Free All In by Kate Willoughby

on the coffee table.
    “Aw, come here,” she said, scooting to the far end of the couch and patting her thigh. “Put your head right here and tell Dr. Mariah what’s wrong. You’ve been pouting all night.”
    “Have not.”
    “Well, maybe not pouting, but definitely off your game. Are you a little jealous?”
    Tucker hesitated, then with a sigh, stretched out like she asked. “Maybe a little.”
    “Me too,” she said, combing her fingers through his hair. She liked that he felt comfortable enough with her to admit his feelings. “Everyone wants to be in love. It’s natural.”
    “Yeah, but…oh, never mind. It’s stupid.”
    Tucker tried to sit up, but she wouldn’t let him.
    “Hey, we’re not done playing doctor yet,” she said.
    That got a small smile from him.
    “Oh, is that what we’re doing?” he asked. “We’re wearing too many clothes for that.”
    Mariah pretended to write on a notepad. “Patient avoids the subject.”
    “Okay, Doc,” he said with a wry smile. “It’s just that Tony and I have been friends since grade school. More like brothers, really. All he’s got is sisters and I was an only child, plus we lived next door to each other. I probably spent more time at his house than I did mine.”
    Mariah rubbed his chest soothingly. “I can picture you two as little boys, playing video games or soccer.”
    “Yeah, you name it, we did it together. And even though we don’t see each other as much now—I’m always on the road, you know how it is—I feel like I’m losing him.” Tucker made a disgusted noise. “Shit. Listen to me. I sound like a jilted lover.”
    “Hey, I felt the same way when my sister got married. Seriously. I went through a period where I didn’t feel like I could ask her to do things with me, and when I did ask her, I’d feel resentful when she had to make sure Sean didn’t have something else planned for them. So I know how you feel, but trust me. It’ll pass. Things are never going to be the same between you and Tony because Rhonda’s always going to be there now. That’s a fact. Not a bad one, though. Just one that’ll take some getting used to.”
    “Yeah, I know,” he said with a sigh.
    “In the meantime, eat chocolate. That helps no matter what’s bothering you.”
    They exchanged a long look before a corner of his mouth lifted. “I hear getting naked is a good remedy too.”
    She thumped him playfully on the stomach and he laughed.
    “I swear,” she said as he sat up. “You’re the horniest man I’ve ever met.”
    He gave her a mock injured expression. “How can you say a thing like that to your own patient?” He stole a quick kiss. “You’re going to permanently damage my self-esteem.”
    “No, not at all,” she replied, leaning her head back as he kissed her neck. “It just means that you’re ready for the next part of your therapy.”
    “The sexual healing part, I hope.”
    She inhaled sharply when he cupped her breast. “You got it,” she breathed.
    With a sinful smile, he slid his hand around her neck and kissed her again. His tongue slipped between her lips and heat suffused her like it always did, but tonight Tucker’s kiss seduced instead of ignited, and as he pulled down the fabric covering her breast and caressed her naked skin, he murmured about how good she felt and how beautiful she was. His voice seemed to seep into her body and heat her up from the inside. By the time he drew back from her mouth, her panties were soaked and she was flushed with desire.
    “Not here on the couch,” she said.
    He nodded and followed her to her bedroom where she lit one of the chocolate scented candles she kept on her dresser. He held her gaze as they undressed on opposite sides of the bed. When they were both naked, they met under the covers. Tucker slid his arms around her and covered her mouth with his again. The feeling of his long, lean body pressed close was sublime. Her skin felt abnormally sensitized. She was supremely