Exploration.

The drop hit Catherine's tongue and slid towards the back of her throat. She closed her mouth and swallowed, then sighed. "Alright, it's done. According to the instructions, I'm not gonna remember any of this."

He sat on the bed next to her and put his hand on her arm. "How do you feel? Can you feel it yet?"

She looked pensive. "I don't know. Maybe? I feel a little warm, but that might be the placebo effect. Why don't you ask me something embarrassing?"

He blushed and stammered. "I- I don't know, I don't wanna do anything you wouldn't-"

"Rick," she said gently. "I wanted this. The whole point is that we can be totally honest with each other. I can't lie, I'll be too docile to get upset, and I won't remember any of it later. You can confess anything or ask me anything. If I had anything to hide, I wouldn't have taken the drop in the first place. So what do you want to know?"

Rick thought for a second. "Have you ever cheated on me?"

She laughed and sat up. "Of course not, but you knew that. Come on, ask me something real."

"How many guys have you had sex with?"

"Nine," she answered immediately. "The first eight were before you, of course. You already knew that, though."

He paused before answering the next question. "Where do I rank?"

"Third best at regular sex, seventh at eating box," she said innocently. "Wow, I felt that. It's like I have this cavity where the embarrassment or shame would be. I don't care at all if you know. I hope that didn't hurt your feelings."

Rick had been prepared for an answer like that; he knew he was middling in bed. "If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked. So you're feeling the drop more now?"

She grinned and nodded. "Yeah, definitely. I don't feel drunk or anything, but I'm starting to feel really relaxed and affectionate. And really horny too, but not in a needy way - more like my engine's just idling really high right now. But it's your turn - tell me something you know would really upset me."

Rick had been thinking about this. He had considered lying and claiming he'd cheated or done some other horrible thing, but found that a little too distasteful, so he settled on something true, minor, and deeply hurtful.

"I'm extremely attracted to your sister," he said nervously. Even with the drop, he flinched in anticipation of her reaction, but she just nodded.

"Which one? Amanda?" There was no betrayal or pain in her voice, only curiosity. He nodded. "Of course you do. She's really hot. Way hotter than me, right?"

Rick almost denied it out of habit, but the look on her face stopped him. Catherine was looking at him with a sort of earnest, innocent curiosity. "...yeah," he said tentatively. When she didn't react, he continued. "A lot hotter than you. Sometimes... I don't know if I should say."

She smiled and kissed his cheek playfully. "You don't have to share anything you don't want to, but if it helps I've been fine with this so far. It feels good to get it out in the open. We both know she's got an amazing body. In fact, let me guess what you were going to say - do you think about Amanda when you jerk off?"

Rick was taken aback by her language; Catherine wasn't exactly a prude, but he had never heard her use such a crude term for male masturbation before. "Actually, I was gonna say that I picture her when we make love."

"Wow," Catherine said. It carried no emotional weight, only mild surprise. "Every time?"

"Not every time," he said. "Usually for a week or so after we see her. Do you ever picture someone else when we have sex?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I used to picture some of my exes, but I haven't seen them in years. These days I usually just sort of zone out until it's over."

Rick was taken aback and Catherine smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, hon. It's weird, knowing that this time tomorrow I'll have no idea that I told you any of this. It's a little selfish, I suppose. I get to air out all of my grievances but I don't have to deal with the baggage."

Rick was starting to see what she meant. "Also, I'm stuck trying to fix all the problems that you won't even know I'm aware of. So you 'zone out' during our lovemaking? Is it boring?"

She nodded. "Yes. God, yes! We don't use toys, we rotate between three positions, and your stamina has not exactly gone through the roof. I even remember the last time you gave me an orgasm - it was on that ski trip we took to Colorado."

"That was over a decade ago!" Rick was aghast. "I haven't made you cum in ten years?"

Catherine shrugged. "Why do you think I was so invested in a detachable shower head? Too bad I don't look more like Amanda. I'll bet you'd light her pussy up like a Christmas tree!"

Rick turned a deep shade of crimson. "Let's, uh... let's table this discussion for now."

"Of course," she said brightly. "I see you've still got a raging hardon. Wanna try some sex stuff now?"