Chapter 3
Lola lifted the coffee pot off the stove and started across toward the kitchen table. She poured the two mugs full of the steaming brew and returned the pot to the stove as Ray walked into the kitchen and sat down. Their eyes met briefly, and she shrugged.
"I'm sorry about last night; I guess I had a few too many."
Ray nodded slowly as he helped himself to sugar and cream.
"Yeah, I guess I did, too. We're both uptight about not being able to have kids, and last night was the time we picked to let off steam."
Lola frowned slightly as she joined him at the table.
"If only it didn't take so goddamned long to adopt."
Ray lifted his mug and took a drink before answering her.
"If only I could beat whatever it is that's stopping me from getting you pregnant."
Lola cut him off, knowing that the topic was painful for him.
"It'll work itself out; I think we're both just trying too hard. If we didn't want it so badly, we'd probably have a whole houseful by now."
Ray felt there was a lot of merit in what she said. The doctor Lola had been seeing had said more or less the same thing. He knew full well that everything had gone along great for them sexually up until the time they'd decided to have kids; then suddenly everything had gone to hell.
He glanced at his watch and swore softly.
"Damn, look at the time; I've got to get the hell out of here."
He stood up and crossed over to her, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
"See you later. You should go on back to bed; last night was pretty hectic."
Lola smiled.
"I might just do that."
She waited until she heard the door close behind him; then she moved back over to the stove and poured herself another cup of coffee. Her mind drifted back over the conversation of the night before. The idea of Marty and Sheila swapping partners had really surprised her, and she had been unable to get the thought out of her mind.
She tried to envision what it would be like-making love to another man while watching Ray make love to another woman. From a purely sexual side, the idea appealed to her. It shocked her a little, although it wasn't too hard to understand, considering how little sexual satisfaction she had been getting of late. She couldn't help but wonder what effect it would have on the relationship between her and Ray.
Surely it would be an ideal way to get both of them over the hump of sexual inactivity, and at the same time, it would have to give Ray more confidence in himself as a man to have sex simply for the fun of it, and prove himself with another woman.
She found herself half-wishing that she and Ray could give it a try as easily as Marty and Sheila had. It was an unorthodox thought, to say the least, and she was a little surprised at herself for even considering it.
She attempted to push it from her mind as she began the routine of cleaning the house.
Leona waited until Vern had left for work before she got out of bed and climbed into the shower. She relaxed and lathered herself slowly, then stepped under the hot, stinging spray. Her thoughts drifted back to the night before, and Marty's unashamed admission that he and Sheila had tried trading sexual partners.
She stepped back out of the water and shut it off, then moved out of the shower stall and reached for one of the big bath towels, rubbing herself briskly. She had just about finished when the phone rang.
She cursed under her breath and wrapped the towel around herself, then moved out of the bathroom and crossed into the bedroom, picking up the extension. She recognized Sheila's voice immediately.
"Hi, honey. Put the coffee on; I'll be over in ten minutes."
Before Leona had a chance to answer, the line went dead in her hand. She placed the phone back in its cradle and shook her head slowly. For a split second she was angry with Sheila for inviting herself over so early; but, as usual, she couldn't stay mad at Sheila for long. Sheila was blunt and brisk, but she was honest, and it was hard not to like her.
Leona tossed the towel onto the bed and began to dress quickly.
Ray ran his pen slowly down the figures in front of him. For what seemed the fiftieth time, he lost count. He closed his eyes and tossed the pen into the center of his desk; then he leaned back into the comfortably padded leather chair.
It was no good, and he knew it. He couldn't concentrate on what he was doing. The night before had been the breaking point for all the frustration both he and Lola were going through, and there was no longer any sense in trying to delude himself. If something wasn't done soon to correct the situation, he and Lola were going to break up.
He had been relatively convinced that he and Lola could work this thing out between them, but it was becoming painfully obvious that they couldn't. It just got steadily worse. He knew he would have to get some outside help to work it out, and yet there was no way he was going to try Lola's method. The psychiatrist really hadn't done her much damn good anyway.
On the other hand, he had to talk to somebody about it, if only to get it off his chest. He leaned forward and pressed down the button his intercom.
"Jenny . . . get me Marty Wells on the phone."
Leona set the tray down in the center of the coffee table and dropped down to the couch beside Sheila. She poured two cups and then lifted the one nearest her and leaned back. Sheila helped herself to her cup, adding sugar and cream; then she stirred it slowly and turned to face Leona.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush, baby. It's obvious after last night that you and Vern are having a problem, and to be honest, I'm a little hurt to find out that you haven't confided in me before now. That's what friends are for."
Leona put a puzzled expression on her face with some effort.
"I don't know what you mean."
Sheila let out a husky chuckle.
"Oh, come on, honey; Vern let the cat out of the bag last night. He wants you to give him a little action in bed, and you won't go for it. It's obviously eating away at both of you."
Leona could have pushed it aside again, but she didn't have the strength left. She had been holding it inside for too long as it was.
"Okay, but remember you asked for it."
Sheila nodded slowly as she smiled.
"Go ahead; I've got broad shoulders. While I may not be an expert in the field, sex has to be my favorite topic."
Deciding to talk was one thing, but finding the words was something else again. Leona took a drink from her cup and lit a cigarette before speaking.
"Everything was great for the first two or three months we were married. Then one night in bed, when we were really hot, Vern started kissing me all over, and before I knew it, he was kissing me . . . well, down there ..."
Sheila was doing her best not to break out laughing at Leona's hesitancy.
"You mean he started going down on you?"
Leona nodded slowly.
"Yes. Well, I just don't think that's right, and I told him so. He got mad, and we had a long talk about it. He says there's nothing wrong with it, and went so far as to suggest that I do the same for him. From that point on, things got worse. I know damn well he's been running around on me; he doesn't even try to keep it a secret. He keeps saying that any time I want to unfreeze he's ready to stay home with me. We haven't been having sex for months, and it's driving me crazy."
Sheila nodded slowly and set her cup down. She lit a cigarette and exhaled, then leaned back and looked over at Leona.
"Look, honey, I could spend all day telling you just how wrong you are, but I don't really think it would do any good. I had an idea this was the problem, so I pulled a couple of books out of the special library that Marty and I have built up ..."
She bent over to pick up her purse, then opened it and pulled out two pocket books. She handed them to Leona and leaned back again.
"You read those when you get a chance. When you're finished, you'll either be convinced that nine-tenths of the population are perverts, or that maybe you owe it to yourself to give Vern's suggestion a try. That first one there talks about what you and Vern are fighting over, and the second one goes into things a little deeper-group sessions, wife swapping, etc. I got those two books when Marty and I were talking about swapping; I wanted to be sure in my own mind that it wasn't going to ruin what we already had. It didn't take me long to find out just how fabulous it could be. You read them, honey; you owe it to yourself. And keep in mind that Marty and I have never been happier than since we gave swapping a try."
Leona dropped the books onto the coffee table as though she felt they would contaminate her. Sheila smiled a little.
"It's up to you, honey; it's your life."
She lifted her cup and drained it, then stood up.
"I've got to run; got a hairdresser's appointment in fifteen minutes. Keep the books for as long as you want; Marty and I don't need them any more."
Marty glanced at his watch, then looked over at the restaurant door. He saw Ray come in and flashed him a smile, then waved the waitress over. He gave her an order for drinks; then, as she moved away, he looked back to Ray, who dropped into the chair across from him.
"I'd almost given you up."
Ray shrugged apologetically.
"Damn client phoned just as I was going to leave."
Marty smiled.
"Don't they always? I've ordered drinks. Now, what did you have on your mind?"
Ray glanced around them appraisingly. He found himself regretting having set up the luncheon appointment for a second, but he was committed, and he intended to go through with it.
"I want to talk to you. I need some advice, about this thing between Lola and me. It's gone too far for me to work it out for myself."
Marty's features grew serious as he nodded.
"Sure, glad to help if I can. Shoot."
The waitress showed up with their drinks, and Ray flushed, afraid she had overheard their conversation. It was immediately obvious to him that the waitress didn't really give a damn, and he took a deep breath and continued when she'd left.
"You know how badly Lola wants kids?"
Marty nodded, waiting for his friend to continue.
"Well, once we'd decided to go ahead, we really had a wild time in the sack; but then, when she didn't get pregnant after two or three months, we began to wonder why. At first we just figured it was bad luck, but after two years of nothing, we thought there might even be something physically wrong. Both Lola and I had checkups and came out with clean bills of health. The doctor that examined us figures it's something emotional, on my side. I've been trying everything, but the situation between Lola and me is getting unbearable. It's so bad that I don't even want to make it with her any more, and both of us are getting frustrated as hell. I know damn well that it's just because we're both trying too damn hard, but knowing it and doing something about it are two different things."
Ray paused, taking a sip from his glass, and Marty realized he was expected to say something. He crushed out his cigarette and looked up.
"You tried adopting, didn't you? That would probably work it out."
Ray nodded.
"Yeah, I think that would have worked it out, but it takes so damn long to get it through. To be truthful, I don't think Lola and I are going to make it that long."
Marty nodded slowly.
"Both of you are so bloody frustrated by now I suppose neither of you can be much good in bed."
There was a strained silence while Marty lifted his drink to his lips and drained it. He looked over at Ray as he set his glass down.
"If you're asking me what I'd do, it's simple. Sheila and I were having a few problems of our own sexually a few months back. It wasn't the same thing as you and Lola are up against; we were both just getting a little bored with our sex life. I'll tell you what we did to iron it out; it worked really well for us."
Ray leaned back and kept his eyes locked with Marty's.
"If you're suggesting we try swapping partners, it's out. Even if I agreed to it, Lola never would." Marty smiled.
"Don't be too sure about that. Consider the problem; you're both frustrated sexually from lack of satisfaction. You're both emotionally tied up in knots, so you couldn't possibly make it satisfactorily with each other even if the opportunity presented itself. Lastly, you're both reasonably sure that if you had a baby, it would work itself out. Swapping would end the sexual frustration in one night. It would untie the emotional knots between you because your sex problems are at the base of it, and if Lola got pregnant from swapping, which she very well might, you'd have solved that problem, too. Remember, you've already considered adopting, so what's wrong with having Lola get pregnant from another source? It would be more yours than if you adopted it."
Ray was a little knocked off balance by it all. He could find no part of Marty's argument that didn't ring true, yet he had never even considered swapping as an out for their problems. He sat silently for a second, mulling it over in his mind.
Marty raised his hand for another round of drinks, then looked back at Ray.
"It worked for Sheila and me. It's great, as a matter of fact. I'm not guaranteeing that it would work for you and Lola, but I don't see why it shouldn't. Of course, you both have to be ready to try it, and you have to go into it with open minds. If one of you is going to get jealous, it will never work. At first I thought that would be Sheila's problem, but we talked it out and both agreed that it was sex for the sake of sex when we swapped, and it had nothing to do with the love we have between us. That may sound cold to you, but it isn't if you consider that sex is a damn powerful drive, just like eating and sleeping, and there's no damn reason why it should be all tied up with love like it is in this damned crazy society of ours."
Ray nodded slowly.
"No ... I suppose not..."
Their fresh drinks arrived, and Ray was silent until the waitress left; then he looked over at Marty.
"I'll have to think about it . . . and talk it over with Lola. I gather that you and Sheila would be willing to swap with us if we agreed to try it."
Marty grinned broadly.
"You won't have to ask twice."
All her life sex had been something Leona shut out. She had been taught that it was necessary, but not to be discussed or even thought about in decent surroundings. As a result, she had been able to ignore the two books on the coffee table for a good two hours, but finally she convinced herself that they would have no influence over her anyway, so she sat down and opened the first one.
Ray didn't bother going back to the office. He knew damn well that he couldn't concentrate on work anyway. Instead, he drove home slowly, thinking over what Marty had said as he drove.
It made sense, in a crazy sort of way. Yet in all honesty, he had to admit to himself that the thought of possessing Sheila sexually added to the proposition a great deal.
He had always considered Sheila a sexually attractive broad. She was the regular big blonde brick shithouse. Her measurements were more than any man could completely ignore, and Ray had found himself studying them from a distance many a time. The realization that he could be balling all that blonde beauty was almost too much for him to take, and he found himself really working out some sound reasons to offer Lola as to why they should take Marty and Sheila up on their offer.
He wheeled the Merc wagon into the driveway and parked it, then grabbed his briefcase and headed for the house. Lola heard the door open and walked into the living room from the kitchen. She smiled as she saw him.
"You're early."
Ray returned her smile as he set his briefcase down and closed the door.
"I was getting nowhere at the office. Thinking about last night made me pretty useless behind a desk."
Lola nodded her understanding and moved over to the bar. She fixed them two drinks and carried one over to him, dropping down onto the couch beside him. Ray took one gratefully from her hand and took a sip; then he looked over at her.
"I had lunch with Marty today, and I think he might have come up with an answer to our problems."
A flicker of interest lit up Lola's face.
"Oh? How so?"
Ray flushed slightly; he didn't know how to say it. He let out a nervous laugh.
"He figures we should try swapping with him and Sheila."
His eyes stayed on Lola, trying to gauge her reaction. He got anything but what he expected. Instead of being surprised or shocked, she simply nodded her head.
"That's funny; the thought entered my mind today, too."
Ray had been prepared for an argument, and now that he wasn't getting one, he made no attempt to hide the excitement he felt.
"It might not be a bad idea. After all, it should sure as hell let us unwind if we did it once; then maybe we'd be able to get over all this bloody muddle we've worked ourselves into."
Lola nodded.
"Yes, I agree. We both need to unwind completely."
Ray grinned broadly.
"You mean you're willing to do it? You don't think it will bother us . . . you know, knowing that we're making love with somebody else?"
Lola shrugged.
"Why should it? It's not as though we're cheating on each other; we'll both be doing it at the same time. If we find out we don't like it, we'll simply quit."
Leona didn't hear Vern come into the house. She was too engrossed in the last few pages of the second book that Sheila had left.
Vern walked into the living room and looked over at her.
"Hey, I'm home."
Leona jumped, startled at the sound of his voice. She flushed deeply when she looked up and saw him, and quickly put the book down. Her action drew Vern's attention instantly, and he moved across toward her, picking the book up off the coffee table. He knew right away that Sheila had been true to her word.
He set the book down and glanced at the title of the other one; then he smiled and looked back down at Leona.
"I see you've been doing some reading."
Leona nodded.
"Yes, Sheila came over this morning; she thought I should read them."
Vern knew better than to push it; just finding Leona reading this kind of book was evidence enough that Sheila's talk had done a damn sight more good than any of his lectures had. He turned and walked over to the bar, pouring out two drinks, then carried them back across to her and offered her one.
Leona took it gratefully.
"Thanks; I've been so busy I haven't had one all day."
Vern was pleasantly surprised, and he couldn't resist showing it.
That's great; for a while there I was beginning to think you were an alcoholic."
Leona leaned back and looked up at him as he moved across to the chair directly in front of her and sat down.
"I thought so, too."
She was silent for a second as she looked down at the fluid in her glass; then she moved her eyes back to him and spoke.
"Vern, maybe I have been way off base on this sex thing. After reading these books, it's pretty obvious to me that I'm pretty prudish. I've decided that it isn't fair to either of us for me to keep this up, and I've had a chance to reevaluate a lot of things. There's just one question I want to ask you."
Vern nodded.
"Shoot."
Leona held his eyes with hers as she spoke.
"I can't promise you that I'll ever be able to do what you want, but I can truthfully say that I'm seriously ready to give it a try. If I do, do you think we've got a chance to salvage our marriage?"
Vern was far more pleased than he could say. He answered her honestly and instantly.
"Honey, all I've ever wanted is for you to try. Hell, everybody has to learn about sex slowly; you don't hop into bed the first night and start going down on each other. It has to be a mutual thing between a couple, and it grows slowly into perfection. I promise you here and now that if you're willing to try, I won't push you, and I'll guarantee you won't have to worry about me going elsewhere for sex kicks."
Leona nodded slowly, then stood up with a look of determination.
"I'm going to have a bath, a long, hot one. Then I want you to make love to me . . . any way you want."
Sheila leaned back and smiled. "By the sounds of it, we've both struck pay dirt."
Marty nodded.
"Yes, if Leona reads these books she'll pretty well get over her initial inhibitions anyway, and from there on, who knows? As far as Ray and Lola go, I could tell by the look on Ray's face that he was all for it, and I have a feeling Lola is a natural swapper under that homebody disguise of hers. I can hardly wait to get her into bed." Sheila returned his smile.
"After listening to their problem, I have to admit that I'm looking forward to making it with Ray, too. If he's as unsure of himself as he says, he'll try awfully hard to make good with me, and from what I've seen of him in a bathing suit, it's going to be some ride."
Marty chuckled huskily.
"I don't think we'll have too long to wait. One of them should be phoning tomorrow and unless I miss my guess, we'll be swapping by tomorrow night. I hope that we can interest them in going both ways; I've really missed the AC/DC bit since that Canadian couple introduced us to it."
Sheila felt herself shudder with expectation.
"Mmmm . . . you're not the only one."
Ray looked over at Lola as he carried over two refills and handed her one.
You're sure then ... no second thoughts?"
Lola shook her head slowly.
"No . . . let's try it once, then evaluate it. That's the only fair way."
Ray nodded slowly.
"Okay, I'll call Marty tomorrow and arrange lunch with him again. I'll tell him it's just on a one-night basis for the time being, and see if they can come over tomorrow night."
Vern waited for a half-hour. His cock was stiff and throbbing against the front of his pants. It had been a long time for both of them, and having her this willing for him made waiting almost unbearable. Finally he gave up trying to keep himself occupied. He walked down to the bathroom and went inside.
Leona looked up in from the tub and smiled.
"Hi, I've been waiting for you. How about scrubbing my back?"
Vern handed her the fresh drinks he'd brought in; then he knelt down beside the tub and picked up the soap. He began to wash her lush, glowing body gently, very, very gently.
He worked on her slowly, his hands roving lovingly over every part of her willing body, lathering her high, proud breasts, brushing against the stiff nipples, stroking and caressing her everywhere. Leona closed her eyes and began to moan softly, and Vern rinsed the soap away quickly and pulled out the plug, letting the water drain away.
He helped her out of the tub and dried her quickly; then he led her down the hall to the big master bedroom and folded down the covers of the king-sized bed. He eased her gently into it, then pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly against him.
"Easy, baby, easy . . . just relax and enjoy it ... "
He bent his head and kissed her. He held her lips tightly against his for a few seconds, feeling them soft and yielding, and loving it. It was a gentle, undemanding kiss at first; then the raging fires in both of them made it not enough.
The pressure of his mouth increased, and she felt the outline of his big cock in the front of his pants pulsing hotly against her hips as his tongue lashed through her teeth and probed deeply into her mouth.
It had been so long, and Leona was so hot for it that she found herself ignoring the nagging voice which told her that what he wanted from her was wrong. She was so primed for it that she was only vaguely aware of his lips slowly traveling downward over her lush breasts . . . then shifting downward again . . . pausing to suck at each nipple, tasting, teasing her pulsating buds. It felt so good, so reassuring, so gentle ... so relaxing . . . then it was more than that, and she was conscious of the fact that he was stripping away his clothing as his mouth paid homage to her.
"Oh, god, yes . . . hurry . . . hurry ..."
She whimpered with desire as she felt the tip of his hot tongue begin to move through the glistening black fleece surrounding her burning cuntlips. There was no thought of whether it was right or wrong; she wanted it, and she needed it. She shrieked with pleasure and arched herself upward off the warm sheet as his eager tongue snaked into her yawning cunt and made its first exploratory surge into her sweet, freely flowing pussy.
He kept working at her for a few seconds; then, when she was past the point of thinking, of caring about anything but the feel of his lusty tongue, he lifted his mouth and looked down at her.
"Look, honey, I don't want to rush you ... I don't want to force you. Are you sure?"
Deep inside Leona knew it was wrong; yet when she tried to formulate the words, to tell him to stop, she couldn't get them out. Then her ears filled with her own wild cry.'
"Yes . . . god, yes . . . lick me . . . put your tongue in my cunt. . . eat it ... "
Vern let out a husky groan of delight and moved his lips back to her hot slit, covering it and sucking wildly for a few seconds; then he shoved his tongue deep into the sweet, oozing chasm and began to gurgle with delight.
Instantly Leona's body came alive beneath him. She was filled with a weird, wonderful tingling sensation, and she closed her eyes and began to whimper softly.
Vern worked on her slowly, letting his tongue pay homage to the sweet, swollen outer lips of her cunt; then he gradually shoved the hot, moist lance deeper and deeper into her delicious, nectar-filled twat. He let the tip circle slowly, and Leona's lust-filled moans filled the room as she lost herself to the wonder of it completely and let her buttocks lash upward off the bed.
Her legs spread farther apart, and she began to rotate her hips. She whimpered with need and embraced his head with her firm, golden thighs, holding him in a viselike grip, welcoming the feel of his eager mouth on her.
It was wicked and wild for Leona, something she had never allowed herself to experience before; and it didn't take her long to reach her peak.
The instant Vern felt her beginning to quiver, he brought his lapping tongue into contact with her stiff, pulsating clitoris. She erupted, her body shuddering through a series of blissful explosions.
Vern stayed with her, his tongue working on her until she had ceased to move, finishing her completely.
It was a good ten minutes before Leona found the strength to open her passion-clouded eyes. She was still high on the blissful sensation of her crisis, and the sight of his big, thick cock-stiff, throbbing, glistening-was too much. She shook with anticipation and tossed her head wildly from side to side on the pillow.
"Now . . . god, do it now . . . fuck me ..."
Vern bent his head and kissed her breasts lightly, then moved down to place his hot mouth on her open cunt briefly before he shifted over her and dropped into her waiting arms. He paused briefly, letting his eyes move over the lush outline of her body, sensuously illuminated by the single lighted lamp; then he reached for his painfully throbbing cock and guided the massive knob over the deliciously glistening, swollen lips of her hot slit.
Leona couldn't get him into her fast enough. She reached up to clutch his buttocks, then yanked him downward as she arched herself up off the bed. A small cry of delight broke through her clenched teeth as his huge knob ripped into her, and she rotated her hips wildly as the big tool drove farther into her burning chasm. The feel of his thick tool invading the hot, clutching tissues sent a searing jolt of pleasure through Vern, and he gave a guttural moan as he began to drive his massive cock into her with short, powerful strokes.
He lustily fought for more territory, finally bringing his heavy, tender balls slamming against her elevated ass on each blissful stroke. Having her give of herself like this excited Vern wildly. He hit his peak quickly.
He groaned huskily as the first rich, creamy gushing stream of hot come spurted forth from the big slit in the tip of his deeply imbedded knob, and Leona cried out with delight as she went with him, a violent, passionate series of tremors shaking her sweat-covered form.
They clung together, bucking wildly against each other, surging frantically through the throes of release; then Vern collapsed onto her, supporting the weight of his upper body on his elbows as he fought to regain control of his exhausted, very satisfied body.
They stayed that way for a long time; then finally Vern lifted himself up off her, slipping his shrinking prick free of her warm slit. He took a deep breath as he rolled over onto his back beside her.
"Christ, baby, that was wild!"
Leona was silent for a second as she fought to control her breathing; then she turned her head to face him and smiled.
"To think I've been fighting that all this time . . . my god, it was wonderful."
Vern chuckled throatily and pulled her into his arms, holding himself against her side.
"There's plenty more where that came from, baby."
Leona closed her eyes and nuzzled closer to him.
"Mmm ... I know . . . I've been reading the books ..."
Vern didn't say anything for a few moments. He had gained a lot of ground with Leona in the past hour, and he didn't want to turn the tide; yet he couldn't resist planting the seed in her mind.
"Marty and Sheila want us to swap with them. If you're really interested in learning the whole route, they're the ones to show you the way."
Leona turned slightly in his arms so she could look at him.
"Do you want to?"
Vern shrugged and smiled.
"Sure, I think it would be great, but I'd only do it if you wanted to give it a try, too."
Leona nodded slowly.
"Give me a little while; it's all pretty new to me yet."
Vern grinned broadly.
"Sure, honey, all the time you want."