Chapter 10
"Like, there he appears with Lady Barbara!"
"Well, hi, Wally," Bob said, putting on a surprised face. "Fancy meeting you here! Barbara, this is Wally Walters, my secretary's husband. You remember Janice, don't you?"
Barbara stiffened slightly, then grimaced hello. She extended her hand, palm down. Wally surprised her. He not only took it, he wrapped it up in his big palms and patted and kissed the back of her hand with much ceremony.
"Perilous digits!" he exclaimed, inspecting her fingers closely. "An evening with you, my lady, would be more exotic than a journey into the depths of the Casbah!"
Barbara looked at Bob, rolling her eyeballs upwards on the sly. "Thank you, Mr. Walters," she said dryly. "My husband didn't tell me that this was an office party."
"Oh, but it's not," he said, trying to take her arms and entwine it in his own and lead her off into the dimly lit room. "Fickle fate has worked once again!"
"Uh, what exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Walters?" she asked, drawing back in a subtle but positive way.
"Simply that it is pure coincidence to find us both at the same party at the same hour. Come, and I'll introduce you around."
He grinned at her. His big teeth filled the room and made her shy back. Bob watched them together and knew that Wally had just lost the competition to Rod.
"I told Barbara that the Banners would be here, Wally, have they come in yet?" Bob asked, getting his wife off her squirming hook. Not that he wanted her off--it was only to keep peace a little while longer. He saw her become pale and look quickly about the room as if wanting a place to hide. There couldn't be any question about it. She knew them and didn't want to admit it.
Wally sighed dramatically and looked crestfallen. "Alas," he said. "Only the big chief herself is here--big Sue." He laughed. "The Rod has been detained. She's over talking with Jan. Shall we make the scene?"
Bob studied his wife's face. The lines of tension drained away. "Sure," he said.
They walked across the room. There were few lights on. The couples gathered in knots, talking. It was like any normal cocktail party but for one omission. There were no cocktails. Apparently Barbara hadn't noticed that yet, for her eyes were focused straight ahead as if trying to search out Sue Banner to see what she looked like. She was politely ignoring Wally's line of patter.
Bob saw the two girls talking. They were standing beside the entry way to the kitchen. They quit and looked up when Wally sang out to them in his resonant voice.
"Girls," he said. "It's time to live! The charming Lady Barbara and her distinguished husband the boss-man have appeared!"
"Why Mr. Miller, how nice!" Janice bubbled innocently, throwing it on thick. "Hi, Mrs. Miller, remember me? I'm your husband's secretary."
She grinned brightly and stuck out her hand. Barbara took it and grimaced tightly again, obviously not liking this fraternization with the working class. She turned her attention to Sue, studying her with unusual attention, Bob thought.
She's afraid of Rod, he concluded. Janice interrupted his thoughts with her introduction.
"How do you do, Mrs. Banner," Barbara was saying, taking Sue's hand. Her eyes stared intently.
"Hi!" Sue chirped. "Rod said he'd be late tonight. He couldn't help it."
"That's a pity," Barbara intoned. Another wave of relief seemed to pass over her face. "I do hope I get to meet him before we have to leave."
"Oh, I don't think he'll be too late. Gee, I sure hope this doesn't mess anything up."
Bob cringed. Christ!
"What do you mean?" Barbara quizzed, her voice nearly snapping the question.
"Uh, like, uh, our pleasures of the evening, Lady Barbara," Wally began, trying to recover, "depend most intimately upon the relational dichotomy of the participants, whereby the regretted omission of the yang from the yin is to be lamentably decried, wherein there appears to be a hole of negativity in the center of-" "Don't they serve drinks here, darling," Barbara said, turning from Wally coldly. "I would like a drink, I believe. I feel a terrible headache coming on, and I fear we may have to leave early unless I get a damned drink!"
Bob looked at her. He wanted to laugh out loud in her face, but he didn't dare--not yet. He watched her serenity flying out the window with as much compassion as a slug.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Miller," Janice said quickly. "The Johnsons don't have alcohol in their house. They aren't teetotalers, you understand, they just don't like what alcohol does to the body. We have some very good punch that's just about ready, however."
"Wonderful," Barbara said hollowly. She rubbed her head. "Bob, I really think--" "Oh, lemme show you around, Bar--Mrs. Miller," Sue piped up very suddenly, as if she'd been goosed.
"Very well," Barbara said.
Sue took her arm and led her away.
"Like, I flunked the big F, man," Wally said, exhaling heavily.
"Don't worry about it," Bob reassured him.
"What's the lineup tonight--I mean, what happens? When does everybody start screwing?"
"Wally, see if you can get Alice and Bill to hurry up with that damned punch. Tell them to spike hers a little heavy and then get it to her before she starts wanting to leave again."
"The ears have perceived," Wally breathed, moving away quickly.
"What's all the excitement over the punch?" Bob asked Janice.
"It's spiked with a synthetic drug that Bill got a hold of somewhere. It makes you sexy as anything. Livens up the party just beautifully."
"An aphrodisiac?"
"Yeah, that's what it's called. I was thinking the sooner we get that down her, the better. She'll be more receptive. Poor Wally. He tries so hard."
"All right, what happens after the punch? Do you just start in?"
"No. Usually, we play games of one kind or another. Sometimes it's spin the bottle, and the one who's it gets to pick anybody in the circle and have him-or her-do whatever he wants them to. Sometimes we draw partners-I don't know. It's always different."
"Yeah, but what about tonight?" Bob persisted.
"I heard there was going to be a movie tonight, with sound and everything. Wait a minute." She reached out and stopped a slim brunette who was headed into the kitchen. "Isn't there a movie tonight, Peggy?"
Peggy came over and her eyes ran up and down Bob's frame hotly. She smiled, and her eyes were soft and warm. She had on a micro mini that came nearly to her ass.
"Hi," she said breathily. "You must be Barbara's husband, right?"
"Yes," Bob said. "I take it you've met her."
Peggy couldn't stop herself from making a peculiar face. "I guess I did," she said. "Pretty cold treatment. I don't think she likes the way I'm dressed or something. I don't mean to sound disrespectful, Bob, but I hope the party doesn't fizzle. I was really looking forward to a lot of fucking. Does she turn on later or something?"
Janice laughed. "We hope so! That's why I was asking you what was planned besides the punch."
"Yeah, I heard from Alice that it was a movie. She's seen it. Says it's real beautiful and hot. Gee, Bob, I never would have thought your wife was a swapper. You, I can see-but not her."
"That's the agenda," Janice said. "To make her into one. A new recruit. Can you help out?"
"Oh!" Peggy said, beginning to understand. "Well ... sure, I'll do what I can, Janice. Who's--uh--who's going to break her in?"
"Rod, if he'll get here."
"Oh, my! You don't believe in messing around, do you?"
"Like, it's the slim and willowy Peg!" Wally broke in, coming up.
"Hi, Wally-bear!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
She kissed him fully on his mouth, accepting with a moan the way he ran his hand over her thrusting breast. Her dress pulled up when she lifted her arms, and Bob could see her panties underneath the micro mini. They were light green.
"Go ahead," Janice said, winking at the way he was eyeing up the slick panties that were drawn tightly over her tiny ass. "She won't mind."
Bob felt giddy. One didn't normally go around feeling the buttocks of strange girls. But he did. He cupped her asscheek in his palm and felt the hot touch of the green nylon. Her buttock tightened, and she looked around, grinning, still hugging Wally.
"Hey, Bob, you've got a nice touch! Save a little for me later on, will you? I always like to try out the new ones and make them feel very welcome."
"Sure," Bob grinned, digging his finger into the soft groove of her ass. "It's a date."
"Mmm, where's that punch!" she said heatedly. "I'll bet they're in there drinking it all up themselves."
"Here's the special, Wally," a man said coming up to them. "Where does it go? Oh, hi, I'm Bill Anders. You must be Bob Miller. I hear your wife's a little reluctant about these things."
"Yeah," Bob said, shaking hands. He looked at the full cup of punch. It had a champagne color to it, even to the bubbles.
"Well, this will fix her up, I'll guarantee it," he said, grinning broadly.
"Where's mine, Bill?" Peggy breathed, bending herself around his body suggestively.
He cupped her rear and kissed her. "Sweetie, you don't need any."
"Oh, you!" she pouted, hitting him playfully.
They walked away, their arms around each other. Bob saw them go up to a blonde in the kitchen, presumably Bill's wife.
"They've made the introductory scene," Wally announced, looking behind Bob.
He turned. Barbara and Sue came up. She looked a little less belligerent, and he was glad for that. He handed her the glass of punch.
"Here's some champagne somebody found for you," Bob said.
She looked at the proffered glass. "Really? How wonderful. Thank you, darling."
"My pleasure," he said. "Meet anybody interesting?"
She held the glass to her mouth and wrinkled her nose. "This isn't champagne," she said.
He laughed. "I know it. It's good though, try some."
She had a dubious look on her face. Then Bill and Alice and Peggy came out of the kitchen with trays of glasses and began passing them around. Bob took his.
"Let's make a toast," Janice said. "To a fun night!"
"Hear, hear!" Wally agreed.
They all drank. Barbara watched them, her husband's expression particularly. He sighed and smacked his lips.
"Hey, that is good," he said, meaning it. "Boy, how much of this are we allowed?"
Sue giggled. "As required!" she chirped.
Barbara looked at her and frowned. Then to everyone's relief she drank from her glass, paused, looked at it, then drank some more.
"Very stimulating," she said, not understanding why Wally suddenly choked and turned away in a fit of coughing.
"Oh, look!" Sue cried suddenly, pointing her finger. "There's Rod! Rod, honey, over here!"
Bob spun around and caught sight of a broad-shouldered, burly-looking man. He had dark hair that grew close to his forehead and ears and very prominent brow arches. He walked into the room in a lumbering way that gave him the total appearance of an ape in clothing.
He saw Barbara stiffen reflexively and turn slowly. Then she was trying to hide behind Wally's bulk, gave up, and stood tight and trembling with her head down as if trying to hide her face.
"Bob," Rod Banner said, acknowledging his presence. "Sorry I'm late. He looked at Barbara, trying to see under her face, wondering why she didn't look up to greet him.
She finally did. She turned slowly, raised her chin high, and opened her eyes. The color seemed to drain from her face. She tried to smile, but not even the grimace would come. Her lips were trembling.
"I'd like you to meet Barbara," Bob said, thoroughly puzzled. There was no doubt that they knew each other, and the fact petrified his wife.
Rod stood and stared, and then a slow grin came over his face.
"Mrs. Miller," he said, his voice low and charged with an innate sexual timbre.
"Please," she said, trying to keep her voice under control. "Please call me Barbara."
"Whatever you say--Barbara," Rod said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
His eyes burned into hers. There was a strange smile on his face. Barbara clutched at Bob's arm.
"Bob, really ... I do feel ill ... that--punch. It didn't-" "Places, everybody!" a man said over the gentle murmur of voices in the room. "It's time for the movie."
He was a tall, yellow-haired man with a big, strong jaw and long fingers which he had a tendency to flip about effeminately. When he had their attention, he looked over toward their group and smiled.
"I'd especially like to welcome Bob and Barbara to our party tonight. I'm sure we'll all do what we can to make their evening as enjoyable as possible so that they will want to return again and again to our friendly group." He wrung his hands, lifting his big jaw high like a deacon at church announcing the calendar of events for the coming week. "Now, if you will all pair off and be seated, we can begin the evening with a wonderful movie my dear wife Eva found in a quaint little shop down by the riverfront."
While the man was talking, Bob leaned toward Janice. "Who is he?" he whispered.
"Ralph Johnson. He's your host. Sorry I didn't get you around. He knows the scoop, which is why he's talking that way. Usually, it's let's fuck, gang!" she whispered back.
"You all know the rules," Ralph continued.
"Husbands and wives may not sit together. I never saw any reason why a couple would want to go out to a party to be together when they can just as well stay home and do that. So ... let's mix it up and swap partners!"
Bob groaned to himself and glanced at Barbara. If she had any idea of the meaning of what was just said, she didn't show it. In fact, she appeared not to have heard anything. She seemed conscious only of the presence of Rod Banner.
Couples began milling about the room, finding places to sit or lie down together. Many of them were already feeling each other up, squeezing boobs and asses and running dainty fingers over the bulging fronts of pants. There was much kissing and acting awfully friendly for mere acquaintances. Barbara finally noticed this and raised her eyebrows when Peggy came up and hugged Wally, running her slim hand over his broad chest. "I pick you, Wally-bear," she said hotly.
He looked at Janice, winked, and fondled Peggy's small butt. They went off together to lie down on neatly arranged pillows.
"What's going on?" Barbara asked. "Did you see that? Look at that couple over there! Why, he's got his hand under--" She looked and swallowed. Bob watched her reactions. Her fingers trembled and patted her hair nervously. She tore her eyes away from the necking, petting couples finally and squinted her eyes at him.
"You bastard!" she hissed softly.
Rod pulled her around firmly and grinned down with a no-bullshit expression on his face.
"Lay off Bob, Wil--uh, will you, Barbara," he said, catching himself. "Let's you and me go over to that dark corner, and I'll explain everything to you."
She struggled a moment, looking back at Bob, who was doing nothing but grinning at her oddly.
"Come on, Barbara," Rod said firmly.
Sue came up to Bob and leaned her head on his shoulder in a familiar way. Her full tits pressed softly into his arm. She let one hand dangle closely to the front of his pants.
"Hi," she giggled to him. "Think you wanna do me again since Rod's got your wife this time?"
"Sure, Sue," Bob said, looking at Barbara. Then he deliberately put his hand on one of Sue's thrusting, prominent breasts and squeezed it. He grinned when he saw Barbara's eyes narrow into deadly slits. But for the moment, she was speechless.
"What do you say, Jan?" Bill Anders asked, cupping his crotch into Janice's pouting buttocks. "Any results yet?" He nodded toward Barbara.
"Not yet, Bill," Janice said.
"Listen, Barbara, don't fight it," he said to her in a matter-of-fact voice. "I'm afraid I played a dirty trick on you by loading your drink with an extra amount. It should hit you in about five or ten minutes. I'd advise that you be here when it does, instead of riding home in a taxi. They wouldn't know how to handle you out on the street. They'd tear you to shreds like a pack of wolves."
"What are you talking about!" Barbara gasped, clutching her throat with her hand. "What have you done!"
Bill swallowed and glanced around the circle for help. "I ... I thought ..." he stammered.
"Nobody's told her yet, Bill, but that's all right." He looked at Barbara. "You're at a genuine swap party, darling," he said bluntly. "As Bill says, you may as well enjoy it. It can't hurt, and it may do you some good. Rod gets the honors first. Since you two seem to know each other, anyway, it shouldn't be all that much a shock to you."
"No!" she cried, gasping. All airs of superiority left her face. "I don't know this ape! I've never seen him in my life! I won't do it! Why are you doing this to me--why?"
"To try to straighten things out, Barb. I can't help what's in my past. And you have no right to hold it over me the way you've done for the past five years. When tonight is over, you won't be able to do that any more. You'll be just as guilty as I. Then maybe we can get down to business and make a decent marriage."
"What are you talking about, damn it? What past? You've gone crazy-all of you!"
Her face was twisted, hysterical. Bob faltered. He'd never seen her looking this way. What if it were all a monstrous mistake?
He had no time to say anything. Rod pulled on Barbara's arm commandingly, lifting her off her feet.
"Come on, baby, the movie's starting," he growled. "I want to see what you remember about fucking."
Bob watched the burly man drag her off. She was still protesting, hitting at him. He jerked her arm again, spoke sharply to her, and then glanced back at Bob. She looked, too. There was absolute terror and indecision on her face for a horrible moment. Then she followed him meekly to the corner.
"I hope this is the right thing to do," Bob said, suddenly feeling very unsure of himself. He was still trying to get used to the idea that Rod-man, Sue's husband, a burly ape of a beast, was going to fuck his wife--stick his hairy cock into her body and fill her belly with his boiling hot seed.
"It is, Bob," Janice said softly, touching his arm. She smiled quickly and went off with Bill.
In a moment the images were flickering on a screen. He saw Barbara pleading animatedly with Rod. He wished he could hear what they were saying. He lay on soft pillows and let Sue run her nibbling, soft lips over his body. He stared up at the flickering screen and saw a man's cock fill it.
The cock was red and pounding with heat. The camera backed away to show the slick, soft lips of a woman's mouth. The lips parted and the mouth was hot. It slipped gently down over the prick of the man and began sucking just as Sue's fingers pulled his prick from his pants.
His own dick was covered with silky warmth, and a tongue beat the tip of his prick into white heat. He closed his eyes and settled back and groaned, arching his hips into Sue's eager mouth.