LukeThe clack of the keyboard on the other table is soft and shouldn't bother me, but it does. Maybe it's because I know who's typing and what she looks like today, with her hair in a loose braid and the added liner that highlights her green eyes. Maybe it's because, despite how many times I've tried to nitpick everything as she accused me of, she retaliates by doing such a good job that even the perfectionist inside me is impressed.Or maybe it's because I'm ashamed of how I'm acting while still annoyed with how aloof and cold she is.At the next firmer press of the keyboard button, I glance up and catch the satisfied smirk playing on her lips as she looks at her computer. It's so reminiscent of the triumphant look she gave me long ago that my body responds before I can control it. I look away immediately, my jaw clenching as I try not to look again.I don't have patients today, but I have a lot of case studies to review after surgery supervision. The surgeries took most of my morni
OliviaThis is a bad idea.I know it and I’ve made up all kinds of excuses, from how it will just lengthen his driving time to how I don’t mind waiting for a cab. But I do mind because I’ve already extended my work hours and my babysitter needs to go home—which leaves me no choice but to accept something I don’t want to accept.Before I can think too much about it, I hop in his car and state my address, then let him do his thing. Noises surround us, a reprieve as we’re distracted by the honks and voices of people trying to get through the rush, too. But my head is a stubborn little thing, eventually catching up as I realize what I’m doing.I’m letting him drive me home. To my house. Where my child is.Panic flares, and I do everything to keep it in. Then I dissect it until it’s obliterated, ending with a strong thought: that just because I let him drive me home doesn’t mean I’ll let him enter my home. It calms me down significantly as we finally get past the main hurdle and are drivin
"Why are you so prideful?"My mouth thins. "I'm just being practical.""It's my goddamn car. I should decide what's practical or not."He's right. I'm a little embarrassed. I'm dictating things and being too paranoid when the man is just being thoughtful, but I can't help it. I'm not ready for that kindness after getting used to the grumpy, arrogant man in the hospital-the one who, while it gets on my nerves, is easier to deal with.The edge in his tone brushes over me until my nerves are frayed, but I hang on to dignity and finally have the semblance not to answer. Thankfully, he doesn't say another word, either.And I can't wait for this damn car ride to be over.When we arrive at my place, the lights on the upstairs windows are turned off and only a dim glow can be seen on the first floor. I sigh in relief. Then I square my shoulders and face Luke."Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it."His eyes sweep over the townhouse. "Nice place."I nod. "My mom's friend owns it. She gave u-me
Luke“Here are the files for the third week, Dr. Jennings.”Olivia’s tone is as polite as ever, but she doesn’t look at me when she hands over the files and trudges away to continue her task. I frown at her back, wondering why she doesn’t even wait for me to say thank you. But then again, it’s another mark to be added to the already long list of wonderings.Why did she go back to being aloof?Why is she pretending the car kiss didn’t happen?Why the hell isn’t anything resolved even if we cleared things up about the phone number issue?“Hey, Luke. Busy?”I turn to James, who’s standing by the office door. He’s a welcome distraction as I gesture him in and we chat about the interns I’ve overseen this week. He asks me about my business, too.“It’s doing good. Better than I expected, honestly, which still always surprises me.”“I don’t know why you’re even surprised. You were like this young genius doctor when you came in here years ago—a man with a drive to do so much more than surgerie
"For pushing things with you when you've repeatedly set up boundaries and just want to prioritize your career. For demanding more than the brilliant work ethics that you've already been giving. It's unfair, especially because you're still new and working under me, and the power dynamics are unequal."Her eyes widen. Understanding sparks in them as she takes a deep breath, too."Luke..."My jaw clenches, liking the sound. Too much. But I lock my reaction in. "And you don't have to call me Luke if you don't want to. Dr. Jennings is fine."Silence."Luke is fine."Shit.Her granting me that derails my thought process, but I will myself to keep going. "I'll leave you alone if that's what you want, too. No personal talk and no personal questions.""Okay.""In fact, I'll never speak to you unless it's related to work."Her mouth parts. "I...okay.""We just need to be cordial to each other, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. There will be no pressure for anything else."Silence, then, "O
Olivia"How is she?"I close the bedroom door quietly and turn to Nancy, Riley's babysitter for the past three months. She's wonderful at it and I've had no complaints. But she's also young, just recently eighteen, and I know the situation rattled her a bit."She's fine. The fever's gone now, actually, and I think it started going down right after you called me." I smile in reassurance. "You did a good job giving her medicine and that warm bath."Nancy eyes my smile, then sighs in relief. "Oh, thank goodness. I was nervous. I don't usually get nervous since I've had plenty of experience babysitting, but I think this is the first time someone had a fever under my watch. Since you're a medical assistant, I thought I should call you and let you know in case it's something more serious.""It's probably just the weather, but I'll monitor her. Don't worry about it. You can go home, Nancy. Same time tomorrow?""Of course."I walk her to the door, appreciating her more for admitting her nerve
OliviaThis is a bad idea.I know it and I’ve made up all kinds of excuses, from how it will just lengthen his driving time to how I don’t mind waiting for a cab. But I do mind because I’ve already extended my work hours and my babysitter needs to go home—which leaves me no choice but to accept something I don’t want to accept.Before I can think too much about it, I hop in his car and state my address, then let him do his thing. Noises surround us, a reprieve as we’re distracted by the honks and voices of people trying to get through the rush, too. But my head is a stubborn little thing, eventually catching up as I realize what I’m doing.I’m letting him drive me home. To my house. Where my child is.Panic flares, and I do everything to keep it in. Then I dissect it until it’s obliterated, ending with a strong thought: that just because I let him drive me home doesn’t mean I’ll let him enter my home. It calms me down significantly as we finally get past the main hurdle and are drivin
"Why are you so prideful?"My mouth thins. "I'm just being practical.""It's my goddamn car. I should decide what's practical or not."He's right. I'm a little embarrassed. I'm dictating things and being too paranoid when the man is just being thoughtful, but I can't help it. I'm not ready for that kindness after getting used to the grumpy, arrogant man in the hospital-the one who, while it gets on my nerves, is easier to deal with.The edge in his tone brushes over me until my nerves are frayed, but I hang on to dignity and finally have the semblance not to answer. Thankfully, he doesn't say another word, either.And I can't wait for this damn car ride to be over.When we arrive at my place, the lights on the upstairs windows are turned off and only a dim glow can be seen on the first floor. I sigh in relief. Then I square my shoulders and face Luke."Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it."His eyes sweep over the townhouse. "Nice place."I nod. "My mom's friend owns it. She gave u-me
- 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