Lief keeps watching me.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I walk to the door and open it. I can’t make the word ‘leave’ come out without choking on it, so I motion to the door.
Lief holds out his hand and I give him his shirt. I have on a bra and underwear and I’m not shy enough to close the door for modesty. Lief pulls his shirt over his body – an actual travesty because he’s gorgeous.
When he starts to walk away, I pull his hair out of the neck and feel his eyes on me. But if I look at him, I’ll drag him back to bed. I know it. I’ll try to find a way to make this right and it’s not.
“Have a good night.”
I shut the door behind him, lockallthe locks, then pin a blanket over my big window so at least my bed is private.
The next day, I get through classes and head to work. I feel like a mess. I didn’t get any sleep. I was too busy thinking about how to deal with my men, what to do with them, and how to get this balance in check. Because if they think I’m going to tolerate being tracked like some kind of lab rat, they’re wrong.
When I sit down and try to get settled, I see Hunter on my schedule for today and Chase on my schedule for tomorrow. I groan and rub my forehead. How did I get into this mess?
I look down at my crotch and point at my pussy. “You did this. You just couldn’t resist such sexy men.”
Of course, if they didn’t make me come like crazy and make me feel like the most important thing in the world on a regular basis it would have been easy to cut the cord.
No. Professional office means professional thinking. I take ten minutes to fully clear my mind, focusing on the present, on the people who need me, and manage to get through my first two appointments easily. I'm seeing a lot of progress in Davy and the way he’s coping with his anxiety.
My second patient just needs a constructive way to vent about their high-stress job and listening keeps my mind busy. After both, I feel good, until I get the page that Hunter is ready for me.
Of course, he is. And I have a feeling he has more on his mind that I don’t want to hear. After massaging my temples for a moment and putting on my normal smile, I walk out of my office and see Hunter. Last time, he behaved. He didn’t flirt, despite his hungry calculated eyes.
So I walk out, try not to linger on the way his curls fall on his face, the way his eyes track my every move, and the way he comes up behind me and stands just a little too close. When I walk into the office, I shut the door and sit at my normal chair.
Hunter sits down and looks me over. “You’re glowing today, Dr.”
“Not a doctor,” I say, just like the last session as I make a note. “What would you like to talk about today?”
“This girl I know.”
My hands still. No matter where this conversation goes, we’re already in dangerous territory. As it is, I shouldn’t be seeing him and Chase. I know that. But ..
“You see, I followed the advice you gave me the very first time we spoke. I took my shot with the girl,” He says, despite the fact I haven’t looked at him. “And she has reservations. I don’t mind that. She’s smart. If she wasn’t, I wouldn’t be as interested.”
“I see,” I say, not noting anything.
“And yet ….”
I look up at him slowly. He rubs his jaw. “And yet, she refuses to let me protect her. I know, it’s unorthodox, but how can I possibly show that I can and will keep her safe if she refuses to see things from my side?”
“Have you seen them from hers?” I ask, making myself believe that he’s not talking about me.
“What?” He meets my eyes. “Why would I need to? I’m working to save her life!”
I bite the inside of my cheek. Cocky asshole.
“And keeping her safe is better than keeping her comfortable. I can earn back her favor in time, right? Wants versus needs?”
I continue to watch him, then motion for him to continue again.
He sits back. “No, I’d like your opinion on this.”
“Yes, you are trying to protect her, but if you don’t allow her to set some boundaries, you may lose her.”
“Why?” It’s a growl.