When David didn't say anything, Lara elegantly got out of the water, grabbing a towel from a nearby stack. She dabbed the water from her face and neck before saying, "I should be going. I am late."
He nodded again, unable to contain the smile he sent her. He did a double take immediately thereafter. Did he dream it, or did she smile back? A genuine smile upon her face had transformed her from beautiful to angelic.
When Lara turned her back on him, sitting down on a chaise lounge to slip her shoes on, David took advantage of her distraction and tossed his towel to a chair seconds before he dove into the cool water.
He started freestyle swimming, seeing her head towards the changing room on the far side of the pool house. He was treading water in the deep end when a sudden sharp stabbing pain began in his calf. The cramp worsened almost instantly, paralyzing his mobility in seconds. Oh no! Not now!
David quickly paddled towards the edge of the pool, having experienced these types of cramps in the past and knowing that once the cramp fully evolved, he’d be lucky to hold onto the side of the pool, let alone get himself from the water.
He was desperate; the only person who could help him was Lara. And he didn't want her to touch him. He didn’t know if he could trust what would happen if she put her hands upon his body. Those long and fine hands that he’d secretly fantasized about kissing, licking and caressing.
Seconds later, the cramp intensified and he found himself gasping in pain. There was no way he was getting out of this pool without some help. He struggled to reach the side of the pool, but the pain in his leg was winning and he felt himself sliding beneath the surface of the water as he tried to stay afloat. Swallowing harshly, he faintly shouted, “Help. Please. Lara?”
Lara was almost to the pool house entrance when she heard David cry out. Curiously she turned her head and walked back around the building. There he was gasping for air, trying to keep his head above the water. Without hesitation, she tossed her towel to the ground and jumped into the water. She surfaced only a few inches from his body, and quickly pushed and pulled him the remaining few yards to the edge of the pool.
Lara looked at him in concern, noticing the whiteness of his face and the lines of pain around his mouth and eyes. “David! What’s wrong? Do you need a doctor?”
He held onto the edge tightly and looked at her, barely able to speak through the intense pain. "Cramp. Calf. Ouch!" He closed his eyes and willed the horrible pain to cease.
Lara dove beneath the water’s surface and took his foot into her hand before David could even start to question what she was up to. With a swift move, and surprising strength, she pushed the toes of the affected leg upwards in the direction off the shinbone.
After what seemed like an eternity she resurfaced and David was almost sure, that she must be an angel and he was probably dead by now. The pain was gone and instead her beautiful face appeared in front of him. The warm and caring smile and the obvious worry she had about him, was so unlike the Lara he knew.
The angel asked “Are you ok?”
He looked at her in awe. The minute she had pushed his toes back, the disabling pain almost instantly vanished. The cramping disappeared and the tightness in his leg dissipated. He was so relieved and grateful.
Lara’s hands on his foot had felt so good. Too good. His mind started wandering again, thinking about other places he’d like her hands to touch him. Inappropriate thoughts that needed to stop. Now! Looking at her, he asked, "Are you a magician? The pain just stopped."
Lara smiled, "No, but I've had enough cramps in my calves to know what to do."
David still couldn’t believe what she’d done and said, "You saved my life."
He watched a blush stain her cheeks and marveled at how young she looked right then. How innocent and sweet. And uncomfortable. When she murmured, “Not even worth mentioning,” he realized how uncomfortable she was receiving a well-deserved compliment.
He saw her discomfort; it was written all over her face. What was causing it? He could tell she was feeling as awkward as he was. Lara was used to receiving compliments. Was she uncomfortable because she’d touched him?
“Can you get out of the pool now?” Lara asked, unwilling to meet his eyes.
“Yeah, I think so.” David used his hands to lever himself up and out of the pool. Once he stood, he gingerly put his full weight up on his leg, grateful when the cramp didn’t come right back.
He watched Lara grab a clean towel and dry her face off, holding the towel in front of her body like a shield. Something had definitely gotten to her.
David was still a bit shaken up over his near death experience and it would appear Lara was uneasy at playing the role of lifesaver.
Chapter 8
David accepted the towel she silently handed him, rubbing it over his chest and arms before giving his head a cursory drying. They are both standing less than a foot apart from each other; close enough that Lara sensed the heat of his body reaching across the small distance.
Close enough to sense the energy and attraction pulsing between and around them. She had felt the same energy since the first time they’d met. The same energy that had been present in all their conversations, changing him from therapist, or even a casual flirt, to someone she now considered a friend.
That thought caused her to pause. A friend? She didn't have friends. Thinking about it, she’d never had a friend. She’d had some girls who admired her, others who competed with her on social standing and the hierarchy of who was the most important girl in school. As she thought about it, not one of those people would she have considered a friend. Lara Bishop didn’t have friends!
And men? Well, men weren’t friends. All the men she knew had some kind of sexual interest in her. They viewed her as a plaything; nothing more and nothing less. She’d never complained because she loved to play with them. Lara used her attraction to convert them into followers. But nobody came even close to being a friend.
As the reality of her friendless status hit home, she started crying. She tried to hide it from David, tucking her chin and avoiding wiping the tears from her eyes, but she was too slow in turning away. “Lara?”
Her head came up with his voice, and from the shocked and worried expression on his face, she knew that he really cared for her. Not as her doctor, as a friend. He really wanted to know what had caused her to cry.
David wrapped her in his arms, hating to see the tears running down her cheeks. She had just saved his life, and yet she was crying as if she’d just lost something precious to her.
Lara sighed and leaned into him. It was so good to have his arms around her. Someone to trust. Someone who didn’t judge her on her Hermes handbag or newest designer clothes. Someone who already knew her insecurities, and weaknesses, and still liked her. Someone who really cared for her as a person, not as a trophy.
The simple act of tenderness was her undoing. Without even thinking about the appropriateness, or how it would look to anyone who passed by, she started sobbing. She wrapped her arms around his back and held on tightly.
As her tears dried up, she relaxed against him, enjoying the pleasure of being held in his strong arms. She closed her eyes and without making a conscious decision, her hands began a leisurely exploration of his back. She moved them up to his shoulders, reveling in the feel of the muscles there. After several moments, her hands began a trail down his back, coming to a stop at the low of his back. They paused on briefly before skirting even lower to clasp the muscled fullness of his buttocks. Her sobbing faded away, leaving in its wake a feeling of total peace and some unknown emotion.
David's hands also moved across her back, caressed her waist, her hips and her butt.
When she clasped his butt, he reached up to take her head between his hands. He tilted her head to the side and kissed her. It was a wonderfully warm, sensual kiss.
Lara longed for his lips to cover her own for such a long time and when it finally happened, her brain seemed to explode. All thought
processes stopped save for the one thought that couldn’t be silenced – I want to stay in his arms forever. No other thought was necessary. She didn’t analyze her emotions, she just went with them.
She clung to him like a drowning woman and experienced for the first time in her life the complete oneness that only happened when two people were meant to be together. His kisses completely absorbed her and her emotions were set on fire by his tender hands moving across her body. She murmured words of pleasure, pleading him to go on with his caresses.
As their desire started to climb towards the next peak, David suddenly retracted from her, taking several steps away to catch his breath.
Lara felt bereft. Her body was in physical pain, it longed for his hands touching her and his body pressing against hers again so badly.
"Lara. We can't."
Lara took a step back, trying to make some sense from what he was saying. Many emotions rushed in at her suddenly. Hurt. Unfulfillment. Emptiness. Lara bit her bottom lip, struggling for at least an ounce of self-control. She watched him with incredulous eyes. How could he leave her like that, when what she’d just experienced was the most beautiful thing ever? Didn’t he feel the same? Didn’t he want her?
"You're my patient. We are not allowed to interact like this. I will lose my license."
Lara heard his words, her heart breaking as he finished speaking. She said with a sad voice, "I know. We shouldn't."
With these words, she turned on the spot and left. She made it as far as the corner of the pool house before she just couldn’t resist. Turning back, she looked at him one last time.
Chapter 9
Lara had spent a restless night, tossing and turning as she replayed the scene between herself and David over in her head. Kissing him was like no other experience in her life. An experience that she would love to revisit, but David was her doctor.
She’d been able to tell that his professional ethics weighed heavily upon him and he wouldn’t put them aside easily.
After breakfast, she spent a few minutes in her room, trying to get up the nerve to approach his office. Usually she looked forward to their one-on-one appointments, but this morning she was nervous.
She approached the sunny sitting room where she and David normally met, but instead of opening the door, she paused. Normally, she would knock and then enter the room without a second thought, but today, she hesitated. Should she bring up what had happened the night before? Should she pretend nothing had happened? Should she wait for him to bring it up?
Her mind was in a quandary. Thinking back to how easily she’d responded to David’s kisses and touch, she blushed. He was a gorgeous man, and up till this point she saw him simply as a challenge. One more acquisition to her list of “followers”. You’re falling for him! She shook her head, trying to dislodge that thought from her thinking. No, I’m not! He’s a man like all the others, a good-looking one, but that’s about it.
She continued the argument with herself in her head. After the disaster with Peter, she definitely was not looking for a new relationship. She shouldn’t be! She’d already proven that she couldn’t handle either the pressure, or the disappointment.
But you really like David! The voice in her head just wouldn’t stop. Yes, David had become very important to her. Because of him, she was getting help and learning how to cope with all of her issues. She hadn’t even thought about the future; a future where she recovered enough to leave the center. A future where she wouldn’t see David each day. He was instrumental to her recovery and she didn’t want to do anything which might cause her to lose his support.
When Lara saw someone coming down the hall, she stepped away from the door, and leaned against the wall, giving herself time to get her head in the right space for this therapy session. David had helped her to see so many things in her life; things that had caused her to believe certain things about herself and others. Issues that weren’t necessarily based in reality, only her perception of it. Once identified, the hard work had begun and David had been immensely helpful in providing her the tools she needed to deal with those issues. He’d given her insights on how to change, and helped her be able to identify problem areas in the future before they became catastrophes.
She liked David on a professional level – he was an excellent doctor. Who are you trying to kid here? Her inner voice was calling her on the lie. She’d grown to like him for much more than his professional abilities. Much more than she should, given their relationship and her recent past.
And then yesterday came to mind and she shuddered as she once again recalled his smell, his touch, and his delicious kiss. God, he’d made her feel things that were just too wonderful to ignore. He’s off-limits, remember?
Lara shook her head in frustration. She didn’t know what was up with her inner voice, she knew that David was off-limits. That fact had been made very clear to her, by him, last night.
Taking a deep breath, she faced the door and knocked once before turning the handle. She was already several minutes late, and expected to see David sitting in his usual seat patiently waiting for her. She entered the room, turning to shut the door, with an apology on her lips and stopped in her tracks. David’s not there. There's another man sitting in the chair David normally occupied.
"Where is David?” Lara asked, confusion and concern mixing in her voice.
The man had looked up at her entry, and watched her closely for a minute before answering, "He needed to take a few days off due to a personal emergency. I am acting as his substitute.” The man stood to his feet and held out his hand, “I don’t believe we have met, my name is Oscar Fernandez."
Lara was shocked. David left? Why? She needs him! He can’t leave, not yet!
While all these thoughts ran through her mind, she did her best to keep her posture and composure together. She looked at the hand held out to her in greeting and forced herself to place her own in it briefly. She murmured, "I’m Lara Bishop."
It was like she was watching a movie of herself. Her thoughts were consumed with David’s absence, yet her body was still going through the motion required by civility and good manners.
Oscar gave her a brief smile, "I know. David left all his notes, but I'd like you to tell me what you want to work on today.” He gestured for her to take a seat and waited until she had settled before he continued, “I'm sure we’ll be able to continue where you and David stopped.”
Lara shuddered; a small smile appeared on her lips when she remembered where they had stopped yesterday. Continue where she and David had left off? Yes, please. But only with David! Oscar would never be able to continue from there. Thank God, he didn't know what she was thinking. She blushed, hoping he wouldn’t notice, or if he did, he’d be polite enough not to comment on it.
Lara didn’t want this doctor. She wanted David. She trusted him, and had been opening up to him in ways she’d never done with anyone ever. But how could she explain this to Oscar without also giving away the fact that she’d fallen for the good doctor?
Shaking her head, Lara finally answered him, "I’m sorry, Oscar. I was expecting David and now, frankly, I'm a bit confused. Would you give me a moment to get my thoughts together?"
Oscar smiled at her kindly, "Of course, I understand. It's not easy to change doctors in the middle of the therapy."
Lara nodded at him before dropping her eyes to her lap. Especially not if you’ve been making out with him. Or flirting shamelessly with him. Or fantasizing about him at night. No, changing doctors definitely wasn’t going to be easy.
Somehow, she managed to get through the therapy session, but it was not the same. This doctor was just that - a doctor. David had become so much more. He had earned her trust; getting her to admit things, she'd always been in denial about. Things like the lack of love she received from her mother and the dysfunctional relationship with her father.
A recent breakthrough had spotlighted the pride she’d taken over the years, that her father would do whatever she wish
ed; the concept that he might say “No” to her not even in the realm of possibilities. David had made her see that for what it was and deal with it.
David had helped her to see many of her flaws, but along the way, he’d also helped her see the good things about her. He had helped her deal with the ugly, and find the beautiful that had been buried deep inside. Those things might need a little polishing up, but he’d also given her the tools and the confidence to take on that task. God, she needed David back in her life!
Chapter 10
David tried to ignore the clock on the wall of the small hotel he found himself in. He tried to ignore the fact that right about now, Lara was preparing for her morning therapy session – with his substitute Oscar!
After returning to his room the night before, he’d showered and gotten ready for bed, but been unable to settle. No matter what he did, he couldn’t get away from the memories of Lara beneath his hands and her marvelous taste.
Several hours later, he’d hurriedly packed a bag and called the center’s director at home. Claiming a personal emergency, he had asked for a few days off, promising to return call if he needed more than three days to get things handled.
The director had been very sympathetic and true to form, she hadn’t even asked for an explanation. David still felt guilty over the small lie, but he needed some space to figure out how to handle the situation with Lara.
Leaving in the dead of night had been a cowardly thing to do, but he hadn’t wanted to risk encountering her the next morning. Not before he came to terms with his feelings.
Over the last several weeks, he’d grown so attached to her. She had proven him wrong, and his initial impression of her had been completely off based. She was very different than he had assumed; she actually wanted to change.
Yes, she was still trying to flirt with him, but he had grown accustomed to that and found it didn’t bother him as much as he pretended. He saw so many good traits in her. And she was finally beginning to see them for herself.
Falling for Him 4 (Rachel and Peter in Love) Page 4
