Page 28 of Taking The Virgin

It seems as if tension has grown between us during these past few minutes. It sprouts like weeds from the cracks in the expensive patio tile, winding through the air, blocking whatever understanding we ever did have betweenus.

His own jaw is stiff, as if I make his blood boil, and I sense that he’s about to walk away from me forgood.

Don’t, I think. Because in spite of how he constantly stings me, all I want to do is rush out of this chair and throw myself at him, having him catch me before I fall apart.

But I still sit there as he stares at me, his gaze more fathomless thanever.

Just as it feels as if the air is about to split apart, his broad shoulders lose a little bit of their heft, and he says, “What is it you want from methen?”

I don’t know what tosay.

He continues in a gruff tone. “I’m paying you top dollar specifically because I realize that all of my rules and regulations and requirements are a lot to ask of any woman. But you agreed to work with them, so you should either accept all of that or cancel the contract and gohome.”

I rise from the chair. “I don’t want to cancel that contract,” I say. “I really don’t.”

For the first time, I see an emerging warmth in his gaze—not sexual heat, not guarded coolness. I think something has just changed betweenus.

Butwhat?

Far be it from the good doctor to relent too much though, because his shoulders stiffen again. “Fine.” He gestures with his hand. “Then we should have a change of pace, get out of here, go out, do something…”

Is he actually searching for aword?

He finally comes out with it. “Fun.”

Do something fun. With Dr. Icicles. I’m not sure he actually knows what fun means, but I’ll take what I’m getting fromhim.

Even if I have no idea what he has in store.

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