Penny was worried. All week long, Sheldon had been making excuses to practice. Their excursions started off simply enough: A peck on the cheek here; hand holding there. The intensity with which Sheldon took to their lessons amazed and impressed Penny. She took out her cell phone and texted Sheldon.

"We on 4 2nite?"

She waited one moment.

"That is affirmative. "

Penny smiled. She was strangely excited about her evening with Sheldon.

Sheldon looked at his phone in astonishment. It seemed Penny couldn't get enough of his Texan charm. All week, she had been vocal in her excitement of their physical pursuits. He figured since he was so proficient and skilled at everything he attempted, his physical charisma must also be excellent and above average.

He walked into his apartment and immediately sat down at his desk chair. He had work to do, but couldn't get Amy and Penny out of his mind. It was a conundrum; he loved Amy with every fiber of his being. He wanted to make her happy and that's what originated his proposition with Penny. Meanwhile, his respect and attraction for Penny was growing by leaps and bounds. This simply baffled him. After their initial meeting, when Leonard called dibs on Penny, he immediately placed his burgeoning attraction to her on pause. When he discovered her remedial intelligence, it didn't take much to completely dissolve any arousal her otherwise perfect appearance caused. He was a man of intellect after all. But somehow the evolution of his relationship with Amy, i.e. the hand holding,rubbing vicks vapo rub on Amy's exposed chest and spanking her- had awakened a part of him that he had put on pause the day he met Penny.

He turned on his laptop and logged into his Skype account. He had nonverbally suspended his communication with Amy until he could put 100% into the physical aspect of their relationship. However, he knew he couldn't avoid her forever.

"Hi, Amy." He said hesitantly , seeing her tear stained face on his screen.

"Sheldon, what is the meaning of this? Have you been ignoring me?" She wiped away a tear.

"Yes. Actually, I have."

"Why? What did I do? Is it because of the spanking?"

He hesitated, not sure how much to explain.

"Amy, it is somewhat because of the spanking. I have to be honest with you. I'm concerned about the course of our relationship."

"What do you mean, Sheldon?"

"This is hard for me, Amy. And honestly, not many things are hard for me. But, somehow, evolving physically in our relationship is harder than I thought it would be."

"And when you spanked me?"

"Well, it excited me. I had never touched you like that before and when you were on my lap…" he trailed off.

"Yes, Sheldon?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

"Amy, I'm a man of science and intellect. I am familiar with the birds and the bees. I am familiar with sexual and gender studies. But I know nothing about emotional reaction to physical stimuli."

"So you were both aroused and what?"

"Amy, I really can't talk to you about this on the computer."

"I'm on my way." She said, without hesitation.

"No, Amy!" he protested.

"Why not?"

"I am not accustomed to failure. I have to practice. "

"How are you going to practice? And why not with me? We can explore things together."

"Amy, let me do this my way. "

"Okay, Sheldon. I respect that. I am glad you want me at all."

"Of course I want you, Amy." He smiled at her and logged off.

Sheldon sighed and rubbed his hands through his neatly coiffed hair

"But I want Penny too."