“It’s not a joke. I’m not playing. And I can do this. I should’ve done it long ago and never given you a job here. Your sense of superiority and entitlement is bullshit, and it rubs the hardworking people here the wrong way. They fight for what they have, and so have I. It’s not fair that you don’t have to. The days of you being considered better because of shared blood are over. If I were you, I’d start seeking another job and save your money. What you wear and drive are more than adequate as is.”
I thought for sure Rowan would argue with me. I steeled myself for it. However, he didn’t. Instead, he stared at me for several moments, then turned his back and stormed out. The tension in my body eased a smidge.
I knew that our conversation wasn’t over. I’d let what was said settle before approaching the topic again. Maybe I would’ve been more likely to have eased into it more if I hadn’t been hurting. Or maybe not. Stretching back in my chair, I sipped my cooling coffee, thoughts of Rowan I set aside. Instead, I let my mind wander back to Dr. Shah. After our initial meeting on Monday, I’d done some online sleuthing.
I discovered her first name was Anastasia. Christ, I thought that name was sexy as fuck. I found out where she went to school and a few other professional things. Her patients sang her praises in reviews. I thanked Jesse the following day for the recommendation.
At night, alone at home, I caught myself thinking about her, but in a more sexual way. I wondered what her body looked like underneath her clothes. Was she the same golden color all over? What color and size were her nipples? Was she sensitive to touch? What gave her the most pleasure in bed? And a whole lot more.
She wasn’t the first woman I’d ever dreamed about sexually, but never to the extent I did with her. I had to keep reminding myself to get myself under control. I was due for my second treatment tomorrow. I chose the last slot of the day.
The buzzing of my desk phone yanked my ass out of the daydreaming. I noted on the phone’s identification window that my head of contracts was calling. Enough daydreaming. Work called.
Anastasia: Chapter 4
Sam and I were out to dinner. Tonight was the fourth time we’d done something together, counting that first night at my parents' house. Sam had been busy at work, so we hadn’t had coffee or anything last week. Tonight was the first chance we’d had to see each other.
My family had pushed for details after our coffee date. When they discovered we’d gone out for lunch together, it got worse. Sam had apparently told Arish about both times. While a part of me wished he’d kept his mouth shut, it wasn’t as if we should slink around hiding.
I liked Sam. We had fun when we were together. And I admit, I was flattered by a charming, successful, and good-looking man like him showing an interest in me. Sam was courtly. He opened doors and pulled out chairs. We talked equally about our work, likes, dislikes, and our families. He wasn’t one to monopolize the time with talk of only himself. In between our outings, we’d texted on and off.
And I found there was a spark between us. And if left as is, it might grow into something more—the way my family wanted. And according to him, his family wanted the same. They asked when he planned to bring me to meet them. We tried not to raise expectations on either side.
What weighed on me was that, while I liked him, enjoyed our time together, and found him physically attractive, he didn’tpreoccupy my mind and my nights the way Reign Caldwell did. God, four sessions with that man and I was more obsessed.
Reign continued to have me treat his back twice a week. During those sessions, we talked and got to know each other a little. I knew he had a younger brother and had lost his parents when he was eighteen. Reign knew I had Arish, Veena, Devika, Mom, Dad, my in-laws, and the kids as my nearest family. I explained a little about how old-fashioned my family was. He told me how entitled and spoiled his brother was, and how much he regretted not stopping his enabling long ago.
Reign would sneak into my thoughts when I was least expecting him, or when I was working hard not to let him. At night, when I was home alone, drifting off to sleep was the hardest thing for me. From the first time we met, I was overcome by him. Not only did I enjoy our discussions, but I also enjoyed his physical presence.
Reign Caldwell electrified me, unlike any man I've ever met, including Sam. I was drawn to his looks, his physique, and more. I knew he was thirty-five years old while I was twenty-eight. And he was six feet three, while I was five feet seven and a half inches tall. I preferred a man to be a few inches taller than me. His hair was truly black, not dark brown like mine. He had it cut so it was longer on top and shorter on the sides and back. The volume on top practically begged to have fingers run through it. At his temples, there was the beginning of silver. Reign’s face was half covered in a short mustache and beard flecked with traces of the same silver. His complexion was olive-toned. His oval face was very masculine with a slightly flared Italian nose. His eyes, rather than the expected brown, were a dark green topped with thick, bold, slightly arched eyebrows.
After having my hands on parts of his body, I could attest to his physical fitness. His wide shoulders, prominent pecs, and muscular arms tapered to a more slender middle, thoughhis stomach was ridged with muscles. His hips were lean, but his legs, from hip to ankle, were perfectly proportioned and muscled. He took care of his body, and it showed. And he had an amazingly muscular ass.
My question about whether he had chest hair or not was answered during our last session. To visualize his symmetry and manipulate the muscles more effectively, I had him remove his shirt. I almost swallowed my tongue. I had to keep my mouth shut to prevent myself from drooling. His skin was smooth, and the only real hair was the thin, dark, happy trail that ran from above his belly button to disappear below the waistband of his pants. His arms were covered in a soft covering of dark hair.
At night, while lying alone in my bed. I often got lost in fantasizing about the rest of him. As much as I tried to stop myself, I dreamed about what his cock was like. Would it be thick? Long? Or a combination of both? I had no doubts that he knew how to satisfy a woman in bed.
I felt guilty picturing him as anything other than my patient. I felt a tad disloyal to Sam, but why should I? We were nothing more than friends. Just because my family had set us up didn’t mean we were meant to be together.
It was this guilt that had me jump at Sam’s offer to go out to dinner tonight. I thought I should give him more attention. He took me to a high-end steakhouse that he swore by. Sam and I hadn’t disagreed on food so far, so I went with his recommendation. We’d been here for twenty minutes. It was a busy place. Our drinks and food had been ordered. The drinks were served. At the moment, we were enjoying the hot, homemade sourdough bread they served as we caught up on our work week.
I laughed at his hilarious recounting of a new client who came in making unrealistic demands of what she expected from a lawyer. I was trying to catch my breath, so I scanned thesurrounding tables, hoping it would help. My laugh turned to a coughing fit.
“Are you okay, Stasia?” Sam asked worriedly.
I nodded but kept coughing. The reason wasn’t that I was choking. It was due to the dark green eyes from across the dining room staring back at me. Reign sat there with his brow furrowed. Seated next to him was a woman, and across from them was another man.
The woman laughed as she looked up at Reign. Her hand was resting on his arm. Immediately, my stomach dropped. I glanced away and back at Sam. I curled my hands until my short nails bit into my palms. I refused to allow myself to look at him again.
Why did the sight of him with a woman disturb me so much? Reign Caldwell wasn’t mine. Just because he hadn’t mentioned a wife or girlfriend didn’t mean he didn’t have one. As for the guy with them, it could be a friend of the couple.
“Do you need me to get you something? You look pale,” Sam asked. His hand came across the table. I automatically slid mine across to take it. I smiled at him.
“No, I’m fine. I just forgot how to swallow for a second. I guess this will be the last time you take me out to eat,” I teased.
His smile made me grin back.
“It’ll take a lot more than that to make me never ask you out again, Stasia. I enjoy our time together too much to give it up for such a silly reason. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
