Page 124 of Penalty to the Heart

“I prefer my description, Roxie.” I wink.

“Caleb, I’m serious. Last night shouldn’t have happened. I could lose my job if it gets out that I slept with one of my clients. Worse, I could lose my license.”

“Who’s going to tell them? Not me.”

“That’s not how this works,” she retorts adamantly.

“Okay, then explain it to me. How does this work?” I ask, leaning against the counter.

“Well, for one, I can no longer be your therapist. Not after I took advantage of you last night.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“This isn’t funny, Caleb,” she blurts out in frustration.

“Oh, but it is, Roxie. Do you honestly believe that you took advantage of me?”

“I know I did,” she replies softly, guilt and shame coating every word. “You were so vulnerable… so lost.” She closes her eyes and shakes her head before continuing. “I had no right to do what I did. I was supposed to offer you tools to overcome that state of misery. And instead… I seduced you.”

Oh, my God.

She’s serious.

She actually believes the shit she’s spewing.

In three strides, I’m on her, pinning her between the kitchen island and my naked frame.

“You did not seduce me, Roxie. The only one who’s doing the seducing around here is me.”

She shakes her head and shoves me away.

“It’s not true. I was the one in a position of power. I was supposed to help you. Not—”

“Fuck me?”

“Yes.” Her cheeks pink furiously.

“If I recall correctly, I was the one who asked you to help me last night. And you did.”

“That’s not how I should have helped you.”

“It doesn’t matter how, just that you did. You helped me, Roxie. For the first time in months, I felt like myself again. I was able to finally… breathe. Don’t go and spoil it now with all this rational thinking.”

“This isn’t a question of me spoiling things or not. This is a question of ethics and how I crossed a line that was set in stone.”

“Ethics? Ethics?” I parrot, getting tired of this fucking discussion.

I bridge the gap between us again, slide my hand under her hair, and clasp her cheek.

“Look at me, Roxanne. I wouldn’t have survived last night if it wasn’t for you. You have no idea the shit that was in my head when I showed up at your doorstep. I was so far gone that I didn’t even recognize myself. You brought me back. Don’t let your judgment or logic taint our night together. You fucking saved me last night. In more ways than you’ll ever know.”

She stares into my eyes, her amber flares doing something to my insides.

“It can’t happen again,” she whispers softly.

“I don’t accept that.” I frown.

“Yes, you do. If I tell you that last night will never repeat itself, I know you’ll respect my wishes.”

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