Healing Touch: Play Doctor, Book 2

by Jayne Rylon

  Luke supported her with an arm around her waist when she faltered, waving her hands to regain her balance. Except with him so near and the horror of the recent events mingling with her endorphin rush from the evening of dancing, dining and laughing, she couldn’t quite find her footing.

  A red velvet bench accepted her weight easily when he lowered her to its seat. Less delicate than it appeared, it buttressed her in style. She felt for a moment like the subject of an elegant painting. The dress and her surroundings mocked her. An impostor, given the extremes of her misery.

  She sat, unfocused, for several seconds. When her eyes missed the sight of Luke, they sought him out. He fiddled with gold handles on what appeared to be a small swimming pool, or maybe an enormous jetted tub, sunken into the floor.

  Fragrant foam sprang to life right where the pounding water met the hard surface of the tub. From two unrelenting, punishing forces came something beautiful and refreshing. Could it be that way for her too?

  “I can leave you to bathe by yourself if you prefer.” He frowned. “Honestly, though, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be alone. And even more frankly, I don’t care to be either.”

  “Stay,” she mumbled, barely able to form the request.

  Chapter Nine

  “Thank you.” Luke crossed to her in two strides. He bent, slipping her shoes from her feet, eliciting a gasp and wince. “I’ll fix that in a minute. I give great foot massages. But first, this dress.”

  She stared when he worked the material above her knees. Then he began from the top down, untying and unhooking and unlacing until her breasts were bared to his gaze. Behind him, the rest of the city sprawled, framed in the floor-to-ceiling windows on the opposite side of the bathing pool. “Um, can people see us?”

  The squeak didn’t have any sexiness to it. She recalled her father’s friends, assigned to watch her take the fastest baths in the history of the world. Poor Luke, he couldn’t know about all of her quirks. Not yet.

  She crossed her arms over her chest, moaning when her hard nipples pressed into her forearms.

  “The windows are mirrored from the outside,” he assured her. “While I like to show off from time to time, tonight I only care about you and me. No one else is here with us.”

  Brielle realized he referred to the ghosts of her past as well as the drunk doctor who’d trapped her in the coat closet. She nodded.

  “Good.” He ran his fingers down the length of her arm until he reached her wrist. Gently, he pried it from her body then kissed each mound before traveling lower. Her stomach flexed when he licked a hot trail around her belly button. “You’re beautiful, Brielle. So sweet.”

  With the sheath bunched around her waist, she had no option but to stand for him to remove it. He helped her up then quickly dispatched the silk, which landed in a pile with a rustle. For a moment, she regretted taking Becca’s advice, ditching her underwear to avoid panty lines.

  Completely bare, she stood before Luke. Hands at her sides, eyes and heart wide open, she allowed him to judge every bit of her, shivering the entire time.

  “Brielle.” Her name sounded like a prayer when he uttered it like that.

  Luke approached her, but no fear entered her mind.

  He scooped her into his arms, kicked off his shoes and waded into the enormous tub, still fully clothed. Half-full, the pool had a water level high enough he ended up drenched from the waist down.

  “I think you missed a step in this process.” She grinned at him when he set her on a contoured ledge. Once the tub was full her resting place would be submerged yet her head would be above water. Warmth seeped into her bones, helping her relax muscles she hadn’t even realized were knotted.

  “Welcome back, smart ass.” He chuckled as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I missed you. Besides, you were cold.”

  “I could have waited a minute.” She sighed, secretly glad for the heat. It helped thaw the frost that had crystallized on her heart.

  “No need to suffer.” He let the promise sink in. “So you’re okay with me getting naked too? Tell me if I cross any of your lines. We haven’t talked about them all yet, I know. I don’t want to do something by accident to upset you.”

  “Then strip. I’ll feel weird if you don’t. Unbalanced.” A blush raced up her chest. It was evident in her current state. “And I’d really like to see you.”

  The powerful stretch and play of his muscles had thrilled her earlier this morning. Had it only been one day since she’d lain in his arms on her ugly sofa?

  After waking, he’d roamed her apartment like a jungle cat, stalking to the bathroom and back with efficient use of his glorious physique. While they’d danced earlier, the firm column of his thigh had pressed between her legs, teasing her with his solid frame. It was about time she quit relying on her imagination to fill in the gaps.

  “I like that look a hell of a lot better. You can cry on my shoulder anytime, Brielle, but I plan to give you things to smile about more often than not.” He sank into the riot of bubbles. The water lapping against his chest plastered his light shirt to his torso.

  His hands splashed, breaking the surface as he slung first one sock then the other onto the edge of the tub, far from their resting place. Next came his suit pants. Then a pair of boxer briefs. And finally he shrugged out of his tailored jacket, folding it over the ledge despite its soggy state.

  Brielle smiled up at him, crossing her ankles in an attempt to press her thighs together for relief. Knowing not much separated them went a long way toward replacing her lingering fear with desperate need.

  He could make her forget. Exchange all her fears for heat. Heal her soul with his gentle touch. Disprove every ugly truth she thought she’d discovered about men and life in general.

  Please let her have been wrong about it all.

  “Are you sure you want this gone?” He toyed with the top button of his shirt.

  “I didn’t realize you were such a cock-tease.” She raised one brow.

  “Well, I’m not. Most of the time. I prefer women, though there were those few experiments in my crazy college days.” His easy shrug blew her mind.

  “You? With guys?” Eyes wide, she regarded him in a whole new light. One filled with admiration.

  “I’ve tried just about everything, Brielle.” Flicking open the top two buttons of his shirt, he spread the fabric so she glimpsed his hard chest. “The club scene, BDSM, voyeurism, group sex in practically every combination. It felt good. All of it. Or most, anyway. I’m not cut out to be submissive. Everything else ranged from decent to ‘hell yes’.”

  “What are you looking for now?” Wrinkles marred her forehead. “I can try to be what you need, but you’ll have to show me. I don’t know much. Would you expect me to—?”

  Luke waved her off. “I’m not trying to shape you into something you’re not. That’s the point, sweetheart. You’re what I need right now. The lifestyle doesn’t mean anything to me. I tried everything because I was grasping at straws, searching for something. I just didn’t know that special ingredient was you.”

  Sitting still became impossible. She shoved off the tiled side and barreled into him, dunking them both below the surface. When they emerged from the deeper section, water sluiced off them. Luke shook his head, spraying moisture in every direction.

  Laughter echoed off the hard surfaces of the bathroom, multiplying by the moment. “You never do what I think you might.”

  “Isn’t that the definition of insanity?” She saved him from answering by climbing the trunk of his body, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him like mad. While he devoured her, she yanked on his shirt. Buttons plopped into the water.

  Bright-white teeth gleamed when he grinned at her urgency.

  “I’ll sew them back on.”

  “Don’t bother.” He shrugged out of the mauled clothing. “I’m going to keep it as a souvenir of our first time together.”

  “Luke, can we hurry?” She swiveled her
hips, rubbing against his thick erection, which nudged her pussy.

  “I promised you I’d wash you clean then give you a foot rub. I do what I say.” He bestowed several sweet kisses, ignoring any discomfort from his raging cock.

  When Brad had gotten horny, he’d fucked her there and then. Delayed gratification hadn’t been his thing at all. At least it had been over before she noticed most times. “I figured we’d take it slow. If you’re up for it, we could chase away all the things that frighten you. I could make love to you, gently, with candlelight streaming over your smooth skin. Until I’m sure you’re okay, and I can let go of what happened downstairs too.”

  “A singer and a poet? You’re unbelievable.” She hugged him to make sure he was real and not one of the illusions she’d conjured to keep her sane in the darkness. Just being near him made her feel unsoiled. The minor aches and pains associated with her shoes, or the hold James Wexford had taken on her, dissolved automatically. He was great medicine.

  “In a good way, I hope?”

  How could he wonder? Did everyone live with a kernel of doubt? Maybe her insecurities did make her normal. “You have a spectacular way about you, Luke. I’ve never met anyone half as fine. Any other hidden talents I should know about?”

  “Well, you haven’t heard me play guitar yet. Or felt me fuck.” His boyish grin captured her heart.

  “I’m hoping to change that soon.” She patted his cheek and wriggled in his hold.

  A groan reverberated through the space.

  “Anytime you’re ready, I’m here. At your service.” Another series of kisses almost distracted her from her mission.

  “Well, it depends. What else do you have to offer? I might want to wait.”

  “Of course. If you’ve changed your mind or you’re not ready, we can soak for a while. Sit and talk instead. Or just sit quietly. Listen to music. Have a drink. Beat up a pile of pillows with fuckwads’ names written on them. Watch a movie. Cuddle. Whatever you need.”

  Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage. “That’s not exactly what I meant. I’d rather try something else you told me you were interested in, before we get to the main event.”

  “Like what?” His head tipped to one side as he studied her intently. Had he forgotten? Had he meant what he’d said in the heat of the moment last night?

  “If you still want to, I’m curious about you…tasting me.” A hard swallow flexed her throat. “I’ve always wondered what that would feel like.”

  And it was his turn to act.

  Luke trudged through the water, splashing in every direction as he hauled her to the platform she’d abandoned not long ago. “Are you saying no one’s ever gone down on you?”

  She looked away.

  “Dumb ass,” he muttered.

  A flinch jerked her from him. “Is it only for guys?”

  “Shit. I didn’t mean you, Brielle. Never you.” Luke pressed her shoulders until she reclined on a ramp fashioned along the side of the tub. He propped her feet on the edge, where it dropped off to the main section of the pool, and positioned her head on a waterproof pillow tied to the top with a nylon cord. “I meant the asshole who abused you.”

  “His name is Brad, and he didn’t really…”

  “He did. And I prefer asshole. Or maybe loser. Or motherless motherfucker.”

  “That’s a new one.” She couldn’t help but smile when he picked up steam.

  “I’m tabling this for tonight, but Saturday we’ll talk more with Becca to help us stay on track. I can’t be rational when discussing this.” Luke’s hands roved over her body, painting her with suds then rinsing them away. “You’re gorgeous. A masterpiece of nature. You deserve to be worshipped.”

  “I wish I could say the same for you.” They laughed together when he paused. “Are you hiding some crazy disfiguration or something? Why won’t you let me see you naked?”

  “Huh? Oh.” His shrug made his chest and abdomen glisten where they protruded from the water, which now overflowed the sides of their oasis into the designated run-off gutters. “You distracted me again. Is it really more important than letting me lavish attention on you?”

  “Tough call, but yes.” Because what if after he learned everything, when they worked with Becca, and Brielle maybe let them use the Dream Machine on her, he saw something that caused him to walk away? A memory of him would be the only thing keeping her sane.

  “All right, Ms. Norris. Your wish is my command.” He put his hands on his hips and ascended the inlaid tile steps on the edge of the pool nearest her. While he rose from the steaming water, he sang in a deep voice that boomed around the room. Though he couldn’t be serious for more than five minutes, his self-deprecation couldn’t obscure the fact that he actually had an outstanding voice.

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “My cock?” He paused then resumed his reveal, even more animated than before.

  Laughter only enhanced the vision he made. Sleek muscles bunched and relaxed as he performed for his audience of one. And he didn’t disappoint. A tight ass perched on powerful thighs that led to tight calves. She couldn’t believe she admired even his feet. When she’d absorbed every nuance of him, she allowed her gaze to roam to his cock.

  Wow.

  His operatic solo reached its pinnacle. Then he bowed, so she humored him with riotous clapping. “Bravo, bravo.”

  “It was from Oedipus Rex by Stravinsky.”

  “How very Freudian of you.” Another delighted peal of laughter escaped before she could stop it. “You have a very nice sword.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” He bowed then sprinted for the edge. Two steps, a huge leap and his shout of, “cannonball” precluded a tsunami in their pool.

  Waves lapped across her breasts, belly and pussy, having the opposite effect of dousing the fire he lit in her. Luke surfaced between her legs. He wrapped his hands around her ankles, making her shift and yearn for more.

  “How could I ever be sad with you around?” she asked.

  “Kurt tells me I need to grow up and be more serious sometime before I hit forty. I’ve got several good years in me yet before then.”

  “I hope you never change.” She smiled when he plucked her hand from the water and kissed her palm.

  “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been able to just be me.” He nibbled his way up her calves to her knees. “With other women, I’ve always felt my silly side was unattractive. Not that I couldn’t be ridiculous sometimes, it’s hard to filter out all my antics, but I guess I kept it separate from the bedroom. And the boardroom. With you, I’m all topsy-turvy. I love that you get me.”

  “I do.” Reaching between her knees, she squeezed his hand.

  “So how is it that you know about Freud but not oral sex for women?” He caressed her inner thigh as his hand crept higher and higher.

  “I read a lot. In my closet there wasn’t much else to do.” She shivered, from the memory or the pleasure he imparted, she couldn’t say. “But the school library stocks classics and more books about famous psychologists than contemporary sex manuals. And Brad…”

  “No need to say more there. Asshole.”

  “Right.” The temptation of his hair was more than she could handle. She ran her fingers through the strands while he situated himself more fully between her thighs.

  Luke floated, wrapping his arms around her hips to anchor himself. His back rose from the water, impressing her again with the defined strength there. Carefully, he studied her, using one finger of each hand to spread her lips. He nuzzled the trimmed hair covering her mound, teasing her with the almost contact.

  His breath buffeted her sensitized flesh.

  Brielle spread her legs wider, arched her spine and invited him to teach her a lesson she’d never forget. Even better, he distracted her from the last bouts of shivers they both had realized stemmed more from her encounter in the closet than the frosty air-conditioning in the hotel.

  “You’re pretty and flushed.” H
e murmured against her, painting slickness across her using the dew drops gathering at her entrance. “I can’t wait until it’s my dick filling you, Brielle. It’s going to be so good. For us both.”

  “We don’t have to do this.” The denial came out stilted and broken. Already he frazzled her nerves, making her go haywire.

  “No, but I want to. There’s plenty of tonight left, sweetheart.” He tucked a gentle kiss right over her clit. “Practicing my patience is probably a good thing. Besides, I have a feeling I could eat you all night long and never get tired of the sounds you make, the way you taste or the smell of your arousal. Damn, you’re addictive.”

  This time he extended his tongue, flicking the tip across her opening.

  Air rushed from Brielle’s lungs in one huge exhalation. She sucked it in again when he firmed his tongue and pressed inward, fucking her with it. He lapped at her, cleaning every speck of her juices from her lips.

  “Oh, Luke.” She tried to stay still, but couldn’t. Sensations bombarded her. All of them fabulous. “So different than when I touch myself. Way better.”

  A smile curved his lips against her, only bringing her more rapture. “Thanks. Though I’d like to watch you play with yourself sometime. I bet you’re soft and timid and gentle. Damn, it makes me hard as a rock to think about.”

  “Deal,” she gasped. “Just don’t stop, please.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Another level of euphoria came to life when he sucked on her lips while nudging her clit with his nose. He added a finger to her channel as he migrated upward.

  When he closed his mouth around her clit and sucked gently, she screamed his name.

  “Yeah, that’s it.” He tucked another digit inside her, stroking slowly, in counterpoint to the thrust and parry of his tongue on her most sensitive spots. “Here, try this.”

  Before she could figure out what he meant, he used his free hand to mash a button on the edge of the tub. Jets engaged. They massaged her back and ass. Several also shot streams of water at her chest. The warm liquid flowed over her breasts, teasing her tight nipples. The fluid ran downhill as she lay on the incline. It gathered volume from additional outputs and rippled over her abdomen, then lower still to her pussy.