Memoirs of a Swinger

This is the fiftieth episode of my unreliable memoirs, recounting tales from the nineteen eighties. Each episode is self-contained, so you can read them without having read the previous ones.

It is the end of August 1985, Lesley is in Miami with Kate as Daniel prepares to undergo major heart surgery. Meanwhile, Steven's holding the fort in London, supported by Jemima who is rediscovering her mojo.

I hope you enjoy it.

M4bloke

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Chapter 1

It was Thursday morning and Thomas Pemberton was late for our meeting.

Since he'd made his resignation formal I hadn't really wanted to waste time on meeting with him. But he'd asked and, as a courtesy to his father Charles, I'd agreed. Charles ran the 'Major Investments' side of Durolitum and, if I was to keep the company functioning while Daniel was out of action, I needed his support.

I wasn't prepared to meet Thomas at Durolitum's offices though. I didn't want him wandering through the office, telling people the grass was greener somewhere else. So we agreed to meet at a coffee shop just off Regent Street.

When Thomas arrived he was unapologetic.

"No hard feelings," he began.

"It's a free country," I told him. "If you think your prospects are better elsewhere..."

"They made me an offer I couldn't refuse," Thomas continued smugly.

It must have been a good offer for him not to have even tried to negotiate a raise I thought.

"Who are you going to work for?" I asked. Not sure if he'd tell me.

"It's a middle-eastern sovereign wealth funds. They want into New Technology. They're prepared to pay handsomely to make it happen."

"I see."

"They'd be interested in you and Sam joining them too."

It must have hurt Thomas to say that. Thomas was good at what he did, but he knew he was no good on his own. He might have known the ways of the 'City' but he didn't really understand technology.

"Why would we want to do that?" I asked

"They've got deep pockets, Steven. I'm getting twice what you paid me, plus an introductory bonus," Thomas explained, adding, "you could bring with you anyone you wanted."

I could understand why Thomas' head had been turned. We'd already been paying him more than the going rate.

"Tell them I'm not interested. I'm loyal to Daniel and to Durolitum," I told him. "I think you'll find Sam is too."

"I guess we'll find out," Thomas chuckled. "Maybe he doesn't like working for teacher's pet any more than I did."

Up until then I'd been prepared to give Thomas the benefit of the doubt but his snide comment struck a nerve. Thomas was older than me and, what with his father's connection to Durolitum, I think he'd found it hard to accept being junior to me.

"You'll have to excuse me," I told him with as much self-control as I could muster. "I think we're done here and I have a company to run."

"Enjoy it while you can," Thomas sneered. "The big boys are coming to steal your lunch money."

As I walked back to the office I played the conversation over in my mind. Things had been going so well up until then. I wasn't sure if Sam would be back from France yet, but I knew I needed to talk to him. I wondered how much of a threat this sovereign wealth fund could be to us.

Chapter 2

Being temporary CEO of Durolitum wasn't actually as difficult as I'd feared it was going to be. In the short term, the company could quite easily have functioned without a CEO. Durolitum was a bit like a well organised cruise ship. The crew were more than capable of doing their jobs, but the passengers still liked to see there was a captain in charge of the boat.

In the week following the announcement that Daniel was temporarily stepping down, I spent most of my time talking to investors and the press, reassuring them that the company wasn't in any danger. Fortunately, Durolitum's underlying performance was sound and the recent Iris deal had only strengthened this perception. By the end of my first week in charge we seemed to have calmed most people's nerves.

Meanwhile, Daniel had been flown from Jamaica by private medivac plane to a hospital in Miami. There, he'd undergone a six hour quadruple by-pass operation on the Wednesday. In the evening I'd called Lesley to see how it had gone but neither she nor Kate had yet been allowed to see him. I could tell Lesley was worried. Major heart surgery wasn't something to be taken lightly. I tried to re-assure her everything would be ok, but I knew my words were just platitudes and I couldn't help feeling guilty that, while Lesley was doing her best for Daniel and Kate in Miami, I was back in London, living in Daniel's house shacked up with Jemima.

I know it wasn't quite as simple as that, Daniel had asked me to come back and run Durolitum, and it had been Lesley's idea for Jemima to keep me company while she stayed in Miami. But I couldn't help feeling that I was getting the better end of the deal.

Chapter 3

Jemima had stayed over every night since turning up at Daniel's doorstep the Saturday before. It was very easy having her around. She was great company and the sex was uncomplicated. Every night we fucked like rabbits then, in the morning, I'd head off to the gym before work and she'd head back to her house in Chelsea to get changed, before opening up her shop, 'Pudleduck Interiors', just off the Kings Road.

Thursday evening was different however. On Thursdays after work I trained at the gym behind the International School of Martial Arts in Battersea. It didn't make much sense for Jemima to come to Daniel's, so I suggested that I'd come to her house instead when I was finished.

Before leaving work that afternoon, I called Lesley for an update. The news was good. Daniel was off the critical list and she and Kate had been allowed to see him. He was still heavily dosed up with pain med's but things were heading in the right direction. She and Kate were sharing sentry duty, taking shifts by Daniel's bedside. Although I could tell she was tired, the contrast in Lesley's voice compared to the day before was obvious. She sounded much more upbeat.

What with the Iris contract and summer holidays, it had been a few weeks since my last Thursday evening training session with Andy Conlan. I'd checked if he would be free to coach me that week and explained that Lesley wouldn't be coming. So I was expecting it to be just the two of us but, when I walked into the gym there was a second man with Andy who I vaguely recognised, but couldn't place.

"Good to see you again, Steven," Andy began. "I think you've met Matt already."

It took a moment but then the penny dropped. Matt was the partner of Lesley's new personal assistant, Izzie. I'd met him briefly in Munich two weeks ago, at the Obermann's party. First, when he and Izzie had been serving drinks to the Obermann's guests. then briefly later that evening, after Lesley had fucked him. Annoyingly, he was a very good looking bloke with 'a body to die for' (Lesley's words not mine).

After leaving the Army, Matt had initially been recruited by Blackfinch Security as a trainnee close protection operative/bodyguard. But somewhere along the way they'd also discovered his girlfriend, Izzie. Izzie was the brains of the outfit, she'd been a nurse in the navy before working for disaster relief organisations in some of the worst places in the world. Blackfinch had seen potential in her and had flown the two of them out to Munich to see if Izzie and Lesley got along. To cut a long story short, Matt had fucked Lesley, I'd fucked Izzie, and Izzie had got the job as Lesley's assistant.

"I'm sorry Matt, I recognised your face, I just couldn't quite place you," I explained apologetically. "How are you, how's Izzie?"

"We're both fine Mr. Carter, thank you," Matt replied deferentially.

"No surnames here. You know the drill," Andy was quick to intervene with the rules of the establishment.

"Sorry," Matt added, looking suitably chastised.

"Matt here was Combined Services light-heavyweight champion in '81 and '82, so I thought you two might like to spar for a bit later on," Andy said with a smile on his face.

"Er, sure," I replied.

"But first let's see how much fitness you've lost over the summer," he chuckled.

For the first half hour of the evening, Andy beasted us with exercise after exercise. It was clear that time off had taken its toll on me, but Matt fared better. Then, when we were ready for a rest, he told us to get some gloves and a headguard and get in the ring.

Against most average boxers I stood a chance, but I was outclassed by Matt. At first though he was hesitant to go full out on me. I seized the opportunity and made him pay for it, landing a couple of blows that caught him off guard. After that, he didn't hold back and I was just trying to get to the end of the round without being floored. When Andy called time on our bout, I couldn't have been more relieved.

"You fight well," Matt told me with a victor's magnanimity.

"Thanks. Not quite as well as you though," I replied.

"Now without the gloves," Andy told us. "No biting, no gouging, everything else goes."

Hand to hand combat was a different story. Matt might have bested me in a traditional bout but he didn't have the no-holds-barred skills or mentality that Andy had instilled in me. Time and again I was able to floor him and time and again Matt had to tap out before I really hurt him, until eventually Andy called time.

"Fuck," Matt said as we sat there panting, clearly frustrated at his own inability to respond effectively.

"Don't worry," Andy chuckled. "We'll knock you into shape. Steven was worse than you when he arrived."

After we'd finished for the evening, I asked Andy and Matt if they wanted to go for a pint. Andy declined like he always did while Matt was unsure whether or not to accept.

"You're not going to condemn a man to drinking alone are you?" I asked.

"I guess not," he laughed.

Back in the 80's Battersea was a pretty run down place, full of warehouses and sad looking shops. But, as long as you weren't too fussy, you didn't have to go far to find a pub. We settled on one just around the corner from the International School of Martial Arts and I got a round in then Matt and I sat down at a table in what was supposedly the lounge bar.

"Cheers," I said.

"Cheers," he responded.

There was a slightly awkward silence between us for a moment. We'd hardly spoken to each other before really, yet we'd both fucked each other's partner.

"We never really had the chance to talk in Munich," I began.

"No, not really," Matt replied. "It was all a bit of a whirlwind."

"I can imagine. How's it been since."

"We've both been busy, Izzie especially. She starts working for Lesley next week. Though I understand Lesley's not going to be around for a while."

"No she's in Miami unfortunately."

"Lesley explained the situation to Izzie," Matt offered, then for clarity added, "about Daniel and the heart attack."

"I didn't realise they'd been talking."

"Oh yes. Lesley's given Izzie a long list of things to be getting on with while she's away," he chuckled.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by this really.

"That sounds like Lesley," I agreed. "But if Izzie needs any help next week, tell her to give me a shout. In fact get her to call in on her first day."

"Izzie says you're the boss at Durolitum at the moment."

"I am, until Daniel's back on his feet."

"Can't be easy with Lesley away, coming home to an empty house every night."

"Actually, Lesley's sorted that out for me. A friend's staying with me while she's away."

"Sounds very understanding."

"I guess you of all people should know what our lifestyle's like."

Matt laughed.

"Actually, Izzie and I were hoping to try a swinging club this weekend. Izzie said she wanted to get some practise in," he laughed. "But we didn't have much luck finding anything. It's not as easy it seems to get started."

"We started out swinging with friends and it just sort of grew from there," I offered. "It was a while before we went to an actual party in fact. But I think I know of one this weekend if you and Izzie are interested in making up a foursome on Saturday night?"

"Sounds great."

"Leave it with me..."

Chapter 4

I'd never been to Jemima's mews house in Chelsea before. Like all the other houses in the short street it had been converted from stables that used to serve the city's gentry in an age before automobiles. The houses had been very trendy in the swinging sixties and still were to a certain extent, except that now they were also expensive and mainly the preserve of professional types.

Jemima opened the door to me wearing just an England rugby shirt and a pair of panties. Once I was inside, she put her arms around my neck and gave me a hug.

"Ugghh, you smell sweaty and you've been drinking," she told me. "Go and have a shower. You can put your stuff in the bedroom."

I took myself and my overnight bag up to the bathroom, had a quick shower, changed into jeans and a tee shirt then went to leave the bag in the bedroom. It was very Jemima, quirky but classy. A lot of the furniture, including the oak sleigh style bed, was antique or had been restored. Nothing in the room was cheap. On the nightstand was a picture of Jemima with Miles. I remembered there'd been a similar one of the two of them at university. It brought back memories of fucking her when we'd both been students.

"I made you some chilli." Jemima told me when I walked into the kitchen.

"Thanks, I'm starving."

She dished out the chilli and rice and we took it into the lounge.

"So, where have you been?" she asked inquisitively.

"Just to the gym, then I went out with one of the guys for a pint."

"But this isn't your normal gym, is it?"

"No," I admitted. "It's more of a boxing style gym. I try to train there each Thursday evening when I can. Lesley too usually."

"I wouldn't have thought boxing was her thing?"

"They do self-defence classes also."

It was becoming increasingly difficult to explain what I did at the International School of Martial Arts and why I did it, but fortunately Jemima changed direction.

"So what are we doing this weekend. You know Monday's a bank holiday right?"

"I thought we could take it easy," I offered, "Maybe go out and have a meal on Saturday night."

Jemima looked disappointed.

"Steven, to be your companion while Lesley's away, she promised me there'd be as much sex as I wanted. I'm really horny after last weekend. Can't we do something? Please."

"I'm only joking," I laughed.

"So what are we doing?" she asked excitedly.

"Well, I'm trying to get us invited to a party on Saturday night, but I won't know for sure until tomorrow."

"I'll let you off then," Jemima told me. "Now, on the basis that I was promised as much sex as I wanted, you need to take me upstairs and give me a damn good fucking."

Jemima got up from the sofa, held out her hand then led me up to her bedroom. Opening up a vintage armoire that had beautifully decorated doors she produced four rope tie-backs, the sort you might use to hold curtains and, and an old plastic vibrator that looked like it had seen better days.

"Tie me to the bed, Steven," she ordered as he stripped off, "and have your way with me."

Jemima came over all confident but I knew it was all a bit of an act. She did have a clear idea of how she wanted to be treated though and I was happy to oblige. I removed her rugby shirt and panties then tied her arms and legs to the bed so that she was face up and spread-eagled.

"Right, I'm going down to watch telly," I joked. "See you in an hour."

"Don't you fucking leave me like this Steven Carter," she demanded.

I don't know what possessed me but I picked up Jemima's panties from the floor and walked over to the bed. She let me open her mouth with my fingers and then I stuffed her panties into it.

"Be quiet," I told her.

Compared to Lesley's collection of toys, Jemima's vibrator was from the Ark. But the batteries worked and so I began to tease her clitoritis with the hard plastic phallus. Jemima pretended to struggle a bit but not enough to keep me from applying pressure to her nub and in no time at all she was orgasming.

I let Jemima experience all the stages of clitoral stimulation, from build-up, to orgasm, to afterglow, before ending in the torment that occurs when the stimulation doesn't stop. She thrashed about on the bed looking for relief but was unable to break free from her restraints, her cries muffled by the panties. I straddled her, pinning her hips to the bed and continued until eventually her clitoris became desensitised. Then, climbing off, I left her tied so that I could fuck her missionary style.

By this time her pussy was soaking and slipping into her was no problem at all. She pretended to struggle some more until I pinned her down by her arms and, thinking only of my own satisfaction, pumped her until I'd emptied my load into her.

With my cock still buried in her pussy I pulled the panties out of Jemima's mouth so that she could talk.

"Was that what you had in mind?" I asked.

"Pretty much," she chuckled.

"That vibrator of yours looks like it's seen better days."

"I know," she admitted. "It's given valiant service over the years but it does need to be retired. I'm a bit embarrassed to go into sex shop on my own and buy a new one though."

"Would you like me to accompany you on Saturday?"

"Please. Perhaps we could pick up a few other things while we're there."

"Can I ask?" I said with trepidation. "Do you do this sort of thing with Miles?"

"Don't be silly," Jemima chuckled. "Miles is very conventional. I guess I've been too, mostly. I mean I played the field at Uni', but it was always just good wholesome sex, nothing kinky. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious."

Chapter 5

Friday began unexpectedly. As I walked into what was really Daniel's office, Mary, who was Daniel's assistant but now temporarily mine, caught up with me.

"A gentleman called Faisal Piran telephoned to ask if he might meet you today. He said you would remember him from Gstaad," she informed me. "I told him it was unlikely you'd be available but he left a number and said it was important."

I did remember Faisal Piran. I'd spent a night in Gstaad's police station courtesy of his sons, although in all fairness it hadn't been entirely their fault. Our friend Heike, had assaulted one of them in a nightclub after he'd groped her on the dancefloor. We'd got Heike out of the nightclub as soon as possible and Faisal's minders had done the same for the sons, leaving me to carry the can.

As far as I could remember, Faisal had been oil minister in one of the middle eastern emirates before becoming persona non grata for some reason. After the incident in the nightclub Faisal had been a gentleman however, coming over to Ferdi Obermann's apartment where we'd been staying, to apologise. I must admit, I was curious as to why he was trying to make contact now. I knew he was based in London but I'd not really expected to hear from him again.

"Could you tell him I'm free in an hour. I've a couple of meetings in town today, I could see him before then."

"Of course, Steven," Mary replied, then she added. "How's Daniel?"

"Sorry," I said. "I should have told you the moment I walked in. He's doing well. Lesley and Kate were allowed to see him yesterday. It looks like the operation was a success. Please could you let everyone know."

"Thank goodness for that," Mary said, the relief on her face obvious...

****

I met Faisal Piran at the same coffee shop I'd met Thomas Pemberton a few days earlier. He'd arrived early and was sitting in one of the booths with his minder. The same minder who'd been at the nightclub in Gstaad. When they saw me, the minder got up and nodded in acknowledgement then went to stand outside leaving Faisal and I alone.