Chapter 21 - Emory

I truly was. I was fucking speechless, and it was all because I'd never heard anyone lay it all out like that. And I'd never felt so broken open when someone confided in me. I was a therapist, for Christ's sake. I should be used to it, but seeing Vlad open up like that, hearing him say that he wanted something real and wanted it with me, it was…

Holy fucking shit.

Conflicted twirls started in my brain, and I could practically hear my head and heart fighting each other. Vlad and I had connected so much. He was my first sexual experience, my first ethically questionable decision, and my first taste of what falling in love was like.

Moreover, the man had saved my fucking life. I owed him for that alone. But it wasn't just obligation or gratitude that I felt for Vlad. I adored his sass, even when it drove me crazy. I loved how he didn't beat around the bush, and our tastes in books and entertainment were on par. I was attracted to who he was as a person. I enjoyed being around that person.

And Vlad made my entire being light up like no one else; how he could touch and tease me was beyond incredible. It was… intoxicating .

Everything spun in a confusing jumble through my head. I could see the thoughts bleeding into each other like colored laundry in hot water, everything running in the steaming liquid and creating a chaotic tie-dye of pleasure and pain and responsibility and professionalism.

Nausea crept up the back of my throat, and my heart pounded against my ribs like it was threatening to break free and take off for Vlad if I was just going to sit there and not do anything.

I'm going to explode. But what the fuck do I do? He's supposed to be my patient. But…

Blinking, I cleared my throat and looked up at Vlad. He still sat there so calmly on the sofa, but there was a hint of concern in his captivating golden eyes. They were so expressive even when the rest of Vlad was stoic. It took some time to learn how to read him, but I was pretty sure I had, and that touch of worry behind the nearly yellow color was telling.

"I don't think I can keep seeing you."

As the words left my mouth, Vlad's otherwise impassive expression faltered, his brow furrowing as his lips parted slightly. I could see the disappointment there, and if I hadn't already decided what I was going to do, that look on his face would have decided for me.

"It's not a very good ethical choice to continue seeing you, you know?"

I offered a crooked smile, but Vlad looked like I'd kicked him in the nuts.

"Because…" My heart rate was through the damn roof, and I had to swallow twice to get my mouth working again, finally. "You're not supposed to date your patients. So, I can't be your therapist, but I do think you should keep going. But that's not what we're talking about right now."

Vlad's mouth dropped open a bit further, and he stood up off the couch, taking a few steps closer.

"What are you saying, Emory? I need to hear it."

I smiled, genuine and open. "I'm saying that if you're going to take me home, you can't be my patient. And I'd very much like to go home with you."

Looking down at the floor, Vlad sucked in a deep breath through his nose. The silence in the room was palpable, and I started to worry if I'd said the wrong thing. I was so sure that Vlad wanted this too, especially with everything he'd just said.

Dammit. Am I making a fool of myself?

But before I could say anything, Vlad ran a hand through his hair, sighing. When he met my eyes again, the corner of his mouth lifted, and he crossed the few feet that separated us in confident strides that took him around my desk.

Without so much as a single word, Vlad pulled me out of my chair and wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pressing me against his chest as his fingers gripped possessively.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Yes."

And then his lips crashed into mine.

My body ignited from its claiming nature, and I melted into his arms, relief, and passion flaring through my veins. The feeling of Vlad holding me to him, claiming my lips so entirely, pulled me into a dream world that I was still shocked was my reality.

Thrilled beyond anything I've ever known, I flung my arms around his neck. I'd been waiting for kisses like this for years, and my need for Vlad boiled over like a volcano.

God, he tastes like fucking heaven.

Lingering coffee dressed his tongue, but also that stirring magic that was one hundred percent pure Vlad. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and my pussy clenched as he pulled arousal from me like he was playing the harp, an expert in creating intoxicating melodies.

Vlad's firm grip on my neck yanked me to his chest all the harder as the other snaked around my back toward my hips. He smoothed my body against him before squeezing my ass in a sharp tease.

A tiny moan bled from me, absorbed by our kisses, and then Vlad's tongue slipped between my lips, exploring me. Heat bloomed in my cheeks and trickled down my spine, my entire being desperate for everything this incredible man could give me. I didn't care about how we'd met or what kind of "job" he had. I just wanted Vlad—in every way for always.

Suddenly, the silky fabric of my skirt was bunching up my leg, and I was so damn thrilled that I'd chosen to wear it today. Vlad explored my mouth all the more, his tongue as eager as his fingers.

"Wait," I whispered against his lips. "Just one second."

He paused, and I smiled as I reached past him toward the desk to snag the ring he'd returned. Taking his hand, I put the small bad inside it and then closed his fingers over the shiny metal.

"You keep it. It's meant to be with you."

Vlad grinned, tucking the ring into his pocket. "You're meant to be with me."

And with that Vlad was right back to kissing me, sending my body into a haywire mess of sensations as he ramped the moment right back up.

My pussy clamped around nothing as Vlad dragged his hands over more of my skin, walking me backward toward the wall right next to my office door. Hitting it with a soft thud, Vlad pinned me to the flat surface, taking both of my hands and holding them over my head with one hand.

Holy shit. Right here? Is that a good—

But then his lips were on my neck, and my thoughts short-circuited. I would never be able to deny what Vlad did to me, and I was tired of trying to. This was exactly what I wanted, and if it was right here in the office, so be it.

I wanted nothing more in the universe than to give myself over to the fire that blazed between us.

"Goddamn, baby. I need you— all of you."

The words made my arousal flare brighter, and I remembered all the incredible things this man could do with his hands and tongue and…

"Vlad," I mumbled against his lips, a needy plea for more.

Then his lips skimmed down my neck toward my breast as he began unbuttoning my shirt, and nothing else in the world mattered.

"Emory, you told me to remind you to take lunch today, so I'm reminding you. Did you want me to call for Chinese?"

Chuckling against Vlad's lips, I leaned over his shoulder and called out. "No, Antoinette. I'm going home for the rest of the day. I have something important that I need to take care of."

"Yeah, you do," Vlad whispered, slipping his hand between my thighs.

"Oh, okay. Did you want me to move your last appointment?"

"Ye—" But Vlad gripped my panties right at the crotch, killing my words; it took everything to focus on what I was saying. "Yes, please. Have them reschedule for tomorrow. I'm open m-most of the day."

My head slammed back against the wall as Vlad teased my slit over my underwear. The fabric was already slick and wet from my arousal.

"Sure thing, Emory. See you tomorrow."

"Yup!"

I couldn't say anything else. I was far too distracted, and Vlad seemed to be loving every damn second of it. He grinned from ear to ear as I looked up at him, his hand pushing farther between my legs as he pressed me against the wall. In a blink, he yanked on my panties, and they tore through the crotch.

Yelping, my eyes flared, but before I could get another word in, he dipped his fingers into my folds, sliding them inside me. I moaned low, squeezing my thighs around his hand. He was starting up a torturous rhythm when Vlad chuckled.

"I love seeing you like this."

"Ugh," I eked out. "You need to take me home. I want to be loud."

"Come for me," Vlad whispered into my ear, pumping his fingers, "and then I'll take you back and make you do it again."

And I did.