Page 32 of Cole's Command

“You apologized already.” Cole waved his hand in the air to dismiss the matter, although in his mind’s eye he imagined blistering her ass for her impertinence, envisioning the kind of noises she’d make with each impact of his palm. His balls contracted at the tantalizing thought. “And you’ve already gone out of your way to accommodate me this afternoon.”

“Thanks for being so understanding.” Tension eased from her shoulders. “I suspect I’m also rather tired.” That’s what you get for driving around for hours when you should have been at home asleep.

“It was a late night for you as well, eh?”

He couldn’t resist his knowing tone, but enjoyed her sheepish expression, and the way she reached for the loose strands of her hair. Eden was understandably used to being in charge in her domain but watching as she lost her footing was utterly breathtaking.

“Yes.” Why is he bringing that up again? I thought we’d steered away from last night.

So, she didn’t want to talk about last night? That was intriguing, and if he wasn’t mistaken there was an even deeper blush brewing beneath her gorgeous cocoa skin.

“You’re forgiven.” He employed his most soothing tone, and as he leaned closer his heightened senses heard the noise of what he assumed was Joe leaving the office next door. “But perhaps there is one small thing you could do to make it up to me?”

“Oh?” Her eyes widened, and for one scintillating moment, a few of the suggestions she thought he might mention simmered in her imagination. Cole enjoyed the look of her fantasy as she rode his cock on the comfy chair she was currently seated, but he had something else in mind. “What’s that?”

“I’d like to move to the couch over there.” He gestured toward the sofa on the opposite side of the space. He’d clocked it the first time he’d walked in and envisaged how useful it might be. “I think it will help me to relax.”

“You’re not relaxed?”

She sounded skeptical, her tone in contrast to the hot visions of intimacy her head was producing. Evidently, she suspected what was going on in Cole’s mind, and he understood she had more to lose than he did. This was her profession, after all, and her place of work. Likely it broke every code of ethics she’d assented to if she entangled herself with a client, but the lust fogging Cole’s intentions was making it difficult to focus on anything except getting closer to her. The more forbidden their attraction was, the stronger it seemed to grow.

“I’m happy to go alone,” he told her, intentionally not answering her question. “I mean, what’s the point of the couch if you never use it?”

“What makes you think I don’t use it?”

Had her voice taken on a seductive tone, or was that only his imagination?

“Touché.” He grinned, thrilled at the way she appeared to want to play. “I don’t know if you use it. I only know that I never have.”

“Help yourself.” Rising from her chair, she allowed him his first look at her shapely legs as she moved to motion in the sofa’s direction. Up until that point he’d only caught sight of her flattening down her skirt. “I want you to be comfortable, Cole.”

“Thank you, Eden.” He watched her reactions carefully as he purposefully used her first name. Hesitating, her gaze flitted to his. “I can call you Eden, can’t I?”

“You can.” She didn’t sound so sure anymore, her thoughts scattering as she walked across her office. Where is this going? What if Joe’s still here and finds us? “Although most of my clients call me Dr. Lewis.”

“Eden is such a beautiful name.” He took a seat at the far end of the couch. “And it suits you.”

“Cole.” Her tone sent a warning. “Don’t.”

“Don’t?” Stretching his arm out along the top of the sofa, he watched her. “What? Compliment you?”

“Yes,” she implored him. “This isn’t a date. I’m your therapist.”

“Even though we both want more?”

There, he’d said it, and he relished the surprise in her eyes as he finally had the balls to articulate what had been on both their minds.

“M-more?”

Stammering, her gaze scanned the room as though she expected her business partners to burst in, but Cole had news for her. Both Webber and Wilson were out of the office today. He’d checked with the lovely receptionist, Charlie, before he came up to Eden’s office, and with Joe out of the equation, they were alone at last.

“It’s okay,” he reassured. “Joe has left for the night. It’s just you and me.”

How can he know that? Her eyes widened at the thought. “That’s hardly the point, Cole, and you know it.”

“I know you’re the expert here,” he started with a smile. “But I think it’s time you relaxed, Eden. Why don’t you sit down?” Offering her the other end of the couch, he watched as she hovered by the side of it.

“I’m here to do a job,” she told him, although he had the sense that she was trying to convince herself more than him.