“This is nice,” Gayle said, turning to smile at me as we stepped out onto a backyard patio with a large pool.
“Yeah. Everyone looks so…normal,” I agreed.
Gayle laughed. “What were you expecting? Did you think everyone would be walking around with big red D’s painted on their chests for deviants?”
I started to respond, but a loud shout had me whipping my head around in time to see a woman with long blonde hair running straight toward us, her arms stretched open wide. I took a step back as she neared and threw her arms around Gayle. They hugged and then Gayle turned, gesturing to me.
“Sam, this is my friend Gabrielle. Gabrielle, my husband, Sam.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, taking her offered hand and shaking it.
“Oh, aren’t you handsome. I may have to dig through the bowl and pull your keys out for myself tonight,” she purred, batting her lashes at me.
Gayle laughed as my face flushed hot and my eyes dropped to the ground. I wasn’t used to such brazen attention being given to me and my stomach knotted as I wondered just what I’d gotten myself into. Thankfully, the two women began chatting, saving me from having to respond. Wishing I had a drink in my hand, I turned my head toward the bar.
My eyes landed on a man seated alone at a table. He looked to be in his early twenties with stylish blond hair and cheekbones that would make any model jealous. He had a beautiful smile which widened as he held my gaze and I felt the strangest stirring in my gut when his tongue darted out, wetting his lips.
“Sam?” Gayle said, laying a hand on my arm. I jerked my head in her direction.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, feeling flustered.
“Gabrielle asked if you wanted to put your keys in the bowl,” she repeated, her brow furrowing with concern. “Are you alright?” I glanced over and saw Gabrielle watching me closely. She was holding a large glass bowl, filled with various sets of car keys.
“You don’t have to participate, if you don’t want. Lots of couples prefer to just observe their first time,” she informed me kindly. I appreciated the offer and, while part of me wanted to take her up on it, another part of me knew that if I didn’t go for it now, I might never talk myself into coming back again.
“No, I’m fine,” I assured them both then I slid my keys from my pocket and without another thought, dropped them into the bowl.
I glanced over my shoulder, wondering if the man was still watching, but found his table empty instead. I wasn’t sure why that made me feel disappointed, but I didn’t have time to think on it further because Gayle suddenly grabbed my hand and led me back into the house.
We ordered a couple of drinks then wandered back outside and found a place to sit. A few other couples joined us, all of them friendly and outgoing. It was apparent that they all knew each other very well and I ventured to guess that this wasn’t their first swap party. When they learned that it was our first time, they went to work trying to put us at ease. I appreciated the gesture and I could see Gayle relaxing next to me.
One man in particular seemed quite interested in Gayle and he began openly flirting with her. I was on alert in case she needed me, but it quickly became clear that she was enjoying the attention. I waited, expecting it to seem strange to see my wife flirting with another man, but I found myself smiling instead at the happy glow to her cheeks. There was no reason for me to stand guard. Gayle was exactly where she wanted to be.
After a half hour or so, I excused myself to go to the bar for another drink. Gayle hadn’t wanted anything else, so I stood there with my arms folded on the counter as the bartender poured me a rum and Coke. Someone moved in close beside me and I heard a soft voice order a vodka and cranberry. Chills raced over my skin and I knew before I even turned my head that it would be him. The beautiful blond that I’d caught looking at me earlier.
“Is this your first swap party?” he asked.
He was even more breathtaking up close with his flawless skin, plump lips the color of wine, and painfully long lashes that framed the most remarkable chestnut-colored eyes. He was extraordinary. He gave me a strange look and I realized I’d completely ignored his question, staring at him for several seconds with my mouth hanging open. I wasn’t even sure I’d breathed. He probably thought I was a complete moron.
“Umm…is it that obvious?” I finally responded lamely. His lips curled up in a soft smile and my stomach flip-flopped all over itself.
“No, I just haven’t seen you at one before…and I’m pretty sure I would’ve remembered if I had,” he told me, looking up at me through his thick lashes. I felt my face heat up when I realized he was flirting with me and his smile grew when he saw my blush. I searched for something to say, but everything about the man had me feeling off balance.
“What’s your name?” He moved in closer and I could smell a hint of cologne. It was a clean, masculine smell, not at all like the perfume Gayle always wore. My cock twitched inside my pants and I had the overwhelming urge to lean in and bury my nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent until I was dizzy.
“Samuel. Well, friends call me Sam,” I answered.
He slid his hand between our chests and held it up to me. “It’s very nice to meet you, Samuel. I’m Oliver.” I held his gaze as I slipped his delicate hand into mine. A quiet thrumming, like the feel of a butterfly’s wings, danced across my skin as our hands connected for the first time. He made a small sound, almost like a squeak and his eyes widened a fraction of an inch.
The butterfly effect suddenly popped into my head. It was the belief that a single butterfly, flapping its wings, could cause a series of events to occur, eventually leading to a hurricane. I’d always scoffed at the idea, but as I stood there, holding on to Oliver’s hand, I suddenly believed that something small could indeed have lasting effects. I wasn’t likely to forget meeting this man anytime soon.
He seemed flustered as he reached for the drink the bartender had set on the counter. He started to leave, but then stopped and turned to face me. “Enjoy your first party, Samuel. Hopefully I’ll see you around.” With that, he turned and walked away.
There was a slight tremble to my hand as I reached for my own glass and I picked it up carefully. I wound my way back to where Gayle was sitting and talking with another couple. She glanced at me as I sat down, then did a double take.
“Are you okay?” she leaned over and whispered.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I told her, bobbing my head up and down. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. All I knew was my heart was still racing from that brief encounter. She gave me a skeptical look, but the woman on the other side of her asked a question and she turned back around to answer.
