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Stop. Inappropriate. She’s a client sitting in your therapy chair.
Before I could think of a reply, she spoke again. “I was never good enough for Sean. His parents hated me. He was embarrassed to have me over to their house.”
Despite her prideful dignity, a pensive shimmer lurked in the shadows under her eyes. “But fuck Sean.” She fixed her gaze on her hands. “It wasn’t good between us. It hasn’t been for a long time. Sean’s right, anyway. There is something wrong with me.”
Silence swirled around us. She sniffed and I nudged a box of tissues across the table toward her.
“I can’t… It’s not something I can talk about with you. You’re a man, and you’re so…” Her eyes darted away. “It doesn’t matter.”
Sean’s nasty words from the party drifted to mind.
It’s not me, it’s you.
If it was something intimate, then she might feel more comfortable talking to a woman. Her pretty eyes locked with mine. I fought not to let my gaze linger too long on her beautiful lips. I’d fantasized so many nights as a teenager about kissing those perfect, pouty lips. My jaw tensed but I kept my expression level. What was wrong with me? This was a client. She was going through a rough patch—wading her way through a bad breakup, opening up, making herself vulnerable. It was my responsibility to maintain a boundary. I’d thought we’d be discussing mindset, not relationship issues and anxiety. If I couldn’t manage these feelings, I’d have to stop seeing her one on one. Skylar needed time and room to find a way through this—a safe space. Not this. I cleared my throat. This needed to end. It was unethical.
She swallowed and darted a glance up into my eyes. “Anyway, I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’d better go.”
“You don’t have to go. I’m here anytime.”
She moved to the door. I followed. We both reached for the door handle at the same time. Her hand wrapped around mine. Warmth shot up my wrist at her soft touch. I couldn’t stop my gaze from dropping to her parted mouth. Why was I standing so close to her?
She tilted her chin, a look of uncertainty in her eyes. “So, your door is still always open to the captain?”
She was so close I could feel the heat of her beautiful, toned body. My heart pounded. “My door is open to everyone on the team.”
But every time someone walks through the door, I’m hoping it’s you.
God. She was absolutely stunning to look at this close up. A patch of freckles sprinkled her cute nose and flecks of green dotted her bright blue eyes. All those tattoos and piercings made her milky flesh a divine, wild canvas. The yellow roses tracing her collarbone were exquisite. A turquoise and gold bird swooped down into the V of her shirt, and I had the most disturbing urge to lick it. An unwelcome stiffening in my trousers made me take a sharp breath.
Think of unsexy things.
Get a grip.
I’m in control.
Her gaze dropped to the bulge in my trousers and her eyebrows shot up. Heat seared the back of my neck.
Oh God.
I stepped back abruptly. I had to get her out of here. Shame made my teeth itch. A look of hurt confusion crossed her face as I edged her lightly out of the room. I closed the door behind her and pressed my back against it. God. She’d seen it. There was no way she couldn’t have seen that I’d been aroused. Embarrassment ground in my gut. Memories of sitting at the desk next to her all those years ago drifted to mind. It had been the same then. I couldn’t even be in her presence without the blood rushing downward. I’d been a horny teenager then. Now, I had no excuse.
A soft knock sounded on the door. “Is everything okay?”
My stomach dropped. I’d thought she was gone. “Fine. I just have another… appointment to get ready for.”
And a raging boner to take care of.
A pause. “Okay. Well… I’ll see you around.”
My heart pounded, but I tried to keep my voice level. “Goodbye, Skylar.”
I waited for the sound of her retreating footsteps before I closed the blinds and locked my office door. My skin crackled with hot, uncomfortable need. I sank down into the chair that was still warm from her body. She’d left her team hoodie on the floor. I picked it up, pressing the soft fabric to my nose and inhaling her crisp scent of watermelon perfume and fresh turf. I closed my eyes and pictured her beautiful face. What the hell was wrong with me? This woman made me feral. I couldn’t stand another minute without the release. Shame ground in my gut, but I couldn’t spend all day in this state. With trembling fingers, I undid my trousers and yanked them down. A groan of relief slipped from my lips as I wrapped my hand around my shaft.
I am in control.
Completely. Totally. Unquestionably. In control.
Chapter 10
