When I stroll into the office, my body trembles from the hunger that rushes through my veins. My addiction is in full swing. I wipe the sweat dripping from my forehead with the back of my hand and loosen the top button of my oxford. I can only hope that my patients don’t notice that I am in worse shape than them.

“You are an hour late,” Erica says, giving me a look of death. “What happened to your promise to show up on time?”

I glance up at the clock on the wall above her desk and sigh. “Is the patient still here?”

Erica gets up from her chair and storms toward me with her nostrils flared and jaw clenched in anger. “No, she couldn’t wait any longer. You just missed her. I’m getting sick of covering for you, Aiden.”

“Dr. Shaw,” I growl.

“Oh, okay. Now, that you’re in a pissy mood we’re back to pretending we have a professional relationship.”

“We do,” I growl. “I am the doctor, and you are my employee. Maybe I should bend you over my desk and spank you for your insubordination.”

While I am serious, Erica takes my comment as a joke and laughs. She always thinks I’m kidding around. But I never joke about sex. Scarlett also fucked up my sex date yesterday, and I have been a maniac ever since. Seeing her again made my condition worse.

Erica elbows me in the arm and laughs. “I love it when you talk dirty to me, Dr. Shaw.”

“I wasn’t joking.” I set my hand on Erica’s shoulder, holding her in place. “If you were a good employee, you would go into my office and take off your clothes.”

She gives me a shit-eating grin just to taunt me. Erica knows all about my proclivities, and somehow, she still chooses to work here.

Her eyes travel along the length of my arm and back up to my face. “You’re shaking, Dr. Shaw. I wonder if there’s a way to fix that.”

The condensation in her voice sets my skin on fire. I swear she’s just as bad as Scarlett with her motherly advice and desire to fix me. Well, I am not a broken toy that can be put back together and made anew. No one can repair the damage.

“You could let me taste you,” I breathe against her lips, doing my best to still my shaking hands. “That would be a good start.”

“What happens after you get what you want?”

“At some point, I’ll need more.”

“Because you’re an addict,” she hisses. “Why don’t you get some help, Dr. Shaw?”

Frustrated with this conversation, I take a step back from Erica and walk into my office. By the time I sit behind my desk, Erica is on the opposite side with her hands on her narrow hips, distracting me. I lick my lips, as I make my way up her body, which earns me an even nastier look by the time I reach her face.

“Pig,” she sneers.

“You love it. Stop acting like you don’t enjoy our little games.”

“If you don’t get help, I will quit.”

“Not you, too.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the window, seething mad. “I’m sick of the women in my life telling me I need help.”

“Who else told you to get help?”

I turn my head to meet Erica’s gaze and narrow my eyes at her. “You know who.”

Her mouth widens in shock. “You saw Scarlett.”

I nod. “And not at one of my finer moments.”

Erica covers her mouth with her hand and chuckles. “What were you doing?”

“You know what,” I growl.

She laughs even harder. “Oh my God. That’s awesome.”

“Far from awesome. Scarlett is the reason my lunch date went to shit. Fucking cock blocker, like usual.”

“You care about her.” It’s a statement, not a question.

I sink into my chair and lean back, propping my foot on my knee. “Do you have a point?”

Erica presses her palms on my desk, giving me a nice view of her rack, and leans forward. “You care what she thinks of you.”

“Dr. O’Brien is a respected psychologist and a colleague.”

“No, she’s more than a colleague to you. You love her.”

“I’ve never been in love. Try again.” I dismiss her with the wave of my hand.

“She specializes in addiction. Maybe you should go see her.”

“No.” My tone is firm, but I still haven’t decided if I want to take Scarlett up on her offer. We had something back in college, a chance to be more than just friends. And I blew it, all because I couldn’t admit that I have a problem when I damn well know that I do.

“Go see her once. It will make me happy if you do.”

My relationship with Erica is somewhat strange. She’s young and beautiful, so full of life and yet to be jaded by her experiences. I’ve tried to corrupt her on a daily basis, but she laughs off my advances and pretends that my words have no meaning to her. She could never be submissive. Just like Scarlett.

I guess I’ve kept Erica around because she reminds me of Scarlett and her constant need to fight me. Scarlett’s tenacity was always the reason I’d liked her so much. And I miss her. For the last five years, I have missed Scarlett like crazy and have regretted my decision ever since she walked away from me.

I take Scarlett’s business card out of my pocket and hand it to Erica. She smiles with delight. “Would you like me to make you an appointment, Dr. Shaw?”

I suck in a deep breath and let out a puff of air. “I suppose.”

“What day works best for you?”

“You manage my calendar,” I tell her, still annoyed that she talked me into seeing Scarlett.

“Right,” she says under her breath. Then, she spins around and heads toward the exit. Before Erica opens the door, she glances over her shoulder at me. “You’ll thank me for this later.”

While I doubt I will, I nod in agreement, hoping I don’t regret this decision.