Play Doctor: Dream Machine Part 1

Dream Machine.

Jayne Rylon.

Dedication.

To the people who don't know that I'm an author but would be proud if they did.

Chapter One.

"This is a bad idea."

Dr. Kurt Foster revolted against the ultimatum his colleague, Dr. Luke Malone, had just delivered on behalf of the Elembreth University Psychology Board. Kurt shook his head then continued, "I won't f.u.c.king do it."

"Don't make this harder than it already is, Kurt. You no longer have a choice."

He registered the genuine regret in Luke's expression when the other man slid the rejected paperwork across the glossy surface of Kurt's desk.

"They denied your plea. There are consequences to decking James, even if the b.a.s.t.a.r.d deserved it."

Kurt yanked open a drawer, dumped the folder inside then slammed it shut, wincing as he flexed his scabbed knuckles. "She's been violated once. I won't let her be subjected to it again without her permission."

"Calm down. I admit it's not typical procedure but I'm here to do the only thing in my control to prevent the board from kicking your a.s.s out and firing you from the job you love." Luke inhaled, his gaze darting away for a moment. "The board has ruled. You're to conduct the Dream Machine experiment with Rebecca."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Board President." Kurt sneered. Luke didn't deserve his foul mood but he couldn't suppress the urge to swipe at someone while everything he'd built crumbled around him. He shoved back then began to pace, scrubbing his hands through his hair. "f.u.c.k! I don't mean that, Luke. I just..."

"I know." Of course the renowned psychologist understood. "You feel guilty because her dreams were invaded, because watching them made you want her more and because you're afraid she's not ready. But you have an impeccable record. You know I think of you as a brother, but I'm speaking for the board when I say you're the right man for this job. This is the only opportunity you have for a true control. You'd never be allowed a blind trial if Dr. Dips.h.i.+t hadn't broken into your lab. He proved it's safe. And that Rebecca wants this.

You starred in every single wild dream of hers. She needs you."

The fury Kurt hadn't succeeded in pounding out on James prohibited him from answering. He'd never intended his invention to be used like this. As a leader in the field of s.e.xual therapy and repression research, he strived to help people, not hurt them.

Two nights ago, he'd forgotten to lock the d.a.m.n door to his private laboratory, which adjoined the university practice. His a.s.sistant, Rebecca Williams, had paid the price for his moment of carelessness. And she didn't even know it yet.

Now, he had to fix it.

If he didn't agree to the board's demands, they would find someone else to take his place. Probably Luke.

Jealousy sealed his fate.

Defeated, he sank into the plush leather desk chair.

"How's this going to work?"

"The board is giving you seven days to prove the Dream Machine is a viable treatment for s.e.xual repression. They agreed to allow you to operate without a witness in person, but you have to record the proceedings for me to review each day. If you tell her about the break-in, the board will terminate the study. I won't be able to intervene to protect you again. You'll bring her to a board meeting midway through to present your progress. If they see merit in the work, they'll allow you to continue to completion."

Kurt knew Luke well enough to identify the heat layered beneath concern in the other man's eyes. He growled low in his throat. "Don't be thinking about her like that."

A rich laugh rumbled from Luke as a wicked grin spread across his face. "I admit it. I'm envious. Just think, this is your golden chance to have her without ruining your working relations.h.i.+p. She's not the innocent young woman you first met as your student. She's about to graduate at the top of her cla.s.s and, no one knows better than you, her stellar performance in the university psychology intern program makes her a clear candidate for a permanent position."

The knot of worry, frustration, anger and betrayal lodged in Kurt's gut loosened for a moment. "Does that mean my nomination was voted on?"

Luke confirmed the only good news he'd had today. "The board agreed this experience will complete her training. If she can learn to cope with her emotions instead of repressing them, their last reservations on her character will be invalidated. If the experiment is successful, and if she accepts the position, the board will appoint her as your partner. The decision was unanimous."

"Then it's a deal." Kurt would do whatever necessary to ensure Becca's dream came true. It was the least he could do. "But how the h.e.l.l am I going to get her to agree to be my subject without filling her in on the details? I won't do this without her consent."

The wattage of Luke's smile doubled. That look had lured in many willing women over the years they'd been friends. It appeared charming but the devilish smirk meant he'd been up to no good.

"s.h.i.+t, you already started didn't you?" Kurt groaned.

"Let's say the wheels are in motion. She'll come to you. Soon."

"Don't tell me. I don't want to know." Kurt rose, shaking his head.

Luke met him halfway around the desk then clapped his hand on Kurt's bruised shoulder. They walked side by side toward the office door. "Call me when you have the first stage finished then I'll gather the board. And please, be careful."

"Got it. Luke..." Kurt pivoted, tempted to hug the man who'd been his closest friend for years. After a brief but awkward silence, he settled for silent communication. "Thanks."

Luke responded with a tiny nod before slipping into the lobby.

By four o'clock in the afternoon, it'd already been a long day for Rebecca Williams. Well, two days. She'd pulled an all-nighter studying, then taken her early morning final exam before going straight to work at the clinic. Dr. Foster was booked solid, which meant a lot of prep work for her. There hadn't even been a second to talk to him about the memo on her desk. As soon as he finished his meeting with Dr.

Malone, she'd do it.

She promised herself she wouldn't back down.

Her pencil paused in mid cross-through on the last item of her to-do list when the front door burst open. A woman barged into the lobby, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Mussed hair stood out from her scalp as though she'd run her hands through it a million times.

"Mrs. Henderson?" Rebecca hardly recognized the disheveled woman. She jumped to her feet, meeting the woman halfway. "What's wrong?"

The woman rushed straight to her and flung her arms around Rebecca. "I caught Jim with some piece of trash. In our room. Right on my own bed." The words were m.u.f.fled against Rebecca's shoulder. Sobs wracked her body. Steering her down the hall, Rebecca led Mrs. Henderson to privacy in a vacant patient room.

"Everything's going to be all right. Have a seat and I'll get Dr. Foster. It'll be just a moment." Rebecca helped the woman to the chair while she tried to soothe her with a calm voice.

"No! Don't go. I'd rather talk to you." Mrs. Henderson grabbed her hand, preventing her from turning away. "Please."

How could she deny the woman?

"Of course." She settled on the adjoining chair, Mrs. Henderson still grasping her hand like a lifeline.

"Where would you like to start?"

Rebecca updated Mrs. Henderson's case file with the details of their session when her cell blasted the shrill emergency ring a.s.sociated with her sister. She dove for her purse then dug out her phone. Can this day get any worse? "Calm down, Elsa." Rebecca quieted her hysterical younger sister over the phone. "I think everything's going to work out. I didn't tell you yet because I don't want to get your hopes up again but I have a plan. I can't really talk right now, I'm at work. I'll know for sure by tonight. I promise I'll call you then."

"Becca, that's awesome!" Her sister's elated voice proved she had skipped over the maybes going straight to a.s.suming everything was taken care of. Great. "I'm going to tell Mom. Talk to you tonight! Love you!"

"I love you too, Elsa." Rebecca wasn't sure her sister heard her response as she went off in the background, screeching for their mother. She hoped the woman was having a good day but she could only worry about so many things at once. Sighing, she slipped her cell phone back into her plain purse.

As she tucked the black bag under her desk in the reception area of Dr. Foster's university practice, the door to his office opened and Dr. Malone emerged.

"Thanks for covering, Rebecca. See you soon." The tall, handsome doctor always found time to chat with her, no matter the difference in their ranks. She enjoyed seeing him but, today, she was swamped and finding it difficult to focus on anything but the decision she'd made earlier.

"You're welcome, Dr. Malone. Have a good day." She responded automatically, without questioning the curious look he shot her before making his way out the front door.

Slotting Mrs. Henderson's file back into the cabinet, she decided it was now or never.

Rebecca snuck one final glance at the paper fluttering in her hand, willing herself to stop shaking. She paused then drew a deep breath to fortify her nerve before knocking on the heavy wood-paneled door to Dr.

Foster's office.

"Come in."

She nudged open the door to his works.p.a.ce then turned to guide it closed, eliminating the risk of anyone overhearing her outlandish request. Resisting the urge to make up a lame excuse and duck back out, she scanned his inner office then took a wary step forward.

The area was s.p.a.cious but comfortable. Soft incandescent light emanated from lamps positioned around the room. The warm illumination made the s.p.a.ce seem intimate for its size. Plush carpet covered the floor and substantial masculine furniture in rich jewel tones cl.u.s.tered to facilitate group conversation.

Dr. Foster had designed the soothing atmosphere to encourage his patients to relax during their sometimes intense sessions. The innovative psychologist specialized in relations.h.i.+p therapy and s.e.xual repression issues while holding a distinguished position here at Elembreth University, where he both taught and maintained a small clinic.

"Rebecca, is there something I can do for you?" Kurt-no, Dr. Foster-asked. She kept slipping lately.

"Yes, Doctor. First, while you met with Dr. Malone, Mrs. Henderson came in."

"d.a.m.n. Is Jim s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around on her again?" Dr. Foster cared for each of his patients on a personal level.

She admired the fact that he didn't need case notes to remember the details of their situations.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Tell her to come in. Luke was my last appointment for the day, I can see her right now."

Rebecca hesitated. Would he be angry she'd overstepped her place by talking with Mrs. Henderson? His displeasure would make her offer even harder to make.

"Actually, she's gone now. She requested a session with me instead."

"About time." He didn't seem the least bit concerned.

"You don't care that I met alone with one of your patients?"

"Of course not. You're ready for this, Rebecca. You've put six years into your residency here at the clinic.

You did have your last exam today didn't you?"

She nodded.

"Since you're my best student, I know you aced it. Therefore, waiting for your degree on graduation day is a formality. You're a well-qualified therapist. Mrs. Henderson is one of my more dramatic patients. How did you feel dealing with her radical emotions alone?"

"I did as you've taught me. I listened actively with compa.s.sion, then worked the case by giving feedback on what I heard, provided the statistics of cheating husbands, supplied her with resources for local support groups and talked her through how to find help if she chooses to divorce him."

"Sometimes it takes more than facts and methodology to heal someone's heart. But for your first time flying solo, it sounds like you did very well."

Pride swept over her. She'd worked her a.s.s off for this. His approval meant more than the piece of paper that would bestow her official t.i.tle.

And his s.e.xy smile made an excellent reward.

Dr. Foster could make a blind woman do a double take. In his mid thirties, he had slight laugh lines crinkled around his dark grey eyes. Their stormy depths contradicted his inviting personality, which enhanced his charm and made her curious about what lay beneath his enigmatic surface.

Standing over six feet tall, he towered above her. His height and lean but powerful build combined with his wavy black hair, which he kept long enough to graze his s.h.i.+rt collar, to give him a dangerous edge. It caught her off balance at odd moments during the day when her overactive imagination insisted she'd caught him staring at her.

To Rebecca, his psychical perfection was only a fraction of what made him attractive. Touted as the genius of his field, he had risen to his prestige early, though with some controversy. His opponents argued against his sometimes-extreme methods but, based on his record-smas.h.i.+ng success rates and the rave reviews of his patients, they had conceded his superiority in the field.

His drive and pa.s.sion for helping others outshone his piercing eyes in her estimation. The gentle care and devotion he lavished on his patients when a.s.sisting them in resolving their issues had made him her idol.

A million tiny things along the way had gradually shaped her case of professional infatuation into a deep caring for the man behind the doctor. From his easygoing personality, to his effortless problem solving and the natural insight he had into the way people wanted to be treated, Rebecca admitted her attraction to him had never been stronger.

Which made him perfect for her proposition.

"Your respect means a lot to me, Dr. Foster."

"You've earned it."

"Well, then, I also wanted to inquire about the ad for an experiment subject you a.s.signed me to place in the paper."

"Um...the ad?" For a moment he looked lost, as if he had no clue what she referred to. Before she could clarify, he recovered then asked, "Is there something wrong with it?"

Rebecca paused, gathering her courage before answering. "No. That's not what I meant."

Last chance, Rebecca. Say it or leave.

"I'm interested in partic.i.p.ating in the study myself and wondered if volunteering would be against office policy."

He blinked, not responding immediately to her statement, so she continued. She'd gathered her facts in antic.i.p.ation of convincing him.

"You have a very compet.i.tive fee listed here but, no matter how much money is offered, finding volunteers for this type of personal, sensitive experiment is often a long and painful process. In the six years I've worked here, I know of eight promising studies left untried due to lack of willing partic.i.p.ants. We both know no amount of theory will subst.i.tute for praxis."

If she could a.s.sist in Dr. Foster's experiment, she could repay some of the selflessness he'd shown her as a mentor. Her arguments seemed to work. He leaned forward, setting aside the case folder he'd been reviewing.