Shifting the Night Away Read Online Free Page A

anything?
    "You said there was a third thing?" He faltered in his speech. Between the first two revelations, he was hesitant to hear the last, wondering if it would ruin everything.
    "I'm in love with you. Between the bear shifter thing and me loving you, it's why I can't be your therapist any more. I want to be so much more to you, if you'll have me."
    He walked back over to him and sat beside him. Cupping his hand once again, he waited on his response. Would he give him a chance?
    "You know I care about you." He began.
    This isn't a good sign , he thought.
    "Can I have a few days to think about it?" he asked.  
    He nodded, unable to speak at there still being a ghost of a chance. They got up and he gave him a card pressed into her hand.
    "It's someone I recommend for the rest of your sessions. He's been a great help to me."
    "To you?"
    "I went into therapy shortly after your case," He said head down. "I couldn't deal with not getting to you before you were too traumatized and I couldn't deal with what I'd done to him, and what I still wanted to do even after he was injured. I really wanted to kill him for what he was doing to you."
    "Oh."  
    He walked out the door and into the still humid air.

    Chapter Ten

    The days away from William were confusing for Lance. During the day he busied himself in work and errands, but during the night his mind wandered to thoughts of him. How comfortable he was when he held his hand. Such a simple gesture to many but for him meant everything. It had been years since he'd been comfortable with the touch of a man.
    He thought of the coffee shop kiss and how he pulled him close, how his emotions got the best of him and he was hard with want for him. For the first time in the five years since the attack, he had real sexual longing and it both frightened him and overjoyed him.
    He understood how William couldn't be his therapist after admitting his feelings and his shifter secret. Society wouldn't allow a shifter in that role, especially one that is so well known. He knew things that could ruin the doctor but all he wanted was to keep him safe; as he had kept him safe so many years ago.
    He made his decision and called him.
    "William, hey it's Lance, when you have a moment, I'd like to talk. I want you William, all of you. I've not been able to think of anything else but you." It all came out in a jumble, left on his machine.
    It was about an hour before he called him back. He'd been with a client and mainly checked just to stop the incessant blinking that kept distracting him. When he saw it was Lance, he tripped trying to call him back as soon as possible.
      I don't know what it is about him , he thought, he she feels like home to me.
    He'd agreed to continue the relationship; that he could find another therapist well before he could find another man that he cared about as he did him and one that he didn't recoil upon touching.
    "Clearly you're the one I'm suppose to be with, William," he said quietly, "at least for now."
    At least for now . He'd take that. He could show Lance all that he meant to him and why they were destined to be together.
    "Let me take you to dinner" he offered, to which he agreed.
    Hours later they were sipping wine and laughing like not a moment had passed and not a single dark cloud had ever threatened their happiness. They sat huddled together in a dark corner and every so often William's hand would rest on Lance's thigh. He'd lean over and kiss him sweetly as his hand held his thigh. Light strokes from his fingertips teased and played over his thinly covered skin as his linen pants strained.
    "If you continue to do that, Dr. Stevens," he leaned over to whisper to him so no one else could hear, "you best be prepared to have me on this table for the restaurant to see or take me back to your place."  
    His hardness ached against his trousers zipper at the sound of Lance's throaty voice saying the words and his hand hit the table as it made its way back up to signal