Memoirs of a Swinger

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

The experiment of writing in third rather than first person continues. It seems to work I think but I'd still love to hear your views

This episode picks up from the last. It's October 1985 now and everyone is back in London now. Alice is now officially Steven's 'girlfriend' and keen to establish herself among the group of friends as a new player comes to town.

I hope you enjoy it.

M4bloke

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Chapter 1

On Saturday morning, Alice woke first. She could hear voices downstairs in the unfamiliar house and was curious to know what was going on. She looked over at Steven, willing him to wake up so that she could go and find out. The bedsheet half covered his body giving her a view of his muscular torso. She knew he was quite the catch. Not that she was punching above her weight though. Her angelic face, slim figure, luscious red hair and great breasts made her comfortably his equal in the looks department. It wasn't just about looks though and, to put it bluntly, Alice was besotted with Steven. She desperately wanted to tell him how much he meant to her. But she didn't want to scare him off, or make things awkward with Lesley.

The previous night had been her first visit to Daniel Davidson's South Kensington mansion house. Daniel had just come out of hospital after heart surgery and Lesley had organised a small welcome home gathering for him. Daniel seemed nice enough, for an older man, but Lesley had made it very clear that he was off limits to her, which was fine with Alice.

Carole, Daniel's ex-wife and Marcel, her new boyfriend had also stayed the night. Carole had grilled Alice quite forcefully over her intentions toward Steven, but in the end, she'd given her the seal of approval, which Alice had been grateful for. As for Marcel, she'd had let him fuck her, although that had only really been so Steven could fuck her afterwards. Marcel had been a respectful lover though and it had given Carole the opportunity to fuck Steven, which Alice hoped might have earned her a few extra brownie points with Carole.

Coco, Alice's dog lay on the bed waiting for the first sign of human movement. When she realised Alice was awake her tail started to thump, which in turn woke Steven.

"Shall I get you a coffee?" Alice asked the moment Steven opened an eyelid.

"Mmm that would be nice," he agreed.

She found a bathrobe then made her way downstairs to the kitchen. As she walked through the doorway though she was surprised by what she saw. Lesley, Amelie and Carole were all naked, while Daniel and Marcel sat at the breakfast bar in their bathrobes.

"I'm sorry. I'm not disturbing anything am I?" Alice asked, slightly embarrassed.

"No, of course not," Lesley told her. Then realising the reason for Alice's question she chuckled, "The girls tend to go naked on the weekends."

"It's a bit of a tradition," Carole added.

Amelie looked at Alice and smiled sympathetically, but Alice still felt like she'd committed an enormous faux-pas by daring to be clothed.

"Anyway, where's Steven," Lesley asked. "Tell him to get himself down here."

"I'm just about to cook some bacon," Amelie added. "Do you think he'd like a sandwich?"

"Oh he'll want one," Lesley and Carole both chimed.

"I'll go get him," Alice told them, glad of the opportunity to make a hasty retreat.

She went back upstairs to the bedroom to find Steven still snoozing.

"You didn't tell me that the girls go naked on the weekends?" Alice said to him.

"That's right," he replied, adding, "It's no big deal though."

"It's a big deal for me, Steven," she told him. "I don't want everyone thinking I'm the frumpy one who doesn't join in."

"Nobody's going to think that," Steven chuckled.

"That's easy for you to say. But I'm the outsider here and I want to be friends with the cool girls."

It began to dawn on Steven that this was a bigger thing for Alice than he'd realised.

"Come and sit down for a moment," he told her.

Alice did as he asked and sat down on the bed. Steven lifted himself up so that he sat next to her then Coco got up and plonked herself down next to Alice, resting her head in Alice's lap.

"You don't need to impress anyone. Just be yourself."

"You don't know what it's like, not to have any friends," Alice told him. "I want to fit in."

Steven had seen it before in Lesley. The dread of being on your own. He'd never really needed many friends but then he'd always had his family to fall back on. Both Lesley and Alice knew what it was like to be abandoned by theirs.

"You're right, I don't know what it's like," he admitted, "But you're with friends now."

"I know you're right. But I can't help wanting to make a good impression though," Alice said, giving Steven a hug. "Now, I'm supposed to get you to come down with me for breakfast."

"I can do that."

"Do you think I should put some make-up on?" Alice said hanging her bathrobe up and revealing her naked body.

"Definitely not," Steven replied taking her in his arms and giving her a hug

"You're right. It'll look like I'm trying too hard," she agreed. "I should brush my teeth though."

Chapter 2

When the two of them came down for breakfast, Lesley and Carole were oblivious to Alice's insecurities and greeted her the same way they would have done on any other day, with an affectionate hug. Amelie was busy cooking bacon now but had sensibly put on a chef's apron to do so. She stopped though to be hugged by Alice first and then Steven.

"You're going to have to do without me for the next month or so," Amelie announced.

"Why?" Alice asked, concerned.

"I'm moving in here. Daniel asked me," Amelie explained. "Just while he's recovering."

Steven and Daniel's eyes made momentary contact in acknowledgement that their plan had worked.

"I hope he made it worth your while," Steven chuckled.

"Have you seen my Range Rover parked outside?"

"That's just temporary," Daniel added quickly. "Until we can get you a car of your own."

"I think that's good of you, Amelie," Steven confirmed. Then looking at Lesley he added "But maybe you should spend one night a week back in Wimbledon, just so we don't forget who you are."

"I think that's a good idea," Lesley agreed, giving Daniel's arm a squeeze.

"I'd like it too," Alice added.

"I suppose I could slum it in Wimbledon one night a week," Amelie sighed, joking.

"That's the spirit," Steven laughed.

Those that were eating bacon sandwiches had their fill, but everyone had to pay the bacon tax to Coco who did a good line in pleading starvation. Then it was time for people to go their separate ways. Carole and Marcel were heading back to France while Steven and Alice needed to sort Alice out with a bank account and a car in Wimbledon.

"What are you going to do today?" Alice asked Lesley.

"Daniel, Amelie and I are going for a walk," Lesley told everyone. "The doctor said Daniel needs to do plenty of walking."

"That's fine as long as there's a pub involved," Daniel clarified.

"And maybe some shops," Amelie added.

"Shops and a pub it is then," Lesley confirmed.

After getting dressed, Steven and Alice got ready to go but, before they left, Lesley asked Steven for a moment alone.

"How did it go last night with Alice?" she asked.

"It was fine. Things got a bit tense with Carole for a while but they sorted it out between themselves," Steven replied.

"Carole said she thought she might have gone a bit hard on Alice," Lesley added.

"There's no harm done, but Alice is desperate to be accepted by everyone."

"I can understand that."

"So Amelie's going to be staying at Daniel's," Steven asked.

"Yes. I wonder how he came up with that idea?" Lesley laughed.

"You know it makes sense."

"It does," Lesley agreed. "Next week I'll stay here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, that way we'll have the weekends to ourselves.

"I thought maybe we could go away somewhere next weekend."

"I'd like that," Lesley confirmed. "And thank you for suggesting to Amelie that she stay with you one night a week."

"Can't have her getting ideas above her station."

"I'll see you tomorrow night then," Lesley added, hugging Steven tightly. "Love you."

"I love you too."

"Now go and spoil that girlfriend of yours."

Chapter 3

Back in the eighties getting a bank account involved physically presenting yourself at your local branch and convincing the manager that you were worthy of it. So, after dropping Coco off at home, Steven and Alice made their way to Wimbledon high street to see Steven's bank manager.

Alice had previously had an account at university but it had been closed by her bank when she no longer had any money. On paper she still didn't look like a good prospect but with Steven acting as her guarantor the manager agreed to set up an account for her and issue Alice with a credit card too.

Next on the list was to find her a car. They started off looking at a VW golf, but the rear didn't really seem big enough for Coco who was quite a big labrador. Just down the road from the Volkswagen garage however was a Volvo dealer and they ended up looking at a one year old Volvo estate with low mileage. It was still more expensive than a new Golf but both of them gravitated to it.

"If I put some of the money from the advance I'm going to get for my book, do you think we could afford it?" Alice asked hopefully.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want something a bit more sporty," Steven asked.

"I guess I'm maturing," Alice replied. "Besides, it might come in handy. Your Porsche is a bit small for any more than two people and Lesley's Land Rover is only really any good around town."

"You don't need to sell it to me," Steven chuckled. "And don't worry about the cost, I'll be happier knowing that you and Coco are in something solid."

"Thank you," Alice told him, giving Steven a hug. "And Coco says thank you as well."

The salesman thought he was dealing with a husband and wife and so, when Steven wrote out the cheque but they asked for the car to be registered in Alice's, name there was a confused look. A sale was a sale though and he wasn't about to ask any questions. Besides they couldn't take delivery of the car until the cheque had cleared.

With Alice sorted, the two of them went back to the house, where Coco was waiting slightly impatiently for them. It was two o'clock in the afternoon and she hadn't had a proper walk yet. So they changed quickly then headed for the Common.

"Can I hold your hand?" Alice asked, unsure of whether it was safe to be seen to in public.

"If you're not embarrassed to be seen with me," Steven joked.

"It's just that Lesley's parents don't live too far away do they? I mean I know they're not her real parents, but..."

It was a good point and considerate of Alice to ask, Steven thought.

"I don't know if she's had the chance to tell them about you and Amelie," Steven admitted. "The last couple of months have been crazy. They know about Daniel, and Jemima, and they were ok about Suzy, so I'm sure everything's ok. You'll have to meet them soon."

"I'm not sure, I'm ready for that."

"It'll be fine."

Alice took hold of Steven's hand and he gave it a squeeze.

"Did you enjoy last night?" she asked.

"It was a bit of a treat," Steven chuckled.

"I can tell Carole likes fucking you," Alice told him.

"How was Marcel?" Steven asked.

Alice thought for a moment before replying.

"He was nice. Considerate." Then Alice chuckled, "I mean he wouldn't have been my first choice but he got me nice and sticky."

"Who would have been your first choice?" Steven asked.

"You of course."

"Apart from me?"

"Hmmm, perhaps someone a bit younger than Marcel," Alice laughed. "If Simon le Bon ever wanted a threesome I wouldn't say no."

"The guy from Duran Duran," Steven laughed. "I'll bear that in mind next time I see him down the pub."

"There are others too," Alice added suggestively.

"You like the idea of a threesome then?" Steven asked.

Alice turned to Steven and gave him a hug.

"As a girl, I don't think you can beat having two men share you. Any more and it's fine for a short while. You know, like we had at Nasser Al Kahle's party. But, for me, a threesome is just so intimate."

"I can see that," Steven told her.

"How about you?" Alice asked.

"As a guy, I'd probably say a foursome, two couples."

"I can see that too," Alice asked. "Do you think we'll meet other couples?"

"I hope so."

"I do too."

They must have walked Coco for two hours. Making it as far as Richmond Park before turning back. Coco had a whale of a time, playing with other dogs and racing around like a mad thing. When she got home she was exhausted and after a bowlful of food took herself off to her bed.

"What do you fancy doing this evening?" Steven asked.

"We could go into town for a drink, but I'd be just as happy to go down the pub," Alice offered.

"Hmmm," Steven mused.

As he was thinking the phone rang in the hallway.

"It's probably Lesley," he said getting up to answer it.

Steven walked out into the hallway and picked up the phone.

"Hello," he said.

"Oh, hi," said a slightly American, slightly European voice. "Could I speak with Lesley Carter please."

"I'm afraid she's not here. This is her husband, Steven. Can I help."

"Ah. This is slightly embarrassing," the voice came back. "It's Rob Garnier, Marcel's son."

Although they'd never met, Steven knew who Rob was. Lesley and Carole had first met Rob and his father, Marcel in Scotland, when the girls had been on a weekend break. The two men had been doing the John O'Groats to Geneva classic car rally at the time, which had stopped for the night at the same hotel. It had been the start of Carole and Marcel's relationship, but Lesley had needed to wait a bit longer to spend time with Rob. They'd missed each other in Provence over the summer but managed a weekend together in Key West while Lesley had been looking after Daniel in Miami. That had only been a couple of weeks ago.

"Hello Rob. I'm afraid Lesley's away at present," Steven offered.

"Ah. I see. Erm this is awkward but I'm here in Knightsbridge at the moment. I was supposed to be picking up the keys to an apartment but there's been some mix up and the apartment's already been let."

"So you need somewhere to stay?" Steven asked.

"Well, yes. Until I can sort out a hotel."

"No problem."

"Thank you so much. I'll be with you in half an hour."

Steven put down the phone and went back to the living room.

"It looks like there'll be three of us going to the pub. Marcel's son Rob needs a place to stay."

"The guy Lesley spent the weekend with in Key West. What's he doing here?"

"Marcel wants to set up a car dealership in London. Rob's going to run it."

"What's he like?"

"I don't know. I've never met him. Lesley likes him though," Steven admitted. Then he chuckled, "Probably looks like Simon Le Bon."

"That would be nice."

Chapter 4

Rob arrived in a taxi a while later, carrying an enormous suitcase. He was a young man, probably early to mid-twenties with dark wavy hair and tanned features. He was taller than Marcel, his father, but both had the same slender rather than muscular build. If he'd been a little taller Rob could have been a model but he was probably only 5'10", around Steven's height

Steven greeted him at the front door and showed him into the house. Coco was first to check him out in the hallway then they made their way into the lounge where Alice was waiting.

"This is Alice, she lives here too," Steven told Rob.

"Hi. Lesley's told me about you," Rob replied. "You're the author aren't you?"

Alice was flattered to be called an 'author'.

"I hope to be one day," Alice replied. Then she added suggestively, "She told us all about you too."

"Ah, right," Rob said awkwardly, not sure how much Steven knew.

"It's alright, Lesley and I don't have any secrets," Steven reassured Rob. "In fact, if anyone should be embarrassed right now, it's Alice."

"Steven, don't you dare say another word!" Alice exclaimed, going bright red at the thought of what she'd done with Marcel the previous night.

Rob was too polite to ask why and the conversation changed course.

"We'd planned to go to the pub this evening," Steven explained, "but I could book us a table at the local Italian restaurant if you like."

"That would be great. I'd be happy to pay," Rob offered. "I take it Lesley's not coming back this evening."

"No, she and our other lodger, Amelie are looking after Daniel tonight. I'm sure Lesley told you about him."

"He had a heart operation," Rob said diplomatically. "How is he?"

"He got out of hospital yesterday."

"That's good."

"Well, you probably want to unpack and get a shower before we eat," Steven suggested. "You're in the guest bedroom. I'll show you where it is."

Steven led Rob up to his room and was about to leave him to it when Rob asked,

"I'm not interrupting anything between you and Alice, am I?"

"Don't worry," Steven reassured Rob. "Though I should probably tell you that she's my girlfriend."

"Lesley and Alice," Rob chuckled. "You're a lucky guy."

"I know. Punching above my weight," Steven admitted.

When Steven came back down to the living room, Alice was waiting for him.

"He's cute," Alice said in a girly voice. "I've never had a father and son before."

Steven took Alice in his arms and gave her a kiss. He'd not seen Alice's confident side before but he wanted to encourage it.

"Well, let's see what we can do to put that right then," he said encouragingly. "I told Rob you were my girlfriend by the way."

A big smile came over Alice's face.

"Thank you. You know that's all I really want."

Chapter 5

The three of them walked to the Italian restaurant on the high street, Alice holding onto Steven's arm all the way there. It was an informal type of place with both Steven and Rob in just chinos and a shirt. Alice wore jeans that flattered her shape and a very tight blouse that showed off her cleavage. It wasn't hard to see she was trying to make a good impression.

To begin with, Rob and Alice did most of the talking, which suited Steven fine. Rob showed interest in Alice's book and she was clearly flattered that he did. It made Steven feel slightly ashamed that he hadn't read the manuscript himself. Alice meanwhile wanted to know more about Rob and he was happy to tell her about his background and plans for the new luxury car dealership in London.

"And do you have a girlfriend?" Alice asked.

"Not really," Rob replied. "Back home there's a girl I've been seeing over the summer, but it's been casual, especially with me moving to London."

"Well we'll have to introduce you to some here," Alice offered.

"I'd like that," Rob replied. "Though I'm really not looking to settle down just yet."

"I think you'd like Amelie. She's French too. Don't you think Steven?"

"Well Amelie's definitely not looking to settle down either," Steven chuckled.

"How about you?" Rob asked Steven, seeing that he'd been sidelined a bit. "Lesley said you were running the company these days."

"That's right," Steven conceded.

"It all seems a bit strange, what with Carole and Daniel being divorced, but still working for the same company."

"They created Durolitum together and its proving hard for either of them to walk away."

"I guess you see a lot of Carole at work, but have you seen my father at all?" Rob asked.