The Second Hand Man
August 18th, 1994

My mentioning Nicolette Kurtzman in my diary yesterday got me to thinkingmore deeply and more detailed regarding that vivacious harpy. I have lately hadsome trouble expelling her from my thoughts. After all, she was…is a veryunique piece of human female physique, and possessed of rather cerebraldistinction.

Unlike most other extremely tall woman, Nikki was not slender and fragilein appearance. She was a large woman; beautifully large and becoming. Not largeas in the sense of overweight or even slightly plump, but as in tall and havinga very full figure.

Unlike my second wife, Erika (In my first life), who had also been tall,Nikki did not owe her superior height solely to the length of her legs – shewas extremely well-proportioned from the top of her natural ash-blonde hairthat, at most times, surrounded her strong features like a lion’s mane, all theway down past her magnificent breasts and hourglass figure to the bottom of herstrong, shapely legs.

On photographs, by herself, she seemed to be of average height, but herstature became all too obvious when she was photographed together with a groupof other woman, standing almost a full head higher than the next tallest in thegroup.

She was proud of her stature and did not slouch or droop as is often thecustom that tall, self-conscious people practice in striving to fit in with thecrowd.

Nikki delighted in her… distinctiveness. She would often voice herself-approval unashamedly.

“Call me, Unikki! I’m a state of the art work of art! After I was born,Mother Nature broke the mold!” she would smilingly declare, although sheseriously meant and believed the statement to be the undisputed and absolutetruth.

She took great pleasure in the fact that she attracted attention, of bothmen and woman, wherever she went. But it was her affect on the former that sherelished the most. She enjoyed using her power to establish herself, not astheir equal, but superior!

To use the term Amazon Warrior Queen to describe her demanding nature andregal presence would not be an over-exaggeration.

To make matters worse, she had a brilliant mind situated between all thatwild and primitive hair that she constantly combed away from her face with asensual sweep of her widely spread fingers; not too unlike a model posing for amagazine shoot.

The only thing about her that seemed out of place, physically, was hermouth. It too was enormous, but this time out of proportion with the rest ofher face. Some men would probably replace it appealing, but her lips seemed way tofull, as if she was constantly pouting. And although she bragged often that,besides her cosmetic makeup, there was not a shred of unnatural enhancement throughouther entire frame, it seemed as if she had gone for one of those collagenlip-filler injection treatments, and the doctor had forgotten to tell her tosay, ‘When!’

And if she smiled, although her dental work was perfect in shape, sizeand color, it seemed as though she had been allotted more than the normalamount of teeth that the average adult possessed. She also had just theslightest gap between her twomaxillary central incisors that enhancedher somewhat impish grin.

Oh, yes! She did have one other physical flaw, but in this case, it wassociety in general that regarded it as a flaw…a curse upon all womankind. Butto me it was an indication that she was only human after all. And that onlymade her more attractive and appealing to me.

I would never have known about it either, if I had not been invited roundto Steve’s place for a poolside barbeque.

Nikki had made her appearance wearing a skimpy bikini.

I made no effort to pretend that I was indifferent to her arrival. It wasdifficult to keep my eyes from returning to her near-naked magnificence.

She made no effort to pretend that she was displeased at my continuousgawking. It was obvious that she reveled in the affect she had on men. Sheloved to be admired.

And Steve? Well, he basked in the misconception, believing her to be aone-man woman; his woman. And because of that, he didn’t mind other menlooking; looking, but not touching. It gave him pride and joy to have such afine status symbol that made other men envious of his incredible fortuity.

Anyhow, I was describing Nikki’s physical flaw, not her social ones.

In all my own promiscuous behavior, I have never once met a woman whodoes not have, to one degree or another, cellulite. Even those $500 specials,who had obviously used some of their hard-earned wages to have all sorts ofbeauty enhancing treatments, were unable to eradicate the supposed curse.

I say supposed, because due to its natural and frequent occurrence inwomen of all shapes and sizes, I have grown to like it.

Yep, it being the aforementioned natural part of a woman’s physicalmake-up, I have strangely grown to even consider it…somewhat sexy. Of course,like an over-full pair of lips – too much is too much. But just the rightamount is enough to get my enzymes bubbling.

Hell, even my favorite fantasy artist, Boris Vallejo, has the wonderfulpractice of adding that rousing curse to many of his female creations,enhancing them with a sexual aura that is both visually and physicallystimulating in a superbly erotic fashion.

I have a number of his works hanging on my walls.

I don’t expect that a wife would ever approve of my taste in décor, butthis is one of the pleasures a bachelor is able to indulge in.

Okay, so I may have over-indulged myself a bit – not just with thecreations of Boris, but with those of many other talented artists andphotographers who also…know their stuff.

I am proud to say that, due to myexcellent financial standing, many of them are original works. And althoughthey serve a higher, aesthetic function, I tell most people who chance to visitmy home, especially those that replace the artworks offensive, that they areexcellent investments.

I once considered reserving the hall and living room for more…reservedworks of art, but eventually decided to hell with it. And anybody who replaces mytastes questionable – to hell with them too!

Right now I’m looking at one of my very favorite works (Unfortunatelyit’s a copy) by Frank Frazetta. It is simultaneously humorous and extremelyerotic. It is of a giantess lying prone in a field. There is a normal-sizedcow, far smaller than her, chewing on some grass. But resting between her fullbreasts, also normal-sized, is a naked man with an expression of absolute blissand contentment. One can’t help wishing…shit, I bet there are many men outthere who have my taste…call it a fetish if you want, about large (I repeat,‘Not over-weight.’ – Although a few extra pounds sometimes adds to the allure.The expression pleasantly plump is one I like to use) women.

No wonder I found the experience with Hannah to be so stimulating. Notonly the sex, but our wrestling bouts as well. In retrospect, I think I mayhave enjoyed those even more. And to think that she was the one who hadsuggested it – marvelous!

But enough of Hannah, thinking of her now is just far too painful.

My wives, too, had been women of…superior stature.

What Erika lacked slightly in width, she made up for in length. God, Iloved her legs. I had often joked that they went all the way up to her armpits.

Also…enough about Erika!

The pain of her memory is far greater – and she’s still walking about outthere on those men magnets, attracting the gullible male population towardsinevitable doom with the appearance and promise of paradise.

Yep, I later thought of her as a giant (This time the size not beingappealing in the least.) rat trap.

It was extremely difficult to ignore the cheese that she used as a lurefor all her trusting victims.

She was a beautiful siren singing her song, luring sailors towards therocks where she could feed on their drowned and mutilated corpses.

Yep, that’s exactly how I felt after…

Enough about Erika!!!

The fact that both my wives have been women of superior stature has justmade me realize that maybe the reason my marriages never succeeded, was becausethey had all basically been the result of physical attraction. And although Ifooled myself into believing that I loved their minds as well – it was thosesame minds that had taken me for a ride in the end – and I’m not referring toour romps across the bed!

Yes, Nikki too was an exceptional beauty. Even her flaws being plusfactors (I remember reading an article about Sophia Loren who said something tothe effect that her beauty was made up out of a series of imperfections orinconsistencies, but were then so wonderfully arranged as to produce her uniquelook. And, my, what a terrific looker she turned out to be!).

Yep, Nikki could have just aboutany man she desired; and she knew it.

And the type of man she wanted most was one with wealth and power!

Although she later became an employee of Global, she understood full-wellthat Steve’s money and sway could ultimately become hers as well. To this endshe had taken no time in manipulating him.

The man was a rich genius, but I use the term poor fool to describe theway in which she duped him.

The joint CEO, of what would become one of the most successful technologycompanies in the world, was no more than putty in her large hands.

I can’t blame him though, he was still young and very impressionable -and Nikki had a certain undeniable presence whenever she entered a room.

It had taken her just over a year to convince him to exchange their vows.

So, with my unusual taste in women, it is with little shame that I mustadmit that I was largely envious of the attention and affection that Nikki hadshowered on Steve prior to their marriage.

I am, though, most ashamed to admit that my thoughts were of a ratherinappropriate nature on their very wedding day!

Nikki had looked especially, and exceptionally, radiant. She was ashining, vibrant goddess. The sight of her had taken my breath away. I feltless guilty when I saw the looks in many of the other male guests. If they hadbeen dogs, the floor would have been covered in drool.

I had shaken my head to rid myself of those dark and excitingcontemplations. I would never, could never, have done, or even attempted,anything so deceitful to betray my one and only true friend’s trust.

Instead, I sincerely said to him, “I wish you all the best in your bravenew endeavor.” He had laughed when I had added, “I bet you can’t wait to dosome reverse engineering later tonight?”

Although he seldom used strong language, but I expect that the alcoholand the occasion had loosened him up a bit, he replied, “You have no fuckingidea. Look at her, Corn! Have you ever seen anything more beautiful andmagnificent in all your life? Be honest?”

I was painfully honest with my reply. “Never!” Then I followed it withthe worst lie that I had ever told. “You’re the luckiest guy in the world.” Andfinally a mixture of both. “I envy you!” Although, at the time, I had no ideathat it was the case with my last two statements.

I was still staring at that shining goddess floating around the dancefloor when he chided and suggested, “Hey, why do you suddenly look so down?It’s your best buddy’s wedding day, for God’s sake! There’s a plethora (Heloved to use that word) of single, young, beautiful women here to choose from.Mel has been asking me to introduce you to her ever since we got here.”

“Mel?”

“Nikki’s best friend! The maid of honor!”

“Oh, that would be…a first for me!”

“Yeah, I thought you’d replace that kind of…exciting!”

“Definitely!”

He laughed. “Actually, you would have noticed her keen interest in you bynow if you’d bothered to take your eyes off my bride for just a minute.”

I think I had blushed at his honest observations. And instead of himbeing irate at my improper gazing, he had actually felt pity for me; perhapseven guilty that his partner, for once, was not able to share with him in hisincredible luck and good fortune!

He truly is a good man!

I had taken his advice, and later that evening I had taken Mel home. Shehad invited me up for coffee, which we both knew would not materialize – atleast, not until late morning.

She had helped splendidly to relieve my tension.

Although she was Nikki’s friend, she was far too young for me. Too youngin the sense that she was excruciatingly too naïve and giggly for my taste, butthe alcohol and yearning in my system had dulled any aversions I might haveexperienced.

Unfortunately, the morning coffee brought her irritating mannerisms anddecor into sharp focus. The place was filled with an assortment of Africanmasks, grass mats and colorful zigzag-patterned clay pots. She had lit someincense sticks before making the coffee, and I had an uncomfortable sensationof being inside a voodoo queen’s den of dubious dealings.

Although it was Sunday, I had made the excuse of having to oversee animportant project at work. I left right after finishing the coffee, which wasmuch like her – unimpressive, fabricated, tepid, soluble, decaffeinated, fartoo sweet and black.

Being the CEO of a big successful company has many advantages – althoughI expect that it was that very same fact that she had found attractive aboutme.

Yep, like her best friend, it was blatantly obvious that she was alsojust another gold digger.

What would happen to Steve a few months later was both traumatic andrelieving.

The revelation made me realize what a fool I had been to feel theslightest hint of envy towards their relationship. And secretly, I was thankfulthat she had chosen to prey upon Steve instead of me - even though the incidenthad been absolutely devastating for him. So much so, that it would take three yearsbefore he eventually told me the truth!

I said that Nikki was brilliant, but I failed to mention that she wasalso extremely calculating and deceitful.

The only thing that eclipsed her hunger for wealth and power, was herlust for…unconventional carnal knowledge.

It had taken her just over a year to convince Steve to exchange theirvows, but it took her less than six months to convince him that her vows werenothing more than hot air.

Many husbands have had the unsettling experience (Myself included!) ofreplaceing out that their wives have been unfaithful.

Many husbands have had the misfortune of replaceing their wife in bed withanother man.

Steve is the only man I know to have discovered his wife with two!

He had returned home early from a business trip to replace her in the veryclose company of two male strippers. She had met them earlier that evening at aLadies Night event at a local club, and had no trouble coercing them toaccompany her home for a private show. During the course of the show she had expressedher desire to experience a DP; something that she had often fantasized about,but that her husband would never agree to.

The virile young studs had been more than willing to oblige. Not only wasshe an amazingly gorgeous and sexy woman, but they were also to be compensatedfinancially for giving her a good service. And, if they performed their dutiesadequately, she would require those same services on a regular basis.

So, even though she was having her often-fantasized desire fulfilled, shewas not satisfied to just leave the experience to pleasant memories. She hadpartaken of forbidden fruit and it was most pleasing to her exceptional palate.

Steve had walked in at the very moment that she was busy having her waterand oil checked simultaneously. It had taken him almost a full fifteen secondsbefore realizing that it was not a couple of gay men making use of his bedroom.The second shock had come when he realized who was the large slice of baloneyin the giant baloney sandwich that was bouncing on his bed.

“It was so damned surreal!” he had told me. “I thought I’d walked intosome pornographic rendering of Alice in Wonderland!”

I really can’t be blamed for ragging him so often about it later on!!!

Also, the happy threesome had been so busy enjoying themselves that ithad taken almost a minute before they realized that he was in the room.

Then to add insult to injury, Nikki had related the whole story to him,adding that he was a boring prude.

The cherry on the cake came when the guys had the audacity to stilldemand their promised payment, and Nikki had been kind enough to complete thetransaction.

To say that Steve had been furious would be a gross understatement.Within a month the divorce was finalized. Nikki had gotten a large settlementamount, but Steve just wanted to get her out of his life as soon as possible sohe could get on with his.

He drank a little heavy for awhile, but bounced back soon enough after Ihad helped him to see the world without the rosy-colored glasses that Nikki hadput over his eyes.

I consoled him with the words, “Stop blaming yourself. You can see nowthat although you loved her – she never loved you! And that makes you a betterperson – now and always. And all too often - love is blind!” I had raised myglass to him. “Welcome to the school of hard knocks. Yep, learning the lessonsof life can be a painful experience. Ask me? I’ve been there myself.”

It’s not easy to console a man who has married and divorced in under ayear because of his wife’s infidelity. Especially when he worshipped the groundshe walked on, and had been fooled into believing that she did the same.

The only problem was that she too worshipped the ground that she walkedon!

She was a selfish, shameless harpy without concern for anybody but herself;the type who can never take no for an answer - no matter what!

I know the type well, because I was once married to one myself.

I refer now in particular to my second marriage!

The experience was near fatal. And the only thing that could help me inthe end was the Consciousness Projector.