I. Introduction
My voice echoed down the entry hall of the sparsely furnished house. "Hello?" The car in the driveway and the unlocked front door told me that Carl must be home. I called out again as I walked into his house and closed the door behind me. It was a bright sunny Saturday. "What a waste," I mumbled to myself, knowing he was probably hard at work on some project in his basement. Carl works as a lead research scientist at a large pharmaceutical company in the city. We were college roommates and have remained buddies over the last ten years since graduating. Even in college, it became my job to get him out of his studies to enjoy life more. He built a small lab in his basement that allowed him to bring his work home. Some patterns are hard to break.
"Carl?" I called out again, knowing he would be downstairs in his lab.
"Down here."
"Hey, there is a pick-up game at the club," I reminded as I made my way down the basement stairs.
"I can't," he said faking disappointment. "We are under the gun to meet this deadline. We have to submit it to the FDA Monday morning if we have any hope of rolling a product out by next February. Timing is everything with these things."
"What are you working on?" I asked knowing it was always top secret. Pharmaceutical research is one of the most competitive industries and under the constant threat of corporate espionage.
"You know I can't talk about it," he answered routinely. "If I did, I would have to kill you."
"Cancer research?" I pushed back out of curiosity. "AIDS?"
"Sorry Phil. Can't go there."
I knew I could wear him down by continuing to prod. He loved his work. The hardest part about it for him was not being able to talk about it. "Why next February?" I asked.
"Valenti..." he started to answer unthinking and caught himself before finishing the word.
"Valentines?" I said finishing the obvious word. "Something for Valentine's Day?"
"Phil, I can't talk about it." His voice exposed excitement he felt for what he was working on. "I could lose my job."
"Carl, it's you and me here in your basement. You know I won't say anything."
"I know," he said, still unable to hide his personal excitement.
"Hey, I shared with you the big 'knock her socks off' marketing campaign I put together before it went public and hit gold, right?"
"Yes," he answered sheepishly.
"Come on then," I pushed. "I can tell you are excited about this. We are best buddies. You can trust me. I won't say a word, but let me share your excitement."
"You have to promise..." he said beginning to give in.
"Have I ever let you down? I give you my word."
Carl exploded with the excitement of a eight-year-old telling his friends about his first trip to Disneyland. "Phil, this is unlike any project I have ever worked on. It is going to revolutionize sex for women."
"What?" I asked.
"ED drugs have changed the sexual world for men, right? Men have the drive, but sometimes the equipment doesn't work."
"OK, that's true. And, if your erection should last for more than four hours ... find more women."
"Funny. Women are different and are missing out. Unlike the men, many have the equipment that work but struggle with having an orgasm. They want orgasms, they ache for them, but get frustrated and give up."
"That's what you are working on?"
"Yep," he said with continued excitement. "I've discovered the answer that will make women satisfied and insatiable. Those who have struggled will unleash orgasms to their heart's content. Even better, it will take the orgasmic experience of those who have not had problems to a whole new level."
"It's an aphrodisiac."
"On steroids," Carl continued. "but better."
"How does it work?" I asked out of curiosity.
"It is dual functioning," he answered excitedly. "Without getting technical, the first component works with the brain to put the mind in a hyper-orgasmic state. The second component works simultaneously to activate a physiological response in the body. Their nipples get hard, their vagina gets soaked, and their body is taken to the edge of orgasmic ecstasy."
"That's amazing. Women around the world will want to thank you!"
Carl smiled. "It's about time. Researchers have been underappreciated and under-compensated for too long."
"So, a rollout date of February will take Valentines Days to a new level for women."
"It won't be bad for men either," Carl added. "We are still working to get the dosages of the two components right." He pointed to a line of large bags filled with power. "The ones over here were too light on either one or both of the components. The ones over here on the right were too high. The combination in the last bag was so potent that the slightest trigger, like a suggestive whisper yielded immediate orgasmic responses in 91% of our trials. The other 9% weren't far behind. Their single-focused insatiable response continued for several hours, making the dosage over-the-top."
"That must have been fun," I said. "Who said research was tedious or boring?
"Like I said, it is unlike any work I have ever done. We even have women employees volunteering to participate in our research. It does have its rewarding side."
"What happens to all these bags?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I have taken samples to show our progress. I have to discard those for security purposes."
"That makes sense," I said. "Want a hand?"
"Sure," Carl said. "I have the toxic material dumpster upstairs."
"Why don't you finish what you are doing here while I dump these so we can get to that pick-up game."
"You don't mind?"
"Anything to help get my friend out of this basement and outside."
"Thanks man."
I took ten trips to the dumpster while Carl finished his work. I put two bags in the dumpster with each trip but the last. One went in the dumpster and the bag from the far right of the line found its way in my trunk for further research.
II. Personal Research
After the game I invited Carl to join me for dinner at the local pub. "It's ladies night."
"I don't know," Carl said. "I never have much luck. I should probably stay home and get more of this work done."
"I'll tell you what," I said. "You have to eat. Let's grab a burger at 8:00. After dinner, if nothing is happening, you can go home and work. My treat."
I showed up at the pub by 7:45. The dance floor and bar were already alive and full. Discounted food and beer for ladies on Saturday nights always packed the place out. I pushed my way to the bar and ordered a beer. While I waited, I noticed two gorgeous women across the bar laughing and in animated conversation with each other. They both looked to be in their late twenties. The first was around 5'8" with long brunette hair, green eyes, and full breasts accentuated by a tight maroon short dress. The second was a beautiful petite 5'3" blond with short hair and ocean blue eyes. She wore a white sleeveless button shirt and short jeans skirt that showed off her tight ass. When the bartender brought my beer I asked him what they were drinking.
"Margaritas," he answered, "but don't waste your time. Guys have been hittin' on them since they walked in here. They keep turning the men away by saying they are lesbians on their honeymoon. I don't believe it, but its workin'."
"Give me two of what they are drinking, please."
"OK," the bartender said "but you can't say I didn't warn you."
"Thanks man."
The bartender came back with two frozen margaritas. "Want me to deliver 'em for you?"
"No thanks," I said. "I'll be glad to do that. Put it on my tab."
I emptied the last of my beer, picked up the two margaritas and began to make my way across the room. I stopped only briefly to mix in a little of Carl's powder in each.
"Looks like you two are ready for a refill," I said with a smile. "The bartender said you are drinking their margarita specials." I placed one in front of each of the ladies.
"We're lesbians," the brunette said almost as a Pavlovian response.
"We are on our honeymoon," the blond added, struggling to contain her laughter at their evening's ploy to be left alone.
"Congratulations!" I said. "You both scored. I'm sure you'll make each other very happy. You probably hear it all the time, but you are both beautiful."
"Thank you," they said awkwardly. The brunette added, "but we aren't interested."
"Of course not," I said, silently agreeing with the bartender that they were not very good actresses. "This is your honeymoon," I added with a wink. "Listen, as a guy on ladies night I paid full price for these margaritas. I would hate to have them go to waste, and would love to have you enjoy them as a wedding gift."
"That's very nice," they said feeling more awkward.
"I will be sitting right over there at that table with my buddy. If there is anything I can do for you this evening -- anything -- please feel free to let me know. You are welcome to join us."
"Thank you," they said ready to be left alone again.
I took my seat at a dark booth near the back just as Carl walked in the door.