Chapter 8- Venturing Out

"Here you go," the bartender said as he set two glasses in front of them––a whiskey sour and a rum runner.

"Thank you. Keep the tab open, please." Darren handed Chelsea her drink with a napkin wrapped around it and then picked his up, stirred it, and took a tentative sip. When he nodded, she knew it was made fresh and not with mixers. "Shall we?" He gestured for her to lead the way.

With a deep breath, she slid off the barstool and started the walk toward her first adventure. She was excited and nervous, and it made her hands clammy. This was so much more than flirtatious bantering back and forth on some site or checking out a man's ass in a bar, wishing she had the guts to walk up and squeeze it. This was a prelude to sex. Nothing but sex. Perhaps if it was more, she wouldn't be so nervous.

She felt Darren's hand on her elbow as he escorted her across the deck, and just that simple touch helped to steady her nerves.

As they approached where the other couple sat, Darren led them to the foot of the chairs. The other couple paused in their conversation and glanced up, Brian's blue eyes lighting up as he soaked in Chelsea's appearance. She felt herself blushing at the compliment his gaze gave her.

Rachel sat up straighter in her chair, her gaze swallowing Darren from head to toe. Chelsea felt a slight tinge of jealousy, which then transformed to pride as Rachel's smile broadened. She definitely liked what she saw. Chelsea glanced over at her husband, smiling at the thought that he was hers and another woman desired him. It was an odd feeling, at first, but it warmed her heart as well as heated up the valley between her legs.

Brian slid out of his chair, extending his hand to Darren, and Rachel quickly followed suit. "I'm glad you made it," Brian said, and then he introduced himself and his wife, who also shook both of their hands. Chelsea noticed that Rachel seemed to hang onto Darren's hand just a tad longer than normal. Glancing up, she noticed that Darren was staring into the other woman's eyes, making no move to pull his hand back. Well, this night might go better than planned.

As the others started to return to their seats, Darren grabbed two nearby chairs and dragged them over so the two of them could sit. Chelsea crossed her legs as she held her drink with both hands, leaning forward to better hear what was being said without anyone having to shout. No one around them needed to know they were discussing the concept of going somewhere and fucking each other's brains out—at least, that was the hopes everyone had just by agreeing to meet.

"Darren, your wife has been a real charmer online," Brian said. "I've enjoyed getting to know her. I must say, I'm also honored that we might be the ones to pop your swinger cherry. She says this is your first time out?" He phrased that last like a question, making sure everything he knew was still true.

Darren nodded. "It is, actually. We've talked about it, but haven't taken the plunge, so to speak. It's been purely fantasy up until now."

"Fantasies can be fun," Rachel said with a wicked grin spreading her cheeks.

"That they are," Brian agreed.

Chelsea sipped her drink, gazing at Rachel over the rim of her glass. The other woman was definitely a fantasy she was sure many men had as well as women. She was gorgeous, and Chelsea felt herself feeling a little inadequate in comparison.

"We've found a few friends that we connect with pretty well. The plus factor is being around people where you don't have to worry so much about what you say or if your hand touches someone's ass. Total relaxation." He lifted his glass in a toast. "True freedom."

"So, you've never had problems with people being jealous?" Darren asked.

"Oh, it happens, sure," Rachel answered. "The key is to find people who are secure in their relationships. No drama."

"Sometimes, people get into this trying to either escape their marriage or hoping that having sex with someone else will somehow save it," Brian said. "Neither ever works out. We've seen quite a few couples crash and burn because they didn't go into it for the right reasons."

"Right reasons?" Chelsea gave him a puzzled look. She knew why she was going into the lifestyle; she wanted to have fun and watch Darren having fun as well. Were there other reasons?

Brian gave her a wicked grin. "Why, to have great sex with different people, of course."

Everyone laughed as he bounced his eyebrows at her.

She took another sip of her drink, running her tongue over her lips as she pulled the glass away from her mouth, her eyes devouring Brian. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Over the next few minutes, the four of them discussed boundaries, even though Brian, and her had talked it all out online. The idea was to make sure nothing was said that Darren or Rachel weren't really comfortable with or to give someone a chance to change their mind on something if they needed to. Chelsea had already discussed it with Darren before they arrived. If they were going to jump into the swinging pool, she wanted to dive into the deep end and immerse herself completely. All or nothing was her mindset. She still felt that way.

After everyone finished their second drink, Brian gave a soft smile as he glanced over at Rachel, who just gave him a simple nod. He then turned to Chelsea and Darren. "So, would you like to come up to our room?" He pointed to one of the upper floors in the hotel behind them.

Chelsea glanced over at Darren, who was already watching her, waiting for her decision. This was all up to her; he had told her before they left the house. They could either join the Fletchers or make some excuse and head for home. She took a deep breath, her stomach a flutter of knots knowing everyone was now waiting on her for her decision. She reached out and took Darren's hand. "Sure. Sounds like fun."