Page 61 of Addiction

“I’m part of the team, too. It’s only fair,” I say, tying the garbage bag up. “It’s been a successful day.”

“It has. But I wanted to apologize.”

I frown. “What for?”

“I was an asshole to you in my office and—”

“Asher, it’s fine.”

“But it’s not fine. I should never have snapped at you like I did, and for that I’m sorry. I know you wouldn’t have turned up late without good reason.”

“I hated every part of not being here with you. Especially as I knew you’d be on edge.”

“You knew that?”

“I’m learning a lot when it comes to Asher Nelson.” I smile.

“I would say the same about you, but all I know is you like playing dress-up.”

He chuckles, and I throw the garbage bag I’m holding at him. I hear the grunt under his breath as he catches it and I remember his shoulder.

“You still in pain?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Not having any of it, I pull out a chair from the table and place it in front of me, nodding to it. “Sit.”

“It’s nothing. Honestly.”

“Let the Physical therapist decide if it’s nothing. Now. Sit,” I order.

“Are you like this with all your patients?”

“Only the stubborn ones.”

He grins, taking a seat.

His fresh body wash and fragrance hit my senses, and when the warmth of him radiates between us, I’m suddenly wrapped up and consumed by the man in front of me.

Needing to get my head in the game, I quickly switch to being professional.

“Right shoulder?”

“Yeah. But it’s nothing.”

I remember seeing the shrapnel scars on his shoulder, and once again my mind fills with questions, wanting to know what happened for him to get them. But I don’t wish to hear his stories either because I don’t want to take him to that part of his life that caused so much distress.

Placing my hands on him, he tenses, and I’m unsure if it’s from pain or my touch. I start to gently massage his shoulders, wanting him to feel at ease.

My P.T. training has gone to shit right now because my mind is nothing but a blur. “You’re tense. Just relax.”

He clears his throat. “I’ve never been more relaxed in my life. So it’s just years of tension.”

“Ever had a massage before?”

“Not one that feels as good as this.”

I smile, kneading my hands and fingers into the taut muscles of his broad shoulders. His head falls forward the more he relaxes. The low groans that he makes go straight to my groin.