Hey Mrs. Cat. Mrs. Diggs and I just started into the lifestyle about 2 months ago. We actually took a trip a long way away from anyone we knew to "try" our hand at the lifestyle. Like the two of you, we had talked about this for years, off and on. We ended up working out a MFM experience while in New Orleans and it has taken us two months to find a couple we really felt we "clicked" with and this weekend was our first couple experience. I must say that both were fantastic experiences so don't give up.
While I'm sure you are disappointed, I think it's easy to get excited over a fantasy but when faced with that fantasy becoming a reality, it is a lot scarier. You use words like trust, honesty, love every day but rarely do couples put themselves in unfamiliar situations where those words are actually tested. My wife and I can honestly sit back and say that we have been drawn closer together from our few experiences. Communication is key and talking about what positions you would like to try is not communication, lol. We each have a comfort circle and sometimes its hard to do something outside of that even if there is a desire.
Have you talked about starting off softer? Maybe with another couple to do some light foreplay but no actual swapping? We didn't do this but I have heard it has worked for others. I think it is harder to find a couple you click with then a single person but it does allow you time to go back and talk about the experience. What you liked, what you didn't like, what made you uncomfortable and WHY?
Continue to read these forums and get Mr. Cat involved. We had thought we worked through about everything until we actually hit the club and then we realized, wow, we had a lot more to talk about. I truly wish you the best and I hope that the two of you are able to work through it. The last thing I would say, and this was said already, just because you make a date, there is NO obligation. If you are setting it up with another swinger then they will understand that. Never feel obligated to do anything. Even if you start and one or both of you get uncomfortable, stop. If you let the person/couple who you are with know that you are new then they should understand. If not then they are not the right person/couple to be playing with. If you start and your husband stops it, make sure you are understanding and work with him to find out why he was uncomfortable. When we did our first MFM, my wife continually made eye contact with me to make sure I was okay with everything going on. Sometimes that communication doesn't have to be verbal.
Good luck!