“Is there anything to that, Mr. Baxter? Could it be that you are comfortable being back in bed with your wife?” I tensed, waiting for the answer.
“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced.
“And why do you feel you aren’t able to get an erection when your wife is touching you?”
“I do. When I’m caressing her, as her breathing quickens, and while our skin is touching, I get hard.”
“But when I’m touching you? You can’t get it up?” Scarlet’s tone was angry.
Dirk glared at Scarlet. That definitely triggered something.
“I get hard when you’re touching me. I’m sure of it. As I relax though…”
I filled in the silence as he paused. “When you relax, you fall asleep?”
“He falls asleep with his head on my shoulder. It’s kind of cute, actually. Except for the flaccid co… um, penis.” I heard the faintest hint of the word cock held on the tip of her tongue before she said penis.
For the first time, I felt Dirk shrink. He leaned back and dropped his head on to the back of the couch. After breathing in deeply, he let out an audible sigh.
“Do you know how demeaning it is for a man to not be able to get an erection with this ready to… have intercourse with them?” She ran her hands from her hips to her face as if showing off an item on the Price is Right. She also had been on the verge of saying fuck.
She was watching her words with me. Why?
“Scarlet. Stop.”
“Stop. Just because you don’t want to fuck me doesn’t mean I’m going to take it lying down. I love you, Dirk Baxter. I’m not giving up on you. Is it wrong for me to want you to want me?” She glanced at her husband again and noticed his slumped and weary posture.
I thought I saw the trace of a smile cross her lips until she turned back to me and the teary pout immediately returned.
Never fuck with a redhead.
A chill ran down my spine, and my mind raced with thoughts and possibilities.
“Scarlet. Let’s let Mr. Baxter have a say. Mr. Baxter, you actually get hard while you are touching your wife?” I was as curious as a practitioner as I was as a woman.
“Yes. When I’m caressing her body and feel and hear her reaction, I get hard. She can feel it against her back. I’m sure of it.”
“And when she’s touching you?”
“When she’s touching me, I feel aroused. I’m sure it has aroused me, but the next thing I know, I’m waking up and it’s morning.”
“He falls asleep like a little baby and sleeps so soundly. The last few days there hasn’t been even the hint of an erection.” Scarlet’s tone was sarcastic.
“And you remember having an erection before falling asleep?”
“I’m not sure. According to her, no. When I wake up, I have to deal with Scarlet’s disappointment and disapproval.”
“No, as soon as he falls asleep, his little half-erections disappear.”
“I know, Scarlet. You are constantly reminding me of it.” The muscles in his jaw set.
“It’s very disappointing. It makes me feel like all the nice things he says in the dyads are just lies. Like he’s saying what he thinks I want to hear.”
I made notes rapidly and eyed Dirk questioningly.
“I mean those things, Scarlet. You have to believe me.” The first hint of uncertainty entered his voice.
Was Dirk really trying to resolve things with Scarlet? Or was he simply going through the motions to satisfy his own sense of fairness?
