Readers must read the previous chapters to understand the context of this chapter 03.
*
Over the next few days, Janet and I didn't discuss the apparently inevitable swapping. I figured she and Jennifer would do the tactical planning. I had warned Janet that before anything was to occur that she and I needed to have an in-depth talk about boundaries, limits, expectations etc.
Janet told me one evening during supper, that Sis had called and invited us over to their place for Friday evening cookout. I readily agreed as Sis and Dick had become much friendlier since the incident. So Janet called them back and we were committed.
That cook out was the beginning a new era of friendship with them. Whereas, before, Sis had not been really friendly to me, that evening we chatted and became closer. Not only did I become more comfortable with Sis, Dick and I hit it off really well. He and I had several opportunities to speak privately while the sisters were also busy talking. I learned that Dick and Sis had been through some tough times but had more than survived. Each had gone through individual counseling and, to my surprise, had been in marriage counseling. This was news to me but I was very pleased to hear that their marriage was now on a much firmer foundation. I didn't inquire as to whether Sis had confessed about infidelity that resulted in the pregnancy. Certainly I was not going to reveal who the sperm donor had been. Even Sis didn't know that I was he. She did know her lover had had sex with her earlier in that fateful evening. I would leave it at that.
Before the evening was over, plans were made for us to get together two weekends hence at our place. On the drive home, Janet and I discussed the obvious positive changes that had gone on between Sis and Dick. I expressed my new appreciation for both Dick and Sis as people. Janet copied that back saying that Dick and Sis both seemed much happier and more secure in their new relationship since counseling. That night we made sweet love together renewing our vows of love and fidelity. Sleep was heavenly that night. All was well.
I worked all the next week. Janet had a number of local appointments along with her internet consulting. Wednesday evening after supper, we were sipping coffee and nibbling deserts when Janet slipped her toe up my foot to my calf. That is her signal that she wants to talk about something important to her. I figured it was about Bob and Jennifer.
I giggled and felt the goose bumps start marching up my leg. "Whatcha got on your mind we need to talk about?" I queried.
"Wellllllll," she drew it out and smiled and winked at me.
"About Bob? Huh?"
"Yes."
"Have you been talking to Bob or Jennifer again?" I smiled at her, wondering if it had been Bob and if so if she would own up to it.
"Jennifer and I had a nice talk this morning. She and Bob would like for us to get together at their house Friday night for dinner and games. 'Fun games is' what she actually said. How about it? I would like to." "I'm assuming that her 'fun games' thing is actually swapping. Is that correct? Have you and Jennifer agreed already? Have you and Bob also been talking?" I was now looking directly at her. Her toe withdrew from my leg.
She smiled. "Yes and yes. Jennifer is all for it. Bob is also. Bob and I did talk on the phone also. I talked to him after Jennifer and I talked."
"Janet, your talking directly to Bob worries me. Your talking to Jennifer is ok but from here on, I don't want you talking to Bob privately without my prior consent. Swapping could lead to private sex which would lead to divorce. Honey, I'm very serious about this. I cannot even think of life without you but I cannot tolerate the idea of you and Bob having secrets, especially secrets regarding sexual things. You must agree to this restriction before we even talk of swapping or even discussing it." I tapped my finger on the table for emphasis.
Janet reached over the table with both hands and grasped mine. Looking into my eyes she said solemnly, "I promise you never to talk to Bob again about anything sexual. I will only flirt with him when you are with me and with your prior permission. Is that good enough and in plain enough English?" She squeezed my hands. "I cannot think of life without you and expect both of us to be totally faithful to our promises. Will you promise me the same things that I have promised you?"
"I promise you" I replied with a squeeze of her hands. Her toe wiggled up my leg again.
"Now John, let's talk about Friday night and what we will allow, encourage, permit and avoid."
"Okay, Janet, I have been thinking about this just as you have. Here are some of my thoughts. I am going to write them down so we can remember them. First, I want you to know that I am really nervous about this. We have such a wonderful marriage that I can think of nothing that can improve on it. I recognize that swapping can, for some, be fun and have no terrible consequences. I just hope that we fit into that category of people.
I have heard that swapping has resulted in an entrance into 'the lifestyle', meaning full blown swingers; swinging at swinger clubs and all sorts of perversions, lying, cheating, infidelities and such. You need to know of my anxieties. I trust you absolutely now but having sex or making love to another man or woman will be a life changing impact on each of us personally and on our marriage." I got up to get a writing pad and pens.
When I returned, Janet was looking very somber. She was deep in thought.
"First and foremost, Janet, neither of us can use the word 'love' in describing a relationship other than the one between you and me or between Bob and Jennifer. We cannot say, 'I love you' to any other person for any reason. We can say, 'I love the sex' but not 'I love you'. It would be better just not to use the word 'love' or 'lover' at all. 'Good sexual partner' would be okay. Don't use the word 'lover'. Do you understand and agree? This will be hard in the throws of climax or high sexual arousal since we have always recommitted ourselves using the word 'love'. I have very nervous about this, Janet. I could not handle hearing you say 'I love you' to another man."
Her reply was a rapid and forceful "YES. Neither of us can express anything that would even hint of 'true love' for another person. I fully agree." I was satisfied but still concerned.
"Next, other than a short cooling down time, we cannot 'snuggle'. I mean cuddling when it is not part of foreplay. I don't want either of us to feel the comfort and warmth of another person along with 'pillow talk' with another. This has to be about sex and nothing else."
"That is going to be hard, John. I agree but I can't see having sex and then not laying with that person afterwards."
"That is exactly why I am concerned. I believe we may not be able to pull sex and love apart. If only one of us has that problem then our marriage is in serious trouble. One way around that is to have sex only in the eyesight of our marriage partner. That way we can make eye and voice contact to remind the other of this part of our agreement."
"Okay, John," she nodded agreement. "We will flirt, engage in foreplay and, if it comes to that, actual sex, only in the presence of the other one. I feel very 'okay' with that."