My brows furrow. “You mean... you want to go through with the therapy session?”
“You asked for it, so let’s do it.”
Oh.
“Okay...” I pour another glass of whiskey before walking over to the couch. She follows, sinking into the plush cushions beside me. Her anger seems to have dissipated a bit, but the tension still hangs between us heavily.
I clear my throat. “So... uh... how does a typical session go?”
She tucks her legs under herself, leaning back comfortably against the couch.
“Well,” she begins, her tone professional yet soft, “I usually start by getting to know the individual or the couple who’ve booked the session. I ask about how they met, their sexual history and get details about who they were before they met each other. Sometimes, I have them fill out a questionnaire ahead of time. It gives me insight into their desires and needs when it comes to sex and connection.”
I raise a brow, trying to appear casual as I sip my drink but the way the word sex rolls off her lips so easily is doing something to me. Every time I think I’ve seen it all with Rhiannon, she surprises me. This version of her, the one who’s professional, clinical and cares about couples emotional and sexual intimacy is new and sexy as hell.
“But” she continues, meeting my gaze, “this isn’t all about physical desires. Non-sexual needs are equally important. That’s things like emotional support, connection, and communication. That’s often where people struggle the most, even when the physical side is fine.”
I nod. “Makes sense,” I reply, my voice tight because I can already tell all this talk about sex with her is going to be a problem for me. Time to steer the conversation elsewhere. “What’s a non-sexual need that someone might have?”
“Well, one key area is learning each person’s approach to initiating intimacy,” she explains, her tone slipping effortlessly into that of a professional. “Some people value the lead-up to sex more than the act itself. For example, one partner might feel connected and prepared for intimacy through non-sexual touches during the day. It could be things like a hand on their back, a kiss on the forehead, or even just holding hands. That’s what warms them up to the idea of having sex later. On the other hand, their partner might be fine just saying, ‘Hey, want to have sex?’ without any of that prework being necessary. It’s straight to the point for them. But the difference can cause friction because your initiation approaches are in conflict.”
She leans forward, a dark lock of brown hair falling in front of her face that she doesn’t brush away. I admire how smart she is, how much her face lights up when she talks about anything she’s passionate about. Whether it’s her siblings, the family thrift store, Leo or her therapy practice. She glows when she’s talking about stuff that matters to her.
She’s the definition ofgood, empathetic, funny and determined. All character traits I never knew I needed in a partner.
I wonder how she looks when she talks about me.
I wonder if she ever talks about me.
“Because while one partner is thinking that everything is fine because they haven’t argued, they’ve talked, maybe even had a nice dinner out together, the other partner might be feeling emotionally disconnected. Without those small, intentional touches or gestures, the sudden ‘Hey! let’s have sex’feels jarring instead of welcoming. And that disconnect can create resentment over time.”
“Damn,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair and chuckling nervously. “Relationships are complicated.”
She laughs softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Have you ever been in one before?”
“Nothing serious.”
She nods. “They can be, but they don’t have to be. A healthy sex life isn’t just about checking a box like how many times a week you have sex. It’s about connection, communication, and making sure both partners feel fulfilled.”
“How often do you think a couple in a committed relationship should have sex in a week?”
She shakes her head. “I would never suggest a specific number. It’s up to the individuals in the relationship and can wax and wane depending on life circumstances.”
I can think of a number that would make me happy.
And it begins with the wordeveryand ends withdaywith you.
I nod. “Alright, so you talk about initiation techniques, get some history on their relationship and what each couple wants and needs. Then what’s next?”
“From here, we create a plan that works for the couple. There are specific therapies and modalities we can use, but sometimes it’s as simple as setting small, actionable goals for the relationship. For example, I might say,‘Cain, I need you to find fiveintentional opportunities each day to show Madison that you’re thinking about her. Non-sexual touches like an unprompted hug, brushing her hair out of her face, or holding her hand at dinner can work. And if you’re not together, it could be a text. Something spontaneous, something small just to show her that you’re thinking about her.’”
I wince at the mention of Madison’s name.
“I could have gone without you using her as the example.”
She smiles and sits back like she knew that’d get under my skin.
“What about individuals? What kinds of things do you work on with them?”
