Chapter One
Rebecca finished loading the dishwasher and turned the kettle on. She put her head round the sitting-room door to inquire if Tony wanted a cup of tea, and received an affirmative grunt by way of reply. Passing the phone, a message scrawled on the notepad next to it caught her eye.
"When did Natalie phone?" she demanded, annoyed that he hadn't mentioned it before.
"What?" Tony asked without taking his eyes off the television.
"There's a message by the phone that Natalie called. You remember Natalie, my old university friend? We shared a house? Natalie Robinson?"
"Yeah, of course I remember Nat. She called yesterday, said something about it being time to catch up on old times," Tony said. "I wrote her number down for you."
"Thanks for telling me," Rebecca grumbled. She set the tea to stewing while she thought about returning Natalie's call. They had been such close friends at university, almost inseparable. There had been three of them, Natalie, Dawn and Rebecca. Everyone had called them 'The Three Witches', partly fuelled by Dawn's eccentricities. They had vowed always to remain friends but they had all gradually drifted apart over the years. The last time Rebecca had spoken to Natalie it must have been over two years ago and it was almost as long since she had talked to Dawn.
Rebecca smiled as she remembered some of the wild times they'd had together. Then a thought struck her and she shot a worried look at the calendar. Their last night together they had gone down to the beach and built a big bonfire. They had sat around it through the night, drinking and laughing. At some point Rebecca remembered Dawn making an outrageous proposal.
"Whatever happens, we have to meet up for the last summer solstice of the millennium. We can't miss celebrating that."
"You're such a pagan," Natalie had told her. "It's just another day. If you were Chinese or Jewish or something it wouldn't even be the end of the millennium."
"There's always something magical about midsummer's night," Rebecca had said. "It never gets dark, just all purple and silver all night long."
"Of course it's magic," Dawn had insisted. "Come on, let's make a pact. Whatever happens, wherever we are, we'll meet up and celebrate the last midsummer's day of the century. Come on, swear."
"Ok, I swear I'll celebrate midsummer, 1999 with you two," Natalie had said. "But I'm not cutting my thumb and doing the blood mixing thing, so don't bother asking."
"Don't worry, I know how squeamish you are about blood," Dawn had replied. "Rebecca, your turn."
"I swear I'll celebrate midsummer night with you two," Rebecca had said obligingly. "How are we going to celebrate though?"
"Come back here, build another bonfire, have an orgy," Dawn had suggested casually.
"What!" Rebecca demanded.
"An orgy, how else could we celebrate?" Dawn had asked innocently. "What's up, not chicken are you Becca?"
"No, she's probably worried her boyfriend won't let her," Natalie had said.
"Hey, Tony doesn't control what I do," Rebecca had replied indignantly. "Ok, an orgy it is. I'll see you both there."
What had seemed like a good idea at twenty-one didn't seem quite as sensible eight years later. Rebecca couldn't believe that Natalie and Dawn were actually going to go through with it. But why else would Natalie call out of the blue, a month before midsummer's night.
Unsettled, Rebecca carried the mugs of tea through to the sitting room and collapsed on the sofa next to Tony. He muttered some kind of thank you when she gave him his tea, but his gaze never wavered from the television screen. Rebecca sighed, resigned to his ways, and went back to worrying about what to say to Natalie. There was no way she could possibly take part in an orgy, but she had to come up with a good excuse. Natalie was now a high profile and very successful lawyer while Dawn worked at a natural health centre during the day and also taught at a local college. In contrast, Rebecca just worked part-time on the tills at the local Safeways. She didn't want to just refuse to go the orgy because she had succumbed to middle-class morality. She needed a good excuse, but her mind remained stubbornly blank.
She considered asking Tony for help, but he seemed totally absorbed by the flickering box in the corner, as he seemed to be every night nowadays. She didn't know when the subversive thought first crept into her mind, but once lodged it refused to leave. She could just go. Tony wouldn't object to her spending some time with her old friends. In fact, she would be surprised if he even noticed she wasn't there until he wanted something to eat. Slowly, a knot of excitement formed in her stomach. The thought of attending an orgy was so strange, so exciting, so unlike anything that normally happened in her humdrum, mediocre life.
Filled with determination, she went out into the hall, picked up the phone and dialled Natalie's number.
"Hi Natalie, it's Rebecca," she said brightly.
"Becca!" Natalie's voice came clearly down the line. "Hello stranger. How long has it been since we last spoke."
"Hello yourself," Rebecca replied, smiling just to hear her familiar accents. "It's been too long. Although I was half expecting to hear from one of you, considering the date."
"The date?" Natalie asked.
"Um, not long until the orgy date, is it," Rebecca said, hoping she sounded more confident then she felt.
Natalie was completely taken aback. She frantically searched her memory for whatever Rebecca was referring to.
"Yeah, I suppose its not that long," Natalie said cautiously. Then she remembered: sat around a bonfire and Dawn making them swear to meet up for an orgy on the last midsummer's night of the millennium. She couldn't believe Rebecca expected them to go through with it. She wouldn't have been surprised to be having this conversation with Dawn, but Rebecca had always the sensible one.
"So, you're still going to go through with it?" she asked. "I thought Tony would have refused to let his little wife go off to an orgy."
"Where do you get this strange idea Tony controls my life?" Rebecca demanded indignantly. "Now, I presume you are organising the details. Let me know what you want me to bring."
"Well the most essential thing is going to be men, don't you think," Natalie drawled. "How many do you think you'll be able to lay your hands on?"
"Um, I'm not sure right now," Rebecca replied, wondering what she had got herself into.
"Ok. I'm going to talk to Dawn, and then I'll get back to you nearer the time," Natalie said briskly. "It's been great talking to you again, Becca. See you at the orgy."
"Yeah, see you then. I'm looking forward to it," Rebecca lied.
Natalie gently replaced the telephone receiver and stared blankly at the wall. She couldn't believe the conversation she had just had. If she had known what the impulse to get back in touch with her old friends would lead to she would have firmly squashed it. She had been feeling lonely recently and she had thought a nice chat with Rebecca or Dawn would have made her feel better. There was no way she could have admitted to Rebecca that the idea of an orgy scared her silly. So her foolish pride had made her pretend that she was blas' about the whole thing. Now her only hope was that Dawn would refuse to go along and provide Natalie with a legitimate excuse to cancel. It was a weak hope at best, but there was always a chance that Dawn had become more sensible as she had grown older.
Natalie looked around her apartment. Everything was carefully chosen to co-ordinate and be as tasteful as possible. Somehow, today it seemed sterile and lifeless. Maybe something as crazy as an orgy was just what she needed to spice up her life. She had just finished a long and bitter court case between two hostile ex-partners, which had left her, tired and disillusioned. If nothing else, it would distract her from work. And all the magazines insisted that sex was a great stress-buster. She might even be able to claim the expenses back against tax.
There was no time like the present, so Natalie looked up Dawn's number and dialled it in. She had forgotten how bubbly Dawn was. Even her 'hello' sounded cheerful.
"Hi Dawn, it's Natalie."
"Nat! How lovely," Dawn cried. "I haven't heard from you for ages. How have you been? Still being the super-lawyer?"
"Doing my best," Natalie replied, smiling despite herself.
"Oh you career women. You need to kick back and relax a bit," Dawn told her. "I bet you don't even have a boyfriend."
"I refuse to answer on the grounds it might incriminate me," Natalie said.
"Haven't changed a bit," Dawn sighed. "So, to what do I owe the honour of a phone call?"
"Well, Becca and I thought we'd better start making arrangements. Wouldn't do to leave things to the last minute, would it?"
"Arrangements?" Dawn asked. "Arrangements for what?"
"For the orgy, of course," Natalie said innocently. "You hadn't forgotten had you?"
"Orgy?" Dawn echoed. While she wouldn't have been surprised if some of her friends had casually referred to an orgy, Natalie wasn't one of them. Yet Natalie was talking as if Dawn should know what she was talking about. If Rebecca was involved then it had to be something from university, the three of them hadn't really been together since then.
"I thought you two wouldn't be wanting to go through with it, now you're both all grown up and boring." Dawn said, playing for time.
"Well there's only one end of the century solstice," Natalie said cheerfully. "And we have to keep our vows, even if we didn't sign it in blood." Suddenly Dawn remembered, sitting around a campfire, making plans for the future. Some crazy idea about having an orgy. She had a horrible feeling it had been one of her crazy ideas. But who would have thought that two such conventional women as Natalie and Rebecca would have been prepared to go through with it. If they were up for it, there was no way she could chicken out. She had a reputation to live up to, after all.
"All right, excellent," Dawn said. "How are we going to organise this?"
"Well, it's probably best if I handle it, don't you think?" Natalie suggested. "You're not known for your organisational skills and Becca isn't much better. I've got a couple of windows in my schedule, so I'll check things out and let you know. Ok?"
"Sounds good to me," Dawn said. "Hope we can still get to the beach."
"First thing I'm going to check out," Natalie told her. In fact, I'll probably go down this weekend."
"Sounds great," Dawn said. "It'll be a blast just for us all to get together again. I take it you've been talking to Becca. How is she? I thought she would have a whole horde of sprogs by now."
"She seemed fine. Still with Tony the Terrible, but no mention of kids. You're right, it's been too long."
"The Three Witches meet again," Dawn said, just to hear Natalie's reaction. Natalie had always hated that title and sure enough she gave an indignant snort.
Laughing, Dawn put down the phone and wandered into her kitchen to make a mug of camomile tea. She needed something to calm her down. It was one thing to propose an orgy just to be outrageous, quite another to actually plan and attend one. She wandered around her tiny cottage, lighting incense sticks and dropping some lavender oil into a burner. As the soothing aromas seeped into her senses, she let her mind drift back to her university days. She had had such fun, and Rebecca and Natalie had been a major part of that fun. She hadn't had any friends as close as since. She just wasn't sure if an orgy was the best kind of a reunion.
Then she stopped and reconsidered. A few years ago, she would have leapt at the idea. Maybe she was getting staid in her old age. After all, she was thirty in less then six months, as her boyfriend had reminded her just last week when he left her for a eighteen old. Of course, he had only been twenty-one himself. Dawn looked at the box of his possessions that were waiting by the door for him to pick up. It seemed that Peter didn't even care enough about their relationship to bother picking up the things he'd left behind. She just wished she could cut off her emotions as easily. Somehow an orgy was looking more and more attractive. Doing something wild like that might help her centre herself, regain some of her youthful enthusiasm again. At the very least it would distract her from moping around the house brooding about her love life.
'
Chapter Two
Natalie decided to tackle the organisation of an orgy in the same way she would organise anything else. The only difference was she couldn't get her secretary to take care of the little details. She had a sudden image of Miss Munroe's face if she asked her to find a dozen or so studs for an orgy. Her face would pucker up like she had bitten into a lemon, her scraggly eyebrows would rise and her thin lips would fold in on themselves. It was almost tempting to ask her just to watch her reaction. She would shake her head, draw her self up and clutch her notepad against her chest like a protective shield before saying 'I'll do my best, Miss Benton.' in her usual martyred tones. Still, she had worked hard to earn a reputation for professionalism and she didn't want to ruin it just to wind up her secretary.
It did bring up the major problem: men. The major ingredient of an orgy was plenty of men. Dawn would probably be able to round up a few, she always seemed to know plenty of flaky people. It was hard to envision Rebecca being able to find many men in her everyday suburban existence. Although she had never actually attended an orgy, she calculated that at least twelve men would be needed for the three of them. So somehow she had to find about ten willing and able men.
She mentally ran over a list of her male acquaintances. Most of them were business contacts. The few she had dated had rarely lasted more then a couple of weeks. They had all been serious career obsessed men, not the kind to roll around on a beach having uninhibited sex. So she would have to find the necessary men somewhere else. The simplest way would be to advertise. It took her a few minutes to draft out a suitable advertisement. 'Men wanted for an orgy. Please supply photos, genuine names and addresses so background checks can be made. No time wasters please.' Natalie knew a policeman who owed her a few favours, she was sure he wouldn't mind running a few checks for her. The advertisement sounded businesslike enough and covered all the essentials. She would send it to as many personal columns as she could find. Hopefully there would be enough responses that she would be able to pick and choose.
The next most important thing was to check the date. She had a vague idea it was June 21st or 22nd. She wasn't too sure exactly how where to look. Her filofax had no mention of Midsummer's Night or the solstice. Bank Holidays, full moons and Father's Day were all clearly marked, but not the information she needed.
Exasperated, she turned to the Internet. She had quite a lot of other things to organise yet, not to mention a whole pile of work papers she still had to go through. She decided to pick someone else's brains, instead of searching the web herself. So she answered the e-mails in her Inbox, a long overdue job, and tacked her query on the end. Janey had replied before she had logged off. With her customary efficiency, Janey had found a website and copied and mailed her the salient points. According to the Farmer's Almanac 'the timing of the summer solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This occurs annually sometime between June 20 and June 22. This year (1999), it occurs exactly at 3:49 P.M., EDT, on June 21, (circa 9:49 or 10:49 a.m. British summer time)'.
Natalie wondered for a moment whether Midsummer's Night was the same as the solstice. Then she decided it didn't matter. This was their orgy, there were no hard and fast rules. With that in mind, she decided that she would arrange their celebration to start on Sunday, 20th June. It would probably be easier for most people to come on a Sunday night rather than a Monday.
Satisfied on that point. Natalie moved onto more practical matters. Even though it was the official start of summer, England's weather couldn't be depended on. The last few years at Wimbledon had shown that it could quite happily rain cats and dogs whatever the season. If they didn't want rain to stop play it would be sensible to take precautions. Tents seemed the simplest solution. Not the ones which took hour to put up while you tried to figure out which pole was Part C and why it wouldn't fit into Part D like it was supposed to. She would get one of the modern ones that were held together with springs and virtually put themselves up. If it stayed dry they could roll the sides up to let in the evening air while still having some measure of privacy.
A plentiful supply of condoms were another essential, along with somewhere to dispose of them and boxes of tissues to clean up with. Wine would be a good idea to help loosen everyone up. Natalie knew she would need some even if no one else did. Low alcoholic beer would do for the men. After all, it wouldn't do for them to drink too much and not be able to rise to the occasion. A couple of cool-boxes to store the drinks in would be needed. Toilet facilities would be needed too, as the beach was miles from civilisation. Natalie added a camping toilet to her list. Some crisps and biscuits to snack on would help to keep everyone's strength up. She chewed the top of her pen while she tried to think what else they would need. Something comfortable to lie on. Air mattresses were too bouncy with more than one person on them so some kind of foam mattresses seemed the best option. Presumably she would be able to get them from the camping equipment shop, along with everything else. She considered getting a camping stove in case anyone wanted hot drinks, but in the end decided against it. There would be the fire to keep everyone warm in between bouts. Which reminded her, firestarters and cigarette lighters to make sure they got the fire started. They would also need wood. In her experience, driftwood was never as plentiful as expected. She would get a camping kettle and they could put it on the fire to heat. She would need to take some milk, tea and coffee but there was a tiny stream that came out halfway up the cliff face they could use for water.
She looked at her list, and added a car to it. There was no way she would be able to pack all of the equipment into her MG. She thought her parents would let her have their car for the weekend. She sketched out a map to the beach and scanned it into the computer. It was a tiny cove at the end of a dirt track in the middle of nowhere. It was a tricky scramble to the bottom but it was possible. Natalie added ropes to her list. After thinking for a moment, she put down a tape recorder. Some background music might be nice. She pondered a little longer, then put away the list, satisfied she had thought of everything. She put the orgy out of her mind and turned her attention to her work.
'
Dawn was pleased to see Natalie's letter. Peter had eventually come round to collect his belongings. One thing had lead to another and he had ended up staying the weekend. Dawn had foolishly thought that they were back together. She had been devastated when he had picked up his box and prepared to walk out. They had started arguing and some hurtful things had been said on both sides. Dawn was still upset and she welcomed any distraction.
It appeared that Natalie, as usual, had everything well organised. The maps were a good idea. Dawn ran off some photocopies and put them in her bag to take to her evening art class. She was hurrying out of the photocopying room when she ran straight into two of her co-workers. Her bag skidded off one way and her papers flew off in the opposite direction while she ended up on her hands and knees. She pushed her hair back from her face and looked up to see the two worst possible people in the world looking down at her: the head of the clinic, Ben Martin, and Rob Anderson, the reflexologist. She needed to make a good impression on Ben, as he was technically her boss. Rob was one of the few people she completely disliked. He thought aromatherapy wasn't a valid treatment and he made it obvious that he thought Dawn was too irresponsible. She had several times pointed out that there was just as much scientific evidence backing up aromatherapy as there was upholding reflexology. He just listened patiently and gave her a tolerant smile, before ignoring everything she had said. They both courteously bent to help her pick her belongings up.
Dawn made a grab for the maps, but Ben got there first. He raised an eyebrow as he handed them to Dawn, and she devoutly wished she hadn't written 'This way to the orgy of the millennium' across the top in big letters. She gave him a weak smile and decided there was no point trying to explain the unexplainable. She got to her feet and accepted her bits and pieces before making as swift an exit as she could.
She handed out the maps to the boys in her art class. She got on well with them all and quite often went to the pub with them. There were a few teasing remarks but no one seemed horrified at the idea. She just hoped none of them mentioned the orgy to Peter, who some of them knew. Nothing would more surely ruin the atmosphere of an orgy as her ex-boyfriend turning up.
'
Rebecca had managed to forget all about the orgy. Nearly. Except late at night when she couldn't sleep. Then she couldn't help wondering what it would be like, if she ever dared to go through with it. Making love all night in the moonlight. Except it wouldn't be making love, it would be raw mindless sex. She was ashamed to realise that the idea excited her. Her married life seemed to have fallen into a routine of a making love a couple of times on a weekend and Bank Holidays and Christmas. She could remember the early days of their relationship when they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Before all the passion was eroded away by day-to-day stresses and strains.
It wasn't until Natalie's letter arrived that Rebecca was forced to face reality. With her customary efficiency, Natalie had sent several copies of the map, with the date and time on, 'to give to the men' the accompanying note said. The official start time was eight o'clock in the evening but Natalie said she would be there from about six getting set up. She also suggested that they should aim to invite a minimum of four men each.
Rebecca sat on the sofa staring at the words 'four men'. Where on earth was she supposed to find four men willing to attend an orgy? Ask some of Tony's work colleagues? Put a notice on the board at the supermarket? Rebecca shuddered at the idea. She stood up and dumped the maps in a desk drawer. She would just go at six, help get set up and see her old friends again, and then explain that she couldn't stay as she had another appointment she couldn't cancel. They would probably think she was chickening out, but she couldn't help that. After all, she was a respectable married woman and respectable married women didn't attend orgies. Her mind made up, she tried to get on with her usual chores and forget about the orgy.
She was handing Tony his tray of food that night when he startled her by asking about her letter from Natalie.
"I recognised her writing," he explained when he saw how surprised she was. "All spiky and aggressive, just like her. So how come she's phoning and writing to you all of a sudden?"
"I told you the other day, we're all meeting up on Midsummer's Night. I knew you weren't listening."
"Sorry love. So what have you got planned?" he asked. "I take it Dawn's going to be there too."
"Yep, all three of us together again," Rebecca said, smiling at the thought.
"The Three Witches reunited, what a thought," Tony said. "What are you going to do? A couple of human sacrifices? A wild orgy?"
"We thought we'd skip the sacrifices and just have the orgy," Rebecca told him, wondering how he'd react.
"An orgy," he repeated, giving her an enigmatic look.
"Uh-uh. Why do you have a problem with that?" she challenged.
"Hey, I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do," Tony replied quickly. "If Natalie's organising this shindig there's no need to ask if I'm invited. That woman hates my guts."
"If you'd be a bit nicer to her, you might find that you two got on better," Rebecca said automatically, tried to decide if she was disappointed or pleased by his reaction.
"I'll pass, thank you. It would be like being nicer to a scorpion, it would still sting you. I wonder if she still dresses all in black with all that black lipstick. No wonder she's such a good lawyer, the judges are all terrified of her. I know I would be."
"You're just being silly now," Rebecca said. "I'm not having this argument about Natalie again."
"Well she's the last person I want to talk about," Tony said. "Anyway, the match is starting."
Rebecca half-heartedly picked at her meal, watching Tony become absorbed in his football. She cleared away their plates and went upstairs to take a shower. If Tony didn't care about her going to an orgy, she was starting to think she might go after all. She could say that she had invited a couple of men but wasn't too sure if they were coming or not. She was sure neither Dawn nor Natalie would mind.
Towelling herself dry she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. She took a moment to examine herself. She had to admit she had let herself go a bit; far too many curves in all the wrong places, to put it nicely. From the photographs she had seen in the newspapers she knew Natalie was just as tall and slim as she had been at university. Her dark hair was cut short, giving her an added air of elegance. Dawn had always had a curvy figure, and whenever she had put on weight it had just increased her curves. Besides, her mane of bright red curly hair and her bright blue eyes always distracted attention away from any flaws. Rebecca had no such assets. Her blonde hair had faded to nondescript brown and her skin had a sallow hue from lack of sun. If she didn't want to be the frump of the party she had a lot of work to do, and only a month to do it in.
'
Chapter Three
Dawn was surprised to find that she was the first to arrive at the cliff top. For a moment she wondered if she was had taken a wrong turn, but she remembered this place well. Just as she was wondering if the others had got lost instead, she saw Rebecca's little Fiesta bumping down the track towards her. They hardly had a chance to hug each other before Natalie pulled up in a battered estate.
"Nat, is that you?" Dawn asked in mock surprise. "What happened to the little red sports car?"
"Safely in my garage, thank you," Natalie told her, giving her a hug. "It's difficult enough finding room for my briefcase in my MGF, let alone all this stuff. I see you still have the hippy mobile." Dawn gave her Mini a fond glance. She had painted it bright pink with big yellow daisies all over it.
"I could give your MG a paint job if you want?" she offered.
"I'll pass, thanks," Natalie said, laughing as she hugged Rebecca. "It's so good to see you both."
"I know," Rebecca said. "Why have we left it so long?"
"I've no idea," Dawn admitted.
"Just life, I guess," Natalie said. "It goes so fast sometimes. We're nearly thirty, you know."
"Don't remind me," Dawn said with a shudder. "Thirty sounds so grown up and responsible."
"Has your life turned out the way you thought it would?" Rebecca asked.
"Pretty much," Natalie said. "If anything, I've done better then I thought. Does that sound really arrogant?"
"Yep," Dawn told her. "It's true though, you've got a great career that you work hard at. You deserve to boast a bit."
"How about you Dawn?"
"I don't know, I never actually imagined being thirty. I thought I was going to stay twenty-five forever. What about you, Becca? I thought you would have had a load of kids by now."
"Well, things change," Rebecca said evasively. "Come on, it looks like it's going to take a good week to unpack Natalie's car."
"Yeah, Nat," Dawn chimed in. "I'm sure I can see a kitchen sink jammed in there."
"I'm just prepared," Natalie said. "But Becca's right, we should get started."
"Ok, chuck us the rope," Dawn said. "You go down to the beach and Becca and I'll lower everything down."
"Why am I going down?" Natalie asked.
"Because you're a wimp," Dawn told her. "I bet you got someone to help you load all this stuff into the car in the first place."
"Maybe," Natalie admitted. "But I work out twice a week, look." She rolled up a sleeve and flexed a muscle.
"Very nice," Rebecca said, laughing at her. "I still think it's best if you go down to the beach, that way you can organise everything."
"Alright, I'll go down."
"Before you do, I brought some champagne to celebrate," Dawn said, reaching into her car.
"You've even brought glasses," Rebecca said impressed. "I brought something too."
"Your famous chocolate cake! With the rum fudge icing?" Natalie asked. "I have dreams about that cake." Dawn popped the cork out of the champagne while Rebecca handed out slabs of cake. They perched on the bonnet of Dawn's car and looked out over the sea.
"To friendship," Dawn said.
"Friendship," the other two echoed.
They sat in companionable silence, enjoying their cake and wine. When they had all finished, they started unpacking the cars and getting everything set up. It took a couple of hours of hard work, but at last they collapsed around the newly lit fire.
"Well done, Natalie," Rebecca said. "You seem to have remembered just about everything,"
"Thanks," Natalie replied. "Can you think of anything we're missing?"
"Only one thing," Dawn said. "Something appropriate to wear. Fortunately, I brought these." She produced a package with a flourish and tossed a bundle of fabric at each of them. They shook them out to find that they each had a long robe of thin white muslin. Down the edges, Dawn had sewn a strip of intricately embroidered material. Rebecca had intertwined leaves studded with flowers. Natalie's was a twisting stream with occasional waterfalls spilling into small pools. Dawn had created a river of flames for herself. They tried them on and found that the material drifted and clung around them, providing a teasing glimpse of their bodies.
"I can't believe you remembered all that earth, fire, water nonsense," Rebecca said, opening a new bottle of wine. "You'll be making us do that ritual you made up again."
"What ritual?" Natalie queried, suspiciously re-examining her robe.
"Don't you remember?" Rebecca asked. "Well, I suppose you were pretty much out of it that night. Last Halloween party at Uni', we all decided that if people were going to keep calling us 'The Three Witches' we might as well live up to it. We got all dressed up in weird costumes and we danced round a fire and did this ritual that Dawn invented."
"Oh no," Natalie groaned. "I do have a faint memory of this. We were the talk of the campus for weeks. How daft were we back then?"
"Hey, it's not that long ago," Dawn protested. "Come on, let's do it again. It'll get you in the right mood."
"Come off it, Dawn, no way," Natalie said. Rebecca and Dawn scrambled to their feet and pulled Natalie up.
"Come on, don't be so boring," Dawn insisted. She began to dance around the fire, twirling and leaping. Giggling, Rebecca followed her and Natalie reluctantly joined in. When they were all out of breath, they came to a halt and formed a circle around the fire, their arms raised and their hands palm to palm with their neighbour.
"Earth, Water, Fire. Earth, Water, Fire. The elements of life," they chanted.
"I am Fire," Dawn declared. "Bringer of heat in the cold, of light in the dark. Partake of my warmth." Dawn tried to hide her shiver at her words. She wished she had someone to hold her and warm her in the cold dark nights.
"I am Earth," Rebecca declared. "Provider of shelter in the storms, of sustenance when needed. Partake of my fruitfulness." Rebecca couldn't help sighing a little. If only she was fruitful as women were supposed to be, as she wished to be.
"I am Water, I guess," Natalie said, feeling ridiculous. "Um, source of wet stuff for cleaning the dirty, of liquid when you're thirsty. Partake of my, er, water." Natalie wasn't sure about being water, but she had accused of being a block of ice by various men several times.
"Oh Nat, you're really getting into the spirit of this, not," Dawn said, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry, but I feel like a fool. Just how drunk was I at that Halloween party?"
"Very," Rebecca told her. "You'd just broke up with Raymond."
"Just caught him in bed with two other girls, you mean," Natalie said. "Funny to look back and remember how devastated I was. I thought he was the love of my life, yet I can hardly remember what he looked like. Anyway, whatever else, I've got this lovely robe. Thanks Dawn."
"Yeah, thanks Dawn," Rebecca echoed. "They're beautiful."
"My pleasure," Dawn said. "Hey look, a couple of cars have arrived. Now I wonder if they'll use that rope we left for them or be all macho and climb down without it's help."
"I didn't think anyone would really turn up," Rebecca said, tension making her voice shrill. "How are we going to do this? Just jump them as soon as they get near or what?"
"Calm down, Becca," Natalie said soothingly. "This is a civilised orgy and we're in charge. We're going to give them drinks and chat for a bit. Find a couple who take your fancy and lead them to your tent. When you've finished with them, come back and get some new ones. Ok?"
"I suppose so," Rebecca replied. "After all, it's too late to run away now."
"Just relax, Becca," Dawn told her. "This is supposed to be fun. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
The first arrivals were soon joined by several more. Dawn recognised a few that she had invited, but she was more interested in the ones she didn't already know. She didn't know where Natalie and Rebecca had found them but they were all very attractive. As she talked and laughed she could feel her body beginning to heat. Knowing why everyone was there seemed to make even the most banal conversation exciting. The wine she had drunk was spreading a pleasant warm tingle through her. Natalie and Rebecca were chatting politely; Natalie looking poised and confident while Rebecca nervously gulped her wine. Impatient to get down to business, Dawn tucked her hands through the arms of a couple of men.
"Would you like to come with me?" she asked, lowering her voice seductively. She led them towards the tent that she had been assigned. She saw another man watching her and gave him a wink and an inviting smile. He stood up and followed them.
Dawn dropped her robe and fell to her knees on the mattress, fumbling with two zips at once. Eager hands replaced hers and within moments she had three naked men in front of her. She lay back as a pair of hands closed around her breasts and a mouth nuzzled against her nipples. A hand trailed across her face and tangled in her hair, angling her head so it's owner could plunder her mouth. She was vaguely wondering where the remaining man was when fingers began stroking around her ankles. A warm tingling sensation was beginning in the pit of her stomach and she sighed gratefully.
The man kissing her left her mouth and began exploring her neck and ears, finding the sensitive spots that made her shiver. The hands on her legs were working their way higher and higher, leaving a trail of sensitised skin that felt as if it was on fire. She gave a small moan of protest as her breasts were abandoned as the man headed downwards. He found her clitoris and began to stroke it. Dawn squirmed at his touch, spreading her legs to make it easier for him to reach.
The movements of her lovers were becoming faster, less studied. Fingertips were gently brushing across the tip of her clitoris and stroked along her swelling lips. Every touch was generating more heat inside her, melting her insides. The hands on her legs had reached the top of her thighs where they pushed her legs even further apart, making room for his head. Dawn gasped with surprise as his tongue darted out, plunging inside her. It felt like a small flame, lapping up the wetness there. The man's body overshadowed her face as he kissed down from her neck to her breasts. Dawn reached up and wrapped her hands around his penis, feeling the warmth of it throbbing against her palm.
The men between her thighs were working together. As one swirled his tongue around her entrance the other plunged his fingers in and out, his thumb rubbing against her clitoris. Dawn tilted her head and licked at the balls swinging above her, stroking her hand up and down his penis. He was caressing her breasts expertly, flicking her nipples with his tongue. When Dawn began sucking his balls into her mouth, he responded by sucking her nipples. The fire inside her was now a raging furnace, rapidly spreading through her body. The men were caressing her faster and rougher and she was melting under them, her nerve endings fusing as she came.
Her orgasm only seemed to make her lovers work harder. The mouth moved to her clitoris, probing along her folds as two fingers slid inside her. Dawn tightened her grip on the penis, stroking harder as she squeezed his balls. He gave a warning grunt, then came, spurting over her breasts. His orgasm seemed to be some kind of signal to the other two. They rolled her over onto her hands and knees and one entered her from behind as the other knelt in front of her. Willingly, Dawn lowered her mouth onto his penis, sucking and licking it. The man thrusting into her from behind pushed her regularly forward onto the penis in her mouth. Dawn hardly had to make any effort at all. Groping hands located her breasts, caressing and stroking them. The fires were beginning again, and when a finger began teasing her clitoris she climaxed again. The man inside came shortly afterwards, allowing Dawn to sit back and use her hands as well as her mouth on the penis in her mouth.
Dawn relaxed for a few moments until the tremors died out of her legs, and then she went outside and collected some more men. Her rests between bouts became longer and longer. She lost count of the number of orgasms she had experienced or given. Eventually she just remained sprawled on her stomach on the floor when the latest collection of men had left. Every inch of her body ached with pleasurable exhaustion. She pulled a blanket over her and closed her eyes.
She wasn't sure how long she had been dozing before she felt a pair of warm hands slide over her shoulders. They began to gently massage her aching muscles. Dawn gave an appreciative murmur and relaxed under the soothing touch. The masseur worked his way down her back, over her bottom and down the back of her legs. It felt so wonderful Dawn hardly noticed when he flopped her over onto her back and began moving back up her body. She lay supine and compliant under his ministrations. Gradually she became aware that the massage was becoming less soothing and more arousing. Tingles were beginning along the surface of her skin and she found that when he reached her breasts she was holding her breath, waiting for his touch.
He must have felt the change in her body, as he began tantalising her. His fingers drifted all over her breasts but somehow managed to miss her aching nipples. Occasionally he blew across them, making the erect nubs even harder. Dawn gave a whimper and reached blindly for his head, pulling his mouth to where she wanted it. He didn't disappoint her, but licked and sucked and nibbled until she was gasping and moaning on the verge of an orgasm. His nimble fingers found their way between her legs where they caressed and coaxed her sensitive skin until she surrendered to an explosive climax. While she was still shuddering he entered her, stoking her internal fires until she came again.
Instead of leaving when he had finished, he rolled onto his back and pulled her close to his side, pulling the blankets over both of them. Curiosity won over exhaustion, and Dawn lifted her head and forced her eyes open to take a look at her considerate lover.
"Rob!" she exclaimed, sitting bolt upright in shock. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I thought that was obvious," he said with a lazy smile. "Come back here, I was enjoying cuddling you. You're very sweet when you're half asleep."
"You know what I mean," Dawn said indignantly, trying to gather the blankets around her naked body. "How did you know I was here."
"You mean you didn't drop those leaflets in front of me as an invitation," he teased.
"No I didn't," she spluttered. "How on earth could you think that?"
"Well, I suppose I knew it was wishful thinking," he admitted. "I had to come on the off chance it wasn't though."
"Why?" she asked in bewilderment.
"Seemed like a good opportunity to get to know you better," he said, running his eyes up and down her body. She pulled the blankets tighter around her, trying to ignore how sexy he looked lying there half-naked with his hair all rumpled.
"But you don't like me," she pointed out. "Were you just after a quick fuck?"
"No," he protested indignantly. "If that was what I wanted, I wouldn't have sat on a cold beach, waiting for a load of men to finish with my woman so I could have a chance."
"Your woman?" she echoed. "I'm not your woman."
"I know," he sighed, looking mournful. "I thought this was a good opportunity to try and get you to consider the post though."
Dawn gaped at him. "You despise me."
"No," he corrected her, "I think you're adorable. You, on the other hand, are always too busy running around after all those young boys to even notice I exists."
"Oh," was all Dawn could find to say. He reached out and firmly pulled her back down besides him.
"Now then, how about you let me take you out for dinner next Saturday, and we can see if we get on as well with our clothes on as we do without them. Hmm?"
"Ok," Dawn heard herself say. "Aren't you a bit old for me though?" Dawn asked, not protesting when he began to stroke her hair.
"I'm only 36," he informed her. "Perfect age for you." Dawn closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep again. She felt warm and cared for, with her head resting on his chest and his arm around her shoulder. She would never have normally considered getting involved with Rob, but maybe he was right. It was about time she stopped dating boys and tried a man for a change.
'
Chapter Four
Rebecca's stomach wouldn't stop churning. While she had fantasised about an orgy, now she was faced with the reality she was terrified. She had secretly thought that Natalie and Rebecca would have found it as difficult as she had to invite men. But somehow they had managed it, and now it seemed like there were hundreds of them here, even though there could only be about twenty. They all seemed very pleasant, but they were here for one reason only. Their eyes kept running over her, assessing her body beneath her flimsy robe.
She was grateful for all the hard work she had put in over the past month. She had gone to the gym three times a week and forced herself to go for a run every morning and to do a hundred sit-ups every night before she went to bed. Tony had made no comment, just giving an enigmatic smile as he obligingly held her ankles. Several sun-bed sessions had given her a golden tan, and a trip to the hairdressers had resulted in blonde streaks and a new hairstyle. She tried to smile and act confidently, but her hands were shaking as she drained her plastic cup of wine. She saw Dawn heading off into her tent, escorted by three men. Panic gripped her. If Natalie disappeared too, she would be left all alone with all these men. Desperately she grabbed the hands of the two men she was talking to and pulled them towards her assigned tent.
She fumbled with the buttons on one man's shirt, avoiding looking him directly in the eyes. He kicked off his trousers and pushed the robe off her shoulders. She tried not to flinch when he grabbed her breasts. He sank to the floor, pulling her down with him. The other man was already naked and he reached for her too. Her robe had completely disappeared and she felt exposed and vulnerable. The certainty that she couldn't do this swept through her. It felt wrong for so many reasons.
She just didn't know how she was going to get out of the situation she had got herself into. These two men were expecting sex, and outside there were many more expecting the same. Desperation made her made her brain work at double speed. She managed to manoeuvre both men onto their backs, and wrapped her hands around the two hard penises jutting up at her. She stroked them both vigorously, bobbing her head to enclose each one in turn in her mouth. She worked as hard as she could, doing everything she could to make them come. One soon obliged her, but the other man kept trying to touch her. She licked and sucked him, squeezing his balls and caressing him every way she could think up. Eventually he came, splashing over her face.
She managed to disguise her distaste and to evade his still groping hands. Rebecca grabbed her robe and a handful of the tissue Natalie had thoughtfully provided. She swiftly left the tent and ducked round behind it before anyone noticed her. She wrapped her robe tightly around her body and walked away from the tents and the firelight. She felt so pathetic. She couldn't even enjoy herself at an orgy. She seemed to make a mess of everything recently. Her job wasn't the most exciting in the world and her husband seemed to have lost all interest in her. Tears of self-pity inched down her face as she trudged through the sand.
Suddenly a dark shape detached itself from the black shadow of the cliff. Rebecca gave a small scream before she recognised Tony.
"What happened?" he demanded. "Did someone hurt you? Tell me who and I'll kill them."
"What?" she asked, trying to gather her startled thoughts. "What do you mean? What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"
"I came to keep a eye on you of course," Tony said. "Did you really think I'd let you go off to an orgy with a load of strange men on your own? I remember this beach from Uni' and of course you left all those useful maps in case I'd forgotten the way."
"You mean you were just going to stand here all night just in case I needed you?" Rebecca asked softly.
"Well, yes," he admitted, slightly embarrassed. "Seems like it's good job I came. Who's upset you?"
"No one."
"Come on, love," he said. "I can see you've been crying. You hardly ever cry."
"It was nothing to do with that lot," Rebecca told him. "I just found I couldn't do it. I'm such a failure."
Tony shook her gently. "Don't be silly. Why on earth would you think you're a failure?"
"Oh Tony, look at me," Rebecca cried. "I can't do anything a woman is supposed to. I can't enjoy an orgy. I can't make my husband happy. I can't, I can't, can't even have children. What kind of woman can't even ovulate?"
"Oh darling," Tony sighed, holding her close as she sobbed. "Why haven't you talked to me about this?"
"Because I knew how upset you were," Rebecca said, clinging to him. "You know you've always wanted a big family. After the doctor told us you became so distant."
"I didn't know what to do or say," he admitted. "I was upset, but so were you. Then you became so depressed and I was so worried about you, but everything I said seemed to be wrong. I wasn't exactly keen on this orgy idea of Natalie's, but it was the first time I'd seen you excited about anything in over a year."
"I couldn't believe you didn't try to stop me," Rebecca said. "It felt like you didn't care what I did at all."
"Oh, I cared," Tony said vehemently. "But if this is what it took to get you back to yourself again, I thought it was worth swallowing my jealousy for once."
"Oh Tony, I've been so unfair to you," Rebecca wailed. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"Hey, don't start crying again," he protested. "We can sort this out, as long as we're together, nothing else matters."
"I don't deserve you," Rebecca sniffed.
"I know, you deserve someone much better and richer," Tony joked. "Hey, I got a smile. I know it's not the way we planned to have kids, but we can try all those artificial conception methods the doctor mentioned and there's always adoption."
"Would you mind going to the infertility clinic with me?"
"Of course not. We could look into fostering, as well," he suggested. "Hey you're shivering, lets get you somewhere a bit warmer."
"We might as well use my tent," Rebecca said. "If we drop the sides down, I'm sure no one will disturb us. Come on."
They settled down in the dimness of the tent, cuddled together under the blankets. Tony smoothed Rebecca's hair back from her face and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Have I mentioned how beautiful you're looking tonight?" he murmured. She turned her head and pressed a kiss on the palm of his hand. He gently caressed her cheek and she reached out and pulled him closer. His hard body pressed against her soft contours, and she clung closer. She slipped her hand inside his shirt as their lips met. They paused for a moment, savouring the kiss, then began removing each other's clothes with an urgency that they hadn't displayed in months. He kissed every inch of skin he uncovered, branding her with his mouth. Shivers began in her limbs as she pulled him on top of her.
He gazed into her eyes as he slid inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and arched her back, feeling him settle deep inside her. The tremors were spreading throughout her whole body, epicentred on the sensations being created by his hardness thrusting regularly into her. The tension rapidly built inside her, twisting her body under him. Then Tony stiffened and came, his seed spreading deep inside and triggering an orgasm that shook her uncontrollably. Tired by their exertions, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
'
Natalie was so busy making everyone welcome, she didn't notice Rebecca and Dawn disappear. When she looked up and realised they had gone, she was faintly surprised that they had got started so soon. Several men were looking at her expectantly, so she gave them a slow smile and beckoned them with her finger. She sauntered over to her tent, casually shrugging off her robe as she entered. She dropped to the mattress and propped herself up on an elbow to watch the men strip off their clothes.
Within moments they had joined her. She lay back as their hands reached out, caressing her body. She ran her hands appreciatively over muscled arms and chests covered with varying thicknesses of hair. There were so many hands touching her, stroking her, fondling her that she felt as if she was floating in a sea of sensations. One of the men obviously worked out regularly, he had one of the best bodies Natalie had ever seen. She ran her hands over his chest, scratching her nails gently across his skin. She leant over him, licking at his nipples. She crawled over him, running her hands over his taut stomach and closing them around his already erect penis.
Pleasure washed through her as she lowered herself onto him. She sat up, leaning back against the man behind her. His hands cupped her breasts as he nibbled on her neck. She trailed her hands over the men knelt besides her, gripping a penis in each hand as she raised and lowered herself. Another man stood in front of her and pulled her head down towards his throbbing erection. She gave it a long lick before sliding it into her warm wet mouth and sucking. She was melting inside, producing a flood of moisture that trickled down between her thighs.
The man behind was helping her ride the man under her. The man in front must have been extremely turned on by the scene in front of him, as he came quickly. Natalie swallowed and licked it all up, and then twisted to lick across the head of each of the penises gripped in her hands. The man under her gave a grunt, then grabbed her hips and held her still as he thrust once, twice into her, then collapsed with a sigh as his climax finished.
Natalie crawled off him and onto one of the ones she had been stroking. She gave a moan as she impaled herself on him. The man behind had moved with her and he stroked his hands across the curves of her bottom. She leant forward offering her breasts to the man she was riding and he obliged by attacking her nipples with his mouth. A wave of pleasure swept through her as she came. The feelings had hardly ebbed, before another tidal wave of pleasure took her. She was lost in a sea of ecstasy, not really paying attention to anything apart from the delightful sensations she was drowning in.
She was on the edge of another orgasm when a finger was unexpectedly inserted inside her. After the first shock, she was surprised to find that it added to her pleasure. So when she felt his penis replace his finger and push gradually inside her she didn't try to resist. She wasn't sure what to do, but the two men inside her took control. They grasped her body and moved her to suit themselves. Sometimes they thrust together, other times alternately. It took a few moments for Natalie to adjust to the sensation of being so filled, but gradually her muscles relaxed and she began enjoying herself again. The remaining man knelt in front of her and she managed to slide him into her mouth.
As one man came, he was speedily replaced by a fresh one. She was moved around to accommodate the desire of the men currently pleasuring her. As the night went on, she found that her orgasmic capacity seemed unlimited. She went from her hands and knees, to laying on her back, and back to straddling a man. She had men come in every available part of her body.
Eventually the stream of men dwindled, then dried up entirely. Natalie staggered out of the tent into the light of the rising sun on unsteady legs. Dried sperm caked her skin and hair. She made her way to where the stream ran down the cliff face. She stood under it, enjoying the shock of the cold water. She couldn't believe the night she had just had. Her body ached in places it never had before and she felt satiated from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. It was if she had made up for the drought of sex over the last few years in one night. She hadn't had to make polite conversation or worry what effect have sex with this particular man would have on her reputation and future working relationship with him.
The stream wasn't really making much headway in cleaning her, so she waded into the sea. She felt really good, more relaxed then she had for a long time. She decided then and there that she was going to date more. To stop refusing offers of dinner because of her work commitments or because the guy didn't suit her image. There was the trainer from her gym who was always asking her out and the reporter who kept chatting her up. She always turned them down, but now she wondered why. The mention of Raymond earlier had started her thinking. She hadn't thought about him for years, but she wondered now if finding him cheating on her had affected her more then she realised. She had developed the habit of keeping her distance emotionally, never getting too involved so that she would never get hurt again. Looking back now she recognised she had deprived herself of so much. Well, that was going to change. She would spend no more time then necessary on her work, no more long hours of overtime, but instead would make time to enjoy herself.
She made her way back to the fire, throwing some fresh wood on it. Half dressed men were sprawled everywhere, some of them snoring. Rebecca emerged from her tent and picked her way over the recumbent bodies in her path. She dug around in a cool box and produced a packet of bacon, a box of eggs and a frying pan. Natalie grabbed a spare blanket and rubbed herself dry. She went into her tent to get her robe, and when she came back to the fire she found Dawn busy making coffee.
"Well you look pretty pleased with yourself for someone who's been at it all night," Dawn said, handing her a cup.
"You two look pretty satisfied too. Did you have a good time?"
They both gave secret smiles but didn't reply. Dawn gave a lazy stretch, then linked her hands with Natalie's and Rebecca's, raising them in the air.
"So when shall we three meet again?" she intoned solemnly.
Dawn thought about Rob sleeping peacefully in her tent. He seemed to want to have a real adult relationship with her. She had never had one of them before and she was going to need friends to talk about it with.
Natalie considered her new resolve to start dating and having fun. It would be nice to have friends to talk to and tell about her experiences.
Rebecca thought about the long talk she had had with Tony. It wasn't going to be easy going through all the adoption and infertility procedures. She was going to need friends to talk with, to help her keep things in perspective.
"Soon!" they all said together.
