Topaz kissed him back with sensuous abandon. “She won’t hurt you, she’ll hurt me for keeping you away,” she whispered, her fingers swirling through his close-cut wavy hair.
Alex’s fingers curves around the belt securing her robe. He felt compelled to see what lay beneath it. He broke the kiss instead. “Topaz, please go get ready,” he urged, dropping a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
Topaz moved away, smoothing the back of her hand across his caramel-toned cheek. Alex waited until she disappeared up the stairs, then covered his face in his hands and groaned.
“Well, I must admit I didn’t think I’d hear from you again. Ever.”
Alex grinned. “Cool it,” he warned his doctor.
Beck Gillam chuckled. “So does this mean you’ve reconsidered coming in for a session?”
“I have a question first.”
“Shoot.”
Alex glanced toward the doorway, hoping Topaz wasn’t on her way down just yet. “Do you think I could, um ... hurt someone like that again?”
Beck was surprised by the question. “You mean while you’re—”
“Yeah.”
“It’s a definite possibility, Zan,” the psychiatrist confirmed. “Someone with a condition like yours ... fatigue, headache, even hunger are only a few of the many triggers that could set off your rage. For that kind of anger to attack you in an unconscious state—”
“Well, what if I started on the pills again?”
“Zan, the pills will pacify those urges but they’re only a temporary solution,” Beck explained, the tone of his voice relaying the seriousness of the situation. “Therapy, Zan—discussion and feedback. That’s what will ‘cure’ you.”
Alex’s blue-green gaze focused on the stairway. “Hmph. A temporary solution sounds good right now.”
“Alex, what’s really going on here?” Beck questioned, hearing the faint despair in his patient’s voice.
Alex squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his fingers through his hair. “I met somebody. She’s ... she’s unreal, Beck. I know that sounds extreme, but, damn ... I never met anyone like her. I honestly don’t think I will ever meet anyone else like her.”
Beck stared at his phone, more than a little shocked by the words coming through the receiver. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” he asked, knowing the man had never spoken about anyone with such obvious care and passion.
Still, Alex would not allow himself to admit to the emotion. “I care about her and I very much want to be with her.”
“Then my advice is that you continue the therapy.”
“All I need are those pills.”
Beck shook his head. “Zan, this is a deep-seated problem that goes back years. If you care about this lady, like I know you do, you’ll do everything you can to work through this problem.”
“Hell, Beck, this is just some damned imbalance,” Alex snapped, his hand constricting around the delicate cell phone.
“Zan—”
“If you won’t help me out here, I can always find someone who will,” Alex decided, ending the call with the softly voiced threat. He was tucking the cellular into the inside pocket of his gray sport coat when Topaz walked into the den.
She was sexy, chic, and classy in a pair of fitted, heather chocolate cuffed pants with matching platform boots. The creamy mocha silk cashmere ballet wrap blouse was fitted with a V-neckline that drew attention to her full breasts, while elegant bell sleeves almost shielded her hands from view.
Alex stood, his fantastic stare raking her body with unmasked desire. “Damn clothes you wear tease me more than that skimpy robe.”
Topaz was about to laugh, but suddenly her glee faded. Alex noticed and immediately regretted his words.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing one hand to his abdomen, “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, no, it’s—it’s not that. I ... I just don’t want you thinking ...”
“Thinking what?”
Topaz chewed her bottom lip, then slapped her hands to her thighs and decided to speak up. “I have a lot of male friends and ... I consider you a friend too, but ...”
“But ... ?” Alex prompted, as he strolled closer.
“But we’ve gotten very close and I don’t want you to think I behave the same way with my other friends as I did—do with you,” she said, grimacing at her stammering explanation while wringing her hands.
Alex couldn’t believe she’d said such a thing. A look of complete surprise covered his handsome face. Finally, he closed what distance remained between them and cupped her face in his massive hands. “I’d never think that,” he uttered in a fierce whisper.
Topaz wasn’t convinced. “De will say things—”
“Shhh. Baby, De’s opinion means very little to me. We’re cousins, but the girl only wants me around so much now because now I’m a bit more socially acceptable.”
Topaz searched his deep-set gaze. “You say that now, but she’s very persuasive. I mean, she persuaded Simon to break up with me and—”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” he interrupted, closing his eyes briefly. “Didn’t I once tell you that I never say things I don’t mean?” he asked, waiting for her nod. “And I’m nothing like Simon Whitley.”
