Young hearts get broken
– The Eurythmics
just like China cups
look at all the foolishness
your love has gone and done
Sydney – November 1997
Camilla hadn’t seen Alison in what felt like an eternity, though it had only been a few weeks since Alison had left for her army camp and then Bathurst. The absence had given Camilla ample time to reflect, not on their last conversation—charged as it had been with the weight of their unconventional plan—but on the broader canvas of her future. Graduation loomed, a single exam standing between her and the end of her university life. The flat she shared with Alison, a cramped but cosy space filled with mismatched furniture and the faint smell of instant coffee, had been her home for the past two years. But now, with her degree nearly in hand, it felt temporary, like a chapter closing. She imagined new cities, new jobs, perhaps a sleek apartment of her own, far from the chipped mugs and creaky floorboards of their current place. She’d paid the rent through the next few weeks, but her mind was already drifting to her parents’ home, where she’d spend Christmas before deciding her next move.
The flat had felt quieter without Alison’s boundless energy. Camilla had grown used to her friend’s comings and goings, the sound of her humming as she cooked or the way she’d burst through the door with stories from her latest adventure. Their friendship had deepened over the past few months, evolving from casual flatmate banter to something more intimate, more confiding. It was strange to think that just a year ago, they’d been little more than polite acquaintances, sharing a space but not their lives. Now, with Alison’s return imminent, Camilla felt a mix of anticipation and unease. There was the matter of their plan, the one they’d discussed in hushed tones late at night, a plan that felt both thrilling and reckless. It hung over her like a storm cloud, equal parts exciting and daunting.
It was late November when Alison finally returned, bursting into the flat with a grin that lit up the dim living room. Her army camp had kept her away for nearly three weeks, followed by a stint at her mother’s house, and now she was back, practically vibrating with energy. Camilla, sprawled on the couch with a textbook she hadn’t opened in hours, looked up and immediately sensed something was different. Alison’s usual cheerfulness had an extra edge, a radiance that seemed to spill over into the room. Camilla had seen her like this once before, when Alison had first met Christian, her boyfriend, and had floated around the flat in a haze of new love. But this was different—less private, more contagious.
“What is going on?” Camilla asked, setting her book aside. She couldn’t help but smile at Alison’s exuberance, though curiosity tugged at her. “You’re practically glowing.”
Alison dropped her bag by the door and spun around, her blonde hair bouncing as she clapped her hands together. “So much. I have amazing news! When I was at Mum’s, Christian came to visit, and he proposed to me!”
The words hit Camilla like a wave, warm and overwhelming. She stood, crossing the room to pull Alison into a hug. “Oh my God, Alison, that’s incredible! Tell me everything!”
Alison laughed, her eyes sparkling as she launched into the story. She described how Christian had visited her at her mother’s house, on the edge of a small town. Christian had fumbled with his words, hinting at a question he wasn’t quite ready to ask. “He almost proposed right there,” Alison said, her voice bubbling with excitement, “but he stopped at the last second. Said he wanted to wait a bit longer. But I told him I’d say yes when he did.”
Camilla listened, her heart swelling for her friend. Alison and Christian were one of those couples who just fit—their laughter, the way they seemed to orbit each other effortlessly. Camilla had seen it from the moment Alison brought him to the flat, his confidence balancing her boundless energy.
“You two are perfect together,” Camilla said, meaning it. “I’m so happy for you.”
Amid Alison’s news, Camilla’s thoughts flickered to their earlier plan, the one they’d hatched months ago in a late-night conversation fuelled by wine and curiosity. They’d talked about a night with Christian, a shared experience that had started as a half-joking suggestion but had grown into something more serious, more real. With Alison’s engagement and Camilla’s impending departure from the flat, she assumed the window for their plan had closed. The idea of a threesome, once a thrilling possibility, now felt like a fleeting fantasy, overshadowed by the reality of their diverging paths.
But Alison, as if reading her mind, shook her head vigorously. “Oh no,” she exclaimed, her voice firm. “That’s even more reason to do it!”
Camilla blinked, surprised. “Really? You still want to?”
“Absolutely,” Alison said, her tone resolute. She paced the small living room, her boots clicking against the worn wooden floor. “Think about it. If Christian’s the one—and he is—then this is my last chance to… explore. I don’t want another man, but a woman? With him? That’s different. And it’s you, Camilla. I trust you.”
Alison’s logic was impeccable, as always. She had a way of breaking things down into neat, rational pieces, even when the subject was as wild as this. She explained that with her impending engagement, the window for any “extras” was closing fast. She’d only ever considered this with Camilla, someone she’d grown close to, someone who understood her in a way few others did. They’d been circling the idea for months, dissecting it in late-night talks, weighing the risks and rewards. If they were still talking about it, Alison argued, then they were ready.
Camilla couldn’t fault her reasoning, though a part of her still wrestled with the emotional implications. What would it mean for their friendship? For her own sense of self? She wasn’t worried about Alison’s relationship with Christian—they seemed unshakable—but she wondered how she’d feel afterward, stepping into such uncharted territory. Still, Alison’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Camilla felt a spark of excitement reignite. She’d spent so long thinking about this, imagining it, that backing out now would leave her with a nagging sense of regret. It wasn’t every day you got invited to share such an intimate moment with someone else’s partner.
“I’m glad we’re doing this,” Camilla said, trying to match Alison’s energy, though her voice betrayed a hint of nerves. “And I’m glad we’ve got closer these past few months. I just wish we’d done it sooner, you know? Become proper friends earlier.”
Alison’s smile softened, and she sat down next to Camilla on the couch, tucking one leg under her. “You don’t know the half of it,” she said, her tone shifting to something more confiding. “I’ve been dying to tell you more, but some things… they’re so personal, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”
Camilla tilted her head, intrigued. “Try me.”
Alison hesitated, then leaned in, her voice lowering as if the walls might overhear. She started with the lighter stuff—blindfolds, massages, love letters exchanged with Christian in a flurry of romance. But then she ventured into wilder territory, stories of late-night experiments and bold explorations that made Camilla’s eyes widen. Alison described a moment on her walk to the bus stop, fidgeting with nervous energy, her mind racing with thoughts of Christian and the boundaries they’d pushed together. Camilla listened, a mix of surprise and amusement flickering across her face. She’d always known Alison had an adventurous streak, but this was a side of her she hadn’t fully grasped.
“I had a feeling you were up to something,” Camilla said, laughing softly. “You’ve been so… alive lately. Happier, more outgoing. It’s like you’re a different person.”
Alison grinned, her cheeks flushing. “Christian’s unlocked something in me. Every day, I find a new level to reach for. And this—” she gestured between them—“this is part of it. I never thought I’d want a threesome, but after six months with him, it feels like… why not? Why not try everything?”
Camilla nodded, though her own feelings were more complicated. Truth be told, the idea of a threesome didn’t ignite her the way it did Alison. She wasn’t drawn to women, not even a little, and the thought of being intimate with Alison felt more like a means to an end than a genuine desire. What excited her—almost embarrassingly so—was Christian. Months of hearing Alison’s stories, catching glimpses of him in the flat, had built him up in her mind. He was charming, confident, a man who knew exactly what he wanted. Camilla’s own love life had been a desert lately, and the idea of being with him, even in this unconventional way, had taken root in her thoughts. Agreeing to the threesome was her ticket to that experience, even if it meant navigating the awkwardness of sharing the moment with Alison.
She kept those thoughts to herself, though, offering Alison a smile instead. “I’m in,” she said, her voice steadier now. “Let’s do this.”
Alison clapped her hands, her excitement bubbling over again. “It’s going to be amazing. I can feel it.”
As they sat there, planning the details, Camilla felt a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension. The flat, with its peeling wallpaper and cluttered shelves, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would come next. For Alison, this was a last adventure before settling into a life with Christian. For Camilla, it was a leap into the unknown, a chance to seize something she’d been craving, even if it came with complications. Whatever happened, she knew one thing for certain: this moment would leave a mark on her forever.
After months of jealously wondering what had been going on in the next bedroom and finding out that it was better than she could have imagined, Camilla’s need for Christian to get all up in her business was now at fever pitch. Agreeing to a threesome was just the key to unlocking that door. If Camilla had to strip off and embarrass herself in front of Alison to get what she wanted, then so be it. She was finally going to have him.
Other Books of Interest this Week
Richard Martin thought his ordeal was over, but it has only just begun…
What does desire feel like when you can’t see who is touching you? Nate and Leah have spent six years pretending friendship is enough. Tessa knows Leah well enough to see through the pretense—and Nate barely knows Tessa at all. Then a storm leaves the three of them together in complete darkness. With no faces to read and nowhere to hide, every voice sounds closer, every confession lands harder, and every touch becomes a question.
Everyone remembers their first time. Grant’s was a night he would never forget. When Grant and his girlfriend Kelly accept an invitation to a private swingers’ party, neither knows quite what to expect. Grant is nervous. Kelly is excited. And their hosts have planned an evening designed to help everyone become considerably better acquainted. What begins with drinks, flirtation and a few provocative party games soon becomes an unforgettable night of sexual discovery.
Experience has its advantages. And some temptations are impossible to resist. There’s something irresistible about a man who knows exactly what he wants. Older, confident, and carrying the kind of experience that turns an innocent glance into something more, these men have a way of getting under a younger woman’s skin.
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