a way to center yourself and prepare for a more strenuous workout. Itâs mind over matter. See if you can tune into the wavelength where Iâm floating.â
Oh, brother. Psychobabble. Still, heâd better keep his caustic comments to himself if he didnât want to get kicked out of her office.
âOkay,â he said gruffly. âWhat happens if I bump into you?â
She started to ask him what he meant, then stopped when she no doubt realized he was referring to the floating thing. She gave him a wry look instead and he had to give her points for getting it.
âOur spiritual selves donât bump,â she said lightly as she began to lower herself behind him. âThey melt right into each other.â
âHmm.â For some reason that appealed to him.
She settled in against him. âSee? Back to back.â
ââAnd belly to belly,ââ he muttered to himself.
âWhat?â
âNothing. This just reminds me of an old folk song. About zombies.â
He could feel her stiffen.
âListen, I donât know what youâve heard, but this clinic does not turn people into zombies. Thatâs a slander put out by another clinic in town that is being left in the dust as Dr. Richie takes off.â
He paused, a bit taken aback by her vehemence. âIt was just a joke,â he said softly.
She changed immediately. âIâm sorry. Iâm just a little touchy about it.â
She settled back against him. âThis exercise works better when the two are more evenly matched in size, but you can get the general idea. Raise your arms. Now sway with me.â
He raised his arms and swayed.
âCalm your mind. Let your eyelids droop. Think of water lapping on the white sands of a tropical beach. Feel it lap. Feel the hot sun on your shoulders. Feel the gentle breeze ruffle your hair.â
Little by little, he was feeling more than heâd expected to. As she moved against him, he became aware of just where her rounded bottom was touching his. It was incredibly arousing. The more she swayed, the more he forgot about the beach and focused on her body.
Sensation shot through his system and he held back an urge to make an appreciative noise. This was unbelievable. Heâd been turned on by a womanâs backside before, but not like this. This was overwhelming.
He was vaguely aware that she was still talking. He didnât need talking. Heâd found that floating thing sheâd mentioned and he was up there, drifting on a sensual cloud.
âOkay, now Iâm going to lean my head back on your shoulder and you lean your head on my shoulder.â
Whoa. Heâd had sex that was less exciting than this. His heart was beating as though heâd just runa mile. Their heads were now side by side and the sense of her was flooding into his system. He turned his face toward her. He couldnât help himself.
She was saying, âArms at shoulder height and straight out. Now turn the palms up,â and he was breathing in her scent, filling his lungs with it and wondering what her mouth tasted like.
She glanced over, saw his face too close and hesitated. That was all he needed. He was going to kiss her. It was going to be a little odd, upside down and all, but he was going to do it. He made a move toward her and saw her eyes widen.
Whether they were widening with shock or interest he would never know. He would have liked to think the latter, but realistically, it wasnât likely. At the moment of reckoning, the door opened and a voice interrupted everything.
âWhatâs going on here?â
Two
A bby was up and flying away from Daniel like a scalded cat. He would have looked twice, just to see how she could possibly have done that, but he was too busy taking the measure of the man in the doorway.
âOh, Dr. Richie!â Abby was saying. âIâm justâ We were justâ Well, this is Daniel OâCallahan and