So anyway, I found one your size, and if you want to give me anal, it’s only fair that I do it to you first. Is it worth it to you to take it in order to give it?”

I took a long time before answering yes. And when I did she wasn’t overly pleased, but said, “Okay, then. I’ve never done this before, but I’ve been reading about it and the key appears to be adequate lubrication. I also recommend we focus on the method that affords the least pain for most people.”

“I agree. Which method is that?”

“You bend over a table or some other object that’s approximately waist-high. And the other person…well, you know.”

We looked at each other a moment. Then I nodded, assumed the position, and let her lube me up. When she strapped on the penis I said, “Be gentle.”

“Always, darling.”

Was she? I couldn’t tell. It was agony. And then it occurred to me we hadn’t set ground rules regarding time. With each thrust I tried not to scream, but it dawned on me she’s hammering me with a dildo, which means she’s never going to “finish.” After about six minutes of soul-sapping pain I said, “I don’t want to break any rules.”

“I appreciate that,” she said, and kept thrusting. Then added, “Did you have a question?”

“Yes.”

“Please ask it, then.”

“How long were you intending to do this?”

“I feel it should be the same amount of time you’re going to do it to me.”

“How long has it been so far?”

“Twenty-eight seconds.”

“What? That can’t be right.”

“I set a timer when we started. Want to see?”

“Yes. After.”

“Have you had enough yet?”

While I considered her question she continued thrusting the dildo into me, harder than before, and I realized she was trying to get me to quit. That way she wouldn’t have to do it as long. But since this might be my only shot, I wanted to maximize my upcoming experience with her. So I said, “Let’s stop at the one-thirty mark.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

When it was over, she showed me the timer and said, “How bad was it?”

“Brutal. I swear, when you told me twenty-eight seconds, I thought you’d been at it more than six minutes!”

“Great,” she said, with a total lack of enthusiasm. “But fair is fair, and now it’s your turn.”

She pulled down her pants and panties and assumed the position, but just as I was about to go for it I said, “Nicki, it was a lot more painful than I expected. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m going to give you a pass.”

She stood up and turned to face me. “That’s not how it works, David. If you refuse to do this, it will set our relationship back. And neither of us wants that. Come here.”

I moved closer, and she hugged me and said, “I think it’s really sweet of you to say, but—and I’m being serious now—don’t ever do that again. I wouldn’t have offered myself if I wasn’t 100% willing to do it. I just wanted to make it less pleasurable for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I always knew you had a fantasy about giving me anal, and you proved it today by agreeing to take it up the ass in order to do it to me. But until today I’ve resisted because anal intercourse is not a loving gesture. It might give you pleasure, but it can only give me pain.