I melted against him. He wanted me? Truly wanted me the way I wanted him?

No more talking. I drew in all the oxygen I needed and pressed my lips back to his. He kissed me with fervor, passion, so deeply—more deeply than anyone ever had.

The kiss was trance-inducing, as if I’d never been kissed before. As if all the men who had ever kissed me were just leading up to this—the ultimate kiss, the only real kiss I’d ever been given.

I poured everything inside me into the kiss, wanting desperately to escape all my troubles. Jonah Steel was alone. Alone like I was. Struggling with responsibilities he felt he had neglected.

But no kiss, not even one this amazing, could make up for those neglected responsibilities. I was a therapist. I knew better than to be seduced into a physical break from reality. I forced my mouth from his, whimpering at the loss.

I stumbled backward, nearly losing my footing, but he caught me. I looked into his dark gaze. Fire burned within those eyes. Fire that I wanted to stoke with more kisses, more…everything.

“I’m so sorry.” I touched my lips, so tender from his kiss. “I… I don’t know what came over me. That was completely unprofessional. Please believe me. I’ve never done anything like—”

His lips came down on mine again, and all the sense I’d just had a moment before fled out the window. Again I opened for him, and again I took his tongue into my mouth. My nipples tightened against my bra, threatening to poke through the cotton fabric. Again his hardness nudged my belly. If only this could be. If only I could take what he was offering and escape—escape the responsibility for Gina’s death and everything else that had gone wrong in my life. But again, reality prevailed. I knew better, better than anyone, that I couldn’t run away from my problems.

Still, my body was ready. I throbbed between my legs, my nerves on edge. My senses were heightened, and I inhaled. He smelled of leather and musk, a little like the outdoors. He ravaged my mouth, taking and giving. And I gave back. I poured everything into that kiss, even though I knew it was wrong.

When I had to pause for another breath, he dragged me to him, whispering, “My God. Melanie, my God.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said again. “So very sorry.”

He pulled back slightly again, and I met those blazing dark eyes.

“Why are you sorry? I’m sure not.”

I took advantage of my position and pushed him hard, so his back hit the wall by the door to my office. I gasped. The office door was still open. Where was Randi? I looked out the door toward the reception area.

“No one’s out there,” Jonah said. “That’s why I knocked on your door.”

Randi had a dental appointment this afternoon. I’d forgotten. “Right. She left early.”

Jonah smiled at me. God, he was gorgeous.

“I, for one, am glad she’s not here.” He came toward me.

I held up my hand. “No.”

“Why? Aren’t you enjoying it?”

I’d never enjoyed a kiss more. That wasn’t the point. “It’s unprofessional. I’m your therapist.”

He smiled again, and my heart nearly melted right onto the floor.

“We can take care of that. I can find another therapist.”

He was temptation personified. Such a beautiful man, so strong, so virile. I could have him. His erection was apparent beneath his jeans, and perspiration was slick on his skin.

But I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t.

“After this, you probably need to find another therapist regardless. This was completely unprofessional behavior on my part, and I hope…” My lips trembled. “My only excuse is that I was looking at papers when you came in, some papers from a former patient. I was overly emotional, and I—”

He walked forward and covered my lips with his finger. “Shh. You don’t need to explain anything. You’re an amazing kisser, Melanie.”

I warmed from my scalp to my toes. I looked down. My blouse was mussed, and my nipples were protruding right through my bra and the silky green fabric. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest. “Please, this is not something I normally do. I’ve never kissed a patient before.”

“Do I look like I’m complaining?”

“Professionalism is very important to me, Mr. Steel.”

“Now we’re back to Mr. Steel?”

“Uh…Jonah.” His name left my lips as a soft caress. Jonah. What a beautiful name—a rugged, masculine name for a rugged, masculine man. “Please, I need you to accept my apology.”

“Fine, if it makes you feel better. I accept your apology. And I’d love to accept another kiss.”

God, so would I. But that wasn’t going to happen. I fussed with my blouse a bit, willing my nipples to soften. I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. Why did you come back?”

He stalked toward me, a feral look in his dark eyes. “My cell phone seems to be missing. Otherwise I would’ve called you before I barged back in.”

I nodded. “Go ahead and have a look.”

He headed toward the chair where he’d been sitting, and sure enough, a few seconds later, he held up his phone.

I shook all over. More than anything, I wanted him to kiss me again.

His eyes were so full of fire. So full of want and need. The air between us was thick with lust. Or was it my imagination?

All I knew for sure was that if he didn’t leave my office this instant, I would launch myself at him again. I dug my feet into the carpeting, forcing them to stay where they were. Turned out it was futile, because he came toward me.

“Melanie,” he said.

My name from his lips sounded beautiful. A verbal caress. Still, I forced my feet not to move.

“No.” I held up my hand. “Stop right there. Don’t come any closer to me.”

Still, he stalked forward. “Why? Why do you want to deny whatever this is between us?”

“I… You’re a patient. You’re not available to me. And even if I wanted you to be available to me, I’m not in any state to begin anything with anyone.”

“I told you before. I’ll find another therapist.”

“Jonah, you’re not hearing me. I’m a mess. And I’m not looking for a quickie on my desk.”

“Who said anything about a quickie?”

“I… Just the way you’re looking at me.” Visions of him swooshing the disorganized papers from my desk and thrusting into me atop it littered my mind. My nipples puckered, and again I throbbed between my legs.