Sexually Confusing

"It started out in the gym," Sue Storm started. "Alica Masters was in there, doing her workout. It was just the two of us. She's always been in nice shape, works out every day. I'd say she watches what she eats, but being blind, she says its more about managing her disability—that if she gained weight, it would make it more difficult for her to dress, to move around. Alicia values her independence, you know? Wants to do what she can on her own."

Sue paused to sip her tea. Dr. Stone, in a keyhole sweater and pencil skirt, sat across from her. The light glinted from the psychiatrist's glasses. Silent, but not judgmental.

"And I—I noticed how well-shaped her thighs and calves were. She was doing a little yoga routine. Downward-facing dog. Ass in the air, face down. It was...showing her off to advantage. I could see her workout pants cling to her. Really outline each cheek on that heart-shaped ass. Then my gaze wandered to down below and...and she had a cameltoe showing. Like, you could clearly see the cleft of her vagina pressed against the fabric."

The Invisible Woman's cheeks burned.

"I just—I caught myself staring. I'd never stared at a woman like that before. Never thought about women like that. Yet all week, whenever I've seen an attractive woman, I found my eyes gravitating toward their breasts, their ass...hips, lips...and my mind has started to wander...and then...just lately...I started to fantasize."

"Sexual fantasies?" Dr. Stone asked.

The blonde heroine sighed and nodded.

"And this has begun since you started watching pornography every night?" Dr. Stone said.

"Yes," Sue chewed her lip. "I mean, I don't look at just women. It's usually men and women. Couples. Together. But lately, I've been...watching the women more. Last night, I queued up a lesbian scene, these two beautiful blondes and...I couldn't look away. It was an amateur video, not porn stars, and they just smiled and were so gentle with each other and..."

Sue took another sip of tea, unable to go on.

"You know," Dr. Stone said. "Studies have shown that women tend to have more bisexual tendencies than the rest of the population. Which doesn't mean you're bisexual. Sexual desire is a spectrum. There's nothing wrong with these new feelings, Susan. In fact, I suspect they might be at the root of the stress and sexual dissatisfaction you've been experiencing in your marriage."

The Invisible Woman frowned as she set the empty teacup down.

"But I love Reed! I like co—straight sex! I'm not—"

Dr. Stone held up a hand, palm forward, and Sue paused. Their eyes met. The golden light was gone from the psychiatrist's glasses, so their gaze met.

"I'm not saying you are, Susan. And you haven't done anything wrong. You may be married, but you're still human, and to be human is to be curious, and aware of the world and people around you. It is natural to think about other people around you in sexual terms," Dr. Stone said. Then the psychiatrist leaned back in her chair, and the golden light flashed from her lenses again. "Or put it another way: don't you think that others sexualize you?"

Sue Storm expected a visceral reaction. Instead, it felt like a missing piece slid into place in a puzzle. She blinked, not sure how to respond.

"Thoughts are not a crime, Sue. Only actions. You can think about having sex with other people as much as you want. You can even masturbate while thinking of Alicia Masters. Or have sex with your husband while thinking of someone else. It's very common. What matters is if you actually go further. You haven't have you?" Dr. Stone said.

"No," Sue said. "I mean, obviously not. I would never cheat on Reed. Especially not with—another woman."

"Then you should relax. Explore a little. As long as you have well-defined limits, as long as you don't cheat—then what's the harm? It's possible that you've been suppressing a side of yourself. That could be impacting other parts of your life."

"So...you want me to look at women?" Sue Storm said, lips tugged into a frown.

"What I suggest..." Dr. Stone said, and a golden sheen gleamed on her hair, almost an aura. Sue caught a flicker of it, and thought it a trick of the sunlight through the window. Unaware that it signified Moonstone placing her, once again, in a suggestive state.