Michael had looked forward to meeting Gerard Manning, the well known academic in his special field of psychology and author of a noted treatise which complemented his own research into the psychology of pleasure. The two professors were together on a platform before an audience of their peers at a conference in Chicago.
Michael was greatly impressed with Gerard's intelligent, discerning presentation. The latter was a tall, vigorous, distinguished-looking African-American man of 62, a year older than Michael and about the same build, tall and lean.
Gerard evidently found Michael's contribution equally interesting because they quickly agreed to meet for dinner afterwards. Over poached salmon and Sauvignon Blanc they continued to discuss their respective research, in the course of which Michael discerned that, like himself, Gerard was especially interested in the psychology of sex. He also learned that Gerard too was married with grown children and enjoyed travel, fine food and wines along with music, theatre and the world of ideas generally.
"You know," said Michael while sipping his wine after the dessert had been served, "I've enjoyed this chance to get to know one another. It's really extraordinary how much we have in common."
At that moment a blonde woman of mature years entered the room wearing a low-cut blouse which exposed generous cleavage, a tight short black skirt, stockings, and patent leather platform heels which looked to be at least five inches high. One couldn't help but notice her. Gerard gave her an appreciative gaze. As she hoisted herself onto a bar stool, she exposed a glimpse of white thigh, stocking top and garters.
"How nice," he said. "You don't see that much today. Regrettably they've gone out of fashion."
"Unfortunately that's true," Michael agreed. "I'm old enough to remember the wonderful era before pantyhose."
Gerard laughed. "The golden age indeed!"
"Do you think she's a hooker?" Michael inquired, as a tall older man joined her and they began talking.
"No, I don't think so. I guess that she likes men and knows what they find irresistible. The suggestion of the slut is astoundingly attractive to men, especially of a certain age."
"It works for me," Michael chuckled.
"Me too." Gerard hesitated a moment before going on.
"This is actually a most fascinating topic, don't you think? Not only in its psychological aspect, but one which, well, how can I put it? Presents a certain attraction?"
Michael took in a quick breath. The other man had stumbled on a fetish of his - full fashioned stockings and garters, tight skirts and high heels on attractive women.
It was just one among a rich panoply of sexual fantasies, rituals and practices which no one but Michael's wife Joyce knew about. He wondered how much Gerard suspected. He didn't imagine that the other man could guess his predilection for women wearing boots, thong panties, costumes of every variety imaginable, striptease, role playing and long sex sessions featuring all these in various combinations. Michael decided to pursue the opening.
"As a matter of fact, yes," he replied. "I've had a fascination, perhaps fetish is the better word, for women in stockings and high heels since I was a teenager collecting the girlie magazines of the 60's."
"Ah! You and me both. I recall countless hours entertaining myself with the likes of Nylon Jungle and Black Silk Stockings in my youth, while my parents thought I was studying. Fortunately I had endurance and a strong right arm."
Michael laughed. "And a good hiding place for all that interesting literature!"
"Exactly. Reading which became increasingly hardcore through the decade to keep one's attention. At this stage of my life I've been fortunate to recapture much of that excitement, even to exceed it in quality if not quantity. All it takes is a good imagination and a willing wife."
For some reason, Michael was interested in hearing more. Perhaps it was the unusual opportunity to discover that someone shared the same fetishes, perhaps it was his awareness that Gerard the psychologist would be thorough and well informed, or perhaps it was the wine. He breathed deeply and took up the subject.
"Oh yes. I know just what you're talking about. Ms wife Joyce superbly indulges my desires. She always wears real stockings, especially during sex, and caters to my fantasies about hookers, princesses, buxom young girls, you name it."
"This is very interesting. Is your a second marriage by any chance?"
"Yes. How did you guess?"
"Mine is too. Second marriages are sometimes more successful in pairing temperaments, and for that matter, sexual styles. One has a sense of what one is looking for and more experience in identifying the traits that meet one's needs. Not there is much in the way of studies or reliable evidence available."
He paused, having almost lapsed into a professional analysis.
"But I digress. I can say that my second marriage has been very successful in this regard. My wonderful wife Lucille attends to my every whim. You may be surprised that I too take an avid interest in the things you have enumerated, such as playing out my fantasy of sex with hookers."
"Amazing. That's also a favorite of mine. Joyce is very good at satisfying this desire."
Gerard gave him a keen look.
"I hope you don't mind me being personal, but I have to ask...is your wife sexually submissive?" Michael was a bit taken aback, but answered readily, assuming the question was inspired by a professional interest.
"Submissive? Not if you mean into BDSM. But, yes, I would say that when we are having sex she is very compliant. Or rather she has a strong desire to please."
"Ah, that seems to fit with a pattern I've noticed. Not that I've been able to do a proper study, of course. I refer to myself and my wife as well as a few others I've known. Ladies of this type, whom I deeply admire, find delight in seeing a man pleased sexually. It doesn't mean they are otherwise submissive. Quite the contrary. They are sexually, but not psychologically, submissive. It helps if the man is well hung."
Michael was surprised by this turn of the conversation.
"Well it happens that I fit that description. How does that bear on this type of sexual activity?"
"I don't know. It's never been researched. I can say that in my experience a certain type of woman, probably rather rare, is greatly stimulated by a man of large equipment, so to say. This is certainly true of Lucille, though not of my first wife."
"Extraordinary. Joyce is like that too. And my first wife was not."
"It seems there are women, like our present wives, who lust after the male organ, if it's of impressive size."