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I wipe my tears—tears from laughing too hard. I can’t believe this person is me.

This person, standing in the shadows her entire life, has now captured the attention of a sexy, infuriating man.

Who’s no longer laughing, his slate-gray eyes hot like molten lava as he stares at me, the smile disappearing on his lips.

The air thrums with awareness and smells like temptation.

He swipes his tongue out, and I do the same, my mouth suddenly parched. His eyes snag on the action, and those dark pupils slowly dilate.

“I’m supposed to stay away because I’m not good for you,” he whispers. “But how could I? You make me forget.”

Forget what?But I don’t ask. I’m held captive by his gaze.

Turbulence swims in his eyes. “Ineverforget, and you…my sweet Olive,youmake me forget. I…I feel normal around you.”

My heart jolts again. I want to throw myself at him and tell him I’ll always be here.

I’ll make him feel better. Iwantto make him feel better, not just as a doctor, but as…a woman.

My breath hitches when he pulls me flush against him, and I feel a hard bulge prodding my stomach.

He’s turned on.

My pussy clenches, needy and empty. What would it be like to kiss him, to be the sole object of his obsession, to have him fill me up and slake his lust inside me?

Clutching his biceps, I look away, afraid he’ll see my thoughts.

We’re forbidden. This is so, so wrong—a violation of my oath to the profession.

“What are you afraid of, Olive? Why do you walk around looking so sad?” He gently tips my face toward him. “Look at me.”

Blinking rapidly, my breath quakes inside my lungs. A familiar ache resurrects in my chest.

No one’s ever asked me these questions before. I’m the calm and poised Olivia—loyal friend, dutiful daughter, and successful doctor.

Blending into the background.

“What are you hiding?” He cups my face now, his touch so gentle and reverent, his attention completely focused on me.

I want to cry.

“Olive? Talk to me.”

I’m hit with an urge to kiss him, to stop him from asking me more questions I don’t have answers for.

To mask our pain under the haze of passion.

But logic stops me.This is madness. Ludicrous. Not allowed.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me,” I murmur, pushing him away.

He yanks me back and clamps his teeth on my shoulder.

Sharp pain ricochets through me and I hiss. “What—”

My words leave me when his tongue snakes out, lapping at the bite marks. The pain morphs into something sensual. Each lick shoots pleasure through my veins.

I tremble, a wispy moan slipping out of me.