She smiled, acknowledging in the set of her shoulders and the lifted chin that everything rang true.

"And so here you have to make dozens of decisions a day. The ones you make at work are dependent upon the reputation you've built up there, right? And the ones you make at home depend upon the trust you've built with your husband. His name is Jack, right?"

She nodded at him, this time a fleeting suspicion crossing her face before her mask of measured interest slipped back on. It's too late, thought Alex. You and I are heading to the same place.

"OK. So suppose, just suppose, that this woman wants to take a break from making decisions. A vacation's not going to do it, because there's all that planning, and everybody still relying on her. She could stay home, but there's the kids. She could head off with hubby, but he still needs some pampering. And besides, she really needs more than just a break from decisions. She needs to get out of that rut. She's in a rut everywhere. At work, at home, with her friends, even in the bedroom. Why, when she and her husband make love, they choose from five positions, tops. Or more accurately, he chooses. The few times she gets what she wants, it's packaged to feel like a gift, instead of something she deserves. With me so far?"

She leaned forward in her seat, her blouse opening so he can see the bra cups, if he was so inclined to look. Keep your eyes on her eyes, Alex told himself. Now's not the time to get caught up in lust. Never underestimate an intelligent woman. "So you're thinking, 'you know, if I could just get out of that rut in the bedroom, it'll help me get started on the rest. And it's just my husband I have to change.' But it's not that easy, is it? Because you've got this need not to be in charge conflicting with this need to initiate change, which would put you in charge. Right?

"Now, suppose that there is a way to not be in charge in the bedroom, but to still try new things. I think you know what it is. I think you and Ann have talked about it. I think you've been thinking about giving your husband total control, in a controlled situation."

He watched as she took a long, slow sip from her glass. This, finally, was what she had come to talk about. Though she tried to create an air of disinterest, he could see the interest in her eyes. Why do so many people try and deny their interest in discussing sex, he wondered for the millionth time.

"There's a problem with that plan, though." He watched as several emotions flew across her face. He saved her from further confusion, "Suppose you suggest that to your husband. From a guy's point of view, what is he going to think? One, what's wrong with the way things are right now? We're doing it twice a week. I make sure she has an orgasm every so often. What's to change? Two, sure, I'd like to be able to do the harem thing, order her to do everything I want. But what would she think of me afterward? Would she think I'm some sort of pig? And, of course, you'd share those same reservations. What will he think of me if I suggest that he, oh, spank me for instance, or force me to expose myself to another man?"

Alex paused for a sip of his drink, noticing the small bumps her hardened nipples made against her blouse. He was pleased to have gotten such a positive reaction to those two 'hypothetical' suggestions. It was important to determine a woman's desires early in the game.

"So we get down to the crux of it," he continued. "What if a woman could have a safe, short-term alternative to going to her husband and pleading for a change? What if there existed someone who could help her out of this rut, could direct her growth. Someone she could trust implicitly, because her friends trusted him. Would you be interested in meeting such a person?"

"You're married," she noted, nodding to his wedding ring. No, thought Alex, what you want to say is that you're married, and you want to know how you can rationalize cheating on your husband. He decided to inject some doubt into the conversation, to see what she would do. "Yes, I'm married. And, I'd like to take this moment to remind you of two things: so far, we've only talked in hypotheticals, and I never said I'd be this person you want to meet."

At this news she visibly sank in her chair, her mask of studied indifference falling away, hopefully never to be seen again. Finally I get to see the real Melissa, Alex thought, just a little turned on by the confusion in her eyes. With luck, I'll get to see more of that.

"I say that," he continued, "because there have been women who have tried to take advantage of this conversation, for the purpose of blackmail or some other kind of leverage. Not that I believe that to be the case right now. For instance, if you were a cop, there wouldn't be nearly enough evidence to convict. And if you do have blackmail in mind, you should know that my wife knows about everything, and allows it, because although she likes to experiment with alternatives, she knows my needs are a little stronger. So as far as my wife goes, she knows the truth."

Deftly, Alex switched from the hypothetical to reality, drawing her along with the current. "In terms of your husband, were you to pursue this, the choice would be entirely up to you. I have counseled couples together, but frankly, it doesn't sound like your husband would be interested. In fact, I make it a rule to only take couples where the husband approaches me first. That way, I know he's on line with this, and he won't come searching for me with a gun.

"Also, I have protections that would allow me to prove that anything that happens would be consensual. As to what most women tell their husbands, well, most decide that silence does the least harm, and makes it easiest to generate the most good. Again, the choice is up to you. I will say that if you decide to tell your husband, that you tell me in advance, because there's a certain form that I'd want him to sign."

He sat back as she took a moment to digest all this. He could tell she hadn't decided on the overall concept yet, but if she went with it, she wouldn't be telling her husband. Lack of communication kept him in business, but it was still a very sad state of affairs...so to speak.