Ellen and Ron returned for their first couples' session the week after Ellen's visit with me.
They looked so uncomfortable with each other. Ellen's smile was so fake that I thought her face would crack. Ron hardly looked at her when she spoke. Both of them faced me squarely and with a look of such pain, and need, on their faces.
They'd done the homework I'd assigned them. They were talking a little more about what they want from each other, emotionally and sexually. However, they were not making the progress they'd hoped for. I reminded them that it had only been 3 weeks since we'd met and that they should stick with their therapy. I assured them that in time, they'll see results.
I asked if they'd made love at all since our visits. I looked at Ron first. Initiating sex with his wife, with a conscience free of Tina, was supposed to be his homework. It was obvious that his attempts were not being met as enthusiastically as he might like.
I asked Ellen if she was masturbating regularly and if she was including Ron during this, or not. Before Ellen could answer, Ron piped up.
"No, she's not including me! I don't know if she's doing anything but it's not with me. I tried to touch her. I tried to..." he just looked away from us both as his voice trailed off.
Ellen shot him an icy look.
I tried to calm them both. There was such tension between them and we needed to convert it from angry tension to a passionate, loving tension.
"Ron, let Ellen speak. Ellen, are you rebuffing Ron's advances?"
She looked at her shoes as she replied, "yes."
"Ellen, can you tell Ron 'why' you don't respond to him? Do you talk about this with him?"
She started to answer but I instructed her to turn to her husband and face him. I sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of the couch and placed her hands on his, creating a bond of intimacy that seemed to escape them both on their own.
She tearfully began her list of reasons. Despite all her reasons, there was still a woman inside, needing to be released, unleashed.
When Ellen finished speaking, I moved Ron's hand to her tear stained face and had him wipe her tears. I encouraged him, "touch her," I told him. He wiped her face and pulled her closer.
I then sat behind Ellen, my dress pulled high so I could wrap my thighs around her. I wrapped my arms around Ellen too, and laid my cheek against the base of her neck.
Ron's hands were between Ellen's back and my breasts and I could feel him rubbing up and down her back gently, while stimulating my nipples. I smiled over Ellen's shoulder at him. I raised up on the cushion, on my knees, and over Ellen's shoulder, I told Ron to kiss his wife.