Karen was an hour early for her next appointment and in quite an emotional state, although she hid it well from the others in the waiting area. Her body was softly shaking and it was all she could do to prevent herself from storming into Grey's office and demanding help.
The oils on the handkerchief had faded around midnight the previous evening and she had awoken at 5 am in a cold sweat. She had been using those oils more and more since Doctor Grey had seen her last, as he knew she would, and all she could think of as she laid in bed was that this appointment was imminent. She was shocked at just how emotionally she needed to feel the soft, warm cuddle that the oils never failed to give her. She needed them and she was going to ensure the good doctor gave her some more, as well as an explanation as to what had happened to her these past 48 hours.
Eventually time passed and she leapt to her feet as her name was called.
"Doctor Grey will see you now, Mrs Edwards"
She composed herself as a wave of new hope began to swell inside her aching body. Doctor Grey would make this better, she knew, for he was a good man and an excellent psychotherapist.
Karen entered the room to see Grey sitting behind his desk, making notes and looking every inch the professional man of honour. He smiled as she approached him and stopped his writing, inviting her to sit in the chair as he relaxed in his own.
"How have thing been in the last few days Karen?"
Karen fell soothed by his voice and opened her heart to him once more.
"They have been fine, more than fine actually, right up to last night"
Grey feigned concern.
"What happened last night?"
"The oils on the handkerchief faded and I woke up feeling awful. I've really enjoyed the sensations it has been giving me, the calming affect is glorious, but ever since I awoke I have felt the intense need to smell them again. It scares me, to be honest"
"Don't be too concerned Karen. The oils themselves are simply helping you to cope with your underlying fears and, of course, you will mourn them when they are absent. I would recommend that you keep using them until we can sort out the underlying causes of your problem. In fact, I'll get another handkerchief prepared now if you like"
Grey noted with quiet satisfaction that Karen's face flashed her delight at the suggestion. She was trying to hide it, mainly from herself, but Grey knew she was addicted. This session would help to see how addicted she was of course but the principle had been established. He was her drug-dealer and the price of each and every fix was going to get higher.
As Grey moved to his cabinet and prepared the handkerchief he engaged her in general conversation, all the while taking chances to look over her again. She'd come prepared for the couch today and was wearing jeans and a sweater, although both were too tight to completely hide the luscious form that lay beneath. He smiled to himself as he mocked her pathetic attempts to protect her dignity and revelled in the conquest that lay ahead.
Moving back behind his desk he was careful to allow Karen to see that he had placed the handkerchief in his trouser pocket. When she knew he had not given it to her straight away she almost panicked but then steadied herself. He was the Doctor and he would give it to her if she was just patient and allowed him to help her. She relaxed into the chair as best she could considering how her body was beginning to ache.
Grey sat back and began his next line of attack.
"I've been thinking about your case over the past two days, Karen, and I wonder if your anxiety may be caused by your sexual life. It's common enough for both sexes to internalise sexual worries and, as your anxiety this morning was when you were in bed with your husband, I'd like to examine that area a bit more. It will require you to be completely honest about very intimate things, for I will need to ask you about every part of your sexual history in great detail. If this is a problem for you then I would be happy to release you as a patient, of course"
It seemed a logical, therapy-type approach to Karen but she was a reserved woman and the idea made her feel uncomfortable as he spoke. As soon as she heard that he was threatening to release her, however, she felt the panic come over her again. She needed those oils badly and besides this man was a therapist after all. He probably heard sexual histories all the time. She chided herself for being silly.
"No, that's fine Doctor Grey. If it will help then it's fine"
Grey knew that he must tailor his questions well. Some must be general and not overtly sexual, to reassure her, whilst he could throw in the fun ones around them.
"What is your husband's name?"
"Simon"
"Do you orgasm often Karen, either with Simon or on your own?"
"I find it hard to orgasm with him but he's a good man, a patient lover and a good faithful husband. I love him dearly"
Doctor Grey knew that the ringing-endorsement of Simon meant that Karen was feeling defensive about him. She was stating that she had no problems with her husband. Grey smiled at the certain knowledge that he would change all that.
Grey continued to probe her life-story as he planned his next moves. She was clearly in a desperate way for the oils but not, he thought, desperate enough to do anything just yet. The addiction would intensify with each inhalation, so he had no fear of his little birdie flying away as long as he did not scare her. Mind you, it was still time to test how far she would go.
"As you sit in that chair right now, Karen, is your vagina wet or dry?"
The question shocked her.
"I am sorry?"
"Karen, remember that I am only asking in order to help you. We've been talking about sexual things and, given that I am a near stranger to you, I expect that your body has made your vagina very dry. You are completely unaroused, right?"
"Of course I am but why is that relevant?"
