Chapter 8

The weekend with Kat had been a playful fantasy. But, as the four of us discussed it afterward, we realized it as a more structured outlet for our desires. In the past, we had frequently enough partaken in group sex, but it was always in the context of an orgy or other setting without regulation. It was, frankly, out of control and unbridled, which had been fun. But I realized, and the girls realized, that we had reached a point where a bit more structure was more amenable to good decision-making. And, as Kat had pointed out, it was something the four of us could do together.

We didn’t have a chance to talk about it more than conceptually because real-life got busy again. The Oscars ceremony was closing in and only a couple weeks away now. Juliet grew increasingly anxious about it. Apart from the stressful decision of what dress to wear – and every designer in the world was pestering her to wear one of their gowns – she hadn’t ever been under such a microscope before. The interview requests from media all over the world came fast and furious. It felt like every minute of her life was more scripted than before.

That made our weekly Wednesday lunches even more of an essential escape. We sat by the pool at Kelly’s house, smoking marijuana from a psychedelic-colored glass bowl. It was a welcome, slow afternoon. We had made love tenderly as soon as we arrived, but then Juliet seemed a bit detached. Her mind was elsewhere. So I suggested we smoke and relax by the pool.

“Thanks for keeping it low-key today,” Juliet said as I sparked up the bowl.

I took a hit and passed it and the lighter to her.

“I can’t even imagine what your schedule has been like,” I said, exhaling a plume of acrid smoke.

“Most of the time, I feel like I don’t know which direction I’m going!” she said, holding the weed smoke for a long time. “Thank god for good pot. It mellows me out so much.”

“I like watching you smoke it,” I said.

“You like watching anything I do,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

Juliet never failed to verbally joust with me. It was part of her greatest appeal. We relaxed by the pool and leisurely smoked through two bowls. I could feel the tension recede from inside her, and it made me even more relaxed. Finally, after a prolonged silence, Juliet spoke up. It almost started me, we had been just enjoying each other’s presence so much.

“So, John,” she said, “we should talk about the Oscars.”

“What do we need to talk about?” I asked. “Sorry if I’m slow, but this kind of international celebrity is new to me.”

Juliet laughed.

“Stephen is back from Italy,” she said. The words hung there like the morning ocean fog. “You probably figured this out already, but he’s my date for the ceremony.”

“Of course,” I said without flinching. I had expected this. “I’m not surprised. I’m not disappointed. I’m not jealous.”

“I know,” Juliet said, smiling warmly.

She handed me the bowl. I lit up while she talked.

“It’s just this huge event, and everyone expects it,” she said. “And Stephen thinks I really have a chance to win, which is totally insane, but he said he’s talked to some of his friends in the Academy who just raved about the movie. I just. Look, John, I don’t want to disappoint you.”

I grinned at Juliet. This was a far cry from the girl who, when I first met her, casually said she wouldn’t mind if our paths crossed again. She was being so sweet and considerate. She was discounting that I understood the situation and our status vis-a-vis one another.

“Sweetheart,” I said, looking at her through stoned eyes, “you have never disappointed me. You’ve been completely open about how this thing – whatever you want to call it – works. Some of it’s new to me, which of course requires an adjustment. But, at the core, I get it. You don’t have to apologize. I do appreciate when you’re open with me, so just know there’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Thank you,” Juliet said.

I nodded.

“I mean it,” she continued. “You’re one of the very few people who hasn’t ever tried to make all kinds of demands on me. All of you. I feel like I’m just one of the gang when we’re together.”

“Well, don’t let that give you the impression that you aren’t special,” I said flirtatiously.

Juliet passed the bowl back to me and rolled over on her lounge chair, positioning herself on top of me.

“I want you to lie back and smoke,” she said slowly. “And I’m going to suck that beautiful dick until you nut in my mouth. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

I refilled the bowl while Juliet put her hair up in a sloppy ponytail. She looked at me with her icy blue eyes, which gushed with admiration. There was an intimacy between us that I never expected. Our weekly lunches, in particular, had become an escape to normalcy for her. It tightened the bond between us.

Juliet’s mouth swallowed my cock and began a slow blow job. She was showing just how much she could savor sucking me off. I let my mind drift, enjoying the weed as I smoked, and the ministrations of my Hollywood rising star’s tongue. I closed my eyes, and it felt like I was floating above my own body. This really was La-La Land. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. And I couldn’t hold back my excitement. It caught me off guard, but I couldn’t control myself once she started to lick my balls.

“Fuck, babe, I’m going to cum,” I warned her.

With a little yelp of glee, Juliet fixed her mouth to the tip of my cock and sucked while she jerked my shaft. This was one of those rare instances where I came more on my second shot than my first. My balls erupted with sperm, and they were all vacuumed up by Juliet’s greedy mouth as she sucked them down into her belly as if she were starving. She lifted her mouth off me, panting, when I had finished cumming.

“Fuck, babe,” she said, parroting my warning, “that was so much. God, your cum tastes so good.”

She laid her head on my chest, and we let the LA sun beat down on our naked bodies. The waterfall trickling into the pool was the only sound that resonated in my ears.

“So you’re really good with the Oscars thing?” she asked.

“Of course,” I said, stroking her hair.

“I do have one carrot for you,” she said.

“What’s that?” I asked, raising my head.

“I can get all of us into the Vanity Fair after-party,” she said. “Plus...” she hesitated briefly. “There’s an after-hours party.”

“That sounds amazing,” I said.

“Vanity Fair is really special,” she said. “I’ve been a couple times.”

“I can’t wait,” I said. “We appreciate the invite. Seriously.”

“The after-hours will be even crazier than the party a few weeks ago,” she said.

“Crazier?” I said in disbelief.

“I can’t really say much about it right now, but do you think all four of you would want to come?” she asked.

“We never say no to a good party, doll,” I said.

Juliet smiled at me.

“Speaking of crazy,” I said, “we wanted to have a little celebration dinner for you this weekend. Friday night maybe?”

“You’re in luck,” Juliet said. “I’m free Friday.”

“Super casual,” I said, “but it might get a little wild.”

“I like a little wild,” she said. “At your place?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Count me in,” she said.

I had undersold the “little” and “casual” to Juliet on the dinner that Friday night. The girls and I had decided to make it an occasion. We weren’t sure how much we would see Juliet before or right after the Oscars, and we genuinely wanted to celebrate her achievement.

The four of us also were very interested in exploring some first steps into swinging. Kat and I had been so enthusiastic about our experience with Nicole and Bryce that we began to consider how we might make it more of a lifestyle choice. But we couldn’t do that without playing around a little, we decided.

That’s when Rita came up with the idea that we had likely candidates close to us already who might want to join this experiment. It could also be a good way to reconnect with old friends who we hadn’t seen in too long. And that’s why Crystal and Jason and Katie and Jamie, the backup quarterback who were now dating but not exclusive, found themselves on a private jet to LA that Friday morning.

Our house was buzzing with activity to prepare for the night. The girls wanted everything in place by the time our Houston friends landed in LA at lunch time. They would have time to settle into their hotel and then have an early happy hour at our place while we awaited Juliet’s arrival sometime shortly after five o’clock.

We confined the immaculate party setup to the first floor. There would be ample cocaine and weed, as usual, and we had decided to keep the party favors at that. We knew our audience. Kat had arranged for an absurd display of sushi from Nobu. We’d keep the bar simple, too. What wasn’t quite as simple was the array of sex toys the girls brought out. It was a burgeoning collection that had grown exponentially, particularly in the past couple years. There were vibrators, butt plugs, two Hitachi wands, multiple strap-ons, collars, restraints, a spreader bar, and various other devices. It was the work of hedonists, and it formed the main decoration, if you could call it that, for the event.

Our anticipation built through the course of the afternoon, particularly once we knew Crystal, Jason, Katie, and Jamie had checked into their hotel. But we exercised admirable restraint, waiting until we had confirmation that they were en route before popping some Champagne.

The girls were dressed in California casual. Kat wore cutoff jean shorts, which gave her legs a long, alluring appearance, and a white button-down shirt that was tied off to reveal a glimpse of belly. Jess sported high-waisted jeans with a tight, scoop neck, long-sleeved white top. And Rita dazzled in a navy blue Kenzo-style dress that flowed seductively at its bottom and had a plunging neckline to draw attention to her cleavage.

We poured a kickoff glass of bubbles for ourselves. Kat had fallen in love with prestige bottlings of rosé Champagne, which was an expensive but fun habit. And we indulged with a hard-to-procure magnum of Cristal rosé. The first glasses disappeared with shocking ease. While I poured a second for each of us, Melanie returned home.

“Kids are safe and sound for the night!” she said excitedly. “I really appreciate that you invited me to join you!”

She wore tight, short white shorts that made her legs look improbably long, and a gray tank top that stretched across her modest-but-firm breasts. She looked radiant and relaxed. She had needed and deserved extra time off. It just didn’t seem fair that she seemed like an employee. She was a part of our family.

I passed her a glass of Cristal, and we adjourned to the terrace. It was a stunning afternoon in LA, with just the right mix of hot sun and cool Pacific breeze. Jess was incredibly happy to have her old partner in crime partying with us. The vibes were chill and happy, but they veered into excitement when we heard a call pull into the driveway just after three o’clock. We stormed inside, eager to greet our friends, and within moments, the house was a cacophony of shrieks, laughter, enthusiastic hugs, and happiness. I busied myself with filling up four new glasses with Champagne and then made the rounds.

Jason came to the kitchen to help me. We’d seen each other fairly regularly because of our work with Petey, but life had been so busy for both of us that it had been almost all business. Jamie joined us. We each shook his hand and congratulated him on a good season. He had started two games and gotten a key win for Houston when Johnny Burris was out with a sprained knee. It had created buzz about him on the free agent market in the coming league year, but he had surprised everyone by signing a four-year contract extension with the team at a hometown discount.

We handed out Champagne to the new arrivals, and the girls took off to show Crystal and Katie the house. Before they ambled upstairs, however, Katie gave me a lingering, almost yearning look. I winked at her. She smiled back. It was good to see her and Crystal again. It was the first time I had longed for home that I could remember.

Jason, Jamie, and I clinked out glasses together. We took long drinks, and then Jamie set his glass down. He looked past the sushi and eyed the cocaine on the bar.

“You mind if I hit this, bro?” he asked.

“That’s what it’s there for, buddy!” I said.

“I love the offseason,” he said with the grin that had charmed so many girls.

The tall, athletic quarterback lowered his broad shoulders and powerfully made four lines of coke disappear. I looked at Jason and nodded in the direction of the blow. He gave a casual shrug and sauntered over to it. He did a couple rails, and I followed him.

“Fuck yeah, boys,” I said, and we clinked our glasses again.

We made some small talk, catching up. Jamie was a good dude, but he wasn’t a huge talker. He was personable but shallow, a hedonist at heart and a good-times guy. I liked him. He told us that he and Katie had been dating for about five months, but it was more a matter of convenience.

“We have a lot in common,” Jamie said. “We have a lot of fun. A lot of fun. She’s a good girl, but it’s not exclusive or anything. It really suits both of us perfectly. Low-pressure.”

Then Jason surprised me by steering the conversation somewhere I hadn’t anticipated.

“So, bud,” he said, addressing me, “I heard you had a crazy time in Vegas recently.”

“I mean, what’s crazy mean in Vegas?” I said with a chuckle.

“Katie and I were up there last weekend,” Jamie chimed in. “We were visiting Bryce and Nicole. I heard it was more than crazy!”

I blushed. They had called me out.

“Eh, it was fucking fun,” I said.

“I love it, man,” Jamie said. “Katie and I mess around with them all the time. They’re wild. And cool. Super fun people.”

“Sounds like I need to spend more time with Nicole,” Jason joked.

Before we got too far down that path, however, the girls came back. They were smiling and laughing, and it was absolutely enchanting seeing them all together. They were fresh-faced and relaxed. All we needed was our guest of honor, and the party would truly take off.

“I see you boys have gotten into the party favors!” Kat said, walking over to us and looking at the cocaine tray. She lightly licked a finger and ran it across the powdery residue before rubbing it on her gums.

“That must mean it’s our turn,” Rita said, flashing me a smile that almost made me melt.

The girls crowded around the coke, but Katie hung back a little. Jason ogled Melanie, and Jamie ogled them all.

“I was kind of hoping you’d wait to do a line off my tits,” Katie said, subtly flicking her tongue across her bottom lip.

The girls voraciously hit the cocaine. It injected fast-paced energy into the room, and all of us were talking excitedly, catching up after being apart for too long. The Infinity agency was humming in Houston. Crystal and Katie had been more than up to the task of taking over for Alix in running the Hooker House there. I asked after the girls, and it sounded like everyone was thriving. Bianka had asked about me and sent her regards. I missed her. Julie and Nikki had become a submissive-dominant one-two punch and also were frequent lovers themselves. Gloria was, as ever, the picture of a bimbo slut. And Jen, the “other traffic girl,” as I called her, had slotted in beautifully. She was the most popular girl in the agency based on bookings and revenue now. We agreed that it was time to go back to visit soon.

Jason and I chatted business for a little bit. Jamie flirted with the girls, who also talked excitedly with one another. Kat, Jess, and Rita, in particular, regaled the others with tales of our Hollywood adventures. It had been an incredible four months we had spent in LA so far. Champagne flowed, cocaine disappeared magically like fairy dust, and occasionally a couple people here and there went outside to toke up.

The time slipped by quickly until the doorbell rang. Juliet had arrived. What she walked into was a house filled with buzzing conversation and anticipation. We had worked up a perfect low-level high by the time I greeted her at the front door, kissed her hello, and she walked into the great room. From there, Juliet took over the party. Her charisma was electric. But her dress – a petal mini dress sent from a top designer as a way to woo her for the Oscars – stole the show. The top tied around her neck, leaving her arms and a good portion of her upper torso exposed, along with tantalizing side boob. The skirt bottom was of light, flowing fabric that gave the impression of motion even as she stood still.

Jamie and Jason didn’t bother to conceal their lustful glances. The Houston girls fawned over her, extolling congratulations and wanting to hear all about life as an A-lister – from the parties and dating Stephen to the upcoming Oscar ceremonies and her two other movies due out later this year. The attention would have been overwhelming to most people, but Juliet drank it up. She answered every question, graciously accepted every compliment, and smiled through it all. She was in her element. But, for me, the moment that made it perfect came as Crystal peppered her with questions as Juliet sipped Champagne. The movie star glanced over at me as I talked to Jason. She glanced away and then glanced back, locking eyes with me. She gave me the most content, happy look and smile before turning back to her conversation. It made me feel warm and gave me chills at the same time. It was as if she had said, in this room full of admirers? I only care about you.

I drifted over to the kitchen, where Kat, Jess, and Rita were talking. They were relaxed, a little wired, and just catching the start of a Champagne buzz.

“Hi, my loves,” I said, smiling broadly. I put my arm around Kat as Rita leaned in to kiss me. Jess followed suit. “What’s got you three smiling?”

“We were just talking about when to set out the sushi,” Rita said.

“And about how to steer this party into more raunchy territory,” Jess added.

“It already feels so natural and intimate to have all of them here,” Kat said. “I kind of miss home.”

“I forgot how sexy Crystal is,” Rita said, licking her lips.

“Huh, I thought we were just going to have a nice, quiet dinner with friends,” I said.

The girls laughed.

Kat and Jess took small bumps of coke off their fingernails. Rita offered me one before taking one herself.

“Daddy, who do you want to play with tonight?” Kat asked.

“Oh, you girls are more than enough for me,” I said.

Jess laughed sarcastically. “Modesty doesn’t suit you, John,” she said.

“I’ve seen how you look at Katie,” Rita added. “And how she looks at you. Get a room.”

“Let’s put out the food,” Kat suggested. “And get the party started.”

The girls fanned out, swinging into action as they pulled out elegant platters of sushi in various spots around the open living space. The goal, I knew, was to encourage the crowd to split into smaller groups. As they laid out the dinner spread, Katie split off from the circle surrounding Juliet.

“Think you could rack me up a couple of lines, stud?” Katie said flirtatiously. She looked gorgeous in a floral-patterned green peasant style dress. The waist cinched up high, emphasizing her large natural breasts, and it only extended to mid-thigh.

“You might be the most qualified person to do that,” I teased.

“Oh?” Katie said. “Saving up your energy for more ... important things?”

Her voice dripped with sexuality, and she ran a hand through her blonde hair. It was thicker and more curly than before. It looked good, and I said so.

“You should see it in pigtails,” she said.

“I bet that’s a popular request,” I said.

“It is,” she said, parsing out four lines of blow from the large pile in front of her. “Growing it out really lets you wrap it around your fist. You don’t even have to move to pound me. Just pull my hair like I’m your slutty little toy.”

She didn’t even look up when she said it. She knew the effect it would have on me. Then she punctuated it by leaning down and snorting up two lines.

“Sounds interesting,” I said lamely.

Katie smiled. “Just remember,” she said. “Anything you tell me to do.”

Our guests gravitated to the food and raved about it. Kat, Jess, and Rita gave Juliet a break as they caught up and talked about her Oscars gown. She had decided to go with Dior, and my three girlfriends swooned at the pictures Juliet shared of it with them.

Jason and Melanie were talking around one of the sushi platters, while Jamie and Katie flirted. Crystal slipped away and came to say hi.

“I missed you!” she said, wrapping me into a warm and happy hug.

“You look amazing, Crystal,” I said, admiring the simple white, spaghetti-strap dress she wore.

“Thanks,” she said. “Katie and I have been taking you up on the offer to use the tennis court at your place.”

“Well, it’s paid off,” I said, drinking her in without a second thought that she was also my best friend’s girlfriend.

“I got a new tattoo,” she said, leaning in so she could speak quietly. “Maybe you can try to find it later?”

“I should probably ask Jason first,” I said judiciously.

Crystal smiled, flashing her dimples. She had a new level of confidence emanating from her, and it was exquisitely attractive.

“You’ve missed a lot the last few months, sweetie,” she said. “Jason loves to share. We play a lot. In all sorts of circumstances.”

“Funny that he didn’t mention that,” I said.

“We’ve been holding it back as a surprise until we saw you again,” Crystal said, twirling her hair around a perfectly French-manicured finger.

I took a couple steps closer to Crystal and felt the heat coming from her skin. She blushed faintly. I let my hand brush against her lower back.

“Well, that certainly gives me hope that tonight will be fun,” I said.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Crystal said knowingly.

She peeled away to rejoin Jason, and I finally got a chance to catch up with Juliet.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey yourself,” she said with a tired smile.

“Do you mind if I ask you a bunch of questions?” I said with a playful smile.

“Oh, god, yes!” Juliet said sarcastically. “I’ve been dying for someone to let me talk!”

“How are you doing?” I asked sincerely.

“Honestly?” she said. “I’m really good. Tired. But that just comes with the schedule. It’ll be over soon.”

“How’s Stephen?” I asked and regretted it.

“He’s good,” she said. “I’ll see him tomorrow. I told him I was busy tonight.”

That made me smile with boyish enthusiasm.

“That’s sweet of you,” I said.

“Will you pour me some more bubbles?” Juliet asked.

I took her glass and went to the kitchen to give her a refill of the Cristal. I handed it back to her when the doorbell rang. I walked quickly to get it, and before me stood Petey and Alix. I greeted them with hugs and led them inside. The girls freaked out when Alix appeared, happy to see her. Jason came over to greet Petey, and we chatted business while he got acclimated. The party was complete, and while the three of us talked shop, it started to converge on its intended, naughty destination.