I've not really been looking for this sort of thing, but I haven't closed the door on it either. At 40+, I've got the run of the mill domestic life. A comfortable law practice, spouse, kids.
But I've dabbled.
One day a few months ago I found myself in the middle of an agonizingly boring mediation. I was paired up with another mid-30s attorney named Paul. We represented aligned clients, so the mediator put us in a conference room together. Neither of our out-of-state clients attended in person. Multi-party mediation leaves a ton of free time, as the mediator makes his way between each party.
Paul and I are on really good terms, but we aren't exactly friends. We had drinks in a small group after a bar function a few years ago. He's an Adonis though, without question. A high jumper at a small college, I would put him at 6'3" and around 210. Paul is a black guy, and his dark skin and short hair always made me think of a taller Carl Lewis when I saw him. Paul isn't married, but he does have a six year old. Paul is boisterous, sarcastic, and as genuine as they come. We contrast each other physically, but our personalities are very similar. I stand a few inches taller, but I'm probably walking around at 275 these days. And white. Physically, the only thing I have on him hails from my "glory days" as an athlete at a Power 5 school. I bring that up from time to time when I see him. Paul's a smart guy, he probably always picked up on my insecurity around him.
But on this day we were just two bored guys eager for progress. In mediation I really only have the option to work on other projects, read whatever I can get my hands on, or chat with the other people in the room. After about six hours together, we had collectively exhausted all options. After a brief chat with the mediator Paul and I were faced with 60 minutes or more of downtime and our conversation turned towards sex.
Apparently Paul is bi-sexual, and since leaving college he hasn't kept that completely private. I had no idea. Again, I've dabbled - but I've discussed that with exactly zero people in my life. Discussing that side of me with Paul never crossed my mind, until it did. Spending 6-7 hours in a room with a guy like him disarmed me completely. When I started to share I wasn't looking to initiate anything with Paul. But things can certainly escalate quickly.
I told him about being a teenager and being drawn to erotic literature. Straight at first, but that quickly turned into all manner of gay stories. As the internet expanded that shifted to also watching straight and gay pornography. I held back about always being drawn to bi-racial themes.
I told him about my first experience with a man. Mid-twenties, I was in New Orleans for the wedding of a college roommate. Craigslist was the thing at the time, and I spent the weeks leading up to the trip posting and responding. I was determined to have this experience, and I landed on a very nice gentleman from the area. He was at least 40 and handsome. A principal at a local elementary school. I was staying at the W Hotel a few blocks from Bourbon Street. He was more of a bottom than he led on, but we had a fantastic time. We both came multiple times - he left me with a hug and a kiss, and we were both smiling.
I told Paul about my second experience with a man. Number 2 was probably mid-50s, and a local find on CL. An evening alone resulted in him coming over after I'd offered a blowjob. I was eager to get him over because he had an absolute unit in his pants. After he made himself comfortable on our couch I went to my knees in front of him. Too inexperienced, I didn't come close to taking all of him - but I swallowed his entire load.
I also told Paul about my third and final experience. Business took me to Nashville, alone. Craigslist was in its final days, but I arranged for a married 30-something "dude" to come by my room in the middle of his workday. Basically a repeat of guy #2, but in a decent downtown hotel room. I shot the biggest load of my life, to that point, after swallowing his.
These hookups spanned a decade, so yeah, I considered it dabbling. Somehow, I rationalized these hookups partially by always messing around with married men.
Verbalizing all of that for the first time should have sent my anxiety through the roof, but Paul had completely disarmed me. And then it came - Paul wanted to know if I was attracted to him. Straight and to the point, I responded, "of course."
Now it was his turn to share. Apparently Paul limits this side of him to a very small hook-up group of professionals that he meets quarterly. They all take the day off, get together at a nice hotel, and spend 4-5 hours together. Paul started to tell me about his "partners." KJ is a medical device guy who spends a respectable amount of time in a surgical room with the area's top orthopedic docs. He was a D3 basketball player, but a serious injury early in college led to his line of work. Marcus is an accomplished accountant. Both KJ and Marcus were married with children, and apparently studs that looked very similar to Paul. Paul didn't have to describe their cultural background because I picked up enough to know.
Nonchalantly, he asked if I would be interested in joining them - pending their approval. My previously non-existent anxiety turned into stammering and a red face.
"Oh yes, yes, I would love that."
"Alright, I'll shoot them a text now."
As Paul started to type the mediator appeared out of what seemed like nowhere. I'm not sure how well I composed myself, but we got through it together. Hour 8 of the mediation produced a resolution to the legal matter, and also a response from the group - I was welcomed.
"Can you get free Thursday afternoon? Everything is already set up"
Man, this was going to happen in two days?!
"Almost nothing could keep me away."