Sandra woke up early. She had decided to go ahead with the impregnation only after meeting Mike and get to know more about the community. After the swap arrangement she felt freer and better appreciated as a person and a woman. She often wondered how would it be like having more men to fuck. If one person outside marriage was so much fun how much more will it be in the community.
She felt relieved postponing the decision. She decided not to discuss with Adam when they met next at their monthly rendezvous. He was sure to ask her.
Robert was surprised to see her light hearted at breakfast. So, you've decided? He asked, looking surprised.
Sandra kept quiet. She didn't want to spoil Robert's mood. He seemed more excited about someone else making her pregnant.
"Who do you think it'll be, boy or girl? He asked, as he got busy biting into the bread and egg toast," trying to make small talk to know Sandra's mind.
"Adam sired a girl and your fuck produced us a boy, really it's a mystery who or what decides the sex of the child. Can anyone make a reliable prediction?" Sandra wondered.
"Anyway how's your friend Mike?" Sandra asked Robert in a quiet matter of fact voice feigning casualness not arousing suspicion.
Robert was surprised at this sudden mention of his friend. "He's fine, hopefully, since we last met at Meloni's birthday party some months ago. Why do you ask?"
"I would like to meet him for an informal chat." Robert understood. "I will introduce you to him, formally, so to say, as he already knows you."
Robert had an inkling that she was curious about Mike's community. And whether their foursome was actually restrictive when compared.
"Aren't you happy with Adam?"
"Ofcourse I am. But I have a desire to explore more" - half seriously adding "call it research - and who knows may even publish my findings some day," she said with a laugh.
Robert loved her. She had changed. And so had he. They were more open to discuss and experiment now regarding sex. He remembered how conservative and prudish were her views on sex ever since he had known her.
She discouraged any conversations around sex. Is Sandra the same girl he had known? How people change! He mused.
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Alisha was blissful now that there was going to be an addition to the family - the love synergy of 4 people. It had gone on well for nearly an year. Robert was very considerate in every way. They followed their mutual interaction rules strictly. The men showed their true lusty colours to their swap partners with an ferocious enthusiasm within the confines of their swapped bedrooms. Everyone was conscious that the primary relationship was sacrosanct and there the boundaries ended. But it was a fact the secondary partners were more fun.
Alisha got thinking. "What if Sandra gets pregnant? It'll be exciting. But will there be a pause in their amorous lifestyle? Will both the men then turn to bed her continuously - maybe 3 days a week each on alternate days," she imagined bemused. "Maybe both will do her at the same time." She was momentarily shocked and thrilled as a shiver of excitement ran through her body.
But is it fair that Sandra carried the baby and left to bear the burden of pregnancy while they all enjoyed fucking without any care? What about her pleasures? No, this is not possible. She felt a tinge of guilt. But Robert may demand to bear his child (his pound of flesh?) with her too. Then they would get even. This was consoling.
Alisha was feeling very happy filled with a sense of gratitude towards Sandra. Both considered each other best friends forever. And what's more, things were moving closer with Sandra likely to get pregnant by her beloved husband Adam. This makes it more than family.
Sandra and Alisha met in person at least once every month in between the monthly swap trysts, in each other's houses alternatively for lunch where they discussed among other things many intimate matters some of which they dare not ever share with the men. The husbands were at work, the children at school, all household work and errands done; what better time to relax than with one's closest friend (or more than a friend in her case) in the quiet of their homes.
Alisha gave Sandra an extra tight hug. It's a done deal thought Alisha.
Sandra knew intuitively what Alisha was expecting - to confirm the impending impregnation. Alisha took Sandra's hands in her own saying "yes, dear Sandra we've a lot to discuss."
Sandra nodded. "Yes," she let Alisha talk and hoped that this would give her time to formulate her own thoughts. She wanted to make that important decision only after meeting Mike.
"Sandra, when is the date?" Sandra kept mum as if thinking which fertile period would be ideal.
"I know we've to think of our sleeping arrangements so that the men are kept happy." Said Alisha as if it was her major concern.
It was generally agreed the kid will be brought up by Sandra and Robert as official parents. There was an unspoken understanding that eventually Alisha too will bear Robert's child in course of time. Only to be expected, expenses of childcare were not an issue. After alll they were the symbols of love.
"Have you heard of Mike," Sandra asked Alisha casually.
Yes, I remember he is your husband's colleague or close friend. Robert had casually mentioned that he is some kind of a social entrepreneur.
"Well, he is the founder of an intentional community. I need to know more about his organisation and will be happy if you will accompany me to meet him."
"How come you are interested to meet him now? What does this community do?"
"I am doing a little research and I want to take you into confidence. So don't breathe a word to Adam. Robert at my request has fixed an appointment for us with Mike at his office this weekend. And Alisha you will accompany me there. Just the two of us will meet with him."
"Is this so important now," Alisha asked in a slightly disappointing tone. Sandra took her hand across the dining table saying, "we will discuss all your questions after our next sleepover."
Alisha was feeling somewhat crestfallen not knowing what to expect.
"Hope everything is OK," was all she could respond.
"Don't you worry. You'll like knowing Mike and his community."
Alisha was bringing the dishes to the table and blurted, "who is this Mike and why this sudden interest in him." She felt her world going down as she feared losing the friendship of Sandra and Robert.
"Hope you're not thinking of bringing him into our group or leaving us for him?" Alisha sounded alarmed.
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Robert liked Alisha very much and had often praised her to his wife for her pure feelings. And Sandra did understand, for Alisha indeed had an innocent heart.
Sandra immediately realised things had taken an unexpected turn. She got up and took Alisha to the sofa and looked at her saying, "do you ever think I or Robert will do that. No, never, you both are intimate... very intimate and closest friends."
Alisha seemed pacified for the moment promising that she will not breathe a word about the plan of meeting Mike to Adam and thereby avoid any chance of misunderstanding. Alisha also extracted a promise Sandra and Robert will never separate from them.
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Mike had a very simple, neat and clean office. He explained the motto of Unity Haven "simplify your life." And this simple philosophy was the foundation of his 'holistic' community.
He considered marriage and nuclear family concepts very much complicated, fraught with many avoidable inconveniences and frustrations.
He advocated a caring cohousing cooperative community.
where everyone lived with love and understanding and shared all the resources including themselves. The married were to formally declare their spouses as partners and undergo a solemn ceremony where they renounce formal spousal relations and convert them to partners or siblings. Legally though they remained spouses as before. Henceforth, as members they were licensed to produce kids from anyone other than their legal partners.
He then gave a brief history of Unity Haven. He started this community with his wife Susan and another couple Roy and Marga about nine years before. And in about three months they would be celebrating the tenth anniversary when four new couples were slated to join the community leading in all to Seven couples.
Even as Sandra was showing keen interest Alisha seemed indifferent. She seemed quite content with their present arrangements.
"Can you say what are some of the rules and activities of UH?" Sandra was curious.
Mike got an assurance from Alisha and Sandra that all he told them had to be treated with the highest confidence. He said he was opening upto them because Robert was a trustworthy friend. Moreover UH was more on the lines of a secret society as it was an idea ahead of the times. And there was the risk of scandals and controversies from Puritans.
Mike confirmed that Robert after an initial effort had not taken further interest in the idea.
But he remembered Robert telling him casually of his interest in Alisha even before his polyamorous relationship with her. And later he had commented how much he had enjoyed her company in person and in bed. And he was grateful to Sandra for allowing it to happen.
Alisha was pleased at this confirmation and quietly squeezed Sandra's hand under the table. She now felt ebullient and confident and felt assured that all her fears were imaginary. Robert never gave out details to Mike, as their agreement demanded secrecy, nor had Mike asked him for more. It would not have been proper to probe as he understood the importance of confidentiality and trust which equally applied to all members of his community for its success.
"How have your experiences been so far?" he asked. "Maybe there'll be something for us at UH to learn here."
Alisha concurred with Sandra they both were happy in their polyamorous relationships and that it had in fact overall improved their primary relationships. Both couples had overcome some jealousy issues through transparency and clear communication with a totally new outlook of anything relating to sex being good, desirable, pleasurable and positive. And most important not being exclusive.
"Sex positive," Mike interjected.
"Yes, we have our rules." Sandra continued.
Everything inside the polyamourous bedroom was allowed through mutual consent while on the outside they were just normal friends even while visiting each other as couples. The girls decided the time and place after prior consultations with their husbands.
The husbands never bared their sex lives amongst themselves but only with the women. The wives had all the freedom to discuss all issues amongst themselves without any restrictions and in private with their husbands. We never contact the other's spouse outside of the bedroom alone or in private.
Mike was appreciative, nodding with a smile.
"You know only then this relationship will sustain," Sandra offered to explain.
And we have observed the rules meticulously ever since.
"How often do you mate, err I mean, meet your swap partners," asked Mike with a smile.
"Yes, we mate as many times as we canon a ngle night, " she said with a smile, "till we are exhausted. We meet usually on the night of the third Friday of the month if it is convenient for everyone. We return to our spouses much before noon the next day."
Sandra said the one month gap between such meetings was necessary to keep the primary relationships undisturbed.
Mike was impressed. "A tested template. Good."
"How's it in UH?" Alisha started showing interest.
"You know when couples apply here to be part of UH they are tested at many levels. Finally the existing members have to approve of them before they are admitted.