Chapter 14
Marley
He’s a devil.
Because he makes me do things.
Things I don’t want to admit.
Things I absolutely should not want.
But oh...
Things I love.
I can’t find any remorse to care about how many ethical laws I’ve broken since this man first came into my office. Not when my body is still tingling from his words.
His dirty, filthy words.
I’ve been living off of them all night, feeding from them like a starved animal. Shame heats my cheeks thinking about how many times I’ve gotten myself off fantasizing about all the depraved things I want him to do to me.
Which is exactly why the moment I get to work the following morning, I call him to let him know I can no longer see him as a patient. I should have never let it get this far.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I get his voicemail instead. I quickly spit out the message then ask Clara to reschedule my appointments for the day and make up the excuse that I’m not feeling well.
I bid Clara goodbye on my way out and decide to leave Lyla at daycare until it’s closer to the time I normally pick her up because I need some time alone to think.
How can a man wield that much power over someone? Make them do things they wouldn’t normally do? It’s as if he unleashed a part of me I never even knew existed, and the truth is, I loved every second of it. I loved giving up that control and handing it all over to him, and honestly, I want to do it again.
And again and again and again.
My cell phone is ringing before I even leave the parking lot of my office.
It’s him.
My finger hovers over the screen, wanting to hear his voice, but I silence the call instead and turn off my ringer, tossing it in my bag. Why do I feel so guilty for ignoring him? And why does it feel so wrong to want to push him away?
The minute I walk through the door of my condo, I toss my keys in the bowl and head straight for the fridge to pour myself a glass of wine. Day drinking really isn’t my thing but my nerves are shot and I need something to calm me down. I don’t even get the first sip down when there is a pounding at my door.
“I know you’re in there, Marley. Open the door.”
I stand there dumbfounded, wondering how the hell he found me. Flinging open the door, I ask, “How the hell did you know where I live?”
“I’m a cop, remember?” He walks forward and I take a few steps back as he slams the door behind him.
“Asher, please. What happened yesterday should have never happened. I—I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
“I got into you.”
That’s an understatement.
“You know what I mean. We can’t do this. I could lose my license. My livelihood. I can’t risk that. No matter how much I want you.”
