"It's not that I'm loose, you know. He always says that, but it's not true!"
"Shhh - quiet down, Lauren. We're not exactly in private," Andrea said as a few eyebrows were raised in the small patio café.
"Sorry. It just frustrates me, that's all. Plus, it's not like I'm a slut or anything, and fucked a ton of guys before we got married..." Lauren insisted. Seeing the half smile form on Andrea's lips, she hurriedly clarified. "Look, maybe I had some fun, but it's no worse than any guy has done. And I don't think a couple dozen is that bad by 26, really. It's like three different guys a year since I was 18. The point is," she continued, lighting a cigarette, "Nobody 'stretched' me out."
"Well, you said yourself that you're not happy. I mean, you told me Mike is pretty average, like what - 6 inches or so?" Lauren nodded. "Well, I have to tell you, most women would call that just fine, as long as he knows what to do with it. I mean, with the different guys you've been with, you have to know that's pretty standard equipment down there," rationalized Andrea.
"I know, I know. It's just not enough for me, I guess."
Andrea paused to light a cigarette of her own. "OK then," she exhaled. "What did the doctor say?"
Lauren looked distraught, as if she was going to burst into tears. "He said that my vagina is just a bit larger than normal. But not unusually so. I asked him why I don't feel really turned on during sex and told him that Mike thinks I'm too loose. The doctor said that I appear to be less sensitive vaginally than some women and that I may just prefer the feeling of something larger than normal to get real pleasure. He suggested that we see a sex therapist, and maybe consider including toys in our lovemaking." Andrea smiled. "Lauren, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Either of them, actually. Look, we don't have anything else going on for an hour or so. There's a place I got a vibrator from not far from here. Why don't we go take a look and see if we can find something to cheer you up?"
"Andrea, this is Brooklyn. There's probably a sex shop every 20 feet," Lauren groused. She took a final drag from her cigarette and extinguished it in the ashtray. "Fine. I guess we can give it a shot. I can tell you right now that Mike isn't going to go for the therapist idea, so maybe this will work better."
**********
Most adult toy/bookstores tend to be a little on the seedy side, and this one was no exception. While not especially dirty, it was a touch run down, and the neon tinted lighting and racks of pornography lining the entrance instantly made the women feel a little tainted. However, instead of the greasy old man Lauren half expected to be sitting at the counter, a well-built, reasonably attractive college age boy was running the shop.
"Hi ladies," he said in a casual, friendly voice. "Come on in. Let me know if you need any help finding anything."
Lauren immediately felt a little better. She leaned over to Andrea and whispered in her ear, "I thought this place was going to be icky, with peep show booths and toothless men!"
Andrea looked at her friend: stylish but slightly conservative with an Ann Taylor sweater set and 2.5" heels, medium length chestnut hair pulled into a ponytail, inconspicuous makeup. Attractive, but a little uptown. "If I thought it would offend your Upper West Side sensitivities, I wouldn't have brought you here," she teased. Lauren slapped her on the arm playfully.
"Look, just because my husband has a condo there doesn't mean I've forgotten where I'm from," she retorted. "I just grew up a little," she said, looking at her outfit. Still, she had to admit privately that her husband had been exerting some pressure on her taste in clothing lately, and she wasn't quite as adventurous as she used to be. "Let's look around," she suggested to change the subject.
The ladies made their way through the shop, giggling at some of the sights. Lauren picked up a leather-and-metal corset. Holding it up to her body, she called, "Hey Andrea - what do you think? Is it me?" Andrea shook her head an emphatic 'no'.
They flipped through the videos and magazines, commenting on attractive actors and actresses. "Lauren, what do you think about this one," Andrea teased, holding up a girl on girl film.
"Um, I don't think so... Would you ever do that?" Lauren replied.
"Only with you, lover." Andrea winked and blew her a kiss.
Eventually they made their way to the rear of the store. The entire back wall was covered in a dazzling array of vibrators, dildos, butt plugs, and similar implements. Lauren slowly let her gaze travel across the selection.
"How about this one?" asked Andrea, holding up a pink vibrator.
"No, I already have a vibrator. I'm thinking something, well..." Lauren blushed and lowered her voice, "bigger."
Andrea selected another, a 7" jelly dildo and held it up. Lauren shook her head. Andrea moved up to a 9" lifelike dong. Again, Lauren indicated no. As Andrea went to grab the next size up, a thick 11" dildo, she saw Lauren's gaze fixed on a toy on the bottom shelf.
"No Lauren," she said firmly.