Page 49 of The Plus One Pact

"How is it out?" There's no embarrassment in his voice. No outrage either. Only the lightest hint of absurdity.

"Oh my god, just look at it." She motions to the bulge in his jeans.

It's not unnoticeable, but it's not… out either.

He's got a semi. He's got enough girth that it's noticeable. Not so much that it's ridiculous. Not too much.

Just right, really.

Do I like him because our bodies fit just right? Or do they fit just right because I like him?

Statistically, women don't report a different orgasm frequency with partners with larger or smaller penises. If anything, smaller is better. Women are more likely to report pain with a more well-endowed partner.

There. That's an unsexy topic. That's a good way to slow me down. I'm not here to mount the man. I'm here to learn enough about him to play his girlfriend.

Somehow, Sasha catches on to exactly where my head goes and takes the complete opposite tactic. "Why don't you two get this out of your system. Take the rest of the day. I'll check in before the trip. If you need another practice round, I'm here." She gives me a warm hug goodbye then makes a show of giving Romeo a fist-bump, like she doesn't want to get within two feet of his erection.

She leaves with a wave.

And leaves us alone in his apartment.

With the rest of the afternoon to do anything we want and all the dirty thoughts in my head.

He turns a little towards me.

I shift my weight between my legs.

Pelvic pain or pure pleasure. The concepts compete in my brain.

"What are you thinking?" Romeo's voice is steady, confident. His posture too. But there's something in his eyes.

The curiosity I saw before. And a discomfort too.

He's not used to this sort of intimacy.

We're not client and service provider anymore. This encounter isn't about me.

Neither of us knows how to navigate that.

But I do know one thing:

It's not just what I want. It's what he wants too. What we both want.

And that feels really fucking good.

"I'm thinking I always do the safe thing, but now I want to do the fun thing," I say.

His eyes brighten. "I like the sound of that."

"How does it go?" I ask. "This whole… less pretense thing?"

"You're the sex therapist. What's your suggestion?" I ask.

"My suggestion is you find a sex therapist with a more objective viewpoint," I say.

"Fair." He smiles. "But given the situation at hand…"

I try to tap into my logical brain, but it's overwhelmed by my desire to touch him. I go for my training instead. "I've had a lot of clients who felt a pressure to perform pleasure during sex." Usually women, but not always. "I usually advise them to start in small ways, by appreciating other pleasures."