Things We Tried On Ch 10

There are many ways to keep swapping experiences fresh and exciting. Part of the appeal of swinging lies in how it defies the slow drift into routine that often shadows long-term monogamy. Unlike traditional couples, swingers--at least in theory--face a different kind of challenge: not how to stay together, but how to stay curious.

Archie took a sip of his drink, eyes on the flickering candle between them. "That's exactly it," he said. "That sameness... it's what wore us down in the first place. We weren't trying to cheat or run. We just couldn't take the quiet knowing--the sense that every night was already written before it began."

Barbara gave a soft laugh from across the table. "God, yes," she said. "That feeling like you're in a loop--wake up, work, dinner, dishes, bed. Repeat. It was like we could see the next thirty years in a single glance."

Ken gave her a look--half amused, half affectionate. "You make it sound like a prison sentence."

"Sometimes it felt like one," Barbara said, not unkindly. "Even with someone you love. Especially with someone you love."

Archie nodded. "And that's the trap. Even this--swinging--it can become just another loop. Just a more colorful one."

"You have to be careful not to substitute one routine for another," Ken added, his voice low and calm. "New faces don't guarantee new experiences. If your head's in the same place, the thrill fades just the same."

Linda smiled at him, then turned to Barbara. "So how do you two keep it fresh? You've been doing this longer than we have."

Barbara tilted her head. "Honestly? We stopped trying to make it exciting. We started making it meaningful. It's not about how far you go--it's about how present you are. The connection."

"And being willing to surprise each other," Ken said. "Even after all this time."

Archie leaned back, thinking. "You don't want every date to feel like it has to top the last one. That's a game you can't win. You burn out--or worse, you stop being honest with yourselves."

Linda nodded, brushing her fingertips along the rim of her glass.

"It's not about escalation. It's about depth. Presence. When you're truly there--when it's real--it doesn't have to be outrageous to be unforgettable."

"You just have to be inventive," Archie added with a smile.

Barbara laughed softly. "Necessity is the mother of invention, right?"

"And monotony is the father," Ken muttered dryly.

That earned a round of chuckles.

"Still," Barbara said, "I think we make a mistake when we credit clever ideas with keeping the spark alive. It's not about what you think up--it's the mindset you bring. That's the real work."

Ken looked across the table, thoughtful. "It's about intention. You bring curiosity, honesty, courage--and maybe just a little mischief."

"And if it gets a little crazy along the way," Linda added with a wink, "well... that's a bonus."

Everyone laughed, and for a quiet moment, the four of them just sat there--two couples, joined not just by desire, but by understanding.

"Let's face it," Archie said, stretching his legs under the table, "there are only so many ways to have sex."

Linda chuckled. "Well, there goes the mystery."

"I'm serious," he went on. "People think swinging opens up endless new doors, but even in an orgy--once the novelty fades--you start to realize the truth. Same positions, same motions, same outcome. There are limits to the mechanics."

"True," Ken agreed, nodding. "There are only so many sensations, so many ways to chase that happy little orgasm, like you're on some kind of treasure hunt."

Barbara raised an eyebrow. "But some people do treat it like a scavenger hunt, don't they? Always chasing the next kink, the next person, like variety alone is the goal."

"And that's the trap," Linda said. "If you become obsessed with needing it to be new every time, you stop appreciating what you already have."

"Exactly," Archie said. "It becomes a hang-up. You're no longer enjoying the moment--you're chasing some fantasy of the next one. That's not freedom. That's addiction with a nicer wardrobe."

Ken smiled at that. "Well put."

Barbara leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You know what helps, sometimes? The little rituals. Not routines, not the stuff that puts you to sleep. But the things people come back to because they know they work."

"You mean the games?" Linda asked.

"Yeah," Barbara said. "Icebreakers. Silly things, mostly. Strip poker, blindfold touches, that kind of thing. It's like... adult party tricks."

"Swinger icebreakers," Archie said with a half-smile. "Our version of 'Two Truths and a Lie'--except it ends with someone naked in a hot tub."

They all laughed.

"Honestly," Ken said, "some of them are just as goofy as what 'civilians' do at awkward office parties. But they work. Not because they're sexy, but because they loosen people up. Drop the tension."

"They give permission," Barbara added. "That's what it's really about. Everyone walks in with walls up. The games give you an excuse to let them down without admitting you're nervous."

"And once the nerves go," Linda said, "you can actually feel something. It stops being about novelty and becomes about connection. Playful, sure--but real."

"Still," Archie said, "I think the biggest thing is this: if you can't enjoy what you've got--your body, your partner, your moment--then no game, no stranger, no fantasy will ever be enough."

Ken raised his glass slightly. "To not needing more."

"But still enjoying it when it comes," Barbara added with a wink.

They all clinked glasses and drank--quietly satisfied, not because the night promised something outrageous, but because they were all exactly where they wanted to be.

*******

It started innocent enough -- just a lazy game of truth or dare after a few too many glasses of wine.

"Truth," Barbara said, leaning back against the couch with a smirk.

My husband grinned. "Okay. What's one thing you secretly think about, but would never tell anyone?"

Barbara gave an exaggerated groan. "That's not fair."

"Answer it!" I said, laughing.

She hesitated just long enough to make it suspicious. "Fine. Sometimes... I wonder what it would be like, you know, with another woman."

The room went very quiet for a beat. Then the guys practically leaned forward in their seats.

"Ohhh?" my husband said, trying way too hard to sound casual.

Barbara shrugged, playing it off. "Come on. You guys love that idea. Don't even pretend."

They didn't deny it. They didn't even try.

"Yeah, well," her husband said, grinning. "It's... hot."

I couldn't resist poking at them. "But if we suggested two guys fooling around?"

Instant grimaces from both of them. It was almost funny how fast it happened.

"No way," my husband said, shaking his head.

"Not happening," her husband agreed, making a face.

Barbara and I exchanged a wicked look.

"Double standard, much?" I teased.

"It's not the same," he insisted.

Barbara tilted her head. "Explain."

Her husband squirmed a little, then shrugged. "A man doing that... it's like... it makes him seem less masculine."

"But a woman?" I pressed.

"That's different." My husband tried to sound reasonable, but the sheepish look gave him away. "A woman with another woman is still... feminine. If anything, it's even more sensual. More complete."

Barbara laughed under her breath. "More complete, huh?"

I shook my head, smiling. "Still doesn't explain why it's so different."

The guys just looked at each other, then at us, like they were hoping we'd let it drop.

We didn't.

And somehow, just asking the question -- why? -- left the air feeling heavier, warmer. Like the rules of the game had quietly changed, and nobody had quite decided what to do about it yet.

It was Ken who broke the tension first. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, grinning. "So... why don't you two just give it a try?"

Barbara and I blinked at him, almost in unison.

"Give what a try?" Barbara asked, playing innocent, twirling her empty wineglass between her fingers.

Ken chuckled. "You know. Each other."

Before we could even react, Archie chimed in, a little too eagerly. "Yeah! You don't even have to go all the way. Just... you know, fool around a little. For the fun of it. Be good sports."

He laughed like it was a joke, but his eyes were anything but joking. "And if you want," Archie added with a grin, "Ken can take a few pictures. Just for... memories."

Barbara and I exchanged a look -- the kind of look that carried a whole conversation in a split second. Amused, a little shocked... but definitely curious.

"Well, isn't that convenient," Barbara said sweetly, leaning back against the couch, stretching in a way that made her shirt ride up just a little.

I smirked. "Yeah. Real sporting of us."

The guys laughed, but there was a tension now -- a hopeful, hungry kind of tension -- that hadn't been there before.

Honestly? We were thrilled by the idea. Not just because of the attention -- though that was intoxicating -- but because... well, something about it felt electric. Dangerous in the best way.

Still, fair was fair.

Barbara raised an eyebrow at them. "And what about you two?"

Ken blinked. "What do you mean?"

"If we're being good sports," I said, swirling the last bit of wine in my glass, "then maybe you should be too."

Archie shifted uncomfortably. "You're not serious."

Barbara just smiled -- slow, mischievous. "Dead serious."

Ken scratched the back of his neck, trying to laugh it off. "It's... different."

"Oh, so different," I teased, leaning forward a little. "Why is that again?"

They looked at each other, squirming like schoolboys caught sneaking cigarettes behind the gym.

Barbara tilted her head, playful but insistent. "Come on. Just a little something. For the memories."

Neither one of them answered right away. But the silence was full of promises. The guys hesitated -- both of them suddenly very interested in their drinks, the ceiling, anything but answering.

Barbara nudged me with her foot under the table, grinning. "Well?" she said, sweet as honey. "Aren't you going to be good sports too?"

Ken cleared his throat. "What exactly are we talking about here?"

"Oh, nothing crazy," I said, pretending to think. "Just a little... affectionate moment."

Barbara jumped in, her voice all fake innocence. "Yeah. Maybe a kiss. Just for the memories."

Ken actually laughed -- a nervous, breathless sound. Archie looked like he wanted to sink into the couch.

But Barbara wasn't letting them off the hook that easy. "Come on," she teased, "you were ready to have us put on a whole show for you."

"And you wanted pictures," I added helpfully, making both of them groan.

Ken glanced at Archie. "Rock, paper, scissors?" he joked weakly.

Barbara and I both burst out laughing.

Finally, Ken sat up straight, squared his shoulders like he was bracing for impact. "Fine. One kiss. No pictures."

Archie grimaced but nodded. "Just to be good sports."

We leaned in, grinning like Cheshire cats, as the two of them awkwardly scooted a little closer on the couch. They were stalling, clearly.

Barbara rolled her eyes dramatically. "Boys are such chickens."

"Maybe they need some encouragement," I said, smiling wickedly.

Without giving her time to second-guess, I turned to Barbara, cupped her face in my hands, and kissed her.

It started as just a playful brush of lips -- light, almost teasing -- but somewhere between the first second and the second, it deepened. Her mouth softened against mine, her hand brushing lightly over my knee, and for a moment the rest of the room just... disappeared.

When we finally pulled back, both of us were breathing a little differently. The room had gone very, very quiet. The guys just sat there, wide-eyed.

Barbara licked her lips slowly, savoring the moment. "That's how you be a good sport," she said, smirking.

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Maybe we should take a few pictures after all."

The boys didn't argue.

Barbara smiled slyly, her cheeks flushed but her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well," she said, stretching lazily like a cat, "that was... fun."

Ken and Archie still hadn't fully recovered. They exchanged a quick, desperate look -- the kind that said what have we gotten ourselves into?

Barbara wasn't about to let them off easy. She leaned toward them, elbows on her knees, her voice low and taunting. "Now it's your turn."

Ken raised his eyebrows. "Turn for what?"

Barbara just gave him a look. "Don't play dumb. A kiss. Like ours."

I picked up my wineglass, hiding my smile behind it. "We set the bar pretty high," I said.

Ken opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, then closed it again. Archie groaned softly under his breath. But Barbara and I just sat back, looking at them expectantly, like two queens waiting to be entertained.

After a long, tortured pause, Ken muttered, "Fine. Let's get it over with."

Barbara clapped her hands once, delighted. "Attaboy."

Archie shot Ken a murderous look, but the two of them edged closer -- stiff, awkward, a little ridiculous. It was obvious they were overthinking it.

Barbara shook her head, laughing. "No, no, no. You can't look like you're being marched to your deaths. That's not sexy."

"Yeah," I said, setting down my glass. "Pretend you want to kiss each other."

Archie let out a strangled sound halfway between a laugh and a protest.

But then, with a theatrical sigh, Ken grabbed Archie by the back of the neck and planted a fast, rough kiss on his lips.

Barbara and I whooped and clapped like teenage girls at a concert.

Ken pulled back immediately, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, red-faced but grinning. "There," he said. "Good enough?"

Barbara shook her head slowly, mock-disappointed. "Boys, boys, boys... that was adorable. But totally half-assed."

"Yeah," I chimed in, tilting my head. "You didn't even try to make it hot."

Ken threw up his hands. "We're straight!"

Barbara grinned wickedly. "So are we, mostly. Didn't stop us."

The guys groaned in unison, but their faces were lit up -- half-embarrassed, half-thrilled. The air between all four of us had changed. It was heavier now, charged, trembling with possibilities.

Barbara leaned back, looking at me conspiratorially. "Maybe we should show them how it's done again," she said, in a tone that was almost lazy.

I smiled slowly, feeling the heat rising under my skin. "Yeah," I said softly. "Maybe we should."

This time, when I kissed her, I didn't hold back. I slipped a hand into her hair, tilting her head back slightly, and our mouths met -- warm, open, hungry.

I heard someone -- maybe Ken -- make a soft, involuntary sound.

When we broke apart, Barbara was breathing hard, her eyes dark and wild.

Neither of the men said a word. They didn't have to. The silence stretched out, thick and heavy, after Barbara and I pulled apart.

Archie shifted in his seat, looking like he couldn't decide whether to applaud or beg for mercy. Ken just stared, his mouth slightly open, as if he'd forgotten how to breathe.

Barbara sat back, letting her fingers trail lazily across the top of her thigh -- casual, but we all noticed. "So..." she said, her voice slow and sweet. "How're we doing on being good sports?"

Ken coughed. "You're doing great," he said hoarsely. "Fantastic. Five stars."

Archie nodded rapidly. "Ten out of ten. No notes."

Barbara pretended to pout. "Aww, but you two... you're falling way behind."

I caught her eye, feeling the buzz between us, and smiled wickedly. "Maybe they just need... extra motivation," I said.

Barbara grinned, a wicked light sparking behind her eyes. She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, lowering her voice to a stage whisper.

"I dare you two to do more than just kiss."

The room froze.

Archie looked panicked. Ken looked like he was calculating something complicated in his head.

"'More'... how?" Ken asked cautiously.

Barbara shrugged, all mock innocence. "Oh, I don't know. Hands, maybe. A little... feeling around."

Ken stared at her. "You're insane."

She batted her eyelashes. "Nooo, I'm fair. We kissed and touched."

I let out a little laugh, heat curling low in my belly. "And besides," I added, "you started it. You said we should put on a show. We're just following orders."

Archie groaned, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "This is not what I had in mind when I said that."

Barbara sat back, crossing her legs slowly. "Well, that's what you get for trying to be a director. Sometimes the actors take over the script."

Ken looked at Archie, desperate. Archie looked back, equally doomed.

Barbara glanced at me, her smile almost sweet -- but her voice dropped, slow and deliberate: "Or..." she said, "we could just stop. Right now. No more fun."

The threat hung in the air. The guys cracked instantly.

"No!" Ken said quickly. "No stopping. We're just... uh... negotiating."

Archie muttered, "I hate negotiating."

Barbara giggled, then tilted her head toward me. "You wanna show them how it's done again?" she asked, almost lazily.

I felt the electric thrill shoot through me. "Oh," I said, "I'd love to."

We leaned into each other again, slower this time, hands beginning to roam -- my fingertips skating over her arm, her fingers slipping just under the hem of my shirt.

The room was absolutely silent except for our breathing.

When we broke apart this time, Barbara's lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed. She smiled at the guys, all innocence. "Your move."

Ken shifted first, dragging a hand through his hair and letting out a nervous laugh. "Well... if we're gonna be humiliated, might as well get it over with," he muttered, shooting Archie a helpless look.

Archie made a face like he was headed to his own execution. But then -- almost defiantly -- he stood up and moved toward Ken.

Barbara and I leaned back, arms crossed, fully enjoying ourselves.

"You're not getting away with a quick peck, boys," Barbara warned sweetly.

Ken hesitated, then squared his shoulders. "Fine. But you better get good pictures, because I'm never doing this again."

"You better hope you have to do it again," I teased, my voice low.

They faced each other, both clearly trying not to laugh -- or maybe trying not to bolt for the door. There was an awkward pause, then Ken clapped Archie on the shoulder.

Archie grimaced. "Just get it over with."

And then -- stiff, almost mechanical -- Ken leaned in and kissed him.

It was so awkward I had to bite my lip not to giggle -- noses bumped, their heads tilted the same way, and it was so fast it barely qualified as contact.

Barbara clapped sarcastically. "Wow. So passionate. I think I felt the earth move."

Archie muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like a curse.

Barbara didn't let up. "Hands, boys. Remember? That was part of the deal."

Ken looked like he was praying for lightning to strike the house. Then, in a sudden burst of courage -- or maybe just desperation -- he grabbed Archie's waist with both hands and yanked him closer.

Archie stumbled forward, swearing under his breath. Their second kiss -- mouths accidentally open, a little too desperate -- landed halfway between a kiss and a bite.

But something shifted. Maybe it was the roughness. Maybe it was the sheer shock of feeling another warm, solid body pressed close. Maybe it was seeing Barbara and me watching them like a pair of hungry cats.

Whatever it was, the room suddenly thickened with heat.

Ken's hands tightened slightly at Archie's sides. Archie's fists, which had been hovering awkwardly at his sides, slowly moved -- one landing on Ken's shoulder, the other gripping his bicep.