Talking to Strangers: New York, NY

Nerve asks deeply personal questions to people we just met.

Amelia, 22

What do you do?
I'm a freelance prop master. In any play, I provide whatever the actor sits on, stands on, touches or refers to that is a physical object.

I hear the theater world can be pretty incestuous. True or false?
In a sense, I think, it's because it's so small. The current man I'm seeing went to school with both of my ex-boyfriends, and worked in the same summer-stock program as my second ex-boyfriend. My second ex-boyfriend and I both moved to, and now work in, the same town.

What kind of challenges do you face when everyone knows who you're sleeping with?
Fortunately, very few. A., because I only sleep with people I'm very committed to and B., because those people tend to have very good reputations.

Why do you only sleep with people you're committed to?
Because I view it as giving the whole of yourself to somebody else. And I won't trust somebody with that unless they've proven that they can be trusted.

That's really rare for people your age.
I've definitely had my indiscretions, but for the most part, I'm pretty good.

Did something happen to make you choose this path of committed sex?
No, no. The first time I ever slept with somebody it was someone I had known for five years and sort of waited to date, until he and I were both ready — meaning that I was old enough to date him. He was older. My parents are very conservative; that helps too. I've been raised to think it's not something you give freely unless you can trust them.

Have you ever slept with someone considerably younger than you?
No, I've actually never even dated someone my age, always older. The oldest was eleven years and the closest in age was two years.

Is sex with older guys better?
I didn't actually sleep with the person who was eleven years older than me. My first boyfriend, who was five years older, was definitely the best sex I've ever had. But I don't know that that's related to age; honestly, I can't see them being connected. I think it's a matter of style. Bedroom style!

 

Jarad, 35

What do you do?
I handle snakes at a children's museum and play the organ. I'm a herpetologist. Snakes, lizards, starfish, sea urchins.

Has that ever gotten you laid?
Maybe once or twice.

Really?
Girls really dig that in a guy.

Knows how to handle a snake — check. I want to hear that story.
There was this one time... no, actually, snakes have never gotten me laid. But being a musician has the capacity to. I've gotten laid many times being a musician.

Give us your best story.
I'll tell you about the one I turned down. This is the best story of my life, because I was eighteen and that's the time when you're supposed to do this kind of shit, but I didn't! My friend Mike was staying at my house. His girlfriend, Lorraine, who was smoking hot and her friend, Erin, who was smoking hot, both came to my gig, saw me play, and said, "Let's get a hotel room right now."

Wait. You got offered a threesome when you were eighteen years old and said no?
I said no. This guy, Mike, was living in my house! What if he'd found out? Nah, I just couldn't do it.

Have you had a threesome since?
Yes. I've gotten up to a foursome.

Please explain the choreography of a foursome.
It was basically just a double-couple situation. It wasn't a giant train or anything like that. My wife and I just switched partners.

Did you sneak a peek at the other guy's dick?
No. It just didn't come up. It wasn't really visible. It was mostly inserted into something.

So you're keeping your marriage saucy?
It's great. The sex is great. We've got two kids, so we try to keep the sex quiet for the kids. We have amazing silent sex — it may actually be better than normal sex, because you're containing all this energy. It's almost tantric. We also try to keep the saucier things rare, so that they're still special.

So you keep it straight missionary most of the time?
No, no. Normal for us is her on top, with our legs intertwined a little bit, so she's almost pointing sideways. The old crucifix action. That's one of our favorites. It gives you ample opportunity for the ol' reach-around. You know, a few fingers in some places.

 

Jessica, 55

What do you do?
I own a restaurant.

Has that ever gotten you laid?
Yes, it has. There are several areas of the restaurant I've had sex in. There are some larger tables and carpeted steps.

Wait, carpet? Didn't that hurt?
No, it was very soft carpet, made for children. Thankfully, there were no children present at the time.

So you haven't sustained any sex injuries in the restaurant?
There was one cook who I had sex with, and we were just having a hard time. There was insufficient erection and insufficient lubrication going on, and yet it went on forever. We were both trying to make it work, but it was so not working. And we were on astro-turf.

Why were you trying so hard to make it work?
We just wanted it to happen. And you know guys — they just will not give up sometimes! No matter how clear it is that it isn't working, they just hold onto the idea like a tick on a dog.

Tell me about one of the craziest sex stories you have.
My husband and I were courting each other. There was no private place for us to go, he was sort of... still married, and I was dating a fireman named Blaise. Anyway, our romance was getting hotter and heavier, but we didn't have any place to go. So anyway, we're back in the restaurant kitchen, and we thought, well, what about on top of the walk-in refrigerator? That was where we kept all of our paper goods, and there was a lovely bed of pizza boxes. The walk-in was about eight feet high and only accessible with a ladder, so everyone thought we were in the office doing work. Meanwhile, we're on top of this refrigerator that isn't enclosed! We can hear all of the kitchen guys talking and working!

So basically, it was a loft?
Yes. Let me tell you, it's hard to get off listening to Mexican guys cooking hamburgers five feet away.

Do you normally get off via intercourse?
I do, but it's not the easiest thing. It certainly takes some emotional and physical focus. There are times when you're in a long-term relationship where you summon up those hottest moments from the beginning, like fucking on top of a walk-in, whereas now you're just having a quickie in the morning with this guy you've suddenly been married to for ten years. You go through the mental Rolodex of those fantasies — not fantasies of David Hasselhoff, but fantasies of the earliest, hottest times with that same partner.