HOLIDAY KISS
Chapter one
I had him on the couch and again he wasn’t saying much. We had delved into the accident that had claimed his wife. It was 3 days from Christmas and I knew what I wanted for a present. I just couldn’t have it. It was a conflict of interest.
Evan was a private man with more money than the national gross product of some third world countries. It had been six months. He was still dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s untimely demise.
“I don’t know what to do with him. Daniel is barely sleeping and when he does he wakes up screaming from nightmares. I've tried to be there for him, but his mood swings are becoming more erratic by the day.” I watched his tongue move around his mouth. He was giving me insane and obscene ideas about what he could do with it.
“The wound is still fresh and it’s no wonder he’s manifesting nightmares from the ordeal. I know it can be difficult for children of his age. The only thing you can do is be there for him when he’s ready to talk about it. It’s frustrating as a parent not to know what to do when your child is hurting.” He was lying on the couch with his legs stretched out in a pair of dark pants. My eyes were zeroed in on the target of his manhood.
One arm of my glasses was currently clenched between my teeth. My green eyes and my overactive imagination were working inappropriately to see him naked in my mind’s eye. It was wrong, but my body was betraying the good sense I had in my head.
“Daniel turned five the other day and it’s hard for him to recognize his mother is never going to walk through the door again.” Evan Duncan never talked about himself. It was always his concern for his child that reared its ugly head.
I was crossing my legs and thankful he couldn’t see under the desk where my panties were practically on fire. I wondered how easily he could turn my body into a musical instrument.
“I’m not here to treat your son, but I can give you my unbiased opinion. You’ve never been much of a father before the accident. You were always too busy with work and you missed some of the more special moments in his life. Money has always been the only thing to wake you up in the morning. I get the sense you didn’t even want a child.” I hated to be blunt, but his therapy wasn’t going to work unless he opened up.
“I admit I was never really there for him. I didn’t think I was going to be a good father and I tried to keep my distance. It stems from my father running out on us when I was too young to understand.” This was the first real insight into the man and I wasn’t going to allow him to shelter his feelings any longer.
“I believe we have made a breakthrough. I would like to hear more about your childhood, but I’m concerned about your son. He sounds like he’s withdrawing into himself.” I had seen several cases where the child without therapy would become mute and unresponsive.
“I was always traveling when he was growing up. I’m kicking myself for losing those five years. I gave my father the power to make me ineffectual in my own son’s life. I didn’t even realize I was doing it. Gillian was the one who pulled me aside and told me to get my head out of my ass.” It was anatomically impossible for him to do that, but I understood the sentiment.
“I’ve listened to you talk about her and the love you shared with each other was timeless. You made something out of that love and he is begging for your attention. Of course, I know you feel guilty for what happened, but there was nothing you could do to stop fate. It’s normal to think of the things you could have done in the moment that you didn’t do.” My black skirt had inched up and I was biting my bottom lip looking at the fine specimen of a man in a compromising position.
“I never thought that I would find a love that was as strong as the gold diamond I put around her finger when I asked her to marry me. She made me feel like I wasn’t a waste of space.” He had her to thank for giving him a home.
“You haven’t talked much about your past.” I was giving him the key. It was up to him to use it.
“I’ve been fighting for everything I have from the moment I was old enough. My mother did her best to raise me as a single parent and I gave her nothing but grief.” His light blond hair was short and I wanted to run my hands over his skull, pressing his head to my bosom until I was crying out for more.
He was cleanly shaven with baby boy good looks.
My flaming locks cascaded over my shoulders and tickled the nape of my neck. I was a little reserved. I didn’t go out of my way to attract the opposite sex. I was more content working to fix other people’s lives never once thinking about myself. It was a lonely existence with the other side of the bed vacant of male companionship.
“A love like yours doesn’t come around very often. I would say you were lucky to even have it for any length of time, but I know how insensitive that might sound. People spend most of their lives searching for what you had. They sometimes settle for second best because they think living alone is going to kill them a little more each day.” I was referring to myself and my loveless life of regret.
“I’ve been bending your ear for the past few months. In that time, I have learned to trust your judgment and I have a favor to ask.” There was complete silence and he was trying to formulate the words into something legible.
“I think I know what you’re going to say. Let me save you the trouble. I would be pleased to help your son. I thought you would never ask. I suppose you had to find out if you could trust me with the bundle of joy you brought into this world. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a man of your character.” Evan had surrounded his son with extravagance, but no amount of money was going to solve his problems.
“I wasn’t sure about therapy and I thought it was a bunch of nonsense. You proved me wrong. Every day I leave this office and I feel a little bit better. I want the same thing for Daniel. The only way this is going to work is if you live beneath my roof. I’m essentially asking you to move in with me for an undisclosed amount of time.” I was a little floored by his statement. It had never occurred to me that he would want me in the intimate setting of his home.
“I understand he would be more comfortable in familiar surroundings. To bring him here would probably be counterproductive. Adults are different than children. I will need to draw up some ground rules. I’m going to need my own room with a connected bathroom.” I didn’t want to lose control by seeing him in the buff, but the idea was conjuring vivid images in my head.
He swung around with his feet firmly planted on the newly polished wood floors. The color was a little lighter than normal. I wanted everything about my office to be upbeat. I’d done my research and the color scheme was perfect for mental health.
“I’m sure something can be arranged, but I would like you to be in walking distance of his bedroom. I can even sweeten the deal by offering home cooked meals made by an accomplished chef. I’ve been known to dabble in the kitchen and my wife taught me a thing or two.” He was proud of his culinary talents and I was looking forward to what he could whip up in the kitchen.
“It would be advantageous to be in close proximity when he begins screaming after a nightmare. By your own admission, you are working at home and I hope my being there isn’t going to hamper what you do on a daily basis. I do have other clients and I will have to go into the office half the day.” I wasn’t going to neglect my other patients even for the chance to see him in his own environment.
“I would suggest bringing your clients to my home, but that would be uncomfortable for all of us. I would never ask you to give up on helping others. You’re very good at what you do and I’ve seen that for myself.” He was standing with his over 6-foot frame making me swallow with this nervous energy in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
The way that his clothes were constricting confirmed the way that he treated his body like a temple. He stretched his hands over his head and locked his fingers together. I was mesmerized by the movement of a ballet dancer in front of my eyes. His strong arms and shoulders were easily able to lift my 115-pound body with relative ease. It would be nice to test how nicely we could fit together under the cover of the sheets.
“This is my home away from home. I take what I do very seriously and I would never compromise my values for anything. I’m glad you understand, but I swear my work will not interfere with treating Daniel. I will need to pack some things up, but I don’t think I will need much more than my clothes.” I already felt naked in his presence like he could easily see through what I was wearing.
The pendulum of my clock was informing me the session had come to an end. I couldn’t believe I had actually agreed to live within the same gravity of the man who made me yearn for something I couldn’t have. I was never going to act on my feelings no matter how much my virginal body was begging for his loving arms to be wrapped around it.
He did look damn good in that tailored dark suit made from the finest Italian silk money could buy. His expensive taste and style were hard to ignore. He wore his success to make people look at him and respect the man underneath the suit.
“I won’t ruin the surprise, but tonight is going to have a very special menu in honor of you. Dinner will be at 6:00 PM. Wear something casual. It will be interesting to see you let your hair down.” He looked at me and I felt like I was going to burst into flames. Spontaneous combustion wasn’t possible, but it sure the hell felt like it was.
“You have piqued my curiosity.” I escorted him to the door and purposely put my hand on the small of his back to feel his muscular physique rippling under my fingers. I had free will, but around him, it was almost like he had me under his spell.
His phone began to buzz and when he looked down at it his face faded into a frown. His whole demeanor changed in the span of seconds. It wasn’t the first time it had happened in my presence. I had questioned him, but he was amazingly able to sidestep it by changing the subject.
“I have something to do before dinner. I don’t condone someone who arrives fashionably late. I do have to warn you that I’m a bit of a night owl. You might find me walking the halls late at night and there’s no reason to be concerned.” My mother and father raised me to be self-sufficient, but nobody knew of my dark secret.
I closed the door and leaned back against it with my heart beating wildly in my chest. I was a virgin at 25 of my own choosing. I had seen some bad things happen to classmates. Their first time was unrewarding and it scared me to think of bringing a child into the world without the necessary tools.
Time had gotten away from me during my quest to get that diploma from Harvard on my wall. I was proud of my accomplishments, but it left me with an aching for something of the masculine form. He would be perfect gift wrapped under my tree.