John hesitantly enters Claire's therapy office, feeling a knot of anxiety in his stomach. The room is dimly lit, with soft, ambient music playing in the background. The walls are painted a calming shade of pale blue, and the furniture is all modern and sleek, with clean lines and minimalist design. Claire sits behind her desk, dressed in a black fitted dress that accentuates her curves.
As John takes a seat on the plush leather couch across from her, he can't help but feel small and vulnerable under her gaze. Claire regards him with a cool, professional expression, her eyes betraying no emotion. "So, John," she says, her voice calm and measured, "what news do you bring in today?"
John swallows hard, trying to find the words to express his jumbled thoughts and feelings. He's been seeing Claire for a few weeks now, ever since Sarah suggested he seek therapy to work through some of his issues.
At first, he was resistant to the idea, but he has to admit that the sessions have been helpful in some ways. Still, he can't shake the feeling that Claire is somehow manipulating him, pushing him to be more submissive and obedient toward Sarah.
As he begins to speak, Claire listens attentively, her expression never wavering. "I...I don't really know where to start," he says, his voice low.
Claire nods encouragingly. "Just take your time, John. Start from the beginning."
John cleared his throat. "Well, Sarah and I went to this bar...it was supposed to be just the two of us, but then this guy, Chris, came over to our table. Sarah started talking to him, and...I don't know, things just kind of escalated from there."
Claire leans forward slightly, her expression softening. "John, I want you to know that you're in a safe place here. You can tell me anything, and it will stay between us. There's no judgment here." She pauses for a moment, her eyes never leaving John's face. "So, tell me more about what happened at the bar. How did you feel when Sarah started talking to Chris?"
John fidgets in his seat, looking down at his hands. "I felt...I don't know; I guess it's uncomfortable. It was like she was ignoring me, and I didn't know what to do. And then Chris started flirting with her, and she didn't exactly push him away..."
Claire nods, making a note on her pad of paper. "And how did that make you feel, John?"
John hesitates for a moment before speaking. "I felt...jealous, I guess. And angry. But at the same time, I didn't want to ruin the night, so I just went along with it. I didn't want to make a scene."
Claire's face lights up at John's response, a small smirk playing on her lips. "I'm so proud of you, John," she says, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "It takes a strong man to put his own feelings aside and let his wife have a little fun. It's important to be a good partner and make sacrifices for the one you love."
John shifts uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of how to respond to Claire's praise. "But...isn't it wrong to just let another man flirt with my wife like that?" he asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Claire shakes her head, her smirk growing wider. "Not at all, John. In fact, it shows that you trust your wife and are secure in your relationship. It's a sign of strength, not weakness."
John nods slowly, trying to absorb Claire's words. "So...what should I do next time something like this happens?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
Claire leans forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Well, John, there are a few things you can do to make the situation more enjoyable for both you and your wife. For example, you could offer to buy the other man a drink, or even encourage your wife to dance with him. It's all about being a good sport and making sure everyone has a good time."
Claire sees the shock in John's eyes and leans back in her chair, her voice returning to its usual calm and measured tone. "Now, I understand that this might be a lot to take in right now, John. You might not be ready to be that open and accommodating just yet, and that's perfectly okay. That's what these therapy sessions are for—to help you work through these feelings and become the best version of yourself that you can be."
She pauses, jotting down a few notes on her pad before continuing. "We'll take things one step at a time. For now, let's focus on helping you become more comfortable with the idea of sharing Sarah's attention. Let's explore why you feel jealous and angry, and how we can channel those feelings into something more positive and productive."
John nods, still looking a bit dazed. "Okay, that sounds...reasonable."
Claire smiles, pleased with his willingness to cooperate. "Good. Now, tell me what happened after Chris and Sarah started talking. Did you just sit there quietly, or did you try to interject at any point?"
John sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I tried to join the conversation a few times, but it was like they were in their own little world. Sarah was laughing at everything Chris said, and she kept touching his arm and leaning in close to him. I felt like such an idiot just sitting there, watching them flirt right in front of me."
Claire nods, taking notes as John speaks. "And how did Chris react to your attempts to join the conversation?"
John lets out a bitter laugh. "He barely acknowledged me. It was like I wasn't even there. At one point, he even made a joke about how I was 'cramping their style' and Sarah laughed along with him. I felt so humiliated."
John looks down at his hands, ashamed of his own weakness. "And then, Chris asked me to leave the bar so they could have some 'alone time' together. So I did. I left and wandered around for about thirty minutes before coming back."
Claire raises an eyebrow, her pen poised over her notepad. "And where did you go during those thirty minutes, John? What did you do?"
John shrugs, his voice barely above a whisper. "I went to a park nearby. I just sat on a bench and tried to clear my head. I didn't know what else to do."
Claire nods, jotting down a few notes. "I see. And what do you think Chris and Sarah did while you were gone? Did you think about that at all?"
John's face flushes with embarrassment, and he looks down at his hands again. "I...I tried not to think about it too much. But I couldn't help but wonder if they were...you know, doing something more than just talking."
Claire takes a deep breath, her expression calm and composed. "John, I want you to try something for me. I want you to imagine the worst-case scenario. Imagine what you think could have happened between Sarah and Chris while you were gone. Tell me the story, in detail."
John looks up at Claire, his eyes wide with surprise. "What? Why would I do that? That's just going to make me feel worse."
Claire shakes her head, her voice soothing and reassuring. "Actually, John, it can be quite therapeutic. By confronting your fears and imagining the worst, you can often realize that it's not as bad as you thought. It's a way of taking control of your emotions and desensitizing yourself to the things that scare you. Trust me, it's a common technique in therapy."
John still looks uncertain, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know, Claire. Are you sure?"
Claire leans forward, her expression growing more intense. "John, trust me on this. Sometimes, the only way to overcome our fears is to confront them head-on. Now, let me help you get started. Imagine this: while you were sitting alone in that park, Sarah and Chris were getting much closer. Maybe Chris leaned in and started kissing Sarah's neck, making her giggle and squirm. Maybe he slid his hand up her thigh, under her skirt, right there in the booth."
John swallows hard, his face paling. "Claire, I really don't want to think about this."
But Claire continues, her voice unyielding. "Maybe Sarah didn't stop him, John. Maybe she even encouraged him. Maybe she whispered in his ear, telling him how much she wanted him right then and there. Maybe they started making out passionately, not caring who might see them. Maybe Chris even slipped his hand into Sarah's panties, right there in the bar, while you were sitting alone in the park like a good little boy."