More honesty.

"So," Rick said. "Should I- I mean, do you want me to give you a little relief?"

Catherine smiled as she returned and placed the small toy on her nightstand. "Up to you, darling. I feel very good right now. I'm pretty much game for anything."

"Let's just cuddle and talk," Rick said. "I take it you're feeling the drop more strongly now?"

She lay next to him and draped her arm across his chest, kissing him lightly on the cheek before replying. "Definitely. It's strange, though... it isn't like anything I've experienced before."

He reached out and rubbed her right thigh softly. "What's it like?"

She sighed. "It's hard to describe. I thought it might feel like being drunk or taking prescription painkillers, but it's nothing like that. I don't feel like I'm under the influence of anything at all right now. It feels more like... a revelation. Like I've finally realized something, or gained a brilliant new perspective. Like watching a movie a second time knowing the twist at the end."

"What did you realize?" Rick asked.

"How silly I am," she chuckled. "How silly it is of me to cling to my secrets and insecurities. It's like I can see my whole life the way a historian would in a thousand years. Suddenly it doesn't matter that you find my sister attractive and it makes no sense for me to hide my sexual curiosities from you. What matters is that we love each other and we want to make each other happy."

Rick remained silent for a bit, still stroking her thigh. "But wouldn't it matter if I found out you were cheating? Even to someone a thousand years from now, it would be a major event in your life if we split up because of your infidelity. But you'd still be honest, right? You have to be."

She nodded. "My illustration is only accurate to a point. Yes, if I had a secret I knew would make you divorce me, I'd still gladly tell it right now. I... I can't put into words why, other than to say it just feels better than keeping it a secret."

Rick nodded. "I think I'm ready to ask more questions. First, why did you really take the drop?"

She chuckled. "That's a great question. There's something very arousing to me about vulnerability. The ability to put myself completely in your hands, to strip away all of my defenses and know that I can trust you... mmm, it's getting me worked up just thinking about it."

"So this is about power?" Rick asked.

Catherine shifted slightly, pressing her breasts into his shoulder and her sex against his leg. "Not exactly. It's about trust and love. I would be absolutely horrified at the thought of anyone else having access to me in this state, but I didn't have even a moment's hesitation with you. It's the ultimate demonstration of trust."

Rick silently processed his wife's words. He was an emotionally simple man, and had always assumed that his wife was similar. He was content to live an ordinary but fulfilling life and grow old together without ever venturing outside of the safety of their pleasant existence. He had no idea that she harbored such depths of feeling for him. Catherine let him think, lovingly stroking his chest in silence.

"Do you want me to do a trust drop?" he finally asked.

"I've thought a lot about that," she said. "At first I thought I did, but I don't think so anymore."

"What changed your mind?"

She thought about it for a second. "I think I want you to find whatever your version of a trust drop. When I first read about them, I was so excited for the reasons I explained earlier. I couldn't wait to give myself to you, and I was excited and hopeful that you'd want to do the same for me. I had more time to think while we waited, though, and I realized that this is my way of exploring the depths of my love for you. I don't think yours will be the same. If it is, I'd love to do a trust drop with you, but I don't want you to do one just because I did. I want you to find your own way to express your love."

Rick was surprised to find tears in his eyes at her words. "Oh God, babe, I... I can't believe how good you are to me. I love you, Catherine."

She grinned. "I love you too. I kinda wish I could remember this. Speaking of which, you've got twenty-three hours left. Hit me with some more questions!"

He tried to think of something lighthearted. "Tell me something really embarrassing you've never told anyone before."

She nodded. "I was secretly glad my childhood dog died a week after I went away to college."

"What?" Rick asked. "Why?"

"I guess it felt nice knowing that he loved me so much he couldn't live without me," she said with a shrug. "Wow, it sounds pretty fucked-up when I say it out loud. Are you judging me right now? You can tell me if you are."

He sized her up. "A little bit. That's crazy."

"You asked," she said nonchalantly. "Maybe you should try getting some stuff off your chest. You know, things you don't like about me, little habits you wish I'd change..."

"Why bother? You won't remember any of this anyway."

"That's the point," Catherine said. "Think of this as a dry run. Like if you really want me to get a Brazilian wax, you could bring it up now and I'd tell you how I'd react. That one would take some convincing, by the way."

Rick paused. He had been so focused on his wife's chemically-induced honesty and openness that he had never considered this possibility.

"Anal?" he asked, and Catherine burst into laughter.

"You really wanna stick it in my ass?" she said. "I mean, I'd probably do it on the condition that you let me try using a strap-on on you or something. I want to be more adventurous in bed, but it's got to be a two-way street."

Rick shook his head. "Not really, I just wanted to see how you'd react. I've got a few real ones, though..."