21. Leo
My feet quit working at the sound of his voice. It’s as if I stepped into a pile of quicksand, and I can’t move forward. I’m slowly being pulled under the surface as I watch the way she looks up at him. The smile plastered innocently on her face.
“What are you doing in this wing?” he questions her.
I open my mouth but no words come out. I’m frozen in this spot as I wait for her to respond. She can throw me under the bus. Make something up to get me fired and I wouldn’t put it past her to do so.
Especially since I just punished her in my office, and went as far as getting her previous doctor kicked out because he was touchy with her.
“Leo and I were about to have our session when he realized he had left his voice recorder in his bedroom,” she tells him the truth.
Somehow, I force my feet to unglue from the floor, and I step closer to them. When Dr. Bennett’s eyes meet mine, I can spot the concern. “Hello, Dr. Bennett.”
“Dr. Madden,” he acknowledges me. “Veronica was just telling me you left your recorder in here?”
“Yes, sir.” I swallow hard with my answer. “We were about to start the session when I noticed it wasn’t on my desk. I didn’t want to leave her unsupervised in my office.”
He watches me carefully as he assesses my answer. “I’m glad you are on top of her safety, but you know patients aren’t allowed in this hall.”
“Yes, I know, and it won’t happen again. I’ll be sure to leave this in my office.”
“Very well, then. You two best be on your way.” Dr. Bennett shoos us away as he heads down the hall in the opposite direction.
I walk quickly ahead of Veronica, scanning my card to unlock the door for us. As soon as we step through the frame, the sound of a shutting door behind us and heels click against the floor, echoing the space. When I turn my head, I see Scarlet smiling at me.
By my side, Veronica’s body stiffens at the sight of the woman strolling towards us. She overheard me and Scarlet talking that one time and saw it as flirting. Which, I guess, wasn’t all that wrong.
“Dr. Madden! It’s been a while.” Scarlet keeps hold of her smile as her eyes drop to Veronica at my side.
“It has. I’ve been busy.”
“I’ve heard. Edith mentioned you are taking on another patient. That’s exciting!”
Shit. I can almost feel the heat radiating off Veronica.
“Uh, yeah. I’ve been trying to work out a schedule for her,” I keep the answer short. “I’m sorry, Scarlet, but Veronica and I must get to our session. We can catch up later if you’d like?”
Something shifts in her eyes before she finds Veronica’s intense stare. “I’d love that.”
“Great. I’ll find you later.” I smile, then turn to head towards my office. Not hearing footsteps behind me, I look over my shoulder to see Veronica standing there. Staring up at Scarlet. I can’t see her face, but I’m sure it is anything but pleasant. “Veronica. Let’s go.”
A few seconds pass before Veronica spins and marches past me and into my office. Scarlet, however, hadn’t wasted any time leaving the hall and going somewhere else.
By the time I entered my office, Veronica was sitting comfortably in my seat. “Veronica, get up.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” she tells me, a serious look in her eyes. My teeth grind together. I don’t have time for this. “It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Someone sitting in your chair. Refusing to get out of it.”
“What are you doing? Trying to teach me a lesson?” I stalk over towards her, leaning forward and grasping her neck in my hand. “I’m not in the mood for your games right now, Veronica. Get out of my seat, or I will remove you myself.”
Her eyes dance between mine while an evil smirk plays on her lips. “Maybe you should take your own advice, Leo, and behave. What are you going to do? Toss me on the floor?”
My jaw clenches as my chest heaves. “Don’t. Test. Me.”
Veronica doesn’t budge. She only continues to stare up at me while my fingers dig harder into her throat. “What’s gotten under your skin? Was it the fact that Dr. Bennett found me outside your room? Or was it the announcement that you’re taking on another patient?”
I was going to tell her. I was waiting for the right time to tell her, but that’s not what I say.
“Veronica, taking on another patient is not your concern. I’m here to help those who need it, and I will do so if there is another person I can help.”
With the pressure of my fingers around her neck, her voice comes out hoarse. “Are you going to help this new patient with your fingers? Maybe your tongue? Or is that reserved for me only?”
“It shouldn’t even be for you.” It’s harsh coming from my mouth, but she maintains that hard expression.
“Scarlet then?”
My eyes swim over hers, sliding down to her parted lips that are begging for oxygen. One more hard squeeze and I’m releasing her. That same hand rubs against my mouth; the smell of her floating into my nose makes me more frustrated.
How can the scent of her alone drive me insane to where I don’t want to fight her? I want to take her over my desk and bury myself so deep inside of her that I forget why I’m getting myself so worked up.
“It almost sounds like you are jealous, Vee.” I fold my arms across my chest, fighting the urge to act on the thoughts swimming around in my head. “Jealous of the attention I may give Scarlet and not you?” I step forward again, my hands falling and meeting the tops of the armrests.
“I’m not jealous.” Lie. She may not hold a lot of emotion in that tiny body of hers, but jealousy is hard to miss.
Peering down at her, Veronica holds my hard gaze. “She would be the easier option. I wouldn’t have to worry about sneaking around or getting caught.”
Why am I even saying all this?
I drop my gaze to her legs. She has her thighs pressed together to relieve the tension that is constantly living there. Because of me. God, I love this power I have over her. It gives me such high adrenaline that makes me never want the feeling to disappear.
While I let my hand move from the armrest down to her thigh, she stares up at me until the palm of my hand makes contact, and she pushes the chair backward to stand.
My arms give out, falling forward, but I catch myself. I stand up straight with her breasts pressing against my body.
“Then choose the easier option, Leo.” She’s so close, I could kiss her.
“Maybe I should.” It’s what I thought from the start. Scarlet would be easier. I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone finding out about us. I wouldn’t have to worry about my job being at risk.
“Fine. Enjoy her company tonight.” Veronica removes herself from me, sidestepping my body. She walks towards the door, turning her head to look over her shoulder. “Try not to accidentally say my name while you’re fucking her.”
The comment almost makes me laugh, but I hold it back. “Where do you think you”re going?”
“I’m not in the mood for a session today.” Before I say anything else, she is out the door.