As the summer wore on, and I was eyeing the end of my sabbatical, I decided to spend the free time I had left working on myself. First step: eating better. Can't say I was a fan of this, but as my gut had been getting rounder and rounder, I forced myself to stick with it. The veggie burgers were not enjoyable, let me just be clear about that.

I also grew out both my hair and my beard. I was really just doing it to try something different, but while I wasn't enamored with the hair, I could already see that I'd be keeping the beard permanently. It really helped cover up my weak chin, which has always bothered me. I was also regularly visiting my masseuse, Ann.

She really knew how to work out the kinks. Some of her methods could be a bit painful, though.

But I knew the pain would lead to results. And she also had some methods that were more focused on pleasure than pain.

I don't know if I was just a sucker for her methods, or if I was strangely attracted to that prominent chin she had, which I sadly knew I never could, but I definitely intended to keep visiting her.

I was spending a lot of time in Oasis Springs. Working out, learning yoga, just trying to get into a better shape.

When I told my acquaintance Pedro - remember, the drug dealer who owns the strip club that fronts for a brothel? - about my regular forays into Oasis Springs, he sent me an address, with the message "Trust me." It was just a modest house in one of the suburbs. Inside was an attractive Asian lady. An attractive older Asian lady. Apparently, her name was Yoon, and she had a reputation among the elite as an expert in the art of sucking dick, who had been perfecting her craft for the better part of three decades now. She was represented by an expensive law firm all the way over in Newcrest, and her skills were so renowned that the attorneys would fight for the privilege of flying out to do her legal work, and then maybe negotiate a discount on the billing in exchange for a blowjob. Well, I had a royalty check burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to do some proper research.

What can I say? Her reputation was well-deserved. Between my visits to Ann and Yoon - and I should mention I was still casually seeing Daria - I was having more sex than at any time in my life up until that point. But summer was coming to a close, and that meant work was calling. At least I'd be completely refreshed when it was time to get back to it.