WARNING: The following contains sexual content intended for adults only. If you are under 18, or if such material offends you, do not read further.
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Sabrina waited nervously in the reception area. The lovely young woman kept fidgeting with her long auburn hair and smoothing her pale blue sundress. She'd been building up the courage to make this appointment, now she had to keep focused on the reason she was here.
The 27-year-old wife wanted to be a better lover. Even before her marriage five years ago, Sabrina realized she was inexperienced sexually. She loved her husband dearly and wanted desperately to please him, and herself, in bed. But her puritanical upbringing and somewhat sheltered social life had left her almost naive about sex.
The problem was variety and experimentation. She had been raised with the idea that making love simply meant intercourse in the missionary position. Of course, now she had been married long enough to know that there were other "flavors" to sample in the bedroom's candy store, but she just could not let go of her inhibitions enough to enjoy them.
Her husband was patient and never tried to pressure her with demands and she appreciated that. Finally, however, Sabrina's frustration made her seek professional help. That decision brought her to this moment where she sat waiting anxiously to meet with a highly recommended and well-respected sex therapist.
At last Dr. Burrows came out to meet her. Sabrina jumped slightly when he breezed into the room extending his large hand.
"Hi, you must be Sabrina. I'm Dr. Burrows. Sorry if I kept you waiting too long." The handsome man was smooth and confident as he took her hand and held it, almost caressing it lightly for a lingering moment.
"Hi, yes . . .I'm Sabrina," she answered with a small voice. "Thank you for seeing me." He was a very good-looking man, she noticed, and his calm, easy manner helped settle some of the butterflies soaring in her stomach.
Finally releasing her delicate hand, the smiling doctor gestured toward his open door. "Please come in and let's visit."
Soft music drifted through the pleasant room and scented candles flickered here and there as they settled in the office. Dr. Burrows directed Sabrina to sit on a large leather couch arranged so she was required to place her legs straight out in front of her. She crossed her ankles and smoothed out her short dress modestly, while he took a seat in a comfortable chair facing her.
"All right," he began, "let's talk about why you are here, Sabrina. I assume you know what we do at the clinic, and therefore you feel you need some help with a problem you're having in your marriage, a sexual problem?"
The young wife cleared her throat, suddenly quite timid again about discussing such things with a stranger. "Well, yes. I mean, that is why I'm here. I guess the main thing is I just can't seem to relax and let go when we are, you know, having sex. I want to try new things and be more active when we make love, but I just keep having these, I don't know . . .guilty feelings? I'm not really sure if that's what it is, but I just get so up tight and frustrated." She felt her cheeks blushing with embarrassment as she looked toward him shyly for his reaction.
"I see," Dr. Burrows said, smiling warmly still. "Well, the good news, Sabrina, is that this is quite common. In fact it's something we specialize in here at the clinic. Your reservations and inhibitions are likely being caused by something in your background or childhood. What I can do is work through an interview process with you to help uncover some of these sources of repression, then perhaps we can start you on some special therapy to help you overcome the problems."
Sabrina had been thinking about this very idea since she made the appointment, and she felt another little shiver as she asked the question that had constantly been on her mind: "What kind of therapy are we talking about, Dr. Burrows?"
The doctor's eyes lit up even brighter as he leaned forward and tried to reassure the obviously hesitant young woman by touching her slightly trembling hand. Not for the first time he marveled at her incredible beauty, and he felt an intense stirring deep within his groin. He decided he needed to proceed carefully.
"As you know, I am a licensed sex therapist. That means I have a great deal of education and experience in treating the exact kinds of problems you are talking about. My treatments include a wide variety of methods depending upon the specific need. In some cases we work with a couple to suggest new techniques or practices they can try at home with our supervision. In other cases, we work with the individuals directly - here in the office - in what we call 'sexual surrogate' encounters. These sessions allow what you might call 'hands-on' therapy where we demonstrate how to develop and apply proven sexual techniques." He paused for a moment letting her process this, as he noticed her face and slender neck begin to flush red again.
"So . . .you're talking about actually having sex with someone, here in the office?" she finally asked meekly. "Who . . .who would that be with?" she stammered.
Perhaps she's not so naive, he thought before he answered. "Well, of course that depends on you. It's determined by how fast you want to proceed, what your needs are; and, of course, who is available on staff at the time of your appointments. Sometimes I administer the treatments myself . . .other times one of my very qualified assistants will work with you. But we can get started right now if you like . . ."
Sabrina's mind was cluttered with all kinds of vivid and illicit thoughts. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to focus her suddenly clouded eyes on the handsome man.
"Well, I could begin by asking you some questions now; then, if we still have some time, perhaps we could work on a few things. Or, if you prefer . . .we could go more slowly, give you some time to think about this and come back when you're ready."
"No, let's start now," Sabrina heard herself say. She waited a long time to get up the nerve to do this, now she wanted to go through with it.
"Fine, " the doctor agreed. "Let me just dim some of these lights to make things a little more comfortable and we will get started." He busied himself adjusting some of the indirect lighting in the room until it was fairly dark with only the flickering candles casting a soft glow in the area where they were seated. Then he flipped another switch on a stereo in a cabinet and the soothing sound of waves gently crashing on a beach mingled and rose above the music.
When he was seated again in front or her he said softly, "Close your eyes, Sabrina. I'm going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to be absolutely truthful with your answers. Do you understand?"
She closed her eyes and nodded, shifting around slightly on the couch until she was completely comfortable and relaxed.