could.”
“I have a feeling guys want to be with you because of you. Didn’t you say your ex wanted to stick around, despite the anxiety?”
Her shoulders tense under my hands. “Yeah, he did.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Audrey. They want you for you, not some game.”
Her eyes flutter closed once again and her lips form a tight line. She’s done talking but that’s okay. This isn’t a race. It’s a marathon.
*
We move forward at the next session; now we’ve added Audrey’s legs into the equation. I maintain my distance running my hands along her arms and legs, but stay away from hot zones like her butt, her sides, and the area where her boobs press against the bench. Yes, I’ve noticed. How could I not notice? With each day that passes, I know her body a little bit better. She’s muscular, but not bulky. Her legs are long and lean, a runner’s legs. She’s ticklish, so I try to avoid those spots as it leads to a different type of tension.
I’m good at my job; it’s why Dr. Markson recruited me. It may sound egotistical, but I have a natural instinct when it comes to what a woman wants and how to cater to her needs.
Audrey breathes through her nose and a small smile lingers on her plump, red lips. My mind wanders at times, considering what her skin feels like. It’s pale and creamy, scattered with freckles. A familiar flare erupts in my balls. It’s been weeks since I’ve had sex. Which, for me, is unheard of. Sex equals money. Previously, I barely let a couple days pass without escorting one of my clients. Audrey has become the singular focus in my life, sexually, and I haven’t even touched her skin yet.
On Friday, after our session, I see an additional note and read it aloud. Audrey, for the next phase of therapy, please wear a tank top and shorts to your next session —Dr. M.
“So w e’re moving to skin contact?” she asks, looking a little giddy. The tips of her ears flame red.
“Looks like it. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes. I’m kind of excited.”
I don’t hold back my smile. “Me, too.”
Chapter 9
(Audrey)
Monday rolls around and I’ve brought clothes to change into. In the bathroom, I remove my work clothes, hanging them on a hook behind the door. I slip a purple tank top over my bra and cotton shorts over my panties. Pausing at the mirror, I take a quick once-over and rake through my hair with my fingers before twisting it up in a knot.
Graham gives me a wide grin when I enter the living area.
“What?” I ask.
“You look cute.”
I glance down at my clothes and pretend I’m not blushing. “Thanks. I feel a little underdressed, comparably.”
“That’s fair. How about next time I wear something similar?”
“You have a purple tank top?”
He laughs. “No. Pink.”
His comment is silly , but it makes me consider something I haven’t thought about before. Is Graham gay? Does that make this easier for him? If so, would he be willing to be so intimate with a woman? He did say I looked cute. Not hot, but cute. While he turns on the music and adjusts the lights, I lie on the bench, thinking about it. He has never given me any sort of vibe. But then, what do I know? Ultimately, I figure, it doesn’t matter about his sexual orientation, but it may make things less complicated for us if he is gay.
Graham kneels beside me and says, “Today, I’ll massage your arms and legs. I’ll also massage your neck and covered lower back and butt.”
I push up on my elbows and look at him. “My butt?”
“Yes, it’s time to move forward; and exposing your sensitive, more sexual areas is necessary.”
I try to figure out how I feel about this. Pounding heart? Yes. Anxious stomach? Definitely. Slightly turned on? Ugh. I admit it. Graham’s just very good with his hands; he makes me feel things, things that lead to things that cause absolute anxiety. I lie back down and say in my most convincing voice, “I’m ready.”
Graham starts his