eyes, the slight grin, the tilt of her head, the gold rimmed glasses that suited her so well. She had firm views and expressed them well, but she enjoyed other people's opinions too. She’d grown her hair since last summer and he liked the way she flicked the long blond strands over her shoulder.

They decided on barbecued fish for lunch but getting the dinghy out of the boat shed seemed like far too much trouble, so Roger took Jane back to the jetty with assurances of fish within a few minutes. She seemed keen to go. But James offered to organise a salad.

Helen took him inside, showed him where everything was and he washed and sliced with the speed and commitment of a professional in his own kitchen. He found gin and lemonade in the refrigerator, prepared her one without asking, and delivered it with a smile that acknowledged the liberty. They stood close together for a few moments, looking out to their partners at the end of the jetty.

Helen sipped her drink and sat on the old sofa as he returned to his work. On the surface the topic was herbs, but she was also studying him. He was certainly physically attractive. She enjoyed the flatness of his belly, the strength in his shoulders, and his low, warm voice as the conversation flowed. James and Jane were fun to have around. They'd met only because Jane had wanted to stop in the bay and came to the old house to ask if they could tie up at the jetty overnight. One night had become three and they had spent more and more of each day together in long relaxed talks in the shade, meals together, walks around the shore and through the forest tracks. The next year they stayed an extra day. It had become an eagerly awaited meeting in a treasured place and their time in the kitchen together was rekindling her affection for this happy, sociable man.

Jane and Roger had realised that the tide was already in too far, but within a few minutes they had a couple of small cod. Two more would do.

They spent most of the next few minutes in silence, often looking into the clear, deep water, watching in slight frustration as tiny fish took a bothersome interest in their bait. She sat, while he stood leaning against one of the piles and cast out into the deeper water.

That’s when she said it.

She wasn’t even looking at him - just gazing into the sparkles of reflected light. ‘I want to ask you something.’ Her tone suggested she had an interesting question, perhaps the definition of an obscure word or an assurance that she had been right in some inconsequential debate with James.

‘Sure.’

She looked up at him suddenly. ‘Will you promise me that if you don't agree, or you think that Helen wouldn't like it, that you'll just forget I ever asked?’

‘Sounds serious.’

‘Promise? And you won't mention it to anyone?’

‘Okay.’

‘You know how James and I were talking about changing our lives - you know trying new things...being more spontaneous?’

‘Yes’

‘Well we've been doing it with our sex lives too...’

The water swirled around the jetty’s piles and the swell produced what passed for a wave. ‘I think I see what you're leading up to.’

She glanced back at him. ‘Are you shocked...offended?’

‘A little. A little shocked, but not offended. No, go on.’

‘Well I think you've guessed it; what I hoped you might be interested in.’

‘It depends on what you mean by you’.

‘You and Helen...and us.’

‘All of us together?’

‘Well, really me and you together and Helen and James together. But all together at the same time if you know what I mean.’ She kept looking into the water and swayed her legs back and forth. Was it a sign that Jane, the only one of the four of them who never seemed troubled by anything, was actually on-edge?

He filled the silence. ‘Does James know you're asking me this?’

‘Yes. We've talked about it a lot. Do you want to think about it? Are you sure you're not upset?’

‘No. Flattered really.’ A pause, and he heard himself saying, ‘I'm okay with it. I don't need to think about it...’

She turned back to the water. ‘We just thought it would be fun. The four of us get on so well and we’re all pretty open-minded. James and I have never done anything like it before, but we've been playing around with sexy fantasies a lot this year and that's one we both really enjoyed. We didn't think we would want to actually try it but we then we thought, why not?’ She became tentative again. ‘Would Helen want to, do you think?’

‘I don't know. She might.’

‘I won't ask her if you think I shouldn't. If she's going to be upset...’

‘I don't think she will be, but do you want me to ask?’ He wished almost immediately that he hadn't offered but he might be able to smooth things over if Helen was horrified by the idea.

‘Thanks, but if she's at all unhappy about it...’

A more promising bite came to their rescue and as they resumed safer topics, he looked down from time to time, glancing much longer than he might have normally at her small breasts with heir tops teasingly visible now down the front of her cotton top. Hints of nipple showed through her bra. She looked up. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘How things have changed between the two of us already. You've been a good friend. Now I'm wondering what you and I might be like....’

‘Together you mean?’

‘Yes.’

She looked away. ‘James and I haven't done it with any one else for years – all the time we’ve been together. We're not into affairs and things. We just wanted to enjoy the novelty and excitement, and share it really. But we certainly don't want to get into anything if Helen's not happy about it.’

He didn't have the courage to raise it with Helen that night. He kept telling himself that it wasn't the right moment and that Jane should have done it herself. It would be easy for a woman. Don't they talk about relationship stuff all the time?

They made love again - a special pleasure in this remote place and they cuddled there whispering unnecessarily as the night birds called from trees, not fifty yards from their window. In the morning he lay awake in the early light, wondering how she might take it. He was already absorbed with the idea of just seeing Jane naked, and of James and Helen together and began to think it might be colouring his judgement. Maybe it would all be disastrous. Perhaps he should tell Jane that they should forget the whole idea. Later he began to think that Helen might even be keen. She’d been relaxed about it when she had seen it discussed in a television programme they saw the previous year. Hardly said a word – or was that because she was embarassed about it? He yawned anxiously, then felt aroused, wanted his wife again, but left her to sleep.

He’d made a firm decision by breakfast and waited for the next gap in the conversation. ‘There's something I need to mention....Jane's asked me something...’, he began as he wiped the last of the dishes and she put away the milk. It was how he had planned to start, but his carefully thought out next line had gone. He stumbled on. ‘She wants us to forget about it if we are at all upset or offended or anything but, well, basically she and James want to know if we are interested in a bit of, well...a sexual thing.’

Helen didn't turn to him but slowly closed the refrigerator door. She did look a little stunned. The silence was agonising. ‘You mean changing partners?’

‘Well, yes, that’s what she had in mind.’ A long pause. ‘How would you feel about it?’ She moved to the window and peered out to the launch. ‘I don't know. What did you say when she asked?’

‘I told her, that if you wanted to, I wouldn't mind, but if you don't want to, just say. She's really anxious that it doesn't get in the way of our friendship. I'll square it with her if you're not keen and it'll never be mentioned again.’

‘And you’d do it with Jane?’ Her tone suggested a genuine question, rather than hostility.

‘Only if you wanted to with James.’

‘I don't know...’

Jane and James came over about eleven and James looked tense. Jane was more difficult to read. They had brought some Camembert, crackers and a bottle of wine.

The conversation began as trivial banter between Roger and James as if to say, 'Let's keep this as normal as possible'. Helen was mostly silent. She watched James sitting opposite and he seemed only half interested in the conversation. In her mind she slid his shirt off. She'd seen him like that when they swam. Perhaps it would be better to leave things as they were. She could retreat into her imagination, knowing that he had already shown his interest in her. That would be enough. She felt affirmed, appreciated, but her stomach was tight. She left to get a corkscrew.

Jane waited only a moment. ‘Did you ask her?’

‘Yes, but she hasn't decided.’

‘Was she shocked?

‘A bit, I think. She didn't say much, but she didn't say no.’

James cut in quietly. ‘Leave her to it. Don't raise it again unless she does.’

As Helen came back she looked directly at Jane, ‘Does James know what you asked Roger?’

‘Yes’, said Jane. ‘But Helen just forget it if...’

‘No’, she said quietly as she sat. ‘It's okay, I'll give it a try.’

‘Good’, whispered James. She smiled back at him then added for everyone. ‘But I’m not exactly sure what you have in mind – how you want to do it.’

Jane rescued them from the silence. ‘What are you comfortable with?’

‘I don’t know. I was thinking that James could stay here tonight and Roger could join you on the boat. We’re new to this. I’m just not sure.’

Roger intervened. ‘I think Jane and James had in mind all of us together. How would you feel?’

‘Like a group? Group sex?’ She sounded slightly taken aback.

‘Or just being together.’ He was tempted to hold her hand, but didn’t. ‘It doesn’t matter what you call it.’

Jane gathered her hair and tied it back with a clip that appeared from nowhere. ‘We need to know what you want, but it just seemed to us to be more open than going off to different places.’ Then she added, ‘And you might enjoy seeing Roger and me together while you and James are having a good time.’

‘Yes. Sorry, I’m just a bit tense…That sounds okay.’

Strange though it may seem, they went back to their conversation as if their agreement to such intimacy had been some passing thought. It seemed the easiest thing to do, but it had certainly not passed.

After about 20 minutes, the conversation stopped. Then James asked, ‘When do you think we should...?’

‘How about now?’ said Roger. We've got a place we go to in the forest. It’s a clearing. We could take up some wine and a picnic lunch.’

The women nodded, then eased themselves up as if it might be indecent to move too quickly. But it was only 30 seconds before they were inside making preparations and leaving the men gazing vaguely out towards the water. A launch passed less than a kilometre beyond the island - an unusual event, but they ignored it.

‘Are you completely happy about this?’ asked James.

‘Yes. But to tell you the truth I'm tense too. Though I'm sure that'll go.’

‘ We want it to be something we can all look back on and feel good about.’ They saw the two women in a brief hug, heard the sound of sandals on the bare boards, laughter from one of the bedrooms and minutes later the clink of glassware. They’d shed their jeans and appeared with lava lavas wrapped around them. Jane seemed particularly delighted with hers and rolled her bare hips in a not very convincing hula movement. ‘What do you think?’

‘Suits you.’

‘I know it looks a bit funny with a blouse, but it won’t be on for long.’ She smiled at Roger and they led the way up the track, across the stream to the edge of the forest. He was carrying the basket with their wine and food. It was awkward, rather than heavy, but he couldn’t keep up with her and she had to look back so that he could point the way. ‘I've looked forward to this since the winter,’ she enthused. ‘It just seemed such an incredibly sexy idea. We kept talking about it. I remember peeling carrots and looking vaguely out of the window imagining what it would be like with us…together. It happened several times in lectures too. It was a wonderful daydream.’

He felt a huge surge in his stomach. ‘I hope you're not disappointed.’

‘I couldn't be.’ He loved her openness. He was revelling in the thought of what was ahead and could feel his heart thumping. She had a slightly quizzical expression as if to say, ‘What are you looking at me like that for?’ As if there was any doubt. Perhaps she wanted him to put it into words, to hear how much she aroused him. He mumbled something about the light on the ferns instead.

Further back, Helen bent to remove a pebble from her sandal. James gave her his arm to steady her as she perched on one foot on the uneven ground. ‘Roger was telling me he'd like it to be friendly and appreciative,’ he said. ‘I like that way of putting it. I want it to be a really good experience for both of us.’ They resumed their walk and when she put her arm around him for a momentary squeeze, he said, ‘I've been watching you so closely since we arrived - appreciating you.’

‘Hoping I'd say yes?’

‘Desperately.’ He laughed, then touched her shoulder. ‘You’re a very sexy woman.’ She looked down, feeling a warm glow. No other man had said that to her. Well, not for 20 years anyway.

For the last few yards, Roger led them all through some undergrowth and they kept their heads down to follow the tunnel he created with his body. He stood up and as they reached him he let out a sigh – a sigh of disappointment. A giant palm had fallen across the clearing, leaving a tangle of smashed branches and smaller trees.

Jane did her best to be optimistic. ‘Perhaps we could clean it up’. But they all knew that it would take them an hour, the trunk would still be dividing the clearing and that special excitement between them would be lost.

‘Stay there,’ said Roger, and he disappeared into the undergrowth again.

‘Maybe it wasn’t meant to be,’ said Helen. After a few minutes. ‘Not here. Perhaps another time…’

‘We could go back to the house’ suggested Jane. ‘Maybe get a mattresses out…’

James leaned against the fallen palm with his arms folded. ‘Roger may find somewhere.’

Roger returned in another 10 very slow minutes. ‘Good news. There’s another clearing. It’s about 100 yards away. It’s quite small, but it’s beautiful. Green grass. Good shade. There’s no track, but it should be easy enough to find it again.’

It was just as he had promised. They stood there in silence, taking in the warmth of the soft grass on their bare feet, the stillness, the sound of the waves in the distance and the mix of bird songs. But there was more to it than being awed by a beautiful spot for a picnic. This was to be the scene of an event they would remember for the rest of their lives and they needed a moment to adjust to the idea.

Then Jane put her glasses in her backpack. The others stopped, silent, expecting her to take the lead. Sure enough, she stood, and it was perfectly clear that the time had come for Roger to undress her. He began to eagerly undo the buttons of her blouse. Within seconds, Helen saw Jane’s lacy white low-cut bra appear; saw her turn so that Roger could unhook it; saw her hold the cups over her breasts teasingly for just a moment, then cast them aside with a flourish and a smile as if to say to him, ‘So what do you think of them!’. Roger was delighted, but it took Helen’s breath away, because now everything had changed. They really were going to do it.

James put his fingers on the bottom of Helen's tee shirt. She lifted her arms and he removed it smoothly over her head. She stood there feeling the sun on her shoulders as he began to undo her clasps - reaching behind so that he could hold her near. As he did, it touched her – just for a moment. He was hard already. It sent a jolt though her. She was shocked, excited and anxious all at once.

Roger held on corner of Jane’s lava lava and she revolved her body slowly to let it unravel. It fell to the ground and she stood there in her pink knickers. He nodded at them as he removed his shirt and shorts. ‘They’re not very authentic either’. As he slipped his finger inside the elastic, he added, ‘They don’t wear cotton panties under lava lavas in the islands do they?’.

‘I thought you might enjoy another layer to peel off me.’ He pushed them down revealing her – all of her. She stepped out of them, he removed his briefs and they hugged in celebration. ‘Hello, naked hunk,’ she whispered and rubbed her breasts against him.

Helen looked down as James stepped back with her bra. Under the denim was the unmistakable bulge. He looked her in the eyes as he removed his jeans and stood in his yellow briefs. She glimpsed - and it was just for a fleeting moment - into the gap between the elastic and his tanned body and knew then just how much he wanted her. He admired her breasts, stroking them gently with the back of his fingers. He passed his hands very slowly over one nipple, then the other, leaned forward and she felt the warmth of his breath as he kissed her lightly on the neck. He stepped back slightly and narrowed his eyes as if admiring a fine painting. ‘Your breasts are lovely.’ She looked up and glowed inside.

He drew her close, put his arms around her but turned slightly in a vain attempt to hide his excitement – as if she hadn’t already noticed. She kept her lava lava on.

‘Wine?’ Jane was looking for the glasses. Roger felt a sudden twinge of disappointment. He'd assumed that her determination to lose her clothing so quickly was a sign she was ready for something more physical.

They drank the first glass with Jane sitting lotus style – serene with her shoulders back, her hair still clipped behind her. The others sat conservatively and sipped wine to cover their tension. But gradually, the glances became less fleeting, the atmosphere more charged and the conversation more flirtatious.

They reclined for another glass of wine after a token effort with the lunch, then Helen rolled off the blanket to enjoy the softness of the grass, unwrapped the lava lava and slipped it over her like a sheet. She was enjoying the sensuality of the wine, the dappled light, the heat and sight of three naked bodies around her.

Roger was admiring Jane’s hard nipples and told her so.

‘Well..it’s exciting. I’m turned on.’

He ran his hand through her tuft of hair, enjoying her tight curls, then slid it down as she parted her legs. He held her there, enjoying the damp warmth of her womanly folds and pressing gently.

‘Is this growing old disgracefully?’

‘We're not really old enough to qualify yet,’ she said, ‘And anyway it's only a little unconventional.’

‘It's swinging.’

‘Yep. The wine had made her mellow. ‘Recreational sex. What harm's it doing to anyone? Anyway we’re just four nudes on a picnic. We haven’t done it yet.’ He began to pleasure her and she put her hand down and rocked her hips to encourage him.

James was lying alongside Helen. She took his land and slipped it under the lava lava so that he could run it over her belly. ‘Any requests Madam?’ She opened her eyes as his hand cupped her breast. Even the warmth of his voice would have been enough to arouse her. ‘I think I'd like it sort of dreamy...very, very gentle and slow. At first anyway.’ She turned slightly to enjoy the novelty of his body - admiring his firmness, its pink head, and the bulging ridge underneath. She caressed it slowly and met his gaze with a smile.

Eventually, she whispered, ‘Just come into me when you're ready. I want to lie here like this and soak you up.’ Roger turned away from Jane suddenly and caught her eye. Helen reached out and rubbed his leg in reassurance. James said nothing, but continued to caress her, sometimes using one finger to trace from the inside of her legs, around her hips to her breasts. She closed her eyes and her obvious pleasure encouraged him to continue the slow advance towards their ultimate intimacy.

Jane rocked her hips again, paused, stopped breathing, then came, with a small gasp. She lay back panting quietly. Roger held her breasts – to stay connected with her, but mostly for his own pleasure. ‘What a start.’ And she smiled as she added, ‘Can't think of anyone else I'd rather have recreational sex with.’

He nodded, ‘I can't either...I mean...Well you know what I mean.’ He was suppressing his impatience with admirable determination. For some reason, he kissed her knee. He was aching to fill her. Surely she wanted him there too.

Jane sat up suddenly. ‘Let's give Helen lots of attention.’ She moved over murmuring to Roger, ‘Soon’.

Slowly the two of them kissed and massaged her neck, her legs and the exposed sides of her body as James’ hands continued their work under the lava lava. They worked almost silently, just the odd ‘How's that?’ or ‘More of that?’ James's hands moved ever so gently towards her outer lips, brushed them lightly and retreated. Later, and not soon enough, they returned, this time his finger explored her a little more; then around the centre of her excitement, touching directly just once. She was wet and tingling inside. The lava lava seemed to float above her.

Jane was kneeling over her, enjoying her friend's pleasure and anticipation. ‘

This is amazing,’ said Helen. ‘I feel so excited, I could come now.’ Jane leaned down to her till their breasts were touching. She kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered, ‘Enjoy him’.

‘Thanks.’

It was James's cue. ‘Ready?’

‘Yes!’ She cast the lava lava aside and lay there totally naked. He edged forward and his hardness touched her. She helped him ease in and he waited, just inside her. Their eyes engaged and she felt a surge of affection. Jane ran her hand over James's shoulders as he rocked back and forth slightly. Then as Helen closed her eyes, he eased very slowly all the way in for the first time. She gave an almost silent ‘Oh...’ And another as he stroked her – long firm strokes. ‘Ah…’ He was very hard. It was dream-like. It was their only contact, but he was there, inside her, at last, filling her. He stayed up on his hands but she wanted to put her arms around him. She was being filled by another man. She had aroused him, made him hard, made him glisten all over in his lust for her.

Roger shot a glance at Jane. ‘Let's do it.’ She turned quickly on to her back, put her legs wide apart to welcome him, and he slid in all the way, to their mutual joy. Together they were slippery, locked together with their arms around each other. ‘That's lovely. Please stroke me…quite hard.’ They didn't bother with the refinements of silence. It was not as if anyone but their spouses could hear them and they were enjoying every movement and the conversation only a man and woman joined together could have.

‘How's that?’

‘Wonderful.’

‘You feel good too.’

‘Go nearly out and all the way in for a bit.’

‘Like that?’

‘Mmm…I feel wanton.’ She gripped her arms and legs around him. ‘Don’t worry if you come. We can do it again. We’ve got all afternoon.’

After a few minutes Helen noticed that Jane and her panting husband had changed position. Roger was now behind her and Jane, the studious one, mother of two; seemingly demure Jane, was in her other world - on an island, having recreational sex. Her face was red from exertion. Sweat ran down her cheek, her breasts rocked forward with each thrust. She caught Helen's eye and half-smiled back as Roger pushed hard into her several times. ‘Nice, nice. Keep going.’

Helen hadn’t moved and James continued to stroke her slowly, deeply, in a gentle and sensuous rhythm, just as she’d wanted.

Jane eased Roger out, then turned on to her back, laughing and reaching for him as if desperate not to be uncoupled for a moment longer than necessary. As he sank back into her he announced to everyone, ‘We should have done this two years ago.’

‘It was hard enough to ask you this year. I was really nervous for a while there.’ As she laughed Roger could feel her contract inside. ‘Fabulous though isn't it?’ She smiled at James and Helen. ‘You look as if you're having fun.’

They both grinned back. ‘We are.’

By three o’clock their damp bodies were exhausted. They finished another glass of wine, then half-dressed and made their way back though the undergrowth. They had decided to rest then meet together on the launch for dinner.

Roger and Helen shared the shower. As he massaged her with soap bubbles, he asked, ‘How was it?’ She pressed against him and after a couple of seconds, added, ‘It was lovely. An adventure.’

‘Did he feel different - inside?’

‘I was sure you’d ask me that. Yes. A bit. Not better. Just different. Especially as he came into me for the first time – all new and exciting.’ She hugged him.

‘Did you mind seeing me and Jane doing it?’

‘No, that was good. Was it the big male turn-on watching me with another man?’

‘At first it wasn’t. I didn’t know where to look. But seeing you there enjoying yourself and looking absolutely gorgeous with him stroking in and out of you... It was quite a turn-on after a while.’

She turned to him and he soaped her breasts. ‘And was recreational sex just like loving sex?’

‘No, once we got going, it was cool sex. I was enjoying every minute of it…Liking Jane so much made it fun, and I was really hard most of the time, but it was cool compared with us. Still it made it easier to last out.’

She wiped bubbles from above his lip and kissed him. ‘Are you desperate for us to do it?’

‘Yes. Are you?’

‘Yes.’

They arrived at the launch shortly after seven and Jane greeted them in a new pair of knickers. She’d showered and her hair was not quite dry.

‘Sorry, we’re a bit behind time. Have a seat. We’ve been catching up. Got a bit carried away.’ Her smile said, I know you’ve been doing it too. ‘I’ll take him some coffee and we’ll get ourselves sorted. Just relax. Tea?’ As she moved around in the narrow galley and carried on an easy conversation with them, it occurred to Roger that seeing her beautiful breasts uncovered, as they were, would have been extraordinary, perhaps even unwelcome, only two days before. Now, it seemed just natural. Maybe they would all skinny dip together in the morning.

Within an hour they were sitting around the fold-down table in the cabin enjoying the food and more wine. They talked about other holidays, other adventures and spoke very little of their new experience. But it surrounded them. As they chatted, argued and laughed together in the candlelight, it was there, a special understanding, a special bond between the four of them.