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He shook his head

“It wouldn’t be therapy if I did”

He pulled his shirt out of his jeans and unbuttoned it, all the while watching her, watching him It was surreal The first tiets a private strip show in her living rooht of him half naked in the middle of the room The maleness of him was completely at odds with her soft feminine decor He reached for the button on his jeans Kirsty’s hand shot out to stop him

“I’m not ready for this,” she said

She felt like her heart was racing hard inside her and was going to crash against the wall of her chest any minute

“Yes You are You can do this Just like the ti deal”

“I’m not the person I used to be I’m” She faltered “I’m not ready for anyone to see me”

“I’ht about it “I’ht now But yeah I want to see you I want to touch you Every damn inch of you I want to eat you up like dessert and come back for seconds”

Kirsty stopped breathing His dark eyes were so intense she felt the words as he spoke them He took a deep breath and she watched the muscles of his chest ripple with it

“Right noe’re working on your list So you stay there Stay fully dressed I’ for you”

The way he said itto get her—this time But he would She saw the way his jaw clenched and she kneould As much as she wanted him to, she was terrified that he would

Lake unzipped his jeans, pushed thes and stepped out of them He flicked off his socks and Kirsty felt a neave of panic when she looked at his Calvin Klein briefs

“Don’t worry,” he said with a cheeky grin “I don’t have any scars in there”

Kirsty sat frozen in place Her life was beyond surreal There was a nakedher to touch hi into the shop over the road The stress of it all was going to send her right to hospital Or jail

“So,” Lake said as though he stood pretty ot in a knife fight in Eritrea”