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"That seems rather unkind, Helen," Stan replied evenly. He was bored. They all usually got to this stage at one point or another. "Especially since you were just thanking me a moment ago and telling me that I was the one responsible for your great happiness. Your new freedom!"

"Oh!" Helen let herself fall back down to the couch. "I'm sorry, Stan. I just get confused sometimes. I guess you're right. I'm sorry."

"Well, time's up anyway," Stan said. Thank God, he was dying to take a leak. "See you in two weeks unless you have something special you want to talk to me about."

"In two weeks?!!"

"Yes, don't you remember? I told you I was going away on a short vacation. Up to Vermont. Skiing!"

Helen looked thunder-struck. She'd completely forgotten that he'd mentioned this to her some time ago. How could he go away and leave her!? What right did he have to go away?

"Of course, you can always call my service. They'll know how to reach me in any emergency." I just know the crazy bitch's going to call! I just know she's going to have a crisis while we're up there!

Dr. Stanley Bederbeck guided his still stunned patient gently to the door. "You enjoy this new freedom of yours, Helen," he told her. "It's about time you have a little fun, don't you think?"

Maybe that would get her through his vacation, he thought. But somehow he knew it wouldn't really be enough. Helen had a lot to go through yet, before she would be truly free!

***

In celebration of her rebirth as a desirable female, Helen went right out and bought herself a new dress, new shoes and a new pocketbook. The shoes were a bright green. "Outrageous!" the shoe-clerk had said. "But terrific!"

"It's the now look!" the clerk added as Helen looked dubiously at the shoes which seemed to make her feet look twice as large as they already were. The ultra-high heel and the glistening green platform under the sole were, she decided, truly outrageous. Nevertheless, as a sigh of her new freedom, she bought them, knowing that her husband would hate them! So what! she said to herself. "I'll wear anything I choose!"

The dress was very much like a dress that Helen would have bought before, but it was much more daring in that it had an extremely low plunging neckline. This showed off the ample curves of her creamy white breasts however, and she was quite pleased when a male employee as the store whistled loudly at seeing her in it.

All in all, Helen felt like a totally new woman as, wearing her new outfit, she took the elevator downstairs and went to the super-market on the corner. The manager turned and looked at her with a definite leer before recognizing that she was Mrs. Adam Randolph. Helen felt as though she were walking on a cloud. Tomorrow she'd get her hair done a tone lighter too. Why not? She'd always wanted to. As she walked down the aisles that were stocked with food and grocery products, the elated wife smiled. She just couldn't help it. She pushed her cart in front of her in time to the piped in music that flooded the store with a false sense of well-being. Grocery boys doing the shelves paused in their work to watch her go by, and she could feel their approving glances. Bit by bit the attractive woman's shopping cart filled to the brim, and she could barely manage to push it to the check-out counter. She'd bought all the goodies she could possibly want for awhile, from frozen crepe suzettes, to frogs legs and giant crab claws, Cornish game hens, a frozen pumpkin pie, two quarts of Breyers ice-cream, peach and chocolate her very favorite flavors. There wasn't anything that she'd put aside, saying she couldn't afford it, because obviously she could afford it, and even if she didn't happen to have enough money in her checking account, her revolving credit system would pay the overdraft. Life could be beautiful after all. She had only to enjoy, enjoy!

"Deliver please!" she said cheerfully, after writing out an approved check for $35.00. She received thirty-five cents change which she tossed into her new purse before heading out the door. She would go home and wait for the packages to arrive. Maybe she would even receive a telephone call from Andre! That would be nice. It would be lovely to take a cab downtown, wearing her new clothes, go to his apartment and have a drink, and then have him make wonderful oral love to her just the way he'd done before.

As she walked back to the nearby apartment building, Helen felt the familiar tingling in her loins, reminding her of the enjoyment she'd had with the handsome Frenchman. She could still feel his wetly licking tongue down there, tickling and nudging and making her cum again and again! In the elevator, Helen surreptitiously pressed her thighs together, feeling the increased sensations of her hotly aroused vagina and loving the idea of her own sensuality. She couldn't wait to snub her husband again tonight. The cold heartless bastard!

***

Adam Randolph considered himself a very patient man, but he was tired of waiting for the girl behind the underground newspaper's desk to get to him. He was placing another advertisement, and he realized that his actual presence at the office of the newspaper was something of a special event. "Usually no one ever comes!" the girl said, looking at him curiously. "Everyone does it by mail!"

"Well I haven't got time to do it by mail!" Adam snapped. "I'm doing important scientific researches!"

Adam grew furious as the girl stifled a snigger and gave him an order blank.

Trying to control himself, he wrote out the newest ads that would be necessary for his work, counted out the money and stormed out of the place. On the street once more, Adam pulled his coat around him and headed for the subway. It was one short stop to his house now, although he'd made a long trip down from the university. He was looking forward to getting home tonight for some reason. There was no one expected that evening at the "lab" so he was free comparatively early. Perhaps Helen would have some dinner ready.

The subway ride was as unpleasant as usual, no more or less so, but Adam had conditioned himself to the smells, the snarls, and the glowers of the other riders. He refused to pay the new high cab fares, even if the drivers were being more polite these days!

It would be good to see Helen again, the scientist thought as he gazed at his own blurred reflection in the window of the train. He was hanging by a strap, swaying back and forth in more or less the same rhythm as his fellow travelers. He hadn't seen Helen in days now. Well, he'd seen a lump in the living room sofa. But that was all. Helen refused to sleep in the same bed with him since he'd so brutally raped her anally several days before. He didn't blame her really, and yet there was something infuriating about the gesture. He wanted to force her to come back and sleep in the bed with him. Perhaps this evening they could discuss it. Perhaps tonight, he would even give her a taste of that romance she was always looking for.

Things were going well at the "lab". Adam felt more relaxed about the entire project now that it had gotten in full swing so to speak. His researches had given in invaluable information about the various reactions in human beings to sexual stimuli. He was sure that when his book was published, his true genius would be recognized by the world.

"Helen? Helen?" Adam called out as soon as he let himself into the apartment. There was no answer. He hung up his coat and hat and went straight to the kitchen. Usually he had something at the coffee shop where Susi worked, but now it was getting uncomfortable going in there. She was always pestering him to let her come by the lab. He'd given in once or twice and let her have a work-out on the machine in the afternoon between his classes. But as far as his research was concerned, he had no more to learn from Susi. Better to eat elsewhere for awhile or to eat at home.

Adam looked at the stove. Nothing at all cooking on it. Just the spotless white of the metal with the black grids. No good smell of soup or perhaps a roast. How long had it been, he wondered, since Helen had cooked him dinner? He supposed he couldn't really blame her, since he never came home at a decent eating hour. But somehow he did blame her! The scientist moved to the refrigerator and opened the door. There to his amazement he saw that it was filled to overflowing with gourmet food items. The large freezer compartment was stuffed with things like frozen pizza, cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, Chinese spare-ribs, and spinach souffle. In the refrigerator itself was a hodge-podge of expensive meat cuts, out of season fruits and vegetables, milk and cream, red, white and rose wines as well as two bottles of imported champagne.