“I’m not a psychiatrist. I’m an acolyte for the priesthood. I don’t want to tap into your mind. I want to tap into your soul.”
If he’d been pale before, his current chalky corpse color redefined the term. He cleared his throat. “No.”
She sat back, rubbing her palms on her thighs. “You can’t put me off forever. I’ll call Silas if I have to.”
Jason’s eyes tightened at the corners, seeming to size up the threat. “I’ll need to do some work before we start. I have a few pressing e-mails I have to review.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“No. I’m an angel investor. People are counting on me.”
She looked at him blankly.
“Our parents left us a large fortune when they died. My job is to use my portion of that inheritance to invest in businesses that need capital… after I vet them first.”
“You just give them the money?”
“In exchange for a percentage of future profits. So, you see, as much as I’d like to dive right into your therapy, I have an obligation to my clients that comes first.”
“How long will it take you?”
He stood and placed his plate in the sink. “A few hours. I’m sure you can, um, touch my soul later, right? Or tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “Jason—”
“Then it’s settled.”
Selene sighed heavily as he retreated into his bedroom, the click of the door locking behind him signaling the end of their conversation.
“Tap into my goddamned soul?Over my dead body.” If there was one good thing about Selene sharing her intended goals for the day, it was a temporary damper on his libido. He couldn’t think of anything he desired less than to have Little Miss Virtuous poking around in his emotional attic. Jason plopped down at his desk and flipped open his laptop. He wasn’t hiding anything per se, but it was the principle of the thing. Anyone with any sense of privacy would balk at the notion.
He opened his e-mail and concentrated on reviewing the latest batch of financials from his scout, Andrew. He had a good feeling about this new company, Spackles.
Set up a meeting with Spackles’ executive team,he texted Andrew.
The return text came back almost immediately. Perfect. I had a feeling you’d see the potential. How about Friday?
Jason looked over his shoulder at the door.
Actually, I’m having a medical procedure. Next week?
Is everything okay? Anything I should know about?
Routine.
Thank god. We need you healthy. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.
Jason laughed. Of course Andrew wanted to rush this one. His commission would set him up for the year.
Next week.
I’m on it, boss. Take care.
Tossing his phone on the desk, he moved on to the next e-mail, another company, another scout, another set of financials. What Selene didn’t realize was, when it came to his business, there was always work to do. He could do this all day, all night if he had to. He supposed if he worked long enough, he’d prove to her he could break this vice on his own without the need for any religious mumbo jumbo.
Only, as the day wore on, Jason’s vice had other things in mind. Although he stared at his computer screen, his wolf sent him a crystal-clear fantasy of hooking his fingers into the waistband of Selene’s jeans, sliding them over her hips, and burying his face between her thighs. Mangos and vanilla, that’s what she smelled like. He wondered if the scent would be stronger or more defined between her legs. Would her skin taste sweet? Was her flesh as soft as it looked?
He got to his feet and paced the room. She said she was celibate, but she wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t curious. He could teach her to like it.Fuck.How could he be expected to maintain his distance with a woman who was in his apartment so willingly? He felt like a spider with a fly caught in his web, a fly he wasn’t supposed to touch. Yeah, right.
