Rachel"I feel like I've hardly seen you lately," Taylor commented from her spot in the hallway. She piled her hair on top of her head before twisting to face me, a furrow appearing between her brows. "I take it things are still going well with Bernie.""A lot better than I thought they would," I admitted over the rim of my mug. "I can't believe how well things are going."Or how easily he fit into our lives.Over the past few weeks, we had fallen into a routine of sorts, with Bernie picking us up in the morning and dropping us off at his house in the afternoon. In the beginning, I was reluctant to change Ron's life so drastically, especially with very little warning, but having him with me while I cleaned and did the housework meant less stress and pressure on Taylor and her parents.Given everything they'd done for me, I was more than happy to give them a break. Knowing that Bernie looked forward to coming home to us helped too. In the evenings, when he came, looking exhausted but p
Rachel“We need to hang out tonight,” Taylor said in between puffs. “I hardly ever see you anymore since you’ve moved out.”“You come over every other day,” I reminded her. I set the phone down on the nightstand and set it to speaker. Then I unfolded the sheet and spread it over the bed. When I climbed onto the bed to smooth out the wrinkles, I imagined Bernard there, with a hungry look in his eyes, and blushed.I loved spending a few hours in his bed while Ron dozed off in the guest room.Every night, it got harder and harder to scoop Ron up into my arms and make my way down the dark hallway. And each morning, when I saw Bernard in our kitchen, bent over the stove or leaning over the counter while he checked his emails, my heart gave an odd little lurch.Months later, I still couldn’t get over the fact that he was in our lives.It still felt like a dream I’d landed in the middle of.And never wanted to wake up from.The three of us had fallen into a routine where we had breakfast in
Adapting to a new environment was hard enough, and I didn't want to add whispers and gossip to the list of things Ron had to contend with. With that in mind, I strode in the direction of Bernard's office, shoes squeaking steadily against the hardwood floors. Once I reached Mary's desk, situated outside his office, I stopped and gave her a bright smile. She looked up from the computer and did a double-take when she recognized me."Rachel, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?""Hi, Mary." I tucked my hair behind my ears and gave her a small smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Mr. Shaw forgot a USBstick at home. It looked important, so I thought it would bring it by."Mary nodded and leaned back in her chair. "Why don't you sit down? He's in a meeting, so I'll let him know as soon as he's done."With one last smile in her direction, I took a seat on one of the plush leather chairs lined up against the wall. As soon as I did, I took the USB stick out of my pocket and turned it over a
Bernard"Why don't we put a movie on for Ron in his room?""It's not his room," Rachel replied without looking at me. "It's the guest room. His room is in the other apartment.""This room is like a spare room," I replied, pausing to wrap my arms around her waist. Rachel continued to scrub the dishes, ignoring me altogether. "I know that you're not ready to move in with me, but I hope you think of this place as your home."Rachel made a low noise in the back of her throat and didn't say anything.I pushed her hair to the front and placed a kiss on the back of her neck. "I wish you didn't have to leave every night.""Ron can't sleep by himself.""He could sleep here," I whispered into her skin. "He loves it here, and so do you."Rachel cleared her throat. "I'm going to leave after I finish washing the dishes."I pressed my face to the back of her neck and exhaled. "Why? There's still time before Ron has to sleep.""I'm not feeling well."She squirmed, and I let my hand fall to my sides.
Given the issues we'd been having in the company lately, from software problems to interns being poached by our rivals, the last thing I wanted was to hear from Michael Shaw himself.Especially because my father had a way of making me feel worse about everything.I stared at the phone until it stopped ringing.A few moments later, it started again, and I squinted at it. Reluctantly, I set the phone down on the counter and put him on speaker. "Hello.""I was beginning to think you weren't going to answer.""I was busy," I replied before shifting from one foot to the other. "Is everything okay?""I heard Carla is back in town," my father said after a brief pause. "I never did understand why the two of you broke things off, especially when you know how important an alliance between the two of you is.""Carla and I aren't a good match, dad. We want very different things. I told you this already."My father scoffed. "Nonsense. The two of you just needed time to adapt to each other. These t
Rachel"You still haven't told him, huh?"I hoisted the laundry basket up and eyed Taylor over the top. She sat on my living room couch, legs tucked underneath her, hair piled on top of her head, and a glass of wine in her hand. With a slight shake of her head, she took a few sips and sighed."I don't know how to tell him."Taylor raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it has anything to do with that. I think you just don't want to."With a grunt, I set the laundry basket down on the coffee table and sat down opposite it on the brown leather armchair. "Why wouldn't I want to?""Because you've been waiting for the other shoe to drop this entire time. Now that it has, you think it'll be easier this way."I leaned forward and reached for a pair of pants. "I don't know what you're talking about."Taylor swung her legs forward and leaned back against the pillows. "Yes, you do. Rach, I love you, I do, but it's like you're afraid of being happy.""I am not afraid of being happy. Why would I be?"
Taylor smiled. "See? You're still an important part of his life. Just because Carla is back in the picture doesn't mean that's going to change.""You don't know that."Taylor stood up and took her glass of wine with her. She finished off the rest of it before washing it in the sink. I watched her as she set it out to dry before coming back. Wordlessly, she lowered herself onto the carpeted floor in front of me and reached for a pile of clothes."I thought you hated doing laundry.""I do, but I love you more," Taylor replied with a smile. "And the sooner you get done with this, the sooner you can call Bernard to remind him about Ron's school event in a few days."I sat up straighter and cleared my throat. "I don't know if he will be able to make it.""He's made it to all the events so far, hasn't he? Besides, didn't you already tell him?"I nodded and glanced down at the towel in my lap. "I did.""So, you're just calling to remind him. There's nothing wrong with that."In silence, I fo
Bernard"We need to offer them better packages," I said, pausing to press two fingers to my forehead. I rubbed in slow, circular motions and ignored the niggling sensation in the back of my skull. "And better job benefits.""It should be enough." Raymond sat up straighter and crossed one leg over the other. "We should look into holding an event."I let my hands fall to the desk and stared at him. "An event?""Yeah, a lot of the other companies are holding these events to allow prospective employees the chance to tour the company, ask questions, etc."I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know that.""Yeah, the recruitment process has changed," Raymond replied with a shrug. "So, we need to stay ahead of the game."I nodded and straightened my back. "Of course. Let's look into that and see when we can have one of these events.""You'll need to bring Carla into the fold.""She's only been here two weeks.""And she's already closed a deal with that oil company," Raymond pointed out with a smile.
- LukeSix Months Later..."Baby, hurry. I don't want to tear your lace, but for the love of God, I'm hurting so badly."Olivia laughs at my whining, but she might as well have stroked my cock with how throaty and aroused her voice sounds. Her hands are frantic as they unhook her lace garter and finally lift her skirt, which now poofs around us like a peacock. Then her panties are there for the taking, and I do the only thing possible with my antsy fingers.She gasps. "Oh, my God. You ripped it-oh, my God."I smirk when those words turn into a moan as soon as I sink my cock inside her. But my smirk soon dies when we're rocking into each other with no pause, already too turned on to take it slow. I've been hard since I first saw her in her wedding dress, a lovely creature who got me harder with every smile and happy look she sent my way.Don't get me wrong; standing in front of the altar with her, exchanging the most intimate and heartfelt vows, was awe-inspiring. But a man has his lim
God. It's like getting whiplash. "You what? Luke..."He shrugs. "It's the best hospital in the state for me, but I'm fine working in other places since they also offer great facilities. I have connections and I can still land on my own two feet. That's what power does and I've decided to wield it. But that power, it doesn't matter, Liv. I could have no hospital accepting me right now, and I would still choose to step back.""Luke..." Because he loves me. But I still ask, anyway. "Why?"Just like that, the intensity in his eyes magnify into such pure light, the love clear and bright. I stagger from the emotions brimming from him and sweeping me off my feet, even more so when he finally answers."Because I don't mind losing the job, Liv, or my career. But I can't stand the thought of losing you."I open my mouth, but no words come out. Luke doesn't seem to mind as he ambles closer until there are only inches of space between us. I know the moment he inhales my scent because it sets my s
And her text makes so much more sense now.Still, I can't stop staring. Neither can Luke as he shoots up from his chair at my entrance, those dark eyes trailing from my head to toe-no, devouring me. My heart spikes and my breathing stutters, trying to comprehend his presence and the pure magnetism that I've been absent from in...gosh, has it only been two weeks?It feels longer. It's my first time seeing him since our confrontation at my apartment door, where he was brimming with outrage and despair. But all I see now, aside from those devouring eyes, are the bags under them, the hollowness of his cheeks, the gauntness of his features.Worry sweeps in. I take a step closer before I can think about it. "What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"He blinks. "Like what?""Like you haven't gotten any sleep and..."I trail off when his jaw clenches and his muscles tense, disbelief sparking on his face. "You really have to ask?" A short laugh comes out, jolting my stomach before he's back wi
Olivia"Mom, will Dad no longer come over to spend the night?"I've been waiting for Riley to ask that question and the day has finally come. I close my eyes briefly, gathering strength behind my lids before I open them and face her curiosity. There's no sadness there-thankfully, because Luke has been doing his best to call her whenever he can and assure her how excited he is over their next playdate.And me?Let's just say I've been trying not to listen in and hear his voice because hearing his voice sends a deep ache inside me that practically turns me inconsolable. Especially at night.But Riley's no fool. We might be shielding her as much as we can, but she still picks up on things, much like she picked up on Luke being her father before we were even ready to tell her. She studies me now, waiting for my response and probably prepared with more questions."I'm afraid he's very busy lately, sweetie, so he might not spend the night here as much. Or at all. But you can spend the night
He means it in a work-related manner, I think, but my heart sees it differently-and just like that, it cracks again, reality hitting me so hard that my knees almost buckle. I manage to control myself in front of Kyle, though, and jerk toward the door."Stop gossiping and go do your thing.""If you mean charming the hospital staff and other patients, sure. By the way, just because I can't stand your patients doesn't mean they hate me. On the contrary...""Steal them all you want."He chuckles, understanding I don't mean that. Despite what he says, I do like most of my patients. But the memory of the patients that I don't like reminds me of the patient who was rude to Olivia-and just like that, she's in my orbit again and I'm a miserable fool.I strap it all down and get to work. My mood doesn't improve when I find out that James isn't in today and all HR can say is that Olivia's resignation was cleared by the director before it even got to them. When I reach one of the staff lounges an
If her first words hit me hard, the next ones hit me harder."That you are too much. That I'm not ready for whatever this is. That I want to chase my dreams and you are kind of?-"She stops, but it's too late. I rear back, hearing what she's not saying, and punched with the truth I hear in it. But it's the detached way she handles the aftermath that truly sinks in for me-like she's gotten over it already.Like she's gotten over me.A cold sensation wraps around my spine before it spreads throughout the rest of my body."So it was just sex to you?"She opens her mouth, then closes it. I latch on to the movement, an ache pulling at my system before I get hit with reality."We had an attraction, Luke. It's not your fault that I want nothing to do with it anymore."Had. Past tense.God. She sounds fucking cold."And the resignation?"She shrugs. "I got a good offer elsewhere. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but it's a good thing. We both get a clean slate.""And you fucking decided al
LukeIwish Olivia would answer at least one of my texts. I know she’s probably busy with work already, but I miss her so much and would like some time with her before my schedule today swallows me up. Because fate seems to be working against that little reunion, I hurry to the hospital instead, comforted with the knowledge that at least I’ll get a glimpse of her—maybe even steal a kiss or two—before I head to my first surgery assessment of the day.But I’m stopped short when I don’t find her in the office. Instead, I find Wanda seated in Olivia’s chair and typing on the keyboard.“Wanda? How can I help you?”She shoots up at my presence, attempting a smile but not quite genuine with it. She studies my confused expression and looks confused, too, before that disappears and she clears her throat.“Dr. Jennings. I’m just finishing up a report that you’re tasked to read later—additional notes for your patient appointment this afternoon…”I shake my head, not quite understanding. “No, I me
OliviaI’m still on a high from a rather successful weekend, one that I didn’t expect to turn out the way it did. Not only did I secure four of the six clients, all of whom don’t care how long it will take me to paint them a piece of my artwork since they’re casual collectors, but I’ve also secured a deal with Jennifer, who agreed to display my sketches in the meantime until I can provide her with paintings. It still feels surreal, but I’m no longer nervous or hesitant about this.I’m excited. I didn’t think I would get this excited over a side gig, but it’s like a distant dream making its way to the center of my life and reminding me that it’s still achievable even if I’m already achieving another dream. It makes me feel invincible—because if I can conquer this, I can conquer anything.Like telling Luke how you truly feel about him.Yes. Exactly that.“Liv? Good, you’re early. I’ve been told you need to go to the director’s office right away. Something about your tenure.” Rose Sutton
In fact, quitting her seems impossible and I can almost say with certainty that I want to keep her for as long as possible. Our relationship is progressing nicely and we're starting to fit perfectly into each other's lives. No, we already fit, like two people who seamlessly click like a puzzle piece. Sure, it took a while to get us there after our rough patch, but after that..."I'm happy, too." She sighs. "But I'm also trying not to hope too much. I want this to be an inspiration, not a distraction, so I hope the clients will make reasonable demands.""Just remember that at the end of the day, you're the one in control, not them. Give them your timeframe. You'll be surprised how patient people can be."Just like me with her. Except my patience is wearing thin.I know I said I don't ever want to commit again after the failure that was my relationship with Carol, but Olivia is right. I'm not the same man I was before-and Olivia is different. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself