Page 88 of The Plus One Pact

He didn't want to have sex. But it wasn't a lack of libido exactly. He still watched plenty of porn. He masturbated all the time.

He just preferred to experience sex in that one, single way. By viewing it from the other side of a computer screen.

A real flesh and blood woman who expected him to participate was too much, after a while.

Now, I understand the psychology of it. It's a common problem. Sometimes, it's not so severe. Sometimes, a man has trouble with stimulation or finishing. Sometimes, he needs aids to have sex at all.

And sometimes, he's even worse than my ex-husband was.

Sometimes, he's in search of more and more hardcore content.

It probably happens to women too. I've just never had any of their partners show up asking for my help. Men are far less likely to stay in difficult relationships. Men are far less likely to suggest couple’s therapy. Men are far less likely to try to change their partner.

It’s smarter, probably, to accept people as they are. To give them a chance or two to change their behavior and leave when they don’t. And, usually, they don’t.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

I don't want to talk about my ex. Not yet. And I don't want to talk about facials, really. The mental image isn't exactly a turn on.

But it doesn't disgust me as much as it usually does.

I guess it's different when someone respects your boundaries.

When you like them.

"I'd be more surprised that you hadn't done that," I admit. "I imagine you've had clients ask."

"Not often," he says. "But I have, yes."

I don't like the thought of him with other people. Which is ridiculous. I hired him to spice up my life. I’m using him for content as much as he’s using me to fool his family. This is all a game, like the ones his mom is suggesting. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.

"Can I ask you something totally inappropriate?" I ask.

"Sure," he says.

"Do you have sex with men?" I ask.

"For work? Or fun?"

"Either, I guess," I say.

"No." He shakes his head. "That was a vow Sasha and I made when we started the business. We'd never do anything we didn't want to do. She got calls, men who wanted to have sex with men, but she never pushed me to agree."

"She turned clients away?"

"Referred them to someone who gave her a finder’s fee." He smiles. "She's savvy." He looks me in the eyes. "Why? Is that a fantasy of yours? Two men?"

"At once?" I ask.

"I've done that." He doesn't say if it's for paying clients or fun, and I don't ask. "But always with the women the center of attention."

"I have fantasized about that," I admit. "I imagine most women have."

"And what does that mean?" he asks.

"For some people, it's simple greed. Two is better than one. Sometimes, it's about sharing. Or community. For others, it's about being desirable. Or being watched. Or watching."

He shakes his head. "I don't want Doctor Vaughn's answer. I want Ivy's. What turns you on about it?"