Her eyes flash with something bright and hungry. "Why not?"
Because I want to drag you into me.
Because I want to be the man you think I am.
Because I want to ruin you and be ruined with you.
Because I'm one bad decision away from destroying my career, your stability, and my own carefully constructed life.
I keep my thoughts to myself and voice hard. "Because you're my patient."
Her mouth parts, and for a second, something like anger flickers through her. "I'm more than your patient."
"You can't be both," I say, and the admission tastes like metal.
Her eyes soften immediately, like she loves the sound of me admitting weakness. "Says who?"
"It's not ethical, and you know it." I release her wrist and step back, forcing space between us. "This ends tonight."
Her breath catches as if I hit her. "What ends?"
"This." I gesture at the charged air and the orbit she keeps dragging me into.
She tilts her head, grinning.
I declare, "You can't come here, Blue. You can't send me photos or watch me. You can't do any of it."
"So you can honestly say you don't want to kiss me," she challenges, eliminating the space between us again, then glancing at my lips.
My lungs catch.
She murmurs, "You can't just turn it off, Red."
"Yes, I can," I lie through my teeth.
She studies me for a moment, then a slow, wicked smile forms. "Prove it."
I open my mouth, but she reaches for her hair and pulls a pin from it. Blue waves cascade down her shoulders like a curtain dropping. She shakes it out in a small, sensual motion. It's not overt or pornographic, just intentionally feminine and tempting.
My throat goes dry.
She drags her fingers up my bicep. "Tell me to leave and mean it."
I hold her gaze. My voice comes out low. "Leave."
She doesn't move.
"Blue," I warn.
She pouts. "You're not meaning it."
My hands twitch. I clench them into fists. I force out clinical language like a shield. "Do you know what transference is?"
Her smile turns curious. "Mm...no. Teach me, Dr. Mercer." She licks her lips.
I say sharply, "This isn't just a lesson. It's a warning. You're transferring feelings onto me because I'm stable, consistent, and I made you feel safe. It's common. It's not love."
Her eyes harden. "Don't tell me what it's not."
