A/N: Josef and Sandrina meet. Takes place during Guy Talk chapter 6, Josef's Problem.

It's not necessary to read every chapter chronologically but if you want to, Guy Talk, The Rest of the Story, and the crossovers are collected in one story here:

archiveofourowndotorg/works/2834711 (replace 'dot' with a period)

Josef Kostan liked sex. Loved it actually. Always had, through the last half of his human life and four centuries beyond. But he did have other interests. And sometimes he took a short break between girlfriends. Which he did after it was finished with Simone and she left for Atlanta. Josef threw himself into work and spent a lot of time with Mick and Beth which was Beth's doing. She seemed to think Josef would be broken up about the break-up. He wasn't particularly but allowances had to be made for his best friend's girlfriend who was also his new PR person.

A couple of weeks later Josef had been without a woman long enough. But he quickly discovered that while he was very interested in relieving his frustration, he was completely uninterested in expending the time and effort required for even the shallowest relationship. He met several women, human and vampire, and it was the same each time. Attraction and arousal followed by the realization that he would just as soon go home and jack off. Which he did a few times over the next weeks but not with any great satisfaction. He tried call girls twice on the theory that paying relieved him of any need to connect with the woman. When that failed, he started to get worried.

Mick finally caught on and pried the story out of him. And that's why Josef was standing in a waiting room wondering how the hell he let himself get taunted into this. Mick started it, of course, with that ridiculous suggestion about seeing a psychiatrist. Josef knew Mick was messing with him but he decided to call Mick's bluff. Besides, Josef really was worried about his sexual situation. And he was curious. What would a vampire shrink be like?

Freshies occasionally needed to talk to someone about the vamp world they were part of so Josef knew a name, Dr. Linden. First name Sandra or something like that. He was given an appointment for nine the following evening. So here he was regretting his decision but too proud to back down and duck out, even though he had used the name Charles Fitzgerald instead of Josef Kostan.

And now it was too late because the door between the waiting room and the office was opening. A woman stood there. She was turned young, she looked about Josef's age. Josef sniffed unobtrusively and knew she was doing the same. Two hundred give or take, Josef thought. She was above average height so she would have been considered quite tall back then. She was fine-boned and slender with silvery fair hair and grey-green eyes. She wasn't strikingly beautiful but there was something distinctive about her. Josef wondered if her eyes matched her hair when she changed.

She was smiling slightly - a calm, pleasant expression. "Mr. Fitzgerald? I'm Dr. Linden. Please come in."

Her office was tasteful but neutral. A desk with bookshelves; two armchairs close together; another chair beside a ... "You actually have a couch," Josef said.

"It's a cliché, I know, but it is comfortable and useful for hypnosis. Sit wherever you like." Josef chose an armchair. Dr. Linden was wearing a suit, professional and quietly expensive. The skirt nearly reached her knees. It rose an inch when she sat and another inch when she crossed her legs. Good legs.

"How can I help?" She asked.

"Right to it, eh?"

"Whenever you're ready. We can talk about anything."

"How did you become a psychiatrist?"

"The brain was the new frontier in medicine and the study of mental and emotional issues was emerging. I was interested and I was in Vienna at the time. I met Sigmund Freud and studied with him and others."

"Impressive credentials."

"I keep current. I've been a psychiatrist three times. I go through medical school each time before I practice."

"May I ask when you were turned?"

"1824. I would say you were turned at least 150 years before that."

"1624."

"You are the oldest vampire I've met."

"I don't know any older than me. There may be some but we aren't acquainted. Do you have many vampires as patients?"

"A few. More humans, of course."

Silence. Josef liked her eyes and her mouth. They were studying each other. He wondered if she liked what she saw as much as he did. There was intelligence and humor in her face but she looked like she might have standards that were hard to meet. And why was he thinking of this appointment like a blind date? Maybe he should have tried to find a male shrink.

Her voice broke in. "Can you tell me why you made this appointment?"

"I suppose I'll have to eventually."

"The problem must be important for you to seek counseling but perhaps it isn't urgent?"

"I thought it was. No, it really is. But personal. Very personal."

"You could come back on Thursday. Now that we've met it may be easier to talk next time."

He felt a little frisson each time their eyes met. Or was he imagining it? Josef thought there was awareness on her part as well although it was nothing so obvious as flirting. He made another appointment.

And spent the next two days obsessing about Dr. Linden. Was he really going to open up to her? Was there something between them or was he a patient crushing on his therapist? Shouldn't that take longer to happen? By Thursday evening he was horny and tense.

Dr. Linden looked a little tense herself. There was a definite spark when they saw each other. He could see her making up her mind about something as soon as it happened. She went to her desk and wrote on a card which she handed to him. "I'm sorry that I'm unable to continue working with you," she said. "I'm referring you to a colleague."

Josef put the card in his pocket without a glance. "So I'm no longer your patient?"

She nodded.

"Good." He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her to him. They kissed, eyes open, eyelashes almost touching. They undressed each other. He peeled off her thigh-high hose. She pulled down his silk boxers so he could step out of them. She was wearing tiny panties and a bra. Josef ripped off the panties and they moved to the couch. It was long and wide with no back, actually a chaise lounge.

Things progressed quickly. Josef barely had time to register that he had over-estimated his ability to hold off. It was moving too fast and his control was suddenly gone. No time to enter her and there wouldn't be much pleasure for her anyway so he thrust against her stomach and came. She offered her wrist when she realized what happened. He bit gratefully.

When he spoke, his voice was rueful. "Sorry about the quick trigger. It's been awhile and I got a little over-excited."

"It's all right," Sandrina said. "I got excited, too."

"But not nearly as productively," Josef replied. His hand moved between her legs, fingers exploring. Her thighs parted. He was very skillful. When she went over the edge, Josef returned her favor by pressing his wrist to her mouth.

When she was able to think again, he was propped on an elbow beside her. "I haven't even seen your breasts yet."

"I'm not very big."

"I'm interested in quality not quantity," Josef replied.

He unhooked the demi-pushup bra that was making him a little crazy and tossed it away. Her breasts weren't large but she was far from flat-chested. And the quality was definitely there: The shape, the texture of her skin, and her nipples ... Josef's mouth opened slightly as his fangs descended.

"I'll take the drooling as a sign of approval," Sandrina said.

His cock twitched and pushed against her leg. "And that makes it unanimous."

Sandrina smiled. "Reminds me of the American Civil War."

Josef raised his brows inquiringly.

"The South shall rise again," she said. "And it just did."

Josef laughed and then got serious about paying attention to the breasts he had neglected the first time.

Later he asked, "Do you know who I really am? Besides Charles Fitzgerald?"

"Josef Kostan."

"But we haven't met before, have we?"

"No, I recognized you from a magazine cover and other pictures."

"I don't know your first name."

"Sandrina."

"Unusual. I like it."

"My parents were Sandor and Irina."

"So your name is what your parents would be called if they were a celebrity couple."

"I never thought of that. Are you going to use the referral and see another psychiatrist?"

"No need. I'm cured."

"May I ask, of what?"

"I had ... performance problems."

"Sexual?" She sounded incredulous.

"Yes. I told you it had been awhile."

"It's been awhile for me, too."

"How long?"

"Actually, you're the first in this millennium."

"Eight years?!" Now Josef was incredulous.

"How about you?"

"This is a little embarrassing."

"I don't expect it to be eight years. That was a record for me. So, how long?"

"June."

Sandrina was silent for a moment, possibly with disbelief. "Of this year?" she asked evenly.

Josef nodded.

"Two months? You were worried because you hadn't had sex for two months?" Her voice was rising a little.

"It seemed like a very long time."

"I suppose you do need to keep in practice."

"That's right. I was concerned for my partners, not myself."

"And apparently you need regular release in order to avoid premature ejaculation."

"You had to mention that didn't you? It's hardly ever happened in 400 years."

"That's what they all say."

"I thought healthcare providers were caring and compassionate."

"You did redeem yourself with the follow-through. And the follow-up."

"I could use a little more redemption."

"Are you showing off?"

"No, I'm catching up."

Still later Josef asked if the bathroom off her office was a powder room only or included a shower.

"There's a shower," Sandrina said. "Is this your way of suggesting the next round?"

"I'd just like a shower," Josef lied. "But you go first. It's your office and I'm a gentleman."

Josef watched with pleasure as she crossed the room. He lay there feeling relaxed for the first time in months. He owed Mick for suggesting the psychiatrist even though Mick was joking. And Mick had been right about Josef wanting to be interested in a woman, not just sex. How did Mick know this stuff? A few months with Beth and he was a relationship expert.

Josef headed for the bathroom. "I'm not really a gentleman," he said when he stuck his head in the shower.

"I hope not. You're just in time. I couldn't drag out this shower much longer."

The entire bathroom would fit in the walk-in shower in Josef's master bath. The shower stall seemed small but it turned out to be just the right size for two people to brace themselves and not fall down.

Afterward they dressed slowly, putting on clothes that had been shed with haste a few hours before. Sandrina picked up her ruined panties. "You owe me a pair," she said, smiling.

Josef took the referral card from his pocket and threw it away. "Let's exchange personal numbers instead."

Josef went home, fed from a freshie and headed to his freezer even though it was still night. He had to get up earlier than usual. He was out shopping before noon, choosing very high-end lingerie. French-cut briefs, boy-leg hipsters, bikinis, thongs – all styles, colors and fabrics. They would be messengered to Sandrina at home when she got up in the afternoon. He went early to his office.

He planned to call Sandrina after her office hours. He was surprised and pleased when she called an hour after the package was delivered.

"A dozen pairs are excessive."

"I'm planning ahead."

"You're going to destroy more of my underwear?"

"I don't want to. But if they get in the way, I'll do whatever is necessary."

She laughed. "The matching bras are extravagant and unnecessary."

"They can be returned."

"Well, I wouldn't want to seem ungrateful."

"They're really more for me than you."

"Must I put on a pair of Victoria's Secret angel wings and give a fashion show?"

"Of course not, the wings are optional." Josef paused. "Will I see you later?"

"Oh yes. All of me."