In Nazi Germany the soldiers enjoyed humiliating girls by making them stand on buckets with a tight noose around their necks. When the bucket was kicked away the girls would gasp and convulse for several minutes while urinating and soiling themselves. The soldiers thought that was particularly gratifying to watch, as it discouraged others from hurling rocks or insults at them.”

“That’s…horrible.”

“Standing on a platform with a noose around your neck is very dangerous, David. It’s something you should never do with or without someone close by that you can trust to save your life if something goes wrong. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes.”

“This is serious stuff. Welcome to the big time!”

She pointed to the thick wooden beam in her den and said, “My plan for today is to throw this rope over that beam and tie it off. Then you’ll stand on a stool naked and I’ll place this noose around your neck and tighten it. Then I’ll pleasure you. When you’re done, I’ll do everything I can to save you. But you’re twice my weight, and this is an 8-coil noose. It will be very hard to open. What I’m saying, you’d have to be an idiot to do this. But from what I’ve read, the payoff is other-worldly: like graduating from cocaine to heroin, but better: because the noose engages every aspect of your mind and body. It will be everything you’ve experienced with the slip knot, plus five times the danger. So: Are you in or out?”

“In.”

She grinned. “God, I love you!”

“I love you too, Nicki. Swear to God!”

18.

AFTER THE HANGMAN’S noose, there was no going back to the slip knot or anything else we’d ever done together. From that day to this she gave me a choice between making love or being stimulated while hanged, and I always chose the noose.

I was hopelessly addicted.

Don’t get me wrong: sex with Nicki was as good as sex gets. But I could get sex elsewhere, if necessary. If not Alison, perhaps one of our social friends. Or, last resort, a hooker. But where on earth would I ever find a gorgeous young woman who’s willing to hang me in her home while stimulating me to orgasm, and who can be trusted to save my life?

One Friday, after several weeks of earth-shattering orgasms using variations on the noose, Nicki placed a small box on her dining room table and surprised me by saying, “Would you like to give me anal today?”

“Seriously?”

She nodded.

“I’d love to!”

“I figured you’d say that. And I want you to know that I love you enough to let you do it to me. Except…I think it’s only fair you should have at least a small idea what I’ll be experiencing. Which is why I bought this.”

She opened the box and showed me a strap-on penis and said, “It took me forever to find one this small, but it’s your exact size.” She giggled. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out the way I meant it.” She giggled again. Then said, “I’m very happy with your size, David. You’re just right, as far as I’m concerned, and if you were bigger our lovemaking would be far less pleasant. What I meant to say was most people who buy these things apparently want giant ones.