Page 164 of My Only

I’d rather not!

I side-eyed Ayla, who looked just as stunned as I felt.

“Abstinence will allow you to refocus your connection outside of physical intimacy. You two clearly have a very passionate relationship,” she said, amusement in her tone. “That’s great. But passion can’t be the only thing holding you together.”

I sucked my teeth. “I mean…”

Ayla elbowed me lightly.

I smirked.

Dr. Aldridge held up a hand to cut off my comeback before I could make it. “Sex is important, yes. But emotional intimacy? That’s what truly sustains a marriage.”

I sighed, running a hand over my beard. “So, what exactly are you suggesting?”

She folded her hands in her lap. “No sex for at least two weeks.”

Ayla’s eyes shot wide. “Two, what?”

I damn near choked. “Two entire weeks?”

Dr. Aldridge laughed. “Yes, two weeks. It’s a temporary reset. The goal is to rebuild your foundation through communication, quality time, and emotional connection. I want you two to focus on intimacy in other ways. Holding hands. Eye contact. Thoughtful gestures. Having conversations that don’t end in…” She waved a hand. “… bed.”

Ayla and I stared at each other.

No sex for two weeks?

I tapped my fingers against my thigh, then dragged my palm over my mouth. I had no words.

Ayla, still blinking like she was processing, finally asked, “And… after the two weeks?”

“Then...” Dr. Aldridge smiled. “Back to your regularly scheduled programming.”

Ayla and I laughed.

“And we’ll evaluate after.” Dr. Aldridge smiled. “You two say you didn’t have disputes as friends, and while marriage and friendship go hand in hand, they aren’t the same. That said, I think you’d benefit from revisiting that foundation.”

I sat back in my seat, letting that settle.

“This abstinence isn’t about punishment,” she continued. “It’s about shifting your focus. Relying less on physical intimacy to smooth things over and more on real communication. You need to remember how to be just friends again—even if only for a little while.”

“I like it,” Ayla said immediately, tightening her arm around mine. “If it’ll help, then cool.” She smiled up at me. “I loved being just your friend.”

I exhaled. “I know. I did too.” Then I shot her a pointed look. “But I really love being your husband… especially at night after a long ass day.”

Ayla giggled.

“Like, I love to husband all over you. And a lot. Every night.”

She playfully smacked my arm. “Hassani!”

That made me laugh.

“But I’ll do it.” I kissed her forehead, my lips lingering a little longer. “Whatever it takes.”

Half an hour later, our session was winding down, when Dr. Aldridge asked a question that caught me off guard.

“If you could say anything to each other, knowing you wouldn’t be judged, what would it be?”

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