Part 17 (1/2)
”You'll be his therapist, Ilida?”
She sighed, ”I'm the only therapist who will take his case.”
The idea visibly shook her. Perhaps bringing Mike here was a bad idea. Too bad the Heamo High Council hadn't thought of Rehab centers for drugged up vampires. Those bald rats thought of everything else. ”A male should take Mike's case, not a slip of a woman such as yourself.”
She moistened her luscious, brown lips, and then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled tight, making my c.o.c.k stir to life. A storm of indignation brewed inside her tiny body.
”I wasn't aware we were back in the fifties, Daedalus, and you haven't answered my ques-”
I held up my hand. ”Peace! If you think Mike is a danger to you then a male should be his counselor. I should take him out of here.”
”That won't be necessary.” She cleared her throat again, sat up, and put her shoulders back ready to fight my concern. ”I'm comfortable with physical confrontation, so I can handle Mike.”
”You've been attacked before.”
She hesitated contemplating whether to lie to me or not. ”Yes.”
A quick possessiveness came over me. Who would hurt her? She wouldn't hurt a fly. ”When? And by whom?”
She s.h.i.+fted in her seat not knowing how to take my questioning. I felt the same way. She's independent and doesn't want anyone to worry about her. She'd rather worry about everyone else. ”It was three years ago. My first go around as a recreational therapist. One of my patients punched me in the face.”
”And?”
She moved her head trying to force the truth out of her mouth. ”And I was out cold for ten minutes. After that I took self-defense cla.s.ses.” For the first time she met my gaze. ”You won't see me flat on my back anymore.”
As though realizing her slip, she reddened attractively. ”Wait! That's not what I meant to say.”
”You weren't on your back.” After that, I stood up, paced her tiny office, annoyed with her and this situation. Why did I care so much? Simple. Because she cares. She went to Juliana's funeral. She let me make love to her in the most intimate way possible. It scared the s.h.i.+t out of me and seeing her again filled my heart. A heart I thought was long, long dead. ”How long do you want to dance around this, Ilida?”
”Dance around what, Daedalus?”
She played dumb well, but I saw through it. Why else would she be so on guard around me? ”You and me and this dangerous connection we have.”
”I can't...”
”We need to talk about it. You showed up out of the blue at Juliana's funeral. What happened afterward, and the dream I had. I know you had the same dream.”
”What dream?”
I sat down and leaned over, pinned her with my gaze. Her dark brown eyes widened with fear. ”Is this a game now?”
”Do you know how arrogant you are, Daedalus?”
I leaned back in the chair, crossed my knees, enjoying the hunt more. I shrugged. ”I've heard once or twice.”
”Just twice?” she said tightly.
A knock made her jump. Her office door opened before she could say come in. A man with dark red curly hair, beard, and mustache peeked in. From our first meeting, I knew I despised him. Unknowingly he told me why.
”How's it going?”
Ilida's posture changed again from alertness to positive vexation. Interesting. Thom makes her uncomfortable.
”It's going fine, Thom.”
Want to explain Thom the wonder boss?
I don't have to, to you.
You don't look happy to see him. One can only guess why.
”Mr. Sqourakis, Ilida is the best recreational therapist I have on staff. Mike will be in good hands with her.”
Singing your praises.
I'm good at my job. ”Thanks, Thom.”
”Bye.”
The door closed. I waited until I heard the man's footsteps shrink down to a dull sound. ”Your boss carries a torch for you.”
”We're a family here. All of us went to college together with the exception of Sally, the nurse.”
”Spare me The Big Chill a.n.a.logy. He wants to f.u.c.k you, Ilida. Tell me, how many men do you have sniffing around you?”
”How many women do you have clawing at you?”
”I asked you first.”
”I gave you one night, Daedalus. Just one. I don't owe you anything.”
”I own your body, and you know it.”
She jumped up from her chair and stared me down. ”No we don...”
”Your heart is beating at a frenetic pace. You slept with him.”
”It was a mistake. ”
”I like a woman with experience. It makes life interesting.”
You're staring at me as if you want me for dinner, Daedalus. I don't appre...”
I reached out and grabbed her hand-needing the contact. Then an electric current traveled up my arm, to my heart and back. G.o.d, bad mistake touching her. I wanted more and was beyond curious now. ”I know. You're a therapist. You love your job. You love helping people, and I'm not being condescending. I'm talking about a different kind of therapy.”
”I thought that was a one time thing?”