Ice_Reaux - Laura Wright Page 0,29
the other emotional Healers to take over. It was only a matter of time. No doubt his body had already released the scent. Its venom, he called it now. And this female wouldn’t be able to help herself. Instead of clinging to him, she’d claw him. Instead of tears, there would be cries to be touched and demands for release. Her mouth would call to his, and her hands would find his zipper.
Slowly, gently, he pulled back and stood. She made a sound like it pained her to be separated from him, and he cursed inwardly. It was happening already. Normally, he didn’t get worked up when the females did. The cachet of being desperately desired had worn off. Because it had nothing to do with him, as a male. But this woman…there was something about her that interested him, drew him.
Foolish male.
As he helped her to her feet, he refused to look at her. In those eyes, at that mouth. Even now, his fingers itched to touch her hair. Just one slow drag up to her scalp.
“What’s your name?” he commanded.
“Karen.”
He opened the door to his office and stood before it. “You need to go, Karen. Back to where you came from.”
No doubt his sharp tone shocked her. After all, he’d been kind and gentle only seconds before. But she didn’t recoil from him at all.
“I was in with Mackenzie,” she started. “But—”
“You should return to her. She’s an excellent therapist.”
She shook her head. “Not for me. She’s not right. I couldn’t open up to her at all. She doesn’t make me feel…” She nibbled on her bottom lip.
Right. He was too late. His venom had already entered her bloodstream. “No. I’m sure she doesn’t.”
“You’re a Healer, aren’t you?”
“I treat couples only.”
She didn’t move from her spot near the door. “I know this is going to sound crazy. But I’m sure you’ve had a lot of crazy in here, right?”
“Karen, you need—”
“I think it’s you, Reaux.”
It was impossible to stop. His gaze slid to hers and he demanded, “What’s me?”
Her expression was alive with hunger and passion. “The one. The person who can help me.”
Reaux shook his head. “I’m sorry, Karen, I can’t—”
“I understand that you specialize in couples, but maybe you can make an exception? Just this once.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Trust me, I do. Now, let me take you back to Mackenzie. She may not be the perfect person to help you, but she’s available.”
No doubt he looked as resolute, as cold, as he sounded. But truly, it was for her own good. She only thought she wanted him, needed him. But it was the curse.
“I understand.” She gave him a tight, forced smile. “Thanks for the help, but I’ll find my own way.”
He was used to anger from females now. But on her, it felt…wrong. “Again, I’m sorry.”
“Goodbye, Reaux.”
His name on her lips—those lips—was painfully tempting to hear. But he wouldn’t stop her. He was many things: a mistake, a slut, a predator. But the one he was most proud of, the Healer part of him, would never intentionally hurt another soul. No matter how beautiful or how intriguing that soul was.
CHAPTER 2
“What do you mean he wouldn’t help you?” Indy asked, plopping into the chair opposite Karen’s desk at the clinic. “Such an asshole.”
“The thing is, I don’t think he is.” Her body still trembling from both the session with Mackenzie and whatever that was with Reaux, Karen had come back to her office. She didn’t want to go home. Didn’t want anyone thinking she was falling apart again, even though she absolutely was. But with the female Healer’s suggestion of taking Caleb away from her hanging over her head, she couldn’t let anyone think she had fissured. Even the woman in front of her.
“Refusing to help one of us?” Indy went on, her biker chick/pixie-doll face a mask of disgust. “After all we’ve been through—and shit, after all you’ve been through.”
She gave the woman a nod of solidarity. Indy had been her friend in captivity. A good, real friend. They understood each other, shared the pain of those times. In truth, she was the only person Karen could talk to right now who might be able to help her. Well, the only person who would talk back.
“I’d go to Raphael,” Indy said, her dark blue eyes flashing.
“No.” Just the idea of running to the leader of the Pantera with her complaints, putting herself and what she was struggling with on his radar… No way. “It’ll be