Chapter 1

“I didn’t know things were that bad.”

I took a sip of my water and used my towel to soak up some of the sweat that was dripping off my body after our intense workout.

“It’s not. I’m probably making it sound worse than what it really is.”

Sometimes I was prone to exaggeration when I wasn’t in a good mood.

“We’re just in a rut, that’s all,” I added.

“And you guys have been married for what ... four years?”

“Four years last month.”

My best friend Jill thought for a moment.

“The same thing happened with Don and me, it’s easy to lose that spark in the bedroom.”

“The kids take up so much of our time.”

I looked around the small cafe at our gym and ensured we were alone and couldn’t be overheard.

“On most nights, by the time we get the kids into bed we’re too tired to have sex, and when we do muster up the energy it feels like we’re just going through the motions.”

Our daughter Monique was eighteen months and our son David just turned three. I hated to admit it, but it was like they sapped every sexual impulse out of our marriage.

Regardless, I loved my children dearly and I knew that it was unfair to blame them for our lack-luster sex life.

“What have you tried to put a little spice back into the bedroom, Lisa?” she asked.

Even though we were alone, I leaned in to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard, I guess out of habit.

“I thought about buying more lingerie, or maybe even a new sex toy, but I’m not sure that’s enough.”

She went silent and I saw the wheels spinning in her mind.

“Maybe I can make a suggestion,” she said hesitantly.

“At this point, I’m open to anything.”

“You have to swear this will stay between us.”

This sounded juicy.

“You know you can trust me.”

She smiled.

“I know I can.”

She thought for a moment.

“Have you ever considered opening up your marriage?”

My jaw dropped open in shock.

“You mean like ... swinging?”

“Yes.”

My mind drifted back.

“A long time ago ... when we first got married, we talked about it, but our lives are so much different now.”

I sat in reflection for a moment.

“I’m a kindergarten teacher and John just got a promotion at his law firm. We’re professionals, and if something like that got out, it would severely damage both of our careers. I don’t think that’s a viable option.”

“What if no one were to find out about it, would it be an option then?”

A little smile broke across my face.

“Just what are you suggesting here ... what are you not telling me?”

“There is a little group in our neighborhood ... we call it the Key Club.”

“Ummm ... Okay...”

I waited semi-patiently for her to continue.

“The Millers, the Smiths, The Wilsons, and the Browns...”

“And the Felders?”

She smiled.

“Yes, we’re in it too.”

“So basically everyone who was at the Christmas party?”

“Yes.”

When we graduated from UNLV four years ago, we moved into the fairly exclusive neighborhood of Lake Las Vegas and I met Jill at the gym in our gated community. She introduced me to all her friends and we were quickly accepted into their little circle. They invited us to dinner parties, pool parties, and Christmas soirees. All the couples also had young children so we celebrated their birthdays together as well. They were ‘couples’ friends who John and I got along with very well. Up to this point, it all seemed very benign; but obviously, there was another side to this group that we knew nothing about.

“What exactly goes on at these Key Parties?” I asked.

“We put our car keys into a bowl. Then, the guys randomly pull a keyring out of the dish and ... well ... you know...”

I tried to hide the shocked look on my face as the reality of what she was telling me hit me like a brick to the side of the head.

“Sex?”

“Of course, silly.”

It was so much for me to try to take in. Larry Smith was on the school board, Kristin Brown was a neurosurgeon, Ed Wilson was a principal at a very prominent high school in Henderson ... they were all ‘power couples’ in our community ... and they were doing this?

“Where does this take place?”

“At the Brown’s,” she said matter-of-factly.

Robert and Kristin Brown had the largest house in our gated community. It was more like a mansion, really. He was an investment banker and she, of course, was a doctor. They had money but were very ‘Down to Earth’ and never acted like they were above anyone else and I got along with her very well.

“I don’t know what to make out of any of this,” I said honestly, “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around everything you’ve been telling me.”

“It’s just something to think about.”

“Would they even ... you know ... want us there?” I asked incredulously.

“We all want you there ... I just never knew how to broach this with you.”

She paused for a moment.

“You and John come across as very ‘straight-laced’ and we didn’t even know if you’d be interested.”

I grinned.

“So what you’re saying is we’re two prudes?”

She giggled.

“Well ... it’s a very ... ummm... ‘libertine’ group and none of us want to make you feel uncomfortable. We all enjoy your company and we don’t want anything to change, even if you decide it isn’t right for you.”

My head still felt like it was spinning from all this new-found information.

“When do you meet?”

“The first Friday of every month.”

I looked at my watch. Today was the tenth so we had some time.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What’s it like?”

She thought for a moment.

“We meet at eight and have drinks, that kind of loosens everyone up. Then, at nine, the guys choose the keys ... and we wrap everything up by midnight.”

My eyes got wide.

“So everyone splits up?”

“Yes ... once the keys are chosen, the couples go into separate rooms and ... you know.”

It was so much to try to take in and process.

“I haven’t been naked in front of another man for so long ... I don’t even know what I’d do.”

She grinned.

“I think you’d figure it out pretty quickly.”

“And they’d really want us there?”

A stunned look broke across her face.

“Of course they would ... have you looked in a mirror lately?”

My face broke into a bright, embarrassed ember. I’d worked so hard in the gym to shed the last ten pounds of ‘baby weight’ and I’d finally gotten back down to my pre-pregnancy goal of one-thirty. I hated that my large breasts had a slight sag and they weren’t quite as perky as they were when I was in college. Unfortunately, breastfeeding two kids has that effect. Nonetheless, I watched what I ate and put in the time on the elliptical machine and free-weights and it showed.

“All of the guys are very interested in you, Lisa and ... well, you know ... John is pretty easy on the eyes as well.”

That didn’t surprise me. My husband was tall and very handsome. All of my friends in college were after him and were very envious when we got together.

“I have no idea what John would think of this.”

“Just talk to him and see if he thinks it’s right for your marriage.”

That night, we’d finally got the kids down for the evening and John and me were lying in bed. He was flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch and I was pretending to read a book.

How the hell do I even bring this up?

“Can we talk?” I asked hesitantly.

He hit the button on the remote and turned off the TV.

“Sure, what’s up?”

I took a deep breath.

“Things have been a little ... ummm... slow ... in the bedroom lately. We need to figure out how to spice things up.”

An embarrassed look broke across his face and he thought for a moment.

“I was thinking ... maybe ... I don’t know ... if we watched some porn, would that be a way to add a spark?”

“That might work, I guess.”

We watched porn quite often when we first got married and it resulted in some hot sessions. He loved porn, and I knew he viewed it when I was at work so I wasn’t surprised at his idea to recharge our lack-luster sex life.

“Hey, I’m open to any suggestions you have.”

“Any suggestion?”

“Of course, I know we need some fresh ideas here and I’m open to ... you know ... whatever you think would help.”

“Promise that you’ll keep an open mind ... okay?”

“Of course,” he said nonchalantly.

Shit ... here goes...

I spent the next several minutes telling John about my morning workout with Jill and everything she divulged about our seemingly innocuous group of friends.

There was a full minute of silence as he processed my words. The same brick that hit me in the head earlier that day had found its way to him. Finally, he collected his thoughts and spoke.

“This isn’t bullshit, they really do this every month?”

“I’ve known Jill for four years, I know she’s not lying to me.”

“It’s just that it’s very ... well ... extreme.”

He paused for a moment.

“My other idea was checking out a strip club ... but I was afraid to bring it up because I didn’t want to piss you off ... but swinging ... you and I actually fucking other people?”

“I’d be open to going to a strip club with you, I guess. I’ve never been to one.”

He laughed.

“Forget the strip club, what you’re suggesting is like ten rungs up the ladder from that.”

“I agree with you, it’s extreme.”

“Lisa ... honestly ... is this something you want?”

I looked him in the eye.

“Okay ... right here, right now. If we’re going to talk about this and ... you know ... even consider it, the first thing that we have to agree to is being totally honest with each other. We have to be able to say anything and not have any hurt feelings over it ... can we do that?”

“Yes, we can.”

“Okay then. I haven’t been able to think about anything else since she told me what they do this morning.”

A look of shock broke over his face.

“And yes ... I think it’s something we need to discuss and consider,” I added.

“That surprises me, I guess.”

“We talked about it right after we got married, you remember that, right?”

“Of course I remember ... but we were ... we were just kids ... it seems like a million years ago.”

He reflected for a moment.

“We have children, careers, a mortgage.”

“We’re twenty-six and we already have one foot in the grave?”

He laughed.

“I guess sometimes it feels like it.”

“It feels the same way to me too ... don’t you want to do something about it?”

“Let’s think this through for a moment. What would happen if we did this and it got out ... it would ruin both of our careers.”

“They’ve been doing this right under our nose for the last four years and we had no idea ... I’d say that’s the very definition of discreet.”

“True.”

There was a full minute of silence as we reflected on each other’s words.

“Total honesty, right?”

“Total honesty,” I repeated.

“The thought of you being with another man turns me on, it always has.”

“Does it?”

“Yes.”

“I know there’d be a little jealousy, but I can handle it. It would be like a gift we’d be giving to each other,” I said.

“If we are going to consider this ... really consider it ... then there have to be some ground rules,” he said.

“Okay ... shoot.”

“For starters ... nothing can ever happen outside of Friday night.”

“I agree ... nothing ever on the side, nothing in secret.”

I continued...

“This is something I could handle, but only if I knew about it in advance. If you were ever with anyone else, John, and I found out about it later, I would be devastated.”

“Exactly, no surprises, and no secrets.”

I thought for a moment before adding a rule of my own.

“I’d want to hear about it ... everything you did, everything she wanted.”

“Really?”

“Yes ... like a debrief afterward.”

“That’s kinda ... Hot.”

“We’d have to be able to communicate about everything that happened when we were apart ... again, no secrets.”

“I like that.”

I gently rubbed his thigh while we spoke.

“We’d need to use this as a tool to strengthen our marriage, this has to enhance our sex lives, not take the place of it,” he added.

I nodded my head in agreement. So many different thoughts and emotions were flooding my brain, it was difficult making sense of them all.

“Okay ... another rule,” I said. “No feelings of any kind. If we did this, it would be sex and only sex; if either of us started to feel anything for anyone we were with, then it stops, for both of us.”

“Agreed ... that goes without saying.”

We both took a moment to reflect on each other’s words. The sexual tension in the air was thick. It was something that had been missing in our bedroom for years and it felt good to have it back. My hand moved from his thigh to his blood engorged cock and I gently began stroking him.

“Okay ... another rule ... and this is a big one.”

He was taking short little sips of breath as I moved my hand up and down his shaft.

“On those Friday nights, for as long as we choose to do this, for those three hours, there are no limits and anything goes.”

I could barely hear myself talk over his deep, labored breaths while I continued to stroke his cock.

“I can’t do this if you make me feel guilty about it later, and for those three hours, I’ll give you that same freedom.”

He took me by surprise by rolling over on top of me. As I tried to get my large, sleeper T-shirt off, he reached down to my thong and tore it off my body. Once I was naked, we both tugged and pulled at his boxers until we’d removed them and I felt his hard shaft pressing against my thigh. My pussy felt like a warm, wet, humid, swamp and I was more than ready for him.

“Put your cock inside me, baby,” I moaned huskily.

He took his penis in his hand and moved it so the head was rubbing up and down against the lips of my vagina. In one long, fluid motion, he pushed himself inside me which simultaneously opened and filled me.

“Do you want other men inside this pussy?” he said as he slowly moved in and out of me.

I ran my long fingernails over his back, scratching him, hard.

“I want other cocks, baby,” I cooed into his ear.

I wrapped my long legs around his torso and pulled him deeper into me until our bodies sensually ground together.

“Which woman do you want to fuck first,” I panted. “Whose keys do you want to pull out of that bowl?”

I felt him moving slowly in and out of me. I had to admit, his cock felt strangely different. We’d made love thousands of times, but for whatever reason, it felt like we were fucking anew.

“Jill ... I want Jill, first.”

I leaned up and bit his shoulder which caused him to grunt and cry out.

“What do you like about her ... tell me...” I said huskily.

“I love her dark, brunette hair ... and that sexy, tight body ... I want to tear her up.”

“She’s so beautiful, isn’t she, baby...” I moaned.

“I’ve wanted her from the second you introduced me.”

He was moving so slowly inside me, teasing me, toying with me ... pushing me closer to going over the edge.

“I know she wants you too, she wants to find out what your cock feels like.”

I reached down and slowly began to rub my clit.

“I see how those men look at you at those parties. They undress you with their eyes, I love all those lustful, desirous stares.”

“You’ve noticed that too, honey?” I moaned.

“I’ve always noticed that,” he said between grunts.

“And you want to share me with them, baby?”

I rubbed the hard, little nub between my legs, pushing me closer.

“I want to share my sexy, hot wife with them. I want them to know what I have.”

My orgasm hit almost without warning and my body shook uncontrollably. Thankfully, John was able to maintain control and continued to fuck me while I released.

When I recovered, I looked into his eyes.

“Tell me what you want to do with her, John.”

“I want to taste her, I want to know what her fine pussy tastes like.”

He picked up the pace and I squeezed the muscles of my vagina hard around his engorged cock.

“She’d be so wet for you, she’d think of you and your cock when she’s with her husband, you know that, right?”

“Oh God, Lisa ... Oh, God...”

He re-positioned himself, which changed the angle, and his cock perfectly caressed my clit and I started to climb again.

“Can you feel her ... can you feel her tight, little pussy stretched around your cock?”

Just as I felt his semen squirt inside me, my world went dark as another powerful orgasm washed over my body. When I came down from the peak and regained control, John collapsed on top of me and our combined sweat mixed sensually together.

He rolled over to my side and I felt his cock lose its rigidity and slip out of me. Our limbs erotically tangled together and we held each other tight.

“We’re really going to do this, aren’t we Lisa?”

I smiled.

“Yes, we are.”

We made love two more times that night, something we hadn’t done since we met our sophomore year of college. Over the next three weeks, we had sex every night and teased each other with our fantasies. We talked about which of our friends we wanted most and whose Key we hoped would be chosen. There was a renewed sense of passion and invigoration in our marriage that had been absent for so long. We felt like newlyweds again and there were times when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I only hoped the reality of our first Friday evening would meet our high expectations.

I checked my look in the mirror one last time and applied a bit more gloss until my lips sparkled. Then, I saw John’s reflection in the mirror as he moved in behind me.

“Do I look okay?” I asked sheepishly.

“You’ll be the hottest woman there.”

I smiled.

“I wish.”

He shot me a playful look.

“I know.”

My eyes ran up and down my reflection in the mirror. Jill told me that all of the women dressed up a bit for the evening so I chose to wear a tight, black, Bodycon mini-dress. The hem of the short little frock rested several inches above my knees and contrasted perfectly with my long, blonde flowing hair that I chose to wear down. I matched the little dress with a pair of black, four-inch ankle strap pumps. I’d also painted the nails on my fingers and toes a deep, blood red to add a small pop of color.

“You clean up really nice yourself, counselor.”

He grinned.

“Thank you.”

I wanted him to dress up a bit too so I purchased a pair of tight, black pants, a crisp pressed, white dress shirt, and matching, black evening jacket for him to wear. With the four-inch heels, I was nearly at his six-foot, two-inch height and I had to admit, we looked really good together.

I felt him run his hand up the side of my thigh.

“Oh, you did decide to wear panties.”

“I wore a thong, honey. I don’t want panty-lines and not much else is going to fit under this dress.”

“It’s still hot to fantasize that you’re naked underneath that sexy, little dress.”

I’d hoped to project a sexy, self-assured confidence; but inside, I was shivering, nervous mess and my husband could very easily see through the shallow facade.

“It’s not too late, we can still back out you know.”

“I’ll be okay once I’m there, around our friends. This is the tough part, the excitement, and anticipation of knowing what’s to come.”

True to form, John wasn’t nervous in the slightest and his confident demeanor helped steady me.

“Are you sure the kids will be okay?” I asked.

“Of course they will. I told my mother I’d pick them up first thing in the morning and she was delighted to have some extra time with them.”

He grinned.

“Last chance to call this off.”

“No ... We’re doing this, baby ... Let’s go.”

Before I change my mind.

It was a short drive up the block to the Brown’s house. Their residence was at the far end of a cul de sac and afforded them much more privacy than most of their neighbors.

It felt as if my knees were knocking together uncontrollably as we walked up the ceramic paver steps. John wrapped his arm around my torso and held me tight while his other hand knocked on their ornate, front door.

“Stop fidgeting honey, you look beautiful.”

I hadn’t even noticed, but I was pulling at the hem of my short, little dress as if more material would magically appear.

The door opened and Robert Brown stood in front of us.

“It’s so great to see both of you, please come in,” he said after vigorously shaking John’s hand. As I passed him, he gave me a big hug. “We’re so happy you joined us this evening.”

A few seconds later his wife, Kristin, approached us and gave John and me another big hug.

“We’re so happy to have you here tonight, honey.”

Her warm greeting put me at ease and I immediately felt the tension leaving my body.

“Thank you so much for having us,” I said shyly.

She looked into my eyes and smiled.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about, you’re among friends.”

I took a moment to take in my surroundings. We’d been to their place several times before, but it was as if I was seeing it for the first time. We were standing in an immense foyer that had two winding staircases that went to the upper floors. There were two white, polished marble pillars in the center of the room that perfectly matched the white marble floor. I also noticed very expensive looking Renaissance paintings on the wall that went perfectly with the classic, French style crown moldings.

“What can I get you both to drink?” She asked politely.

“I’d take a Jack Daniels, neat,” John said.

“You’d better make mine a double.”

She grinned.

“Everyone else is in the great room, Robert will take you there.”

We followed him to their great room and found the rest of the members of the “Key Club” talking, laughing, and joking with each other. I had to admit, it felt like any other of the dozen or so parties we’d attended over the years. However, I did notice that the other women were wearing short, little dresses and skirts that were similar to mine.

When everyone saw us enter the room, the conversations abruptly stopped and they came over and greeted John and me and gave us kisses on the cheek and big hugs. They all told us how happy they were to see us and how glad they were that we decided to join the group. Their warm, friendly welcome immediately put me at ease.

Once the greetings began to peter out, the couples broke up into small groups and continued their conversations. Jill pulled John and me to the side and gave us both another round of big hugs.

“I’m so glad both of you made it,” she said.

“It was difficult dragging John out of the house tonight, but I managed.”

He shot me a playful grin.

“Yeah right.”

A few seconds later Robert escorted John over to some of the other men and they began talking about ‘guy things,’ I surmised.

“How are you doing, a little nervous, maybe?” she asked.

“I was a mess earlier,” I admitted, “but I’m calming down a bit now.”

“I know, the first time is the toughest, but you’ll have a fun night, I promise.”

Kristin approached us and handed me my drink.

“How’s she doing? Kristin asked Jill.

“She’s doing good, a little nervous I think, but that’s to be expected.”

Kristin took my hand and squeezed it.

“We’re all so excited to have you both here, honey,” she said warmly. “We hoped you’d join us for so long now, it’s going to be a fun night.”

“I’m really excited about it, honestly.”

She flashed me another bright smile.

“I’ve been relegated to the role of waitress tonight so I’d better make another round and freshen up everyone’s drinks. I’ll check on you in a couple of minutes.”

Before I knew it, she was off taking more drink orders.

“She’s always the consummate hostess,” Jill said.

“She’s always been so sweet and friendly, I really like her.”

We each took a sip of our drinks and surveyed the room.

“So ... who are you hoping pulls your key?”

I broke into a little smile.

“I honestly don’t know, I like it being up to the luck of the draw.”

“Well, hopefully, no fistfights break out with the guys over pulling your key.”

My eyes got wide and she broke out in a fit of laughter.

“I’m just teasing ... but there’s a little truth to that ... Your key in high demand.”

“I doubt that,” I said skeptically.

“You’d better know that, girl. They all want you.”

My face broke into a little blush.

“See how they’re looking at you, sneaking glances. They’re already with you in their minds.”

I scanned the room and a couple of the men’s eyes met mine. During the previous parties we’d attended, eye contact was very subtle, but not tonight. Their stares lingered and the looks of lust were very evident.

“They don’t hide it very well, do they?”

“Of course they don’t ... They’re guys.”

We both giggled and took another sip of our drinks.

“Well, I know at least one man whose very interested in pulling your key,” I said.

I watched as she bit her lip, seductively.

“Really, Lisa?”

“Yes ... really. Knowing John, I’m sure he’s spent the last several hours scheming of a way to ‘rig the system’ so he can be with you.”

I watched as her eyes lustfully traveled over to my husband before looking back into mine.

“Is it okay to admit that I’d be just fine with that?”

I shot her a little smile.

“Yes, it is.”

The ‘cocktail hour’ passed quickly. Jill never left my side as we strolled around the room and talked with the other guests. I felt more at ease as I interacted with my fellow revelers, but I was still nervous enough to put away a second double. While we drank and socialized, the lustful gawking and stares became more pronounced. I couldn’t help but mentally size up each of the men and wonder which one I’d shortly be spending the evening with. There wasn’t a definite favorite, but there were a couple ‘dark horses’ in the running.

At about five minutes before nine, John approached Jill and me.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” he said.

“Of course, honey.”

He took my hand and we made our way to one of the corners of the room and away from the other guests.

“Are you still nervous?”

“I’m still a bit antsy, but I’m more excited than anything.”

“It’s not too late, we can still back out, we don’t have to do this.”

The moisture emanating from between my legs was soaking through my thong.

“I want this, John ... more than I’ve wanted anything, in a long time.”

He looked lovingly into my eyes.

“I want to thank you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“For bringing it up, for suggesting this ... it took a lot of courage.”

“I think in some weird way, it’s making our marriage stronger.”

“I agree, it is.”

We shared a soft, romantic kiss and whispered our “I Love You’s” in the other’s ear.

At precisely nine o’clock, Robert Brown called the group to order and the room went silent. John wrapped his arm around me, and we walked over and rejoined the rest of the guests.

“First and foremost, I’d like to welcome everyone here tonight.”

John squeezed me tight against his body as our host continued speaking.

“I’d also like to give a special welcome to the Johnsons who are new to our little group.”

A gentle round of applause and even a few funny ‘cat-calls’ broke out from the group. Additionally, all eyes in the room were on me and my husband.

“All of the keys have been collected and placed into our ceremonial bowl.”

He reached down on the table in front of him and held a large, ornate silver basin that reminded me of an urn.

“As per our group’s tradition, the newest member will draw the first key.”

He looked into my husband’s eyes.

“John, will you do us the honor?”

Robert was a very tall man who stood a couple inches over my husband. He held the dish a bit above his head so it was impossible to see down inside. My husband stepped forward and reached into the bowl. Several seconds later, he produced one of the keys.

“Margot Miller, please come forward,” Robert said.

The petite, beautiful, busty, red-head on my right made no attempt to hide her giddy excitement as she walked up and took my husband’s hand. I noticed the look of disappointment on Jill’s face while John and his evening companion stepped to the side so the next man could reach in and draw. Just as I suspected, a slight twinge of jealousy washed over me as I witnessed my husband release her hand and wrap his arm securely around her.