Page 129 of Her Wicked Plan

“Why not?” I pout.

He inhales a deep breath. “Because if we do, I’ll want to bend you over this desk. We need to have the sessions I was hired for.”

My cheeks flush, my skin getting hot as I let my eyes fall to the desk, imagining all the things he could do to me in his office. The dirty things he could do to me on his clean desk, up against the bookshelves, the window seat between said shelves.

I sense my skin growing hotter. Sure, a bright red tint flushes the paleness, and I know he sees it. Leo’s eyes trail over my face and down my body but stop when he watches me press my thighs together.

His breathing stutters, wetting his lips before diverting his gaze from me.

“I’m glad you are feeling more yourself.” He changes the subject. “Were you giving Eliza a hard time today?”

“Hmm?” I hum, still in my thoughts.

“When I entered the common room to find you, you had been sitting with her.”

“Oh, no, I wasn’t giving her a hard time.” I sigh in annoyance. “In fact, I was kind of nice to her.”

He slides his eyes to meet my face. “You sound agitated that you were nice.”

“I am! I mean, I didn’t say much, but what I did say was enough for me to hate myself for saying them.”

“And what did you say to her?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “It’s a secret. I can’t go blabbing the few nice words I have in my body to anyone. Besides, she did most of the talking, anyway. Telling me all about her childhood past, I almost slipped up and told her about my sister.”

His brows furrow. “You don’t want to talk to her about Stephanie?”

“I don’t even want to talk to you about Stephanie. I stopped myself from telling her too much.”

“It wouldn’t be the world's end if you opened up to her.”

“Eh, I opened up to you, and that alone makes it feel like my world is off-kilter.”

A smirk plays on his face. “That’s what happens when you let things out, Veronica. All this stress and pressure of holding everything in. For some people, it can feel like the weight of that world is lifted off their shoulders from talking about it all. For others, feeling those types of things is so unusual that it throws them for a loop.” He folds his hands together. “Eventually, it will play out, turning your world upright and allowing you to focus clearly. Allowing you to breathe again, but if not, you’ll stay trapped underwater.”

I take in his words, knowing that he is right. It wouldn’t hurt to open up more, and maybe, just maybe, it would make me feel different. What if I don’t want to feel different, though? What if I like the way I am?

“And if I enjoy drowning?”

Leo stares at me for a moment. Then, a moment longer, he compiles his thoughts.

“If you like drowning, you are free to stay in the deepest parts of the water. A person won’t get better unless it’s them who kicks their feet to help them toward the surface. A person has to want to reach the top and suck in that sharp breath of air to refill their lungs of what was missing. No one will force someone to save themselves because that’s not how it works. It will push them away unless the person who wants to help comes at the right time.”

He came at the right time.

He just doesn’t know it.

“So, it’s a waiting game?” I question.

“I suppose it is.” He unclasps his hands, settling back into his seat. “But just know, Veronica, that when you are ready to kick off the bottom and resurface, I’m here for you.”

My teeth clench, something swarming in my chest, and I push it away. Far away.

“Good to know.”

He nods in response, not elaborating anymore than he needs to. He shuts his eyes, making me wonder what he is thinking about. Is he reminiscing on the sex in the closet, or is he annoyed that it’s taking him so long to get through to me?

“I’ll be gone at the end of the week.”