They stared at each other for a moment in silence. Then Mary took out a small notepad. "Don't be ashamed. Nothing leaves this room. But I need to know. For his healing."
"Do I use him to meet my own sexual needs? No. At present, he cleans the flat." Sherlock shuffled in his chair, frowned, and added, "Compulsively."
"People who have fully internalised this identity can be very persuasive. They can manipulate situations. Create steady temptation. It can become their obsession, to service you and anticipate your physical needs."
"Then I am the ideal candidate for this situation."
Mary looked puzzled. "You are in a steady, fulfilling and strictly monogamous relationship that John sees and respects?"
"No. Not remotely. I simply do not require much to ensure my physical needs are adequately met. Apparently, he sees my true need as having someone to clean up after me." Sherlock folded his hands under his chin. "I trust the bulk of this therapy will be to help him regain his memory and sense of identity?"
"I know someone who can provide a service for you. A sort of a fiancee-for-hire. Intelligent, attractive, who can make John feel as if he does not need to continually wear you down until you give in to his advances. Regardless of your internal drive, John will see a high libido as everyone's default setting. I don't mean to make any assumptions concerning your sexual preference, but a male escort is not available at this time. I can get you a female one."
He flicked his chin upward and the corner of his mouth twitched, but he schooled himself back to a more placid expression before he spoke. "I have no preference, but it is irrelevant. He has not propositioned me since I made clear the nature of our relationship on the first day he began speaking."
Mary raised her eyebrows and quickly shifted her gaze back to the notepad. "To suppress his training to that degree is highly unusual. Perhaps he was not programmed to meet solely sexual needs. How old is John?"
"Forty-three."
"That might be a factor. Greater versatility, in case buyers didn't find him to be quite what they were looking for sexually." She opened a case file and looked at a photograph of John. "Even though he does seem fit and attractive."
Sherlock rose quickly and headed for the door.
"If I can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know."
FILL 13b/? "138" (John in slave auction)
"Do I use him to meet my own sexual needs? No. At present, he cleans the flat." Sherlock shuffled in his chair, frowned, and added, "Compulsively."
"People who have fully internalised this identity can be very persuasive. They can manipulate situations. Create steady temptation. It can become their obsession, to service you and anticipate your physical needs."
"Then I am the ideal candidate for this situation."
Mary looked puzzled. "You are in a steady, fulfilling and strictly monogamous relationship that John sees and respects?"
"No. Not remotely. I simply do not require much to ensure my physical needs are adequately met. Apparently, he sees my true need as having someone to clean up after me." Sherlock folded his hands under his chin. "I trust the bulk of this therapy will be to help him regain his memory and sense of identity?"
"I know someone who can provide a service for you. A sort of a fiancee-for-hire. Intelligent, attractive, who can make John feel as if he does not need to continually wear you down until you give in to his advances. Regardless of your internal drive, John will see a high libido as everyone's default setting. I don't mean to make any assumptions concerning your sexual
preference, but a male escort is not available at this time. I can get you a female one."
He flicked his chin upward and the corner of his mouth twitched, but he schooled himself back to a more placid expression before he spoke. "I have no preference, but it is irrelevant. He has not propositioned me since I made clear the nature of our relationship on the first day he began speaking."
Mary raised her eyebrows and quickly shifted her gaze back to the notepad. "To suppress his training to that degree is highly unusual. Perhaps he was not programmed to meet solely sexual needs. How old is John?"
"Forty-three."
"That might be a factor. Greater versatility, in case buyers didn't find him to be quite what they were looking for sexually." She opened a case file and looked at a photograph of John. "Even though he does seem fit and attractive."
Sherlock rose quickly and headed for the door.
"If I can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know."
"I won't. Thank you, Sherlock."
Sherlock left without a reply.