Title: In the Swing of Things
Summary: The rules were supposed to be simple. Yet here Edward Cullen was getting ready to break every single one.
"I'm breaking all the rules now, anyway, since I'm going to hell."
Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.
It's been two weeks, but I can't get our all-too-brief encounter out of my head.
I feel like I'm going a bit crazy if I'm being honest. Everywhere I look, I see glimpses of her.
Her mahogany hair. Like silk as I cradled her head to draw her near.
Her eyes. A rich chocolate brown with tiny flecks of gold that captivated me as I searched their depths when we talked about our favorite baseball teams of all things.
Her lips. Cherry red and plump. The same ones that I yearned to spend hours kissing, or better yet having wrapped around my cock.
In a town this small, it's hard to imagine that our paths haven't crossed since, which I guess is why luck is on my side today.
I stare at the short grocery list in my hand, trying to decipher the handwriting scrawled on it, when I see her.
She's pushing her cart down the produce aisle, her hips swaying from side to side, that hair that I was envisioning cascading down her back in waves.
My eyes trace her movements, mesmerized as I soak in the sight of her. I'm not sure how it's possible, but she looks even more stunning fully clothed.
I'm at a loss as to what to do. I'd been hoping to see her again, but I always thought it would be at another get-together. Not out doing something as mundane as selecting melons or buying cereal. I stall for a moment, deciding on how to approach—if it's even a good idea for me to be considering this—when she turns and spots me. Recognition flashes in her eyes, and a small smile tugs the corner of her lip up. She raises her hand in a wave, and I mimic her action.
Before I can second-guess myself, I cut the distance between us, my long strides bringing me to her side.
"Hey, Bella. Nice seeing you again. How have you been?" I keep my voice steady while my heart pumps furiously in my chest. My hands, however, can't stay still. One folds and unfolds the paper I'm clutching while the other rakes through my hair, giving the too-long strands a tug when it reaches the end. I feel like a prepubescent boy who's caught his first glimpse at a nudie magazine instead of a man about to turn thirty.
Her smile widens as she takes in my fidgeting. "Edward. Funny running into you here. Things have been good. Can't complain. Are you here by yourself?"
She looks behind me, and I breathe a sigh of relief that I ended up doing this errand on my own. Not that I won't divulge that I've seen Bella when I get home because honesty is one of the fundamental rules that allows us to do what we do, and I'm not going to start lying now.
"Yup. Just me." I raise the crumpled list in my hand. "T sent me to get a few last-minute items for a dinner party we're having."
"I see." She purses her lips, her eyebrows furrowing.
I study her eyes and her expression—I'm not sure for what exactly. It's not like she doesn't know about Tanya and me. After all, she met the two of us together at the party. She's unreadable, and part of me feels dejected that I can't tell if she'd been struck even the tiniest bit by the green-eyed monster. Not that I have any right to want her to be jealous.
"Are you…"
"I should…"
"Sorry, you go first," I say.
"I was going to ask if you and Tanya are planning to come to Kate's party next Saturday. The last one was pretty fun, right? And I know that the two of them have gotten close at work, so I figured..." She speaks in a low whisper, leaning in and engulfing me with her citrus scent.
The fact that Kate and Tanya have started to form a close relationship shouldn't have been a surprise to me—I know that Tanya had a good time when we played with Kate and her husband Garrett last month—but one of the rules of our relationship has always been no off-site encounters, and to hear Bella talk about how their interactions were obvious to all those at work, I couldn't help but wonder if honesty wasn't a rule we were both continuing to follow.
The party, though, was something Tanya had mentioned to me, so it's easy for me to answer Bella's question in the affirmative.
"Yes, we're planning to be there. I take it you'll be attending as well?" Please say yes.
"With bells on." She smiles brightly as she looks up at me.
"That's good. Maybe I'll get another chance to convince you that you're wrong about the Mariners." Turning my response into a joke seems like a safer option than outright asking for some alone time at the party. Pre-arranging these sorts of things without your partner present definitely falls under things that are against the rules. I'm not positive that Bella isn't in a relationship similar to the one I have with Tanya, but she was at the party by herself last time. Single females are rare in groups like ours, which is why they're coined "unicorns," but they do exist. At the end of the night, I saw Bella with a couple—a statuesque blond and a beefy guy with short curly hair and dimples—so maybe she's not unattached any longer. Either way, I'm feeling out of my depth at the moment.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I look down to see a text from Tanya asking if I'll be much longer. Reluctantly, I say goodbye to Bella so I can finish shopping, leaving her with a promise of trying to catch up next week.
In the week leading up to Kate's party, I'm one big ball of nervous energy. It doesn't help matters that on Thursday, after I've come home from the hospital, Tanya approaches me with a worried look on her face. I wait anxiously for her to share what's weighing on her.
Finally, the silence becomes unbearable so I bite the bullet and just ask. "T, what's going on?"
"It's about Kate's party."
Oh no. She's changed her mind and doesn't want to go. I was looking forward to seeing Bella again.
"Oh yeah. What about it?" Please let her not have changed her mind. Though if she has, I will just have to accept it. Coercion is a big no-no.
"I've been thinking about our rules." She grabs my hand and leads me over to the couch.
When we first decided to try out this lifestyle, we agreed that one of the key principles needed to be that we would listen before we speak, and we should feel comfortable expressing our wants and needs. For that, we always make sure we're in a space that allows for open dialogue.
"I want to change the no penetration clause."
Tanya and I have been practicing consensual non-monogamy for a few years now, but up until this point, we've never had full sex with anyone other than each other. Even when we've had threesomes, we've kept the interactions to oral sex or using hands with the third party, but when it came time to fuck, she was the only one I was doing it with. When we went to play parties and engaged with other couples, we'd do soft swaps with both of us in the same room where the same rules applied and everything but penetration was on the table. We'd fucked on beds besides other couples. I've watched Tanya eat another man's wife's pussy and had her reciprocate. And all of this was enough. I didn't miss sleeping with anyone else.
One of the key misconceptions about swingers is that they get into the lifestyle to fuck anyone and everyone without consequence. That it's a free-for-all. Or that there is something lacking with their partner so they have to go looking elsewhere. For us, this couldn't be further from the truth. Sex with Tanya is exciting and adventurous, but she also admitted to being bisexual and wanting to explore that side of herself without actually looking for a romantic partnership with another woman. Together, we used these encounters to strengthen the level of intimacy we have with one another. Too often, people don't have a good foundation and look for ways to spice things up to save their relationship, and ultimately, lack of trust, communication, and jealousy destroys it all.
I'll admit, when she first brought up the idea of inviting other people into the sexual side of our relationship, I felt a tad insecure—what would happen if she found someone whose company she enjoyed more than mine?
But the more we talked about it, the more I came to realize that there are so many people who go behind their partner's back to sleep with other people, constantly lying about their actions. By entering into such a relationship with an open-mind, we eliminate a lot of the heartache. It took a long time to hash out all the boundaries, but once we did, things went smoothly. In fact, the rules were very simple and clear. No offsite meetings. No penetration. No contact outside of the event. Rules could only be amended in advance of the act, and coercion was strictly prohibited.
Another thing about swinging that people fail to realize is just how empowering the lifestyle is for women. With everything we've done so far, Tanya has been the one in control, the one setting the pace. That isn't going to change now. So if she wants to take the no penetration rule off the table, I'm not going to question it too much. Though if I'm being truly honest, I'm thrilled about the prospect of being able to fully enjoy Bella's company if she agrees to play with me on Saturday.
"If I may ask, why now? Has something changed?" I question.
She clasps her hands in front of her, looking almost uncertain about how she should respond.
"Not changed per se. What we have going is great. Really. It's just, I've never met anyone like Kate before. I feel like we're kindred spirits. She and Garrett were a lot of fun, right?"
She waits for me to nod before she continues. "And I've gotten to know Kate a little better since we work together. I know we said we'd keep whatever this was confined to the parties, that anything outside of that would just be too messy, but she's so nice, and she gets me, y'know. Anyway, we were talking the other day about why it is you and I haven't crossed that line, and she made a couple of points that struck a chord with me. I feel like if we're going to keep doing this, that it makes sense to fully commit to it. You and I both know it's more than just fucking. Part of the reason swinging appealed to me versus being in an open relationship was the emotional connection you could form with various people when you let go of your inhibitions, all without the unnecessary complication of forced commitment. Kate mentioned that if we were interested in trying it, she and Garrett would be up for playing again. I'm not sure I want to sleep with Garrett necessarily, but I think it might be nice to have the option. If that makes any sense. You don't need to answer now, but can you give it some thought please?"
"I'm happy that you've found someone to connect with. I'll definitely think about it. But I do have one question right now. If I didn't want to sleep with Kate, would you still want to sleep with Garrett?"
The "yes" that she responds with is barely audible, and she ducks her head, avoiding my eyes.
I reach forward and grab her hand, squeezing it gently and encouraging her to meet my gaze. "Hey, it's okay. Honesty, remember? I figured that might be what you'd say, and it's okay. There's no shame in expressing our desires. How about we play it by ear on Saturday? We'll take the restriction on penetration off the table, and we'll leave things loose so that we're open to playing however we see fit. Sound good?"
What I fail to say is that I've got my mind made up, and by Tanya opening Pandora's Box, I'm setting myself up to break all the rules.
I spot Bella as soon as Tanya and I make our way into Kate and Garrett's house two days later. She's standing by the hosts, talking animatedly with Garrett. She's wearing a little black dress and heels that make her legs look mile-long. Her hair is pin straight and flowing down her back, nearly touching her ass. My dick swells in my pants at the sight of her. How with just one look she can have me feeling on edge, I'll never know.
Kate catches sight of us and beckons us over. Tanya laces her fingers in mine and pulls me along. As we approach, I hear the soft lilt in Bella's voice. She and Garrett are playfully bantering about the starting lineup for last night's game. Something about the way he's looking at her fills me with the nearly uncontrollable urge to position myself in front of her and block her from his view, and if it weren't for Tanya, I may have done just that. Luckily, she is more levelheaded than I am.
"Kate, Gar, Bella, so nice to see you all again." She embraces the other two women and gets a kiss on the cheek from Garrett. "How has the week been treating you?"
Another thing that many people assume about these parties is that it's an all-out orgy the second you walk in the door. Or a bowl of keys gets thrown together where people just randomly select someone to spend time with. It's never been like that for us. We usually stand around and just have conversation for a while before things ever progress to the stage where clothes are shed.
I'm in the middle of discussing a new surgical technique a visiting physician showed us with Garrett when Tanya places her hand on top of mine, leans in, and whispers to me. "Kate asked if I wanted to go back with her and Garrett. Do you want to come with?"
I catch Bella's eyes over Tanya's shoulders. She's been stealing glances at me for much of the evening, but I've been doing my best not to direct too much of my attention to her, even though I'd like to do nothing more than shut everyone and everything out and just focus on her.
"I think I'll sit this one out, but you should definitely go. I'm going to look around a little more, if that's okay." I glance again at Bella.
Tanya turns her head to follow where my eyesight is trained and understanding colors her features. "Hall pass?" she mouths.
I nod. Playing without each other was something we agreed could happen if the situation presented itself and we were both on the same page about it.
"If you're sure"—she kisses me softly before she stands, stooping down at the last second—"have fun, and I'll see you when it's time to leave." She caresses my cheek before she grabs both Kate's and Garrett's hands and walks to the back bedrooms.
"You didn't want to go with them?" Bella asks, sliding over to take Tanya's vacated seat, her voice laden with curiosity.
"No. I was thinking there might be a different way to spend my time."
"Oh. Was there another couple here that you wanted to go talk to? I thought I saw Rose and Emmett around somewhere. I can go catch up with them if you'd like some alone time."
"I would like some alone time. With you. Do you want to play with me, Bella?" I know it is rare for single females to play with anyone other than couples, especially ones where the female is bisexual, but I feel something with Bella that I can't explain, and from the way she looks at me, I'm hopeful she feels it too.
"Are you sure that would be okay? Most couples I've met have rules against this sorta thing."
"Don't worry. Tanya knows." My hand connects with hers, and it's like I've touched a live wire. A warm tingling sensation courses along my fingertips and up my forearm, causing the hairs there to stand on end. Everything about her seems to be designed to draw me in.
I lean in to whisper in her ear. "Play with me, Bella."
"Yes," she says in a breathy moan.
Taking her hand in mine, I pull us up from the couch and head down the hall. What I want to do to her requires far more privacy than a dark corner. Luckily I find a vacant bedroom, and after I've shut and locked the door, I will myself to slow things down. I can't let this interaction be led by my libido—who knows if this is my only opportunity to be with her like this.
"I think we should talk for a minute. Go over some things. Is there anything you're not comfortable doing? Anything you're not willing to try? Anything you've always wanted to try?" I rattle off the questions, uncertain just how far she's interested in taking this. She agreed to come back with me, but maybe she wants something similar to what we did last time—just some touching and kissing. I'd be okay with that, but I'm hoping that she's just as eager as I am for more.
She bites her lower lip, her teeth sinking into the flesh there, making the color burst when she releases her hold.
"Don't be shy. Tell me what you want, sweetheart. I want to make this good for you." I caress her cheek, pushing a few wayward strands of hair away from her face.
"Anything. I'm open to anything—to everything—with you."
I groan at her admission, at her willingness. Normally, I'm far from a selfish lover. I get off on my partner's pleasure, but in that moment, seeing Bella so uninhibited, ready for whatever my heart desires has my cock hard as steel in my pants at the prospect of bending her every which way, savoring her, even if just for a limited amount of time. I feel in desperate need for release.
I step forward, cupping her chin in my hand so I can stare into her eyes as I confirm what that means.
"Can I fuck you?"
With the way I'm holding her face, her movement is limited, but she manages to nod her head.
"No, no, baby girl, I need to hear the words." I draw in closer, tickling her earlobe with my breath as I say the words again. "Can I fuck you?" I nip at the skin there, and she lets out a stuttered breath.
"Yes," she whispers.
I brush my thumb against her bottom lip. "Good girl. Can I fuck you here?"
"Yes."
My hands travel down her neck to her shoulders and then across her collarbones before ghosting over her torso where I caress her breast, feeling their heavy weight in my palms. "What about here? Can I push your tits together and slide my cock through here?"
She whimpers but doesn't respond, so I tug on one of the pebbled peaks through the satin of her dress. "Is that a yes? Use your words, Bella."
"Yes, please." Her chest rises and falls with each rapid intake of air, her arousal growing more prominent.
"Hmmm. Where else would you let me fuck you?" My hand travels over her belly to the hem of her dress. I cup her, feeling the warmth of her pussy through her damp panties. "Here?" I rub along the top of her clothed sex, but don't dare to allow my fingers to go beneath the fabric.
"Please," she begs, letting out a frustrated breath when I back off.
"All in due time. Now strip," I say gruffly.
She grips the hem of her dress, shimmying the fabric up over her thighs. I suck in a sharp breath as inch by inch of her creamy skin is exposed, but I'm stunned stupid when I see the panties she has on.
"Are you wearing a thong with the Chicago White Sox emblem on it?"
She continues to lift the garment up and over her head, revealing perky tits with dusky pink nipples. Dropping the dress to the ground, she smooths a hand over her stomach until it rests just at the edge of her underwear. Her cheeks have taken on a rosy hue, almost as if she's embarrassed. "My father would probably disown me if he knew I was wearing another team's colors, but I figured you might not mind so much."
I groan. This has to be the sexiest thing anyone has ever done for me. "Please don't talk about your dad while you're standing there looking like a wet dream."
She giggles and steps toward me. "How about we don't talk at all?" She kisses the corner of my mouth, before she trails her tongue down and begins peppering kisses on my jawline, her fingers deftly working the buttons on my shirt.
"Sounds good to me," I say as I take over removing my clothing. First, the shirt, then shoes, socks, pants and boxers until I'm standing there naked and she's before me in a tiny scrap of cotton between her thighs and her sky-high heels.
I reach down and grip her hips, running my fingers along the edge of her thong before they travel to palm her ass. "As much as I love that you wore this for me, it needs to come off so I can do what I've been dying to all night." I tuck a finger into each side and slide it down her legs, helping her to set out of it. "But leave the heels on, please."
With a swat to her ass, I instruct her to climb on the bed. "Lie back with your head near the edge. I want to fuck your mouth." I stroke myself as I watch her get into position.
I trace my thumb along her lower lip, and she darts her tongue out to suck on the pad of my finger. "So eager. Don't worry, I'll give you something better to occupy your mouth soon enough. Open for me."
She does as I ask, opening her mouth so that I can slide in. She closes her lips around my cock, and the sight is almost my undoing. For all that I'd envisioned this very moment, those plump red lips sucking me deep, I couldn't imagine that it would feel infinitely better. I thrust shallowly, not wanting to make her gag by going too fast or too far. "Relax your throat. You can take more of me."
She swallows, doing exactly that, and I can see the faint outline of my cock as she deepthroats me. With one of my hands, I glide along her neck, pressing down gently. "Feels so fucking good, sweetheart. Keep doing it just like that."
As I slide out, she uses her tongue to swirl along the head of my cock, making the both of us a slippery mess.
"Spread your legs for me. I want to see if you're wet. If sucking my dick turns you on as much as I think it does." All the while that she is pleasuring me with her mouth, I notice that she's rubbing her thighs together.
She complies with my request, letting her knees drop to the side to reveal her sex. Sure enough, she's glistening with her arousal.
"Mmhmm. Looks like you like this. I bet they'll have to replace the mattress after we're done in here."
The moan she lets out sends vibrations along my shaft, causing my balls to tighten with my impending release. I need to slow things down or I'll blow my load before we get to the real fun. Easing out of her mouth, I step back so I can catch my breath and take a moment to compose myself. Her head is still dangling over the side of the bed, her cheeks flushed and hair sweaty and sticking to her neck.
"Why did you stop?" she asks.
"Because that's not the way I want to come. Besides, it's your turn. Swing yourself around and get up on your hands and knees. I need a closer look at just how much you enjoyed it when I fucked your throat."
Without hesitation, she crawls on top of the mattress, bracing herself so she's on all fours. I drop to my knees behind her, grabbing her ass and spreading the cheeks to expose the pink flesh between her thighs. My mouth waters as I catch sight of the way she's positively drenched.
"You have the prettiest fucking pussy I've ever seen. I bet it's probably the sweetest also. How 'bout I find out?" I mutter.
Dying to taste her to confirm my theory, I dart my tongue out and lick along her slit, savoring the flavor of her essence. "So fucking sweet."
After that, I'm like a man possessed. I lick and I suck and I nip at her tender flesh. I want to be lost in her heat, drinking from her like I'm dying of thirst and I can't get enough to slake my thirst. I pay attention to her reactions, replicating the moves that make her arms tremble and her muscles clench.
"Are you ready to come?" I ask.
She whimpers as I slide a finger into her pussy, stroking along her inner wall. A second one joins the first, and I thrust shallowly while I continue to lap at her clit. I continue to fuck her with my fingers and my tongue until I start to feel her clench. Her arms give out on her and she collapses to the mattress as she rides out her release, pulsating around my fingers.
She rolls to the side and I pull them out, a satisfied smirk on my face when I notice how wet they are. Sucking them between my lips, not wanting to waste a drop of her sweet honey, I watch as her eyes travel down my body.
"I think there were a few other places you gave me permission to fuck you. Still feeling up for it?" I say.
"Please."
Reaching over to the bowl on the nightstand, I grab a condom and sheath myself quickly before I sit up against the headboard. I pat my thighs. "Come over here and ride my cock, sweetheart."
"Edward, I can't feel my legs." She giggles as she speaks. "How do you expect me to be able to do that?"
I laugh along with her. She really does look spent. I would've expected more stamina from her, but then again, a good orgasm can suck the life out of you. I'm happy to give her a moment to get back her bearings and do some of the work.
I climb off the bed and stand by the side, pulling her down until her bottom is at the edge. I raise one leg, place a kiss on her ankle, and then remove her heel. I repeat the actions with the other. I line myself up with her heat, sliding into her as slowly as I can bear, feeling her grip me with every inch I sink. Hooking her legs over my forearms, I drive into her, alternating between deep hard thrusts and shallow ones.
"Feels so fucking good. Can you come again?" I reach between us and rub her clit in tight circles, hoping to coax another orgasm out of her before I reach my own peak.
"I'm close. Just like that." She pants.
I pump into her faster, deepening my stroke each time. When I hit a particular spot, she clamps down on her bottom lip, desperately trying to hold in a scream.
"Let go. Bella, let go. I got you."
She cries out as wave after wave of pleasure overtakes her. Moments later, I follow, spilling my release into the condom and dropping her legs so that I can fall on top of her. Not wanting to put my entire weight on her, I roll us to the side.
"Thank you," I say.
She giggles. "My pleasure."
I stroke a hand up and down her back, threading my fingers in her sweat-dampened hair to scratch along her scalp. She purrs a little, enjoying the touch and cuddling up closer to me. She's been tracing her fingers around my nipples ever since we collapsed on the bed after I made good on fucking her in all the spots she said I could—some more than once.
"I'm curious about something. What would have happened if we didn't get a chance to play together? How would you have explained the baseball panties?"
"Well, I'm not sure many other people would have noticed or cared, but I probably would have found a way to get your number and sent you a text with the pictures I took before I left."
"Mmm. Well this was so much better than a picture."
"It really was." She lifts her phone to check the time and read through her messages. We've been here for far longer than I thought we'd have, so while I'm reluctant for our time to end, I know it's inevitable.
"Hey, hand me that for a second, will you?"
With a raised eyebrow, she passes me her phone.
I key in my number as a new contact and hand it back to her. "Text me those pictures when you get a chance, please. Or matter of fact, just text me."
"Edward, you know I can't do that. What will Tanya say?"
I kiss her gently on the lips. "Let me worry about that."
Almost a month after the party and I still haven't heard a peep from Bella. I kicked myself after Tanya and I went home for not sending myself a message from Bella's phone so I'd have her number. Though, it is probably for the best. There may not be a ring on my finger, but Tanya and I are in a committed partnership, and willingly breaking the rules would be crossing a line that couldn't be uncrossed.
I stop in the grocery store to grab some beer and a frozen pizza because Tanya is out of town and I've just come off a thirty-six hour shift and trying to cook anything else would take far more effort than I can muster.
I turn the corner, and almost as if thinking about her conjured her into being, there stands Bella. She's reaching for something on one of the upper shelves. I see the precariously stacked boxes start to topple over before she does and I sprint down the aisle to pull her out of the way. With her back to my chest, I relish the feel of her for just a moment before I let her go, steadying her.
She pivots until she's facing me, her eyes widening as she takes me in.
"Edward," she gasps.
"We really need to stop meeting like this," I joke, tucking my hand into my pocket to stop myself from reaching out to cradle her face.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for that. I really should know better than to try to reach things that high up."
"No problem."
She picks up her basket and I can tell she's about to leave, but I can't let this chance pass me by.
"You never texted." I try to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
"I didn't think it was a very good idea." I catch a glimpse of sadness in her eyes before she looks down at her feet.
"Bella, we can be friends, can't we?" Friends is the least of what I want to be to her, but wanting anything more probably isn't the best idea—she's right about that. "I just want to get to know you."
I knew a lot of things about her: the color her skin flushes when she's aroused; how much she likes it when her nipples are played with; the right spot to hit to cause her to scream out, no matter how much she tries to hold it in.
But there were so many more things that I didn't know that I was yearning to discover. Like how she liked her coffee. If she was an early morning riser or one of those people who perpetually hit the snooze button. Mostly, I wanted to know what it felt like to spend the whole night together, falling into each other's arms, our bodies slicked with sweat at the end of it all, in a state of complete satisfaction.
"Edward…"
"No, hear me out. I firmly believe nothing that feels this good can be considered wrong. Tell me you feel it too."
She nods, her eyes turning watery.
"Hey, no tears. Let's just go with this. Besides, it looks like I'm breaking all the rules now anyway. Since I'm going to hell and all."
None of what I was considering made any sense, but sometimes it's just a matter of getting into the swing of things and finding your new level of comfort.
As I'm leaving the store, I shoot Tanya a text letting her know that I'd like to talk about the rules when she gets back. Seems like some renegotiating may be in order.