Chapter 4.
Doctor Coughlin
Argie had been waiting patiently for thirty-four minutes when Dr. Coughlin came out to meet her. She jumped slightly when the handsome, dark-haired man breezed confidently into the room and extended his large hand to her.
"Hi," he said in a resounding baritone, "You must be Mrs. Franck. I'm Dr. Everett Coughlin. Sorry, if I kept you waiting." He held onto her hand, almost caressing it for that extra lingering moment of contact.
"Hi, yes . . . I'm Argie Franck," she answered with a small voice. "Thank you for seeing me."
She couldn't take her eyes off him, he was . . . like a Greek god; handsome, strong, and virile looking. Her legs went weak, and for the next few moments she dizzyingly imagined it was he that she would be making love to.
As he released her hand, Dr. Coughlin smiled and gestured toward his open office door. "Please, come in to my office and talk."
Argie found his office unlike any other Doctor's office she'd ever visited. Soft music drifted through the pleasantly decorated room, and scented candles flickered here and there as the two of them settled in. Dr. Coughlin directed Argie to sit on a large leather couch, arranged so she was required to place her legs straight out in front of her. She crossed her ankles and smoothed out her short dress modestly, while he took a seat in a comfortable chair facing her.
"All right," he began, "let's talk about why you are here, Argie. I assume you know what we do at the clinic, and the delicate nature of our work."
Argie cleared her throat, suddenly finding herself quite timid about discussing such things with a stranger, albeit a very handsome one. "Yes . . . Rachel, um, Doctor Gladstone, was kind enough to provide me with a rather detailed overview after I approached her about becoming a surrogate."
"Well, yes," Dr. Coughlin said, "I just need to know where to begin in explaining our work. I think it's best if I'm very direct with you about what we do. What I'm about to tell you may surprise or even shock you. You may find that the problems that we deal with, or the methods we use to deal with them, distasteful. If so, I understand. In all of the years since the clinic was established nearly half the women I've interviewed for positions here have found it impossible to participate in our program. Whatever your reaction, be honest with me and don't be embarrassed about it. Do you understand?"
Argie nodded affirmatively, thinking, 'This is getting very interesting.'
"With that said," the doctor continued, "you need to know first off our clinic specializes in dealing with people . . . primarily men, who suffer from some form of sexual dysfunction."
Argie's face brightened as she replied, "Oh, yes, I understand. That's why I want to help."
A look of puzzlement crossed Doctor Coughlin's face. "What?" he said and Argie leaped in and summarized her reasons for wanting to become a surrogate.
After hearing her out, Doctor Coughlin said, "We deal with men who can't get or maintain an erection; who can't achieve orgasm, or who are unable to satisfy their sexual partner because of some other problem such as premature ejaculation, or perhaps just poor technique. I hope you're not volunteering as a form of revenge . . . or getting even with your husband because he's cheating on you."
"No, no! You don't quite understand, doctor. John . . . my husband, is addicted to sex. He can't help himself. Or at least he hasn't tried to help himself . . . until now. He's joined Sex Addicts Anonymous. He's making an attempt to control his desires . . . his impulses, and I am encouraging him. Dr. Gladstone is his doctor . . ."
"I see," said Dr. Coughlin, although he didn't really see the whole pattern as yet.
"Does this present a problem, Doctor?" Argie pressed.
"No, that's not a problem. Everyone has their own reason for entering the surrogate field. Um, I take it then that you are . . . um, comfortable with the subject matter?"
Argie felt his eyes upon her legs and realized that in the course of explaining herself to him, she had parted them significantly, and he was looking up her skirt.
Blushing with embarrassment, she forced herself to slowly close them, after rejecting the impulse to cross one leg over the other. 'That would really give him a look at my pussy,' she thought.
"This may sound strange, in that you say your husband is addicted to sex, but has there ever been a time when he . . . shall we say, couldn't get it up?"
Argie thought about his question before replying. "Honestly, Doctor, I don't believe so. I do know . . . he keeps a kind of diary. It was something he was doing for Dr. Gladstone, to bring her abreast . . ." Argie paused, wondering if that last was a Freudian slip, then went on. ". . . Bring her abreast of his sex life."
She paused again before continuing. "I listened to part of it . . . that's how I discovered his sex addiction. Anyway, I was able to recall that following several of his . . . escapades, he came home and we had sex. I might add that with John, the sex is always good."
"Do you enjoy sexual intercourse, Mrs. Franck?"
"Yes, yes I do."
"According to you, there was a sexual liaison with a man . . . Milo?"
"That's correct."
"You felt no guilt about this?"
No, none whatsoever. It's funny, I had thought I might feel terrible about it, but afterward I felt wonderful. And the following day was more of the same. In fact I had Milo over while John was at work."
Dr. Coughlin unconsciously adjusted himself and Argie noted with some degree of satisfaction that he had an erection. Slowly, she crossed her legs and covertly watched his eyes dart toward them.
"I'm pleased that you can speak about sexual activities without reservation," he said, forcing his eyes to meet hers.
"Oh sure, I'm comfortable with talking about sex," Argie said, feeling more comfortable now. "I mean, if you need more actual details, I don't mind getting into that either," she said lightly.
"We don't need to probe that deeply, Mrs. Franck."
"Please, call me Argie, as if my name were two letters, you know, R. G.?"
"But it's actually spelled A-R-G-I-E?"