“What’s next for you?” I ask him at dinner that night. We’d decided to go into Tahoe; I wanted to experience the bar scene, and I loved the vibe of this town. Most of the restaurants have outdoor areas with fire pits and tall stand heaters for the cool Tahoe nights. I felt buzzed after one French martini, but I knew it was from the altitude and anticipation of the promises the night held.

“I have a couple of options,” he told me, his eyes watching my reactions carefully.

In the past, I would have kept my eyes guarded and my reactions close—it was an attorney thing—but I’d decided today when I made the commitment to explore this lifestyle with Caden, that I would always remain as open as possible with him. “Tell me about them,” I encouraged.

“One is with a top private security firm here in the US. I have a former SEAL buddy who’s working with them now, and they’re looking for a part-time doc to have on contract.”

I watch him carefully, trying to gauge how he feels about it. “Where is it located?” I ask.

“Colorado,” and then he quickly adds, “but it doesn’t require that I live there. As a contractor, I would primarily be in charge of the physicals, evaluations and ongoing health and training for their security teams. I would have to spend time there, but essentially I just need to have access to a major airport within a certain perimeter to ensure I can be at the headquarters or at a mission site quickly.”

“Sounds interesting,” I admit. “What’s the other option?”

“The other one would be with a private clinic, also in Colorado,” he admits, watching my reaction closely.

“Sounds like you’re Colorado-bound,” I tease, staying open and curious. “Do you have a sense of which you would prefer?”

“Not yet,” he admits, his brow furrowed. “They’re polar opposites. One keeps me in the adrenalin junkie field, but with one of the top security companies; honestly, I would be proud to be part of their team. The other—“ he pauses like he’s trying to gather the right words— “would be more full-time, and I have to decide if I want that. The money is on par for both, but that’s not really a consideration. I’m set for life, regardless of whether I work another day.”

I whistle, “Really?”

“Yea,” he admits.

“But you still want to work?”

“Definitely,” he confirms.

“I get that,” I tell him. “What’s the clinic about?”

His eyes narrow like he’s not sure he wants to tell me, and for a second I worry that it’s a top-secret government clinic where they do experiments and shit like that, and then I can’t believe I’m even thinking this way.

“It’s not something unethical, babe,” he assures me, his eyes watchful.

I can’t help it, my eyes go wide. “You’re a mind reader, aren’t you?”

But he doesn’t laugh. “I would never be involved in something unethical, babe.”

I laugh, because I realize the ridiculousness of my conspiracy-laden thoughts, and I take his big, sexy, I can’t wait to feel them on my body hands into mine. “I know you wouldn’t,” I assure him, “but my mind definitely went to a weird place when I could see you were uncomfortable telling me.”

His lips turn up, and he starts to caress the indent between my thumb and my finger. It makes me squirm. It makes my pussy wet almost instantly, and suddenly I begin to worry that I’ve turned into a sex addict, and my life will never be the same.

“Babe, stay open,” he encourages.

I know right then and there that a relationship with this man will be anything but normal and he will always know exactly what I’m thinking and feeling. There would have been a time when a realization like that would have freaked me out, but somehow, with Caden, it was comforting.

He smiles at me then. “I signed an NDA on the clinic, babe, but if I go with it, I’ll carve out a clause that allows me to fill you in on all the details.”

“Fair enough,” I smile, imagining Caden in a white physician’s coat, and how handsome and sexy he would be.

“Want to play doctor later?” he asks with a sly grin.

“Okay, so that freaks me out,” I admit.

His head cocks slightly and he studies me again. “Why?”

“Because you just read my mind, again. I was thinking about how sexy you’d be in a white physician’s jacket—well you’re always sexy, but you know what I mean—and then you ask me if I want to play doctor. Seriously, Caden, how do you do that?”

“I get you, babe. I don’t know what to tell you beyond that. I literally get you. I can read you.”

I nod, it’s a foregone conclusion that he can, but it doesn’t alter the fact that it’s freaky sometimes.

“You didn’t answer my question,” and the intensity of his eyes made me squeamish.

“Not really,” I admit.

“Got something against doctors?” he asks, and I can tell he’s a little concerned.

“Of course not,” I breathe.

“But…?”

“Caden—I—I don’t know. I don’t like being in a position where I feel vulnerable.”

He nods, encouraging me.

“I have good friends who are docs, and family members for that matter. I’m fine with it on that level—“ I pause, searching for the answer.

He sits back in his chair and starts to analyze me, but I can tell he’s not as worried. “We can work through it,” he tells me.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I admit.

I’m rewarded with one of his brilliant smiles.