I was watching from the sitting room window when they arrived shortly after two o'clock that Saturday afternoon. I had put our car away and closed the garage door so they had room to park on our drive. They came in a Volkswagen Polo, about seven years old. He held the door politely while she climbed out.
Laura, watching beside me, said, "They look nice enough. Ordinary people."
"That's what they said on the phone. I'll go to the door - we ought to offer them something to drink."
They introduced themselves as Harold and Charmian. He was in a casual jacket and slacks, collar and tie; nothing special but neat and tidy. Charmian wore a dark blue blouse and matching skirt. The blouse was buttoned to the top.
Once they had taken seats on the sofa, I offered to open a bottle of wine. Charmian said they would prefer a cup of tea. "No sugar for me, please, but one for Harold."
"Would you like to have a little chat first?" Harold asked when Laura retired to the kitchen to boil the kettle. "We think it helps the first time. It's a bit off-putting when people want to get down to it almost before you're through the door."
Harold told us he was 34, an accounts clerk for an insurance company in the City. Charmian was 31, an assistant manageress in a shoe shop in Oxford Street. A dozen years younger than us but that didn't seem to be a problem. I said, "You'll need to guide us, I think. How you want to go about it." I tried to sound a little less nervous than I actually was.
"Well, it's not like there are rules. We can do anything you want, but any time someone says no, it means no. After that, we like to play it by ear. Just so everyone can relax and enjoy it."
Charmian touched his arm. "Language, dear. You haven't mentioned language."
Laura overheard this as she returned with their cups of tea. "Is that a problem?"
"No. We just need to know how you feel. Some people are upset by hearing words they already know. It's odd but we can understand it. For ourselves, we think that in the bedroom it's different. Words like 'cock' and 'cunt' add something. We talk a lot." He looked at Laura.
"We have our moments, too," she said. "Let's see how it goes - but don't hold back for us. But while we seem to be clearing the decks, what about condoms?"
I was pleased when Harold gave a straight answer. "We prefer it without - condoms take away something. But it's a matter of trust, isn't it? Some people don't want to take the chance."
Laura and I had talked about this, so I was pleased she had brought it up. We had decided we would make a decision when we saw them. I said, "We wouldn't, either. But if you tell us honestly there isn't a problem, I think we would prefer it without."
One bridge crossed. "Do you usually find the first time easy with new people?" I asked.
"Well, what's usually? It's not as though we are doing this all the time. Only every so often, when we feel the urge for a little bit of excitement. This is the first time for about six weeks. And we need to feel we're with the right kind of people - ordinary, like us"
"But is it usually easy? For people who haven't - well, done this kind of thing before."
"Most times, yes. We try to put people at their ease if they're inexperienced."
"Like us," said Laura.
"I don't think you'll have a problem. We can tell. Sometimes it feels wrong. For instance, when people think we want money. We don't - doing it for money would spoilt it. And we always say no to cameras. Don't want pictures of us in action on the internet. Anything of that sort crops up, we just leave as politely as we can and nothing at all happens."
"But not now?" Laura asked.
Harold smiled. "We'll find out, won't we? The thing is this: have you ever seen people fucking?" He looked at Laura. "Do you mind me putting it like that?"
"No. I've said we don't shock that easily. And anyway, we've seen plenty - pictures, I mean."
"Oh yes, we've all seen it in films - but that's only pretending and clever camera work. DVDs or the Internet are what most people see, of course. But what I meant is - being there while two people are doing it. Close to them. Part of it, almost."
Laura didn't respond. I know her well enough to understand that she was making her mind up once again. I knew she wanted to because she is a very sexy woman but now the moment had arrived, was she ready?
Harold went on, "Isn't that why you've wanted us? To be with us while we do it. You should understand we like being watched. This is what we like to do. Why we are here. It's a turn-on for us, isn't it, dear? "Yes," said Charmian. "It can be - well, very exciting. I mean, when we were in the car coming here I said to Harold that we never quite know how it will turn out - me on my back, opening my legs ready to be fucked. And two people we haven't met yet watching us. Just thinking about it made me wet."
And that really was that. Harold looked round our sitting room and smiled. "Where would you like us to do it? We're pretty adaptable."
"Well," said Laura, smiling back. "There's the sofa you're sitting on. But unless you want another cup of tea, wouldn't a bedroom be better? Follow me."
So we took the first step along a very exciting path we had spent a lot of time discussing.
We used the guest bedroom. Laura's father used to sleep there occasionally but since he died there had been no one. This was an opportunity to put it to good use. There's a double bed and we had moved in two small armchairs - for spectators.
"Oh, this is perfect," said Charmian. We'll be fine here."
Harold looked at the chairs and said, "Get as close as you like - this is for you to enjoy as much as us. One thing we don't like is doing it in silence. Don't be afraid to talk to us, tell us if there's something special we could do that would be horny for you."
"Stripping off would be a good start," I suggested.
"Right you are," said Harold. "But can we let Charmian do her party piece first?"
"Party piece?"
"Well," she said, "you know I sell shoes, and I"ve been admiring Laura's May I have a look?"
