Author's note: Toni's story follows Marie's story (published in Literotica on September 6, 2017). While the story stands alone, reading "Marie" first may help put some of this story in context.
*****
Toni had been thinking. She was becoming addicted to her renewed relationship with Tom. Marie had introduced her to the concept of "naked days." Marie called them "no clothing" days but Toni preferred to be more direct. She was spending most of her free time with Tom "naked," not just without clothing. "Naked" was a better description of what followed; great, and frequent sex. The expanded, and more adventurous, sex she and Tom were experiencing might be even greater if they had additional participants. She wondered if she could expand the concept and include other couples. Tom wouldn't be a problem. She could convince him easily, but how to convince a few of her friends.
It was a difficult problem. She would have to move carefully. She didn't want to spook anyone by being too aggressive. They would all have to embrace the idea separately and as couples. Having confidential discussions with each of the women separately would be a nightmare and take forever. She just didn't have the patience. She wanted to get on with it or, more precisely, get it on. The more she thought about it, the more she thought a party where she could talk to them all at the same time was the best, and most expeditious, way to go. Why not? Bang or bust.
She talked to Tom. He needed some time to understand what she was proposing, but she thought he warmed to the idea. They hadn't gone that far with Marie and Mike and she thought he really would have liked to spend time one on one with Marie. Maybe Toni could find other, less conservative partners. Sure! He was on board. He'd do whatever Toni wanted him to.
Toni took great pains with the invitation. She wanted it to arouse interest, enough so that people would be curious enough to come, but not so explicit that they would become uncomfortable. When she was ready, she ran the invitation by Tom. He seemed helpful and suggested some minor word changes. When they agreed on the final wording she sent the invitation to five other couples, including Mike and Marie.
Toni spent hours planning the party. Most of the time she worked on the outline of how she would present the topic. The outline seemed a little preachy, but it was a difficult topic. Toni felt she had to include enough detail, with pros and cons, to keep everyone's interest and, eventually, get their buy-in. Tom left it up to Toni to read the tenor of the couples and adapt accordingly.
Cal and Cindy, a couple Toni knew from church, declined the invitation without comment. Toni thought they might. They were very devout but Toni had included them since she thought Cal was buff and she knew Tom thought Cindy was hot.
Marie had declined the invitation saying Mike and she had a previous commitment.
Four other couples had responded affirmatively. They were either curious or voyeuristic. The party was on.
Toni was disappointed that Marie and Mike were unable to attend her party. She considered Marie to be her best friend and mentor, especially when it came to the subject of tonight's party. Toni had invited the five couples to join Tom and her this evening for a buffet supper and a frank discussion about the erosion of intimacy in marriage. Her invitation had been specific, implying that, sometime during the evening, the attendees may be asked to remove their clothing. Three couples accepted her invitation.
Ed and Sam arrived just before six. Ed's name was actually Samuel but he used Ed to prevent confusion with his wife Samantha, who preferred to be called Sam. By six fifteen, with the almost simultaneous arrival of John and Jillian, whom everyone called Jack and Jill (yes, really), and Ted and Terry, everyone was present. They ate dinner casually, sitting on chairs and the sofa in the living room and at the dining room table. Conversation was light but you could tell there was air of anticipation, and maybe a little unease, as the dinner progressed. At seven thirty, Toni invited the other seven to join her in the den where she had moved furniture, and added more, so they could sit in a rough circle. When they were settled, Toni introduced the topic of the evening.
"I realize you're probably curious why Tom and I invited you here this evening. I'm going to fully explain everything, however I do want this to be a discussion rather than a lecture. So please participate. Interrupt me if you have a question or want to add comments or insights during the evening.
"Since Tom and I have been married we've noticed a slow, but concerning, change in our relationship. I suspect many of you have noticed the same change and, like us, thought it was normal. Your friends, neighbors, and even your parents and siblings, reinforced the idea of normal and you pretended it didn't bother you, but I think it did and still does.
"The change I'm talking about is the decline of sexual activity with your partner over time. I, for one, greatly enjoyed the early years of our courtship and marriage, when sex was an ever present, daily and joyful occurrence. I miss those hours spent in fulfilling each other's needs, wants, and fantasies. I suspect some, maybe all, of you remember those times in your own relationship. I do, and I despise that what happened to us is considered 'normal.'"
Toni paused briefly to watch the other couples. She sensed some agreement with what she was saying.
"Tom and I have been discussing this over the last months. We've considered some of the consequences of 'normal.' I have no research or authoritative opinion on the subject, but I believe that not everyone agrees that reduced sex drive in marriage is 'normal.' I think that, if partners don't both accept 'normal,' then one or the other is inclined to seek sexual fulfillment in other ways, including a different partner. I also believe some may begin to resent the inaction associated with 'normal' and react in antisocial ways, including psychological and, even physical, abuse. I suspect the acceptance of 'normal' is an unstated cause of many divorces.
"I, for one, don't want to see my relationship with Tom end that way, or end at all. I believe the problem is real and solutions are possible, but I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Following a short pause when Toni stopped talking, Jill spoke up. "Jack and I aren't married, but we've been together over twenty years and faithful the entire time. I agree with Toni. I've noticed a similar decline in our love making. At the risk of too much information, we rarely get together sexually other than on the weekends, usually Saturday night. We have special occasions, but otherwise sex is pretty much as Toni described it, rare and predictable. I have no idea why it's happened, other than we've become comfortable and complacent, but I'd would rewind back to the early days of our relationship in a New York minute."
Jack was nodding in agreement as Jill was talking. When she was finished, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
Ted was the next to speak. "Terry and I have been married for 27 years. We've experienced the same thing. I think it started when we had the boys. The workload, and weight of the responsibility, left little room for much else and sex was one of the things that got sidelined along with late night dinners out, theater and sports. Most of it came back when the boys left the house, except sex. As I sit here I'm remembering how often I think about sex although I've done nothing about it. Maybe I'm waiting for Terry to make the first move. I don't know. Maybe she's having the same thoughts, waiting for me to make the first move, but I never ask. I've been taught for my entire life that women deserved special treatment and I've been reluctant to push sex on her unless I'm sure she's already thinking about it."
Terry confirmed Ted's thinking. "I agree with Ted. I'm not sure I think about sex as much as he does, but when I do Ted seems so comfortable reading or watching television, I just let it go."
While the others were speaking, Ed and Sam were leaning into each other and whispering. They were the youngest members of the group and had been married only nine years. In the silence that followed Terry's comments, they stopped talking, smiled at the group but offered nothing.
Toni was encouraged by the reaction. "Thank you for your thoughts. I think what you describe is actually the real 'normal.' Next, before we can discuss solutions, we need to examine the reasons for the change. Ted, you've already identified some of the causes. Children, responsibilities and work all contribute. There just isn't enough time for everything so we prioritize, and some things are postponed or abandoned. Extracurricular activities such as sports, exercise and time together all suffer, including sex. When the opportunities return, such as when the children leave the house or the job becomes easier, some of them return but not always sex. I'm not sure why sex is overlooked. Does anyone have any suggestions?"
"Maybe we've changed in ways our partners hadn't expected," offered Terry. "I know I've gained weight in the interim, and so has Ted. I'm also not in as good shape as I was when I was younger and I don't have the same energy."
"I agree," said Jill. "Jack and I have also become closer in other ways. I think we respect each other's feelings and privacy more than we used to. Ted is right about the growing respect for each other preventing conversation about topics that might upset the other person, and sex is certainly a hot topic."
Toni turned to Tom and said, "Tom, why don't you tell them about the other intimidating issue we discovered?"
Tom was ready for the question. "Toni and I went back into the beginnings of our relationship for this one. Early on, even when we both wanted sex, we danced around the subject before we began. For me, if I wanted to initiate sex, I spent time wondering how I was going to get Toni to take off her clothes. It was a game we both seemed to play, without knowing it. We spent considerable time, and energy, creating situations where it would be natural to take off our clothing. We suggested showers, massages, or just doing the wash, as a means to get the other to take off some clothing, but never sex. I attribute it to our Puritanical, or Victorian, background that's still part of our culture. Today we just don't have the time or energy to play the game and we don't get the payoff."
As Tom finished, Ed stood up and addressed the group. "Sam and I see, and we think we understand, the problem you're discussing. We've only been married nine years, and we don't have children, but I already see indications of the trend you've described in our relationship. I think we need some time, together, to address the issue. Toni, we're glad you included us in the discussion and happy we came, but, if it's okay with you, we'd like to leave now to go home and continue to discuss it privately."
"No problem. I'm glad you came. I honestly hope you reach conclusions that work for you. I also want you know that, if you want to discuss it further, you're more than welcome to come by to talk, either privately or with this group."
When Toni returned from showing Ed and Sam out, she was feeling good. She noticed the remaining two couples were focused on her and holding hands. "This is going better than I could have hoped," she thought. "I hope the next step goes equally as well."
"Well, there's just the six of us," she said. "Next is the most difficult part of the discussion - solutions. I don't have many, and maybe none that will work for you. I can only share what worked for Tom and me. I can't guarantee it will work for you or that you'll even be comfortable with it. I can tell you that Tom and I have sex every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I can also share that our sex is never dull and varied enough to be rarely repetitious. I love our sex life and I believe Tom loves it as well.
"It's so simple; I'm amazed we didn't discover it sooner. Actually, we can't take credit for it. A friend of mine suggested it, and it works for her and her partner. We just did away with clothing.
