Behind the Bedroom Door

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: Reflections from a Late Bloomer 1

1. In praise of One-night Stands 15
Susan Cheever

2. Tomcats in Love 21
Cheryl Strayed

3. Turn Me On, Turn Me Off 35
Bella Pollen

4. Overcome 48
Lauren Slater

5. Ouch, You’re Lying On My Hair! 57
Valerie Frankel

6. Turning the Other Cheek 64
Deanna Kizis

7. Pregnant Pause 76
Pari Chang

8. Under the Influence 90
Anna Marrian

9. The Sweetest Sex I Never Had 104
Hope Edelman

10. Sexercise 126
Abby Sher

11. Look Both Ways Before Crossing 137
Meredith Maran

12. Lost in Space 151
Julie Powell

13. Out of Reach 167
Martha Southgate

14. Toys in the Bedroom 177
Suzanne Paola

15. The Overnight 188
Susanna Sonnenberg

16. Confessions of a Former Sex Geek 200
Abiola Abrams

17. Mommy Lust 211
Lori Gottlieb

18. Looking for Mr. Snickers 224
Jenny Lee

19. Procreational Sex 236
Brett Paesel

20. Do Not Enter 246
Betsy Stephens

21. My Not-So-Kinky Sex Life 261
M. P. Dunleavey

22. Fantasy Man 269
Susan Shapiro

23. Kiss Poker 278
Stephanie Dolgoff

24. The Great Pretender 292
Jane Juska

25. In the Beginning 305
Ali Liebegott

26. Sex With a (Much) Younger Man 315
Elizabeth Cohen

About the Contributors 329

About the Editor 335