Page 84 of Pressure

"Tell me how you've been while we wait."

As she opened her mouth to speak, a knock sounded, and Lance pushed the door open.

"Sorry about that," he said as he stepped in.

Marissa felt a weight lift off her chest as he settled onto the couch beside her.

"Mr. Moss, I'm Dr. Hoffman. Thank you for joining us today. I know you're busy."

The threesome made small talk for a minute or two before the therapist picked up her tablet and crossed her legs at the ankles.

"Marissa, let's talk about why we're here. You and Lance have a past. A past that ultimately drove you to seek me out. What are you hoping to accomplish tonight?"

She took a deep breath. Grateful that the good doctor was letting her have control of the conversation.

"I just want to address the past hurts and missteps that caused us to breakup. Lance calling the cops on me was just a manifestation of the problems we had."

The therapist smiled. "I agree, but I feel like you're just parroting me because you're nervous. Let's get to the heart of what brought you here."

Marissa blew out a breath. Damn her.

"I'm worried we'll never be able to get past our trust issues," she finally murmured. "He called the cops on me. He actually thought I was capable of hurting him that way just to make a quick buck and he brought the police to a home we shared. Sure, it was his place, but we were engaged, and I basically lived there. He violated our space and had me arrested before he asked any questions and it still stings." She blew out a breath and tossed a glance sideways, hoping to read his expression. It remained emotionless.

"I'm horribly attracted to him. I care for him. But that still hangs between us and given the dynamic we need to make our relationship meaningful, I don't know how to get past it."

The therapist remained silent for a moment, making sure she was finished.

"And you mean kink and BDSM, by dynamic right?"

Marissa gave a slow nod. "That's the thing that really brings us together."

The therapist gave them a knowing smile and jotted something down on her tablet.

"Lance, what compelled you to come here tonight? Have you ever sought out therapy since your breakup with Marissa?"

Marissa watched as Lance squirmed under the therapist's inquisitive gaze.

"No. I guess you could say I threw myself into my work. I stepped away from the kink scene for a while until David approached me about being part of Solitaire."

When he paused, the therapist turned to Marissa. "You also took a break from the kink scene, correct?"

Why was her doctor asking this? She knew these answers.

Marissa just nodded.

"Marissa, you seem as nervous as the day you first came to see me. Is that because of Lance?"

Another nod.

Lance turned to her and pressed a hand to her knee. "I can go if you need me to, Kitten. I just want what's best for you."

She turned and gave him a tight smile. "I know. I appreciate that. But I need you here."

"Why do you feel you need him here, Marissa?"

She blew out a breath. "I feel like we need a safe space to discuss why things ended the way they did. I understand now that Sebastian Forcythe set me up to take the fall for his transgressions, but that doesn't explain why Lance was so quick to believe what he saw. I was never even questioned. The cops just showed up and arrested me."

The last sentence came out in a whisper and she felt like the sad betrayed ex all over again.

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