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Her touch was soft—so delicate that it felt almost nonexistent as she traced my inner thigh.

I unconsciously shifted under her, wanting her touch firmer and higher.

Much higher.

But all it did was make her halt against me.

"You don't move, Liberty," I heard her voice right by my ear, making me purse my lips tightly together, "Not until I say so."

I nodded quickly, keeping my eyes closed as I tried to find some sort of patience.

"You speak when spoken to," Dr. Leclair reminded me, trailing further down my thigh and away from where I wanted her, as if a repercussion to my actions.

"Okay," I said, but my voice was breathless, entirely softened between us, "I won't move."

I heard Dr. Leclair hum, "Good, Liberty," she murmured, her fingers roaming up my thigh again.

I let out a breathless sigh, trying my best to relax under her.

But her touch was soft and unpredictable—how she would graze her fingers down and back up.

Or caress the smoothness of her short nails against my skin.

It made me grow more tense, trying not to shift underneath her.

"Tell me why you deserve this, Liberty."

Her warm breath tickled my ear, making my lower stomach burn for more.

I wanted so much more of her.

"Because..." I trailed off, a frustrated whimper vibrating in my throat when she subtly dug her nails into my soft inner thigh, "I've had patience."

I heard her hum in amusement, "I assume anyone can have that," she had the nerve to say, caressing her fingers over the skin she had previously dug her nails into.

I thought harder, listening to the rain pattering and our combined soft breaths.

"Because I... listened?" I said, my words in the form of a question.

"Listened," she repeated the word back to me in emphasis.

"Yeah-yes, I've been good... and listened," I said, my last words forceful and breathless.

I prayed that was enough—that it would earn me what I wanted from her.

"But will you continue to listen, Liberty?" she suddenly asked me.

I nodded before she could fully get the words out.

"Yes," I immediately said, still remaining entirely still.

I felt her firmly push my thigh further away from the other, humming in acknowledgment at my words.

"Listen to my voice. Focus on it," she said, my eyes still closed as her hand roamed up closer to where I needed her.

Only she halted right at my core, her fingers barely grazing the material of my underwear.

"Okay," I whispered, remaining still for her as her fingers traced under the edges of my underwear.

I drew in a deep breath when she pressed her hand against my core, pressing the wet material against me.

Then she leaned in closer, her scent wrapped around me entirely as she whispered—

"Relax, Liberty."

I let out the deep breath I previously drew in, nodding a few times as I unconsciously relaxed against the soft seat underneath me.

"Good girl," she calmly murmured, her warm breath fanning across my skin.

A hum burned in my throat, nearly moaning at the two words of praise.

I let out a deep breath when her fingers slid beneath my underwear, her fingers softly trailing over my clit.

I tried my best to be still and not squirm—especially when her fingers traced quick circles around my clit.

It was uncontrollable.

My sudden moans—or how my hips shifted under her touch even if I knew I was supposed to be still.

I gasped, my body jerking as soon as she pinched my clit.

"I said don't move, Liberty," I heard her voice echo around me, her words firm and scolding.

I nodded rapidly with furrowed brows, "Yes-yes, okay," I forced out, squeezing my closed eyes as my clit ached painfully.

But it quickly spread into pleasure yet again when she smoothed her fingers against me, caressing my most sensitive spot.

This time I really remained still, squeezing my legs as she tested me with the quick pace again.

Deep drawn-out moans slipped from my lips, whimpering when the muscles in my legs cramped up from tightening them so much.

But I remained still, choked moans falling from my lips as my eyes burned with tears.

I felt frustrated by her teasing pace that sped up and slowed down against me.

And all I could do was sit there, my legs trembling to stay open for her.

"You're doing good, Liberty," I heard the smoothness of her voice in my ear, "This is how you earn more."

I shakily gasped, gripping the seat underneath me when she seamlessly slid two fingers past my folds.

I could physically feel the slickness I provided for her fingers, hearing my wetness as she slid out.

And right back in.

A whine burned in my throat, my legs tightening unbearably as I tried to be still for her.

It made the warm tears slip from my closed eyes, feeling overwhelmed by the pleasure and pain flowing through me all at once.

Especially when she spread her fingers apart inside of me—making me gasp for air as my chest rapidly rose and fell.

"Monroe," I forced her name out unconsciously, feeling my legs shake uncontrollably.

I had never uttered her first name aloud before, much less thought to.

But right now it was all I could say, hoping she would go easier.

"Show me you can take what you asked for, Liberty," was all she said, if anything sliding deeper inside of me and spreading her fingers wider apart.

My tears grew more uncontrollable, my moans desperate and my legs shaking as I quickly shot up toward my peak.

"I-I really... can't be still," I forced out, my words incoherent and breathless.

But she understood them, quickening her pace almost purposefully.

"You move, this stops," she clarified, her soft voice serious in my ear, "I'll edge you, Liberty," she added, her words nothing but a threat.

I whined almost pathetically, wondering who I even was right now.

I've never cried during sex, especially not in this way.

If anything, I'm the one usually in control.

It was beyond anything I had experienced, trying my best to breathe through it all, but it was like she wanted to push me further.

Whether it was speeding up or sliding deeper inside me.

"You're almost there," I heard her voice echo around me as the rain fell harder against the car.

My moans were unrecognizable, almost whining for her when my body shook uncontrollably.

That's when I tightened around her fingers entirely, squeezing my eyes shut as I tightened every single muscle in my body.

"Fall into it—relax, Liberty," her soft voice guided me as my moans grew louder.

I physically trembled to make my muscles relax a little better, tightening even more around her fingers that kept sliding in and out of me.

"There you go, Liberty," I heard her encourage me, curling her fingers deeper and making me whine desperately, "You're listening well for me."

I panted through my nose, my orgasm growing more intense as she continued her pace.

"Please-please-please," I whispered, my words rushed and sticking together as I begged for her to let me move.

She didn't.

But her motions did slow down, soothing me back down as her fingers slid out of me to gently caress my slicked core.

My breaths still came out short and rushed, desperately trying to calm myself down.

But my legs physically hurt.

My body hurts actually.

Even my arms feel tight.

"Shhhh," I heard her softly in my ear when I began sniffling, more tears slipping from my closed eyes as I un-tensed my tight muscles.

It hurts so fucking bad.

But it was hard to focus on the pain with the satisfying tingles shooting through my core at the same time.

I was so overwhelmed—I couldn't figure out if it hurt or felt good.

Both is what I settled on.

"Open your eyes," I heard her suddenly say.

I didn't hesitate to listen to her, opening my eyes heavy with tears as I sniffled again.

The last thing I should be doing is crying in front of her after she just fucked me.

I'm proving her right—that I wasn't ready for this.

"You were a very good girl, Liberty," she calmly said, her eyes holding mine, "You did very good for me."

Her face was so close to mine.

I nodded a few times as she brought her other hand up to my cheek, brushing the back of it against my damp skin and carefully wiping away my tears.

"Everything hurts," I whispered as she pulled her other hand away from my core.

And reached over to the dash.

"I'll fix that," she said, grabbing a pack of wet wipes from the dash.

I nodded a few times, watching as she opened the wet wipes and grabbed one.

Then her hand was back between my legs, carefully using the wet wipe to clean up the mess she made of me.

I unconsciously tensed at the contact of the cold wipe, trying to relax as she carefully traced it up and down my folds before moving to my inner thighs.

They were also damp as well.

Fuck.

"What do we say?" she asked me, adjusting my skirt back down for me before pulling away to grab another wet wipe.

"Thank you?" I said, the two words coming out as a question.

"For what, Liberty?" she carefully asked me, calmly wiping her left hand clean as her stare remained on me.

"For... cleaning me up," I said with furrowed brows, wondering if that's what she wanted to hear.

"What else?" she asked me, dissatisfied with my previous answer.

I blinked a few times, "Uh for fu..." I trailed off when she raised a brow, feeling my face burn up, "For touching me," I quickly corrected myself.

"Say it correctly, Liberty," she said, putting the wet wipes back in the dash and closing it.

"Thank you for touching me and cleaning me up," I said in a full sentence just as she requested.

"You're welcome," she murmured, her blue eyes trailing my face for a moment.

Until she glanced away, facing forward as she buckled her seatbelt.

"I'll stop for ibuprofen," she suddenly determined, addressing how fucking sore I currently feel.

I can't even move without it hurting.

The irony.

"It's fine, I have some at home," I assured her, now buckling my seatbelt as well.

"I'm responsible for your current circumstances, so I'll handle it," she calmly explained, disregarding my previous words as she put the car in reverse,

I pursed my lips together, nodding once rather than arguing her statement.

I wouldn't mind spending a little more time with her anyway.

"Do you need anything else?" she asked me, driving out of the parking lot and back down the road we came.

I shook my head.

Until an idea suddenly popped into my head.

"Maybe... a lollipop would be nice," I whispered, staring at her with a slow smile growing on my lips.

Her attention briefly flickered to me, her lips twitching up slightly at my request.

"Okay, Liberty," she said, focusing her attention back on the road, "You listen, you get rewarded."

I happily hummed, liking this little system she had.

Even if it left my body painfully fucking sore.

"Speaking of rewards..." I trailed off, my smile growing wider, "Today marks a week of not drinking. Pay up."

She nodded once, "Three questions, Liberty," she said, her stare focused forward as she continued down the winding road, "Ask me anything you want."

I blinked a few times, "Wait really?" I asked with a growing smile, surprised by the reward she chose.

She always refused to share anything personal about herself.

"Yes," she calmly said, flicking on her signal as we approached the stop sign, "You earned it."

I felt my face burn up at her praise, nodding a few times.

"I did," I whispered, my smile widening as I glanced out of the window that rain droplets slid down, "Okay wait, but it has to be good—I don't want to waste my questions," I added, knowing this is a big deal.

Anything I want to know?

That's so much.

"Take your time," I heard her say as I focused on the soft rain coming down, thinking deeply about what I wanted to ask.

Work?

Her family maybe?

Friends?

Everything about her felt unknown to me.

"Okay," I suddenly whispered, letting out a deep breath, "What is your family like?" I decided to ask, wondering how she grew up or what led her to be a therapist.

"A broad question. Smart girl," she observed, her words making my face burn up, "I don't have siblings. My parents are married and stable, but work always comes first."

I nodded as I absorbed her words.

It sounded like the dynamic of my mother almost, except when my dad was still alive it was different.

We were happier.

"Keep going," I said, knowing she could say much more.

She rolled her lips into a pursed line, "My family is wealthy—some would say old money wealthy," she continued, making my brows unconsciously raise.

"Some would say," I emphasized her words, my smile growing amused, "That just means they're old money wealthy then," I pointed out, knowing that's essentially what her words meant.

"They are," she said, her stare still focused forward.

I narrowed my eyes at her, "You have to include their careers technically," I pressed, growing more curious.

"Big Pharma," she calmly stated, making my brows raise.

Old money wealthy is probably an understatement then.

Big Pharma is about providing medicines, vaccines, and treatments to the public—things the world will always need.

It also means her parents are probably not the best people.

Big Pharma exploits weaknesses—it preys on people's health.

"Where did you grow up?" I curiously asked, not even caring that it was my second question.

"Upstate New York," she answered, her stare still focused ahead while I openly stared at her side profile.

I sighed stressfully, trying to decide if I wanted to ask more about her life growing up.

Or maybe her friends?

Also, any exes or perhaps patients—but that idea felt too invasive for my liking.

Especially after I told her this could be a one-time thing.

I'm not looking for anything serious.

But I still wanted to know.

"Third question, Liberty," she spoke when I remained silent in thought.

I nodded a few times, "Okay..." I trailed off, deciding the ex topic was definitely too much, "Dr. Kincaid," I suddenly said her name, picking that topic instead, "What's up with her? You two were at dinner tonight."

She nodded, "A work-related dinner. It's set bi-weekly," she explained as we slowly halted at the red light, shifting her focus to me, "We're purely acquaintances. I don't feel the need to befriend my colleagues."

I raised a brow, "But you clearly don't like her," I pointed out, holding her stare.

Until I glanced down, noticing the edges of her lips twitch up into an amused smile.

"For numerous reasons, Liberty," she said, shaking her head as she focused back on the road when the light turned green, "You're undoubtedly one of those reasons."

I blinked a few times at her blunt words, feeling something circle deeply in my stomach at her honesty.

"What did you tell her?" I curiously asked, wondering how that conversation went.

"That's a fourth question," she corrected me, making a dramatic sigh fall from my lips.

"No fair," I mumbled childishly, slumping back in my seat as I stared forward.

"You should be more thankful, Liberty," she said, flicking on her signal as she turned down another road, "I've been very generous tonight."

I lazily raised my brows but didn't say anything in response.

Maybe if I'm silent and pout hard enough, she'll let me ask a few more questions.

I want to know so much more.

"Liberty," I heard her speak again, briefly glancing over to me, "I've been very generous tonight, haven't I?" she specifically asked me.

I forced a hum at her targeted question, still deciding not to say anything.

Even if I knew this wasn't the route I should take to get my way.

"You speak when spoken to," she emphasized, flicking on her signal and pulling into the CVS parking lot, "I won't remind you again, Liberty."

I clenched my jaw but nodded stiffly anyway.

"Yeah," I said, staring ahead as she put the car in park and shifted her focus to me, "You were generous."

She nodded once at my words, "Very generous," she calmly added, unbuckling her seatbelt, "Now, stay here," she told me, opening her door.

"Okay," I said, staring forward as she gently closed the door and locked the car using the key fob she brought.

I silently watched her as she walked into the CVS, now noticing another thing about her.

The way she walks, her posture, even how she carries herself.

I suddenly saw the old money behind it.

I wondered if she took etiquette lessons or attended those rich people galas my mother always forced me to go to when I was younger.

I also wondered why she's here now, why Dr. Leclair chose Seattle.

Or should I say Monroe?

Can I even call her that now?

I sighed deeply, sinking down in my seat with numerous thoughts rampant in my head as I waited for her.

It barely took her five minutes to emerge from the CVS with a small bag in hand, unlocking the car as she approached.

I glanced over when she opened the car door, sliding into the seat beside me and firmly closing the door.

The first thing she did was reach into the bag, grabbing the Voss water and ibuprofen that she smoothly unwrapped before twisting the cap off.

"Open," she instructed me, pouring two of the pills into her hand.

I didn't hesitate to lean over the console with parted lips, holding her stare as she slid them into my mouth.

Then she reached for the water, untwisting the cap before bringing it to my parted lips as well.

I swallowed the water and pills as she tilted the water bottle up for a longer sip.

It forced me to swallow again for her, drinking more of the water even if I had already taken the pills.

"Very good," she murmured, lowering the water bottle from my lips.

My face grew warm from her subtle praise, glancing down when she gently set the water bottle in my lap.

"Yours," she stated, letting go of the water bottle to reach in the bag again, "And your reward."

I smiled when she revealed the cherry BlowPop, "Thank you very much," I said happily, watching as she opened the lollipop for me.

"You earned it, Liberty," she repeated, her gaze shifting to mine as she brought the lollipop to my lips.

I opened my mouth immediately, letting her slide the candy past my lips as I sucked down.

She hummed in approval, her stare focused purely on my lips for a moment—watching as I sucked harder on the lollipop.

It made my face burn up, trying to pretend like her directed stare didn't affect me.

She suddenly glanced up, her stare locking with mine, "Now, are you ready to go home?" she calmly asked, earning a few nods from me.

"Yes please," I said, resting back against my seat as I sucked more on the sweet lollipop.

She nodded in acknowledgment, putting the car in reverse and backing out of the parking spot.

Then we were on the way to my apartment, which was still a good fifteen minutes away.

I was happy by the lengthened drive, focused contently on my lollipop as I stared forward.

I'm so happy I didn't take that Uber.

This was totally worth it even if it was a one-time thing.

Somehow I still wanted more from her.

But I knew the prospects of that were highly unlikely, so I decided to be thankful for what I had gotten.

Even if I was slightly disappointed when we pulled into the familiar parking garage of my apartment building.

"Thanks for the ride, doc," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt, shifting back into our normal dynamic.

"You're welcome, Liberty," she calmly replied, watching as I carefully opened my door and slid out of the car.

My legs were still very sore, but I tried to push through it in front of her.

I grabbed my jacket, the Voss water, and also the CVS bag with the discarded lollipop stick in it, rising up from the car to my full height.

"Have a good night," I told her, standing hesitantly as I fought the soreness in my inner hips.

Fuck.

"Take care, Liberty," she murmured softly as I carefully turned around, trying my best to walk normally to the nearby elevator.

Her car didn't move an inch—not until I stepped on the elevator and clicked my floor.

Once those shiny doors shut, a grin lit up on my face, replaying everything that just happened in that car.

It all felt so worth it—regardless of the begging I did or the work I put in.

None of it mattered, now that I had gotten my way.

I didn't know where this would leave us given we didn't discuss it.

Maybe she wanted to leave it be for tonight?

Will she still refer me?

I really don't want her to anymore—and not because of what just happened.

I simply don't want to open up to anyone else.

I don't want to start over with a new therapist.

I just wanted her.

Even if it means forgetting this night as I sit on that couch in front of her.

I let out a content sigh as the elevator dinged open, walking down the familiar hallway with the stupidest grin on my face.

But it slowly faded.

Or quickly, given it was wiped off my face as soon as I noticed her presence at my door.

She sat on the ground, her knees pulled up to her chest, and her face buried between them.

"Ki?" I suddenly spoke, furrowing my brows.

Kaia immediately glanced up with puffy eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and eyeliner smudged under her eyes.

Concern immediately struck me at the sight of her.

"What happened?" I asked, rushing over to her at my door.

Kaia broke down immediately, sobbing as she reached out for me.

"My-my dad... he—where were you, Libby?" she cried hoarsely, her arms trembling as I leaned down to hug her, "I-I tried to call you—I waited for so long. I needed you."

I frowned, realizing my phone had been in my coat pocket the entire time.

"I'm sorry, Ki," I whispered, hugging her tighter, "I wasn't near my phone and... and I, you know," I stumbled over my words, unable to think of a good lie for where I was at.

I can't say the gym because I'm in my clothes from earlier.

Zion and Sarai would vouch for me, but they'd also wonder why.

I had nothing to come up with.

"Let's just go inside," I suddenly said, deciding to divert away from the topic of my absence.

Kaia nodded immediately, crying even harder as I stood to my feet and tried to help her up.

The high I was previously riding had vanished.

It was stripped away into nothing as I focused on helping my best friend inside, wondering what had made her so upset.

Her dad is already a trigger for her—I can only imagine what happened while she was there.

Somehow, my night had taken another unexpected turn.