JR (25 page)

The day sparkled with promise. If everything went well, they’d have irrefutable evidence to petition the board to move to stage two of the experiment at tomorrow’s meeting. They already had a strong case, but one more example would clinch the deal.

Kurt found himself devising reasons to delay the proceedings, extending this opportunity to explore with Becca. Maybe he could forge a bond strong enough to transcend their involvement in the project as well as their practice if he had more time.

Things hadn’t worked out according to his initial plan. First, he’d been sure a few days with Becca would wipe this crazy obsession out of his system. Then, when he realized how well-suited they were, he’d taken for granted she would recognize it too. His lust had warped his judgment for the first time in his life. He was meticulous, a planner, a man of logic but, when it came to Becca, even his strengths unraveled.

Luke had tried to warn him. Why hadn’t he listened?

“I need some time to get everything ready for today.” If he didn’t separate them he might do something unwise, like explain all the sordid details of the situation and pray to every god he didn’t believe in she would forgive him.

It was an impossible risk to take. He had to pursue the only viable option—continue with the agenda and hope their passion could overcome his deception.

Off balance, he glanced away from the insightful gaze Becca leveled on him. He jerked in surprise when she breached the gap between them to kiss his cheek. “I’ll go take a shower, then I need to check in with my sister. Can I borrow your phone?”

“Of course.” He retracted his arm before it could return her embrace. He had to think. Instead, he deflected the motion into a vague gesture aimed at the pile of clothes in the corner. “It’s in the pocket of my pants.”

As soon as he heard the spray of water, he plugged in the headphones and began to observe the sequences.

As much as he’d like to postpone the board meeting, they had more reason than ever to proceed. They already had the evidence necessary to prove the validity of the machine’s recordings. Now, he had some time to survey the depth of Becca’s sensuality.

Their time was limited. The board could deny the continuation of the experiment if they weren’t convinced the benefits outweighed the risks or ethical concerns surrounding the study. Desperation compelled him to make the most of the experience despite his fear of digging himself a hole by abusing Becca’s trust. Sure, she was willing, but the guilt over his dishonest intentions festered beneath his lust.

His fascination overpowered reason. He’d set the course and they’d see it through.

In order to take her to the next level, he’d have to bank on every bit of progress they’d achieved to date while making her as comfortable as possible. Not give her cause to throw hurdles between them. Therefore, he resolved to postpone any discussion of his plans for their personal partnership until the study concluded.

They would conduct the initial phase of today’s session from this private room where she could relax. The detail and inventiveness of her fantasies playing before his eyes inspired him to drive her higher and push her boundaries further.

The need to fetch her from the shower and plow his aching cock into her drenched pussy caused him to grit his teeth until his head ached. He distracted himself by preparing his notebook then finishing the documentation of her REM stages. He hoped the normalcy in analyzing work-related information would bring him back to his senses.

It didn’t.

When Rebecca emerged from the steamy bathroom, the fierce concentration etched on Kurt’s face discouraged her. How could he be so involved in the trial when her entire body screamed at her to forget the experiment and crawl into his lap?

Then again, for all his declarations of wanting her last night, he hadn’t fucked her outside of the experience in the laboratory.

Although the lack of action wasn’t very surprising considering the intensity of the orgasms they’d shared, his obvious arousal had throbbed against her belly as she’d drifted off in his arms. She’d been eager to ease his hunger but he’d pressed her hands away. He’d captured her wrists in his unyielding grip before encouraging her to sleep while he brooded, drilling holes in the ceiling with his troubled stare.

Did he regret the things he’d said to her?

Desire coursed through her entire body, making her brazen. Dropping the towel as she approached, she waited for him to direct her as he would. He didn’t spare a single glance for her bared figure.

“Sit, Becca.” Gesturing to the bed, Kurt twisted his desk chair to face her. He’d piled several plush cushions to act as a sort of lounging area on the bed. It reminded her of a sheik’s harem. Scooting against them, she folded her legs beneath her then settled in for another session with Dr. Foster.

“I know you’re familiar with the basic theories behind dream analysis. Therefore, you realize a normal person has five to seven REM stages per night. Over the last two nights, you’ve undergone six periods of dream activity each evening. Typically, a person experiences their most intense dreams closest to waking. Those encapsulate a person’s most profound desires.”

Locked into lecture mode, Kurt played the professor this morning. The man she had fallen asleep with had disappeared without a trace.

Rebecca nodded her understanding of the facts then waited for him to continue while she contemplated the implications of his disassociation. It was time for her to start acting like the trained equal he claimed she was.

Her revelations of the night before hadn’t vanished into the sultry night air as his appeared to have.

Luckily, she could affect him, too. The knowledge empowered her.

“In fact, both nights you dreamt very similar things in all six stages. Again, I won’t reveal anything you aren’t ready to admit to yourself so I need you to tell me what you remember. Then, we can compare your fantasy to reality and gather additional evidence to support the Dream Machine’s capabilities. One occurrence won’t be enough to convince the board that yesterday’s results were more than a fluke.”

Closing her eyes, she settled into the luscious embrace of the cushions. “I remember dreaming about you having sex with me in your office again.” Without thought, her hands drifted across her torso, rubbing her achy breasts as she recalled the sensations. Kurt remained silent, letting her work through the first stage.

She decided to torture him with the details she envisioned.

“This time I think it was a little different.” She paused to gather her recollections and then said, “Yes, I dreamt about the real thing instead of my previous fantasy. Similar, nearly exact, but the awareness of the experiment worked into the dream. I even included the device you wore to take measurements when you slid inside me. The ridge of the sheath tool enhanced the glide of your thick cock stroking the inside of my pussy.”

A strangled noise from Kurt’s direction brought her feigned innocent gaze up to his, quizzical.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you.” A tremulous smile crossed his face. She noted his white-knuckled grip on the armrest of his chair with amusement. “I like this new side of you, frank and confident. Jesus. It was hard enough to resist you when you hid from the truth.”

She stroked herself with deliberate motions designed to advertise how much she would welcome his touch.

Instead of reaching out, he shifted in his chair then cleared his throat before continuing his line of questioning. The nervous gesture revealed a side of him she’d never glimpsed before. He paused in his routine long enough she wondered if he might be debating whether to continue or not before pressing on.

Did he think he’d pushed her too hard already?

He’d mentioned he wouldn’t reveal anything she couldn’t remember. Determined to surpass his expectations, she focused on remembering the contents of her next dream without his guidance.

As though he couldn’t stop himself, Kurt blurted, “How did it make you feel to know you were part of an experiment?”

The personal question triggered a whimper. Rebecca didn’t object to the betraying sound, which would have horrified her yesterday.

“It made me twice as horny,” she admitted.

Although she’d disclosed her attraction to him, a tiny part of her craved his reassurance in light of his withdrawal. Of course, she’d never ask for it but, if some sign of his acceptance manifested in his features, she would gladly snatch it. She didn’t have to search past the gleam in his eyes at her confession.

“Good girl, Becca,” he soothed. “Now, what else do you remember from last night?”

She relaxed under his careful scrutiny and let her mind wander, fitting together the flashing images like pieces of a puzzle.

“It’s difficult to sift through the bursts of action. They’re not very coherent. It’s like someone keeps flipping the channels in my mind.” Concentrating, she spoke aloud, not directing the comment at him but explaining as she attempted to filter the glimpses of memory.

Kurt beamed at her with something like pride. “You’re remembering more than one stage at a time. Pick a vision and follow it through. You can do this.”

As he continued to study her, Rebecca’s eyes flickered behind her now closed lids. Her fingers twitched as she clenched then relaxed them. A vision, stronger than the others, pushed to the surface of her consciousness.

She grabbed hold and watched as libidinous images flooded her memory.

After what could have been moments—or minutes—filled with desire, she whispered, “I sort of remember most of it but… It’s a little weird.”

“Tell me, baby.”

His supportive tone compelled her to share. It washed away the last of her lingering doubts. After all, he’d already seen her dreams and he hadn’t run away screaming or treated her with disgust. No man could fuck her with such raging passion if her darker desires affronted him.

“I floated in the middle of a room…weightless and rocking, almost like a kid on a swing set. But I also remember being tied up, I think. No, that’s not quite right…”

Kurt waited with his infamous patience as she fought to bring the details into focus. His handsome face caught her attention and her mind wandered, thinking about how it seemed normal to refer to him by his first name now.

Somehow, he’d fallen from the pedestal of idolatry she’d placed him on before. Instead, an amazing but real—sometimes flawed—man had replaced the caricature she’d adored. This man held the potential to satisfy her desires in a way the doctor never could.

In the wake of her realization, a picture blazed to life. It wasn’t herself she saw but her mind had borrowed the image when it created the related nocturnal adventure.

She tried to speak but her dry throat made it obvious all dampness in her body had migrated to her pussy.

Moisture seeped from between her legs. Attempting to deny the lurid vision would be futile at this point.

“It’s okay, Becca. Trust me. Just say it. Start with the small things if the whole scene is too hard.”

Instinctively, he leaned forward enough to wrap her hand in his.

When he twined their fingers, she smiled. Staring straight into his stormy eyes, she explained, “Do you remember the Johnson case from March?”

In response, Kurt’s straining dick throbbed against his abdomen. The flimsy cotton shorts he wore couldn’t obscure the jerk of his flesh. Of course he’d remember. And he’d understand which REM stage she had recalled.

“Yes.” His gravelly response confirmed her suspicions. It turned him on, too.

She eyed the bulge stretching full to his hip as he shifted in his chair again. The deliberate way he laid his palm on his thigh made her aware of his struggle to restrain himself from taking his erection in hand. She rooted for his lust to win out over his control, deciding to add fire to the flame with her confession.

“While I filed the finished cases in the archive one night, the photographs included in the package Mrs.

Johnson provided fell onto my desk.” She had to clarify this point before moving on. She would never violate a patient’s privacy. Her discovery hadn’t been intentional but once the first had landed on her calendar blotter, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

“I’m sorry, Doctor, but I couldn’t help it. I saw the pictures when I picked them up and put them back.” Her eyes opened as she evaluated his expression. Would he be angry at her intrusion? The rapture on the woman’s face had sparked her curiosity, compelling her to inspect the remaining scenes.

“Becca, we’re partners now. You have the right to review any case file in the office. You were doing work at the time, I understand. What did you see?”

“After their sessions in the office, Mr. Johnson admitted to his wife he’d always wondered about suspension. Following their successful therapy sessions, where you encouraged them to indulge each other’s fantasies, he sent you some photos. Since his wife is an exhibitionist, I assumed they had agreed to trade desires.” Her breath came harder now. She had to clear her throat to continue.

“How does this relate to your dream, Becca?” Kurt asked though he must’ve already understood. He still needed her to demonstrate the Dream Machine’s accuracy.

“I dreamt it was me.” She gasped at the wicked idea brewing between them. “Dreamt I hung cocooned in the black leather sling. I dangled helpless from the ceiling, rocking back and forth while you…fucked me.” She barely stopped herself from divulging he’d made love to her in her reverie.

Kurt groaned. She glanced at the pen wobbling in his trembling hand. The moment of uncertainty must have shown on her face because he stamped out her imagined doubts.