Page 6 of All She Wants

“Have you used a vibrator before, or is this your first time shopping for one?”

“I’ve owned... items. Previously.” Claire heard herself and wanted to open up the door and walk straight into the blizzard. Items. Jesus, Claire. She sounded as though she were describing office supplies to her administrative assistant. “It’s been a while. My last purchase was perhaps ten years ago, and it was adequate.”

“Adequate.” Erin’s mouth held the ghost of a smile that was being physically restrained. “That’s a word I hear a lot, actually. Usually from women who bought whatever was closest to the register because they didn’t want to stand in the store long enough to compare options.”

Claire’s jaw tightened, mostly because the description was painfully accurate. She’d purchased her last vibrator at a shop in Cherry Creek during her lunch hour, pointed at the first item the clerk recommended, paid in cash, and carried it home in a bag she threw away before Andrew got back from the office.

“Something like that,” she said.

“So let’s do better than adequate.” Erin leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “Tell me what mattered about the one you had. What worked, what didn’t. If nothing worked, that’s useful information too.”

Claire took a moment to reflect before answering. “It was effective. Quiet enough. But the sensation was...” She searched for the right word, discarding several that felt too revealing. “Blunt. Like it was designed to accomplish a task rather than—” She stopped.

“Rather than let you enjoy the process.”

Claire met Erin’s eyes. “Yes. That.”

Erin stood and moved to the glass-fronted cabinet along the far wall, returning with three products. She set them on the table between their chairs and opened the first box, removing a smooth, curved object in a dusty rose silicone.

“This is pressure-wave technology. Completely different mechanism than a traditional vibrator.” She held it at an angle so Claire could see the small opening at the tip. “It uses pulsed air to create suction around the clitoris instead of vibrating against it. Most women describe the sensation as more focused, more layered. It builds rather than just buzzes.”

Claire’s attention fixed on Erin’s hands. As Erin rotated the device, Claire followed the movement of her fingers and missed the first few words of the explanation.

“The intensity is adjustable.” Erin pressed a button, and a faint hum started. “It has seven levels. Start low. Seriously, start low. The jump between three and seven is the difference between a pleasant afternoon and needing a large glass of electrolytes.”

The corner of Claire’s mouth moved involuntarily.

Erin set the first option on the table between them. “How long are you in town for?”

“I have the rental through New Year’s.”

“So you have the whole week to enjoy the area?”

“For once. I’m officially off work.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a corporate crisis attorney.”

Erin leaned back slightly. “What does that involve?”

“Product recalls, executive scandals, internal investigations. Lawsuits large enough to threaten an entire company. I’m usually called after everyone has started panicking, and it’s my job to determine what happens next.”

“A full week away sounds overdue.”

“It definitely is.”

Erin reached for the second box. “Then let’s make sure it’s a good one. This one combines internal and external stimulation. It has a curved arm for the G-spot and a pressure wave at the tip.” She indicated the dual structure. “It’s popular with women who already know they prefer blended orgasms, and with women who want to find out what that is.”

“You discuss this the way a sommelier discusses Burgundy.”

“Their job is matching the right wine to the right palate. Mine just involves different nerve endings.” Erin set the second product beside the first. “Before I show you one more option, I need to ask something personal. You’re free to tell me it’s none of my business.”

Claire lifted an eyebrow.

“You said you’ll be using this alone. If you ever decided to use something with a partner, would that partner be a man, a woman, or either?”

Claire glanced down at the products between them. She knew the answer immediately, though it took her a moment to say it aloud. “I wasn’t aware my future dating life was part of the consultation.”