Isn’t It Too Big

by Naomi Penn

Josh bit his lip. “Listen. Maybe we could just eat sandwiches and talk about sports.”

  “Josh, before I was Pastor Mason, you and I were old high school buddies chasing tail, right?”

  Josh’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “As I recall, you got the tail and I just did the chasing.”

  Mason smiled. “I’m a changed man now.”

  Josh shook his head. “I’m not. I’m still chasing and not getting any.”

  “How often?”

  ***

  “Once a month. Maybe less.”

  Mason shook his head. “That’s a problem. Did she tell you anything in your fight that was useful in figuring out the problem?”

  Josh swallowed and spoke barely above a whisper. “I don’t satisfy her.”

  “She doesn’t have an orgasm?”

  Josh shook his head.

  Pastor Mason said, “You have to fix this.”

  Josh felt heat in his cheeks. It was back on him. “You want to come over and show me how it’s done, old buddy?”

  Josh regretted the words as soon as they left his lips. The image of Mason on his moaning wife popped up again in his head and stuck. Josh felt a stirring heat down below and crossed his legs. He felt lost.

  Mason pulled a card out of his shirt pocket and set it on the table. Josh picked it up. There wasn’t much information on it. He read, “Dr. Mark Tuttle. Therapist?” Josh looked up at Mason from the card. “Couples therapy?”

  “This is something different,” Mason said. He swallowed and looked away. “This is a bit more … intense. He deals with intimacy and sexual issues.”

  Josh looked back at the card and bent it. “I don’t know if I can talk Mandy into this.”

  “She’ll probably go for working on the marriage. Most women can be talked into that even when they won’t put out.”

  “Mason. Jesus, man. I mean … sorry. No offense.”

  Mason smiled. “If you just get her there, Mark will do the rest. He is a miracle worker and I’m a bit of an expert on that particular subject.”

  Josh looked down at the card. “Something has to change, but I’m afraid. I only found out today what a bad job I do satisfying her. I’m terrified to find out what else might be wrong.”

  “Catherine and I used him.”

  Josh looked up from the card. “You?”

  Mason stared intently at Josh and nodded. “Catherine grew up in a strict family. She felt a lot of guilt. It got in the way of intimacy and satisfaction … for both of us. Things got bad. Mark fixed that for us. You have to trust his process. Whatever happens, whatever issues are brought out, and no matter what happens, you have to trust that what he does will work. I’m telling you from my own experience. Let it happen. Let him do his thing and you both will be changed.”

  Josh swallowed. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

  Mason said, “He will solve it in just one session.”

  Josh looked up. “That’s not possible.”

  Mason shrugged. “We used him for our marriage. We … my wife has sex four times a week at least.”

  Josh thought it was odd that Mason said “we” and then switched to “my wife.” He was more focused on the four times a week after one session of therapy though. “That’s the truth?”

  Mason shrugged. “Let him do his thing, Josh.”

  The sandwiches arrived and Josh put the card away. Mason ordered Josh a toasted sandwich. He didn’t like hot sandwiches, but he took a bite to be polite. It was a lot better than he thought. Josh thought maybe he should let other people order more often.

  ***

  “I’m scared, Josh. I don’t want to do this.”

  Josh took deep breaths before he answered. Yelling in the therapist’s waiting room before the first session would probably not help the process much.

  Josh adjusted on his end of the leather sofa. It was like a rawhide leather. The metal bolts that held the material stretched over the arms and cushions were big and had edges to them. They rubbed the backs of his knees and his arms. He felt very small and weak on the couch for some reason.

  The walls and tables had a similar outdoorsy sort of look to them. One piece of art on the wall looked like a lasso closing around a pair of leather riding gloves. The gloves looked worn and marked. The rope had frayed threads off each of the braids. The whole display made Josh feel uncomfortable for reasons he couldn’t place.

  Maybe Mandy had a point. Mason and his wife had used Dr. Mark Tuttle. Mason wouldn’t make up a story and Josh reminded himself, four days a week – at least. He whispered to himself. “Let Mark do his thing. He’s a miracle worker.

  “What?” Mandy was at the other end of the imposing sofa. That was certainly not a good sign. They needed a miracle and Josh was willing to go to any length at this point.

  “Nothing. I was just thinking about something else.” Josh scanned the bookshelf across the room. Even the books were bound in leather. The entire room was thick with the smell of it. Josh normally liked that smell, but in here it felt intimidating. “Mason and his wife used, Dr. Tuttle. He says it helped them … a lot.”

  Mandy made an audible sigh. “I wish you hadn’t talked to him about our problems. I’m not going to be able to look him in the face anymore.”

  “He’s a pastor.”

  “He’s your buddy and you were talking about our sex life.”

  “Or lack of it.”

  Mandy looked away. “I don’t know if I can talk about this with a stranger.”

  “You said, if I calmed down, that maybe we could talk. This is the best place to do that. This guy is supposed to be exactly what we need. Mason assured me that if we do exactly what he says, he will solve our problems.”

  Mandy fidgeted on the leather. Josh saw something he couldn’t read cross the muscles and expressions on her face. It scared him a little. She said, “I’m willing to try.”

  “I’ll do anything to make you happy and satisfied, Mandy. Seeing you … fulfilled is all I want.”

  She looked at him and looked away. She started to slide toward him on the couch. He felt a thrill in his chest and reached for her.

  The door to the inner office opened and they both jumped back to their sides of the imposing, leather couch.

  The man that leaned out was wearing a denim shirt and dark jeans. He had black boots with shiny, steel toes over the tips. The man smiled and straightened his back. His chest and shoulders were broad and the shirt defined the hard lines of muscle underneath. His belt was dark leather with a frayed rope over it held in place by shiny metal bolts that matched the couch. Josh thought the man looked more like an imposing cowboy or outlaw than a therapist. He did seem to go with the sofa. His hair was brushed back into dark waves.

  “I’m Dr. Mark Tuttle, but you’ll call me Mark. Let’s get on in here and make life better.” He stepped back into his office without closing the door.

  Josh stood first and took a few steps. He turned and saw Mandy still sitting on the couch. She shook her head. Josh took a deep breath. “Please.”

  She stood and they walked in together, but not touching. Josh thought about the fact that Dr. Tuttle had said they would call him Mark like it was an order instead of an offer. Josh imagined Mark was the kind of guy that would order him a toasted sandwich and then make him eat it.

  As if to punctuate this point, Mark said, “You, dear, sit by my desk. And you. Have a seat on that settee over there.”

  Josh looked around. There were more leather books, but the inner office was more refined. The shelves, desk, and accents were all dark wood. The wood smell replaced the leather.

  Mandy sat down on a wood chair next to the desk facing Josh like she was ordered. Mark leaned back on the front of his desk near Mandy. As Mark leaned back, Josh saw his bulge in the front of the man’s jeans. From this angle, it was level with his wife’s cheek. Mandy was looking too. Josh felt a wave of jealousy. She saw Josh looking at her and she looked down at the hardwood floor of the office.

 
; Josh cleared his throat. “Dr. Tuttle?”

  ***

  “What did I tell you, Josh?”

  “Excuse me?”

  He rolled his head up and stared into Josh’s eyes. Josh looked away first and the man said, “What did I tell you that you were to call me?”

  Josh swallowed. “Mark.”

  “That’s right. And where did I tell you to sit.”

  Josh looked behind him. He knew settee was a word for a couch, but it had an odd sound coming from this man in this place. He looked for another leather monstrosity, but he instead saw a pink, upholstered reclining couch.

  Josh looked back at Mark and pointed at the furniture that seemed out of place with the rest of the office. “There?”

  Mark nodded. “That’s your spot.”

  Josh looked at Mandy with her head down and back at Mark’s bulge. “Shouldn’t we sit together, if we’re trying work out intimacy issues?”

  Mark laughed and his voice filled the space bouncing off the hard surfaces. “I appreciate your advice, Josh, but if you knew what you were doing, I’d be in your office instead of you in mine. Right?”

  Josh swallowed and looked away. “I guess so.”

  “Then, sit down like I told you and let’s get started.”

  Josh walked over and sat down on the edge of the couch. It was very low to the floor and he felt like he was sitting in a child’s seat with his knees up in his chest. Over the wood smell of the office, he could still smell the leather from the waiting room couch on his clothes. Josh thought, Mark has marked me.

  “Good,” Mark said. He stated it as a matter of fact the way Mandy had. It made Josh feel even smaller on his little, pink couch. Mark walked over to Mandy’s chair and put his hand on the back of it where Josh couldn’t see what Mark’s fingers were doing. Mandy looked at Mark’s bulge, up at his face, and then back down at the floor. His crotch really was by Mandy’s cheek now and it wasn’t a trick of angles. Mark said, “Now. I know your story. We could repeat it all to make everyone feel like we are making real progress today. I could send you both home and schedule another session. You’d wait another week with you over there not getting any and Mandy over here not being satisfied even if she did give in to your clumsy advances.”

  “Hey,” Josh said.

  Mark titled his head. “Hey, what, Josh? You want to talk about your feelings or do you want to see your wife cum?”

  Josh’s mouth went dry. He looked at Mandy. She was still looking at the floor, but her cheeks were bright red. He felt like he should defend her in some way, but another part of him liked seeing her red in the face. Even if it was from embarrassment or being offended, he was happy to see her showing some feeling and darkly happy at her discomfort. He also did, in fact, want to see her cum.

  “I want her to be satisfied. Whatever it takes, Doctor … um, Mark.”

  Mandy looked up at Josh across the room with her eyes wide and then back at the floor. She folded her hands in her lap.

  “Stand up,” Mark said.

  Josh rose up from the couch with a creak.

  Mark’s voice boomed. “Not you. Sit back down. You, Mandy, stand up.”

  Josh dropped back to his low seat. Mandy stood slowly with her hands still folded in front of her. Josh felt dizzy and as he took deep breaths he still smelled Mark’s leather on him.

  “Look at your husband.”

  Mandy raised her eyes, but dropped them again.

  Mark growled. “Are you ashamed of him?”

  “Hey,” Josh said.

  “What, Josh? You need something again? Is this interrupting thing part of the reason you never seem to finish the job? Is there something you need right now or are you just afraid to hear the answer, boy?”

  Josh swallowed. “No. I mean … No. Sorry, Mark. I won’t interrupt again.”

  “Don’t promise what you can’t deliver, Josh.”

  Josh looked down at Mark’s bulge and then looked away.

  “I’m not ashamed of him,” Mandy said. “I just want …”

  “You want to cum?” Mark said.

  Josh looked up and stared at them across the room. He felt his heartbeat in his head and heat down below. He wasn’t sure why this was exciting him too and the feelings confused him.

  Mandy coughed. “I’m not comfortable talking about this.”

  “You need to do more than talk,” Mark said. He slid the chair back away from her and she gasped at the scraping noise. He stepped up behind her. “If you knew that he was going to make you cum from his touch, would you let him touch you more?”

  “I’m uncomfortable with this. Can we talk about something else?”

  Mark leaned in closer behind her. “Is there some other reason you are here? You need someone to discuss how the weather is making you feel? I asked you a question. If we could show Josh what it takes to make you cum over and over again, would you let yourself be touched more? Wouldn’t you want to be touched more? You do want it even right now, don’t you, Mandy?”

  Josh opened his mouth to protest again. He hadn’t made a sound, but Mark’s eyes shot up and stared him down from beside Mandy’s long, dark hair. Josh closed his mouth.

  Mandy whispered. “Yes.”

  Mark took a step back. “Unbutton your blouse and show Josh your breasts.”

  Mandy’s eyes went wide. Josh’s mouth dropped open, but he said nothing. He was shocked, but he knew he wanted her to do it too.

  Mandy said, “I can’t do that.”

  “Josh has seen them,” Mark said. “Not often, but he’s seen them. And I am your intimacy therapist. We need to make some changes with your comfort level and his ability. Show him your breasts like I told you.”

  Mandy swallowed and unbuttoned her blouse. She pulled it open showing Josh her bra, but would not look at him. He felt himself growing hard. He fought the urge to look at Mark’s jeans again.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  Mandy swallowed and spoke to the floor. “My bra … It clasps in the back.”

  “So take your shirt off and drop your bra,” Mark said. “You don’t think I’ve seen a woman’s back before?”

  Mandy’s chest heaved and Josh licked his lips. She dropped her blouse off her arms and unhooked her bra. She paused a moment and then dropped it too. Mandy held her hands over her nipples. Josh stared at her tight stomach and the full breasts under her hands.

  “What are you hiding?” Mark said. “Either show him or use those hands to show him how you like to be touched.”

  “I’m not doing that,” she breathed. “I don’t want to.”

  Even as she spoke, Josh saw her hands moving in small circles over her nipples.

  ***

  Josh whispered. “Do it.”

  Mark glanced at Josh and actually smiled. “You will do it. You need to. Show him what you like.”

  Mandy closed her eyes and her lips quivered, but she pinched and pulled her nipples like she was told. Josh slid his hand down to the front of his pants. He didn’t have much of a bulge, but what he did have was stiff to the point of aching.

  “Wet your fingers and it will feel better.”

  Mandy shook her head.

  “I didn’t ask you a question,” Mark said quietly. “Lick your fingers and show him how good it feels.”

  She licked her lips with her eyes closed. Mandy brought one hand up to her mouth. Josh saw her nipple was hard, but lighter in the center than the rest of the dark circle. He stared. He had never seen them look like that before. He wondered if that’s how they looked hard and he had never seen them like that. She licked her fingers and went back to twisting her nipple. She was being rougher than Josh had ever been with her. He squeezed himself through his pants in time with her motions. She sucked the fingers of her other hand and teased the tips of her fingers over her breast.

  “Now take it into your own mouth,” Mark said, “and show him how you like to be sucked.”

  Mandy’s eyes opened and she seemed to come out
of her trance. Josh saw the same fear in her eyes as he did once he started yelling. She was backing down and closing off. He felt a familiar wash of disappointment and his cock actually softened under his hand. He couldn’t believe this was happening.

  She shook her head. “I’m not doing that. I can’t do that here.”

  “But you do do that. And you like it,” Mark accused behind her. “You just don’t let him see.”