by Boone, Azure
“Yes. I have a bench in my apartment.”
“Ah right.” Their feet hit under water. “Whoops.”
“You’re fine,” he mumbled.
“And I don’t even work out.”
He chuckled, getting her little joke.
A thought occurred to her that seemed like such a bright idea to help him with the whole touching women thing. “Can you put some lotion on my back? So I don’t burn?”
“If you want.”
“Be right back.” She hurried and got the oil and returned with it. Like it were completely natural, she handed it to him, lifted her hair and turned. “Don’t glob it, I mean make sure it’s rubbed in so I tan evenly.”
“Got it. No drips.”
She bit her lower lip hard, waiting, praying her touch tactic worked. She heard the cap flip open and the oil squirt out.
“Here goes.”
His hands touched down in the center of her back, a gentle pressure before gliding slowly up, maintaining contact. His fingers slid softly maybe even sensually over her shoulder blades and shoulders before his entire palm stroked down her back. She was speechless. She’d planned to say something about his jerky motions but…hell, the man had startling finesse for a no toucher.
She needed to say something. “Maybe you missed your calling as a Masseur.”
“Dear God, never.”
She laughed, not wanting him to stop. She allowed a dramatic moan of pleasure as a compliment and he continued until she felt it’d gone quite far enough. “Thank you.” She turned a little, letting him know he was done.
He handed her the bottle of oil. “If you don’t mind, I prefer to tan evenly as well.”
She looked at him and saw the mischief in his beautiful green eyes. She nodded, taking it from him. “Fine. I get it. A fair exchange.”
“Yes.”
“Turn around.”
He presented his back and her stomach tightened at the raised skin of his scars. How was he not bothered with showing them? It made no sense with his fears. She filled her palm with oil and began rubbing it on his back, lickety split motions.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
She paused, leaving her hands on him as she leaned forward. “For what?”
“Making you…touch me.”
“Oh, pfft. I don’t mind touching you. I just…”
“Don’t like the scars?”
“What? No, no, that’s not it at all, I don’t care about your scars. I mean I care, I like them…shit.” She sighed, moving her hands slowly over his back now, feeling him. “I promise…the scars don’t bother me one bit.” She allowed her fingers to roam with meaning and purpose, caressing the way he’d done. “That better?”
“Much.”
A minute later of torment, she smacked his shoulder. “That’s all you get.”
He turned and faced the pool, smiling at her. “It was a lifetime worth, thank you.”
“I should swim, look at how amazing the water looks. Do you know how to swim?” she asked, ready to put the stupid touching therapy way behind her now.
“Yes.”
She looked at the pool, contemplating. “I could just…slip right in.”
“You could.”
“Or just jump.”
“Or I could help you.” He shoved her in and she came up out of the water gasping.
“Oh my God, you didn’t just push me in.”
He laughed. “Yes, I did.”
She put her hand out to him. “Help me out, right now. I’m done.”
He stood and leaned for her hand. She latched on and tried to pull him in but he lifted her out of the water like she weighed nothing. The second she had her footing and balance, she used her entire body to tackle him into the pool.
His arms went around her and they both fell in, Sarah laughing hysterically. She hurried to the side to hop out but his large hands grabbed her around the waist. “Oh my God!” she squealed as he pulled her back in. She managed to squirm out of his hold and reached for the ledge. He was suddenly behind her and pushed her head under the water. She looked up through the bubbles to see him hop out the pool.
She surfaced and watched him walk back to the table, wiping his hair with both hands then turning to sit. Oh God. Wet, shiny, hair back, fierce expression. Flawless. That’s what he was. She put her forehead to the pool and closed her eyes. Remember how you met him. He’d come so close to succeeding in taking his life, fighting the orderlies. “Don’t save me, don’t save me, don’t you fucking save me!” Something devastated him enough to bring him to that and it was her job to help him conquer that. Not frolic with his emotions just so she could play a woman. More like a harlot. That’s what she was acting like.
She hopped out the pool and walked to the table. She looked at him sitting there like a hunky picture. Huh. Might as well get one for the scrap books. She picked up her bag, found her phone and turned it on. Then she got her camera up, aimed it at him and snapped several shots.
“I do hope you have insurance on that phone because if you snapped pictures of me, I’m breaking it.”
She giggled. “You deserve it. For pushing me in.”
“You needed a push.”
“Oh really? How about I push you when you need a push, huh?”
“You got me back.”
She giggled. “Damn straight I did. And I do believe you owe me supper and we have a cyber-date, don’t forget. Did you join Facebook and invite me to be your friend yet?”
“Yes.”
“What name?”
He laughed, looking around. “Decided I wanted to be Micah Morgan.”
“Ohhhhh very good! I’m glad, I happen to think that young man is pretty cool.
A smile and a “Yes.”
Back to the green light, all was well. Thank you God!
Chapter Six
Micah stood in the shower, letting the hot water cascade down his body. He stroked his cock slowly, remembering all the details. Her body was perfect. He came so close to telling her. He’d imagined flaws but she had none. Her ass was exquisite and firm, not too much, not too little. Her milky skin made his mouth water and God, her nipples showed through the white bathing suit fabric when it was wet. She had no clue.
And then they’d touched. Micah’s cock throbbed at the memory of her under his fingers. And the way she responded to his touch…just as he hoped and anticipated. She was utterly aroused by it. She’d invited him to violate her unspoken space rule in the name of helping him. Did she realize she put these rules up more for herself than him? Did she realize how transparent her sexual needs were? He’d never met a more erotic, sexy woman. Or more sensual. It was a shadow that pirouetted just beneath her professional façade and he saw it plain as day while she tried to disguise it. Micah ached to take her by the hand and ask for a dance.
She was too vanilla to admit any of it. Or realize it. And that she wanted him was fucking intoxicating. And so very perfect.
He needed to pace things. Go slow. She claimed to be ethical and good and righteous. But he already knew her better than she knew herself. For now, she wouldn’t willingly give in to her own pleasures. But if he made her think it was for him, that was a different matter.
He brought himself to a raging orgasm while fantasizing about her. He had her in the shower with him, up against the wall, one leg draped over his shoulder and his tongue deep inside her while his nose stimulated her clit. She pulled his hair and pumped herself on his face, gasping his name with that silky voice.
He got out of the shower and dressed in jeans, got on his lap top and checked to see if she’d accepted his friend request. She had.
He got coffee, and sat down. Opening a chat box, he said hello.
“Oh my God, hi! Hahaha.”
“I had a good time today. Thank you.”
“So did I. Where is my food?”
“I had to shower. Can I order you Chinese, I don’t feel like cooking.”
“No, it’s fine, I was just picki
ng on you. I do want to eat your food, but another day is fine.”
“Okay. Are you sure?”
“Positive. I added you into the group and introduced you.”
“Okay.”
He looked at the notifications and found it. Added to the Caffeine Corner. Nice. He read her introduction and snorted a little at the “coolest guy ever” part. Several people welcomed him and he said his hello then typed to Sarah.
“Now what.”
“Just scroll through the stream and look at what’s there, if you see anything interesting, you can comment.”
“Okay.”
He went through looking for Sarah’s comments everywhere. In a matter of minutes, he discovered something interesting about her. She was lively online. A bit of an extrovert. Hm. He noticed one particular guy that seemed to comment on all her coffee posts. More like flirted voraciously. He studied her responses to him and found himself smiling at how she shut his game down at every hand. Because she was a good girl.
“Oh God, they’re sharing pics,” she typed.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing, they like to play that way. Bunch of flirts most of them.”
“Are you putting a picture up?”
“I reckon. Will you?”
He contemplated. “I don’t have any.”
“OMG, I have one of you!”
“No.”
“Oh please?”
“I don’t like doing pictures.”
“Micah, come on! You’re gorgeous. Pleeeeeease?”
His cock hardened as he imagined her face while begging and saying his name. He couldn’t wait to make her beg. “Fine. Just one. Only for a little while, then take it down.”
“It’s a deal. Thank you!”
He visited Sarah’s page and found that same guy’s comments everywhere. Bit of a stalker.
“I did it, go look! Oh, look all the hits yours is getting.”
He went look and read the comments. Five already, all female, all drooling. But it was Sarah’s that made him pause.
Tammy: Oh wow, who’s the hunk?
Sarah: That would be Micah, he’s a good friend of mine. I just added him to the group. I took that at the pool today.
Farah: Good Lord, come to momma.
Sarah: LOL. I know.
Tammy: Super hot.
Sarah: The picture doesn’t really do him justice.
Micah smiled at that.
Farah: If he’s any more sexy, my panties will melt.
Tammy: I hope you two had fun.
Sarah: We’re just friends but yes we had fun
Farah: Friends with benefits, I can dig that
Tammy: hahaha, just friends, okay sure
Micah decided to jump in the conversation.
Micah: Thank you. Sarah was a great hostess. Even though she pushed me in the pool.
Sarah: Omg, who pushed who first?
Micah: Lol, you looked like you needed help.
Farah: Well, you can push me in the pool any day.
Micah: Okay.
Tammy: Can I come too?
Micah: Sure.
Farah: Ohhhh, we have a stud in the house.
Micah: Ready to serve.
Why wasn’t Sarah responding? Micah got in their chat box. “You okay?”
“Yes, you’re doing great. Don’t stop, have fun.”
“Girls are ganging up on me.”
“Enjoy it, it’s good for your ego.”
“I don’t need my ego stroked, thank you.”
“What do you need stroked then? Oh hell, that came out wrong.”
“LOL. Yes. Where is your picture?”
“It’s buried below yours, lol.”
Micah went to look and found it. A sweet face shot. Figures.
“So you put a half naked picture of me in there and an angelic face shot of you? Thanks.”
“I just wanted to show you off.”
“As your sexy cute friend, nothing more, right.”
“Well yes, what did you expect me to say, my weekend lover? I’m your therapist, it’s not like we could ever be more than friends.”
“It’s not like I’m suggesting we should or would.”
“Of course I know that.”
“Your boyfriend is commenting on your picture, go see.”
“What boyfriend?”
Micah stared at Razer’s comment: Wow, an angel’s face.
Micah typed: That she is.
Razer: I love those eyes, can we say beg me all night long.
Micah: Her eyes are beautiful. Nearly a hint of lavender when the candlelight hits them just right.
Micah smiled, knowing that would piss him off.
“What are you doing?” Sarah asked in the chat box.
“What do you mean?”
“About my eyes, it sounds as though we’re intimate, don’t do that. I don’t want people thinking that about us.”
“And you don’t mind them thinking that about you and this guy?”
“I mean the people I work with, they know you’re seeing me and I can’t have them thinking I’m sleeping with my patient! That Razer guy is harmless.”
“Fine, I’ll find other women to say harmful things to.”
“Micah please.”
“Please what. I don’t like how bias you’re being.”
“It’s because of my profession, if it weren’t for that, you could flirt with me all night long.”
“Oh, I could?”
“Yes, who wouldn’t want you flirting with them, geeze. You’ll have the women eating out of your hand in group. I’m sure if you hang around enough, you’ll find a few really nice ones.”
“For what?”
“For friends or…whatever.”
“Are you trying to set me up?”
“No! Just trying to find a way to let you exercise that part of you that has a hard time doing it in person, remember we talked about it?”
“Ah yes. Helping me. Thank you.”
“Micah, just be open to things happening, it’s not a bad thing for you to find a woman eventually, this is how you start.”
“I don’t want a woman.”
“Not now maybe, no.”
“So let me ask you something.”
“What?”
“Would you date me if I weren’t your patient?”
“Micah, don’t, don’t make this into something it isn’t. We’re friends, nothing more, that’s all we can be.”
“Yes doctor.”
She didn’t answer for many seconds and Micah shut the computer. He paced a few times and went put on a t-shirt then walked out. What he needed was a good fuck but the problem was, he only wanted to fuck Sarah. But Sarah didn’t want to fuck him, she wanted him to fuck somebody else. Maybe he needed to play that card to get her on the right track.
Chapter Seven
Sarah couldn’t believe what transpired from that one stupid chat. Micah didn’t speak to her for a week and finally he agreed to continue sessions. It was time to lay it all out on the table if she could, start over. The doorbell rang and she hurried to open it, her gut in knots. She’d decided to dress more professional, a gray skirt and white blouse, realizing that maybe too casual gave the wrong impression with him. Ever since that candlelight comment in group, which he hadn’t been back in since the fall out, she’d been thinking that.
“Hi there stranger, come in,” she greeted as pleasantly as she could. She didn’t want to overdo it, but wanted him to know there were no hard feelings on her side.
“Hey.” He walked in, looking pensive but at least not angry.
“Would you like to have coffee before our session?”
“No thank you. I have a date after, so, if you don’t mind, can we start now?”
“Yes, of course.” Sarah masked the pain of his words, scolding herself for even having it. On the balcony, Sarah got her pad this time, planning to take notes, remind him what she was to him. And her.
“So tell me, ho
w have you been?”
“Fine.”
Strike one with that cool tone.
“Good, very good.” She sighed. “Listen, I need to explain something.”
“Please don’t. I get that you need to keep you and I professional. And I’m fine with that. Honestly. I just don’t like hypocrisy and what you did in group skirted close to that.”
Sarah refused to argue. “Okay. I do apologize that I hurt you, I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m not a child, don’t speak to me like one.”
“I know, of course.” She tapped her pen on the tablet, then brightened. “So! You have a date that’s fantastic. Anybody I know?”
He looked out into the night. “I think so.”
“Oh?” Sarah’s heart raced.
“Lisa? She works at the hospital with you. She came by to check on me. We hung out, had sex.”
Pain sledge hammered Sarah in the chest. “Okay.” She cleared the sudden lump from her throat, trying not to think that he’d had his first time with that slut. “I hope you didn’t rush into it.”
“Well it was rather fast. She came in, I practically ripped her clothes off, and I fucked her against the living room door.”
Sarah stared at him. She knew she’d lost her composure and she fought to get it back. Then it hit her. “That seems pretty racy for a virgin.”
“I’m pretty sure she wasn’t a virgin,” he said dryly.
“I meant you, Micah.”
He narrowed his gaze with a half grin. “I’m certainly not a virgin.”
“You lied to me?”
“No, not that I recall.”
“You asked me if it was bad that somebody your age was a virgin.”
“Yes, and?”
“And…” Sarah shut up, realizing he was right, he hadn’t come out and said that. “Why in the world would you ask me something like that?”
“Because I wanted to know how you felt about yourself.”
She froze and stared at him, fighting for control of her emotions. The pen tapped rapidly. “How did you know that? Did Lisa tell you?”
“She may have.”
Sarah gasped, unable to contain her pain any longer. “I see. Then go on, you fucked Lisa against your living room door. How did you feel after?”
“Empty, how else?”
“Is that how you want to feel after sex?”