“You’re not weak, Leandro. You’re human.” My voice sounds different, even to my own ears. I always soften my tone with my patients, but there’s something else in my voice that I can’t place.
His eyes lift to mine, and something unexpected moves through my chest.
Compassion.
It’s compassion. I feel it all the time for my patients.
Before I can question myself, I quickly glance from him to the clock.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I’m really sorry that I can’t extend our session right now, but I also don’t want to leave this until our next session. I think talking more today could really help. Can you come back at six p.m., and we’ll talk more then? How does that sound to you?”
I see the first flicker of a genuine smile on his face.
“That would be great. Thank you.”
His sincerity touches me like fingers brushing over my skin.
Crap! I was supposed to have dinner with Dan after work before his shift at the hospital. We’ve both been working a lot, and his shifts have meant that we haven’t been able to see each other much over the last two weeks.
I have to call him and let him know that I’ll be seeing a patient, so I can’t make it.
“Okay.” I get up from my seat and walk toward the exit door. “So, I’ll see you back here at six.”
After he walks toward me, I open the door, and Leandro’s arm accidentally brushes mine. Electricity sparks up my arm with an intensity that I’ve never felt before. My lungs feel compressed.
Lifting my eyes to his face, I see he’s already looking at me.
His eyes are fathomless. Depthless. Eyes I could fall into.
I feel caught off guard.
My face is warm, and I know my cheeks are red. Catching myself, I look away and wrap my hand around my arm, willing the feel of his touch to dissipate.
“Sadie won’t be here when you arrive. She’ll have left for the day, so just come straight into my office. I’ll be here.” Maintaining professionalism, I force my eyes back to his.
I can’t get a read on him.
He’s smiling, but what that smile means, I’m not sure.
Does he know he affected me just now?
There’s a dimple etched deep in his cheek. It only works to increase his handsomeness.
I feel a ripple in my chest.
You’re his therapist.
I take a step back.
“I’ll see you at six, India.” He turns and begins walking down the stairs.
Closing the door, I realize that’s the first time he’s called me by my first name, and hearing him say it with his sexy Brazilian accent…well, let’s just say the feeling it leaves me with is amazing.
And that’s not good.
It’s not good at all.
I FELT SOMETHING when my arm brushed India’s. Something intense.
A simple brush of our arms, and exhilaration rushed through me.
The thing is, when touching women, I haven’t felt anything since the accident. No connection. Nothing. I fuck to forget, not because I want those women.
And I’m pretty sure India felt our connection, too. I saw the way her cheeks flushed and how she curled her hand around her arm where we’d touched.
I affect her.
I wasn’t sure if I did, but now, I’m pretty damn sure that I do.
I like her. But I don’t want to fuck this up because I really think she can help me. After last night, I need her help more than I realized.
It’s almost six p.m., and I’m on my way back to India’s office.
India. I love the sound of her name each time I say it.
And I love how her voice sounds when saying my name.
I wonder how it will sound as it screams from her lips while I’m fucking her.
I can’t fuck her.
Balancing the coffees I just picked up from Starbucks with the takeout sandwiches, I push through the door into her reception area.
It’s empty, as she said it would be.
It’ll be just her and me here. I don’t know if that’s a good idea, to be honest. I don’t know if I can trust myself not to make a move.
Jesus, I’m a grown man. I can control myself around her.
I give a knock on her door before letting myself in.
She’s sitting at her desk, talking on the phone. She smiles those red lips at me, and I feel my cock stir to life.
Down, boy.
The smile still on her face, she lifts a finger, letting me know that she’ll be a minute.
I give a nod and then put the coffees and the bag containing the sandwiches down on the table. I take a seat.
“Sounds good. Okay. See you later. Love you.”
Love you?
She’s definitely not married, as there’s no ring.
Does she have a boyfriend?
Of course she has a boyfriend. Look at her.
Hanging up her phone, she gets up from her chair and walks over to where I’m sitting. She takes her seat across from me. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries. I brought coffee and a couple of sandwiches in case you haven’t eaten.”
Her eyes flicker with surprise, like I’m the first guy to ever bring her food.
“I haven’t eaten. That was really thoughtful of you, Leandro. Thank you. But please let me reimburse you for the coffee and sandwich.”
She makes to get up, but I stop her with my words. “No. My treat.” I wave her off.
She pauses for a moment and then lowers her butt back into the seat. “Okay. Thank you.”
Reaching over the coffee table separating us, I hand her one of the coffees, and in the exchange, I make sure that my fingers brush hers.
Why I do that, I have no clue.
Okay, I do have a clue. I want to see her react to me again.