by M. C. Cerny
Maybe a little dusting outfit for our first anniversary.
What the hell am I thinking?
She steps back like she wants to run and I want to chase.
I definitely want to chase her.
“What do you mean real?” Her arms cross defensively giving me side eye. I’d been around the block enough to know that look.
Is she kidding me?
I get up and follow her until I’m the one leaning in close. Her loose workout shirt slips over her shoulder exposing skin that looks delicious bare. My fingers trail a path over the sharp jut of bone. I let my mouth hover next to her ear close enough that my tongue sneaks a taste of her lobe as I speak softly challenging her, throwing down the gauntlet.
“What I mean Piper is that you give up the sexy time.” I groan. Sexy time? Really? Usually, my English is flawless, but occasionally I say things I shouldn’t translating in my head no matter how long I’ve been here.
I clear my throat trying again. “We continue with marital relations.” Stopping while I’m ahead is a good idea, too bad I don’t follow it. Right now I don’t care how stupid I sound.
“Marital relations?” Her prominent eyebrows arch and I roll my eyes knowing how uncouth I sound. Maybe I should care how I sound? I might have actually blown this whole idea to hell and back before we said I do.
“Piper, I want you. I couldn’t live in the same space as you like a monk just waiting for a divorce.” My hips angle toward her testing her reaction. I don’t even believe in divorce but I don’t feel like having that fight when the rings haven’t been bought yet.
She pants leaning into me, her body melting against mine and I think I’m done for. Her hair shifts and kicks up that floral scent hardening my dick instantly. I grind into her as her small nails pinch the skin of my biceps. I like the sting of pain her hands bring against my body.
“D-dr. Lazare.”
“Milo. We’d be a heck of a lot more familiar than this.”
“D-dr. Milo.”
“Come on Piper, I can’t have my American wife telling tales that I don’t satisfy her–” I kiss the spot under her ear lobe letting my lips press gently teasing the skin, “every need in bed.”
She moans tilting her head back exposing the pale skin of her neck for my taking. I wonder if she will come from words alone. It’s an experiment I’d like to explore further another time as crazy as that sounds.
I nip her neck, my teeth grazing the skin. “Even my home country would repudiate me.” The room feels about twenty degrees warmer and I would love to toss my jacket to the floor and tug her shirt off her shoulder trapping her arms against her and out of my way so I can kiss and suck at her skin.
“You have a dirty mouth doctor.”
“You have no idea.” Pushing her back, her eyes widen, pupils dilate. She licks her lips and I think that maybe, just maybe she wants this as much as I do. I mean, why she would come here and offer herself up to me on a silver platter thinking this wouldn’t go anywhere sexually? I couldn’t marry a woman and do my own thing as she suggested. That would feel like cheating and I took marriage vows seriously.
Celibacy.
I snorted.
“You want my mouth all over you. Admit it. I can see your pulse beat under your collarbone.” I touch her skin lightly, it’s soft as I run a fingertip under the thin strap of her sports bra tugging on it. She shudders. I like the way she fills out her gym clothes with subtle curves.
“Milo.” I kiss everywhere but her mouth. I’m saving that for later when I have time to dive deeper.
“I wish I could strip you bare.”
“Right now? Why?” She squeaks.
“Because the pretty flush on your cheeks must cover your breasts under this shirt indicating a distinct change in blood flow to your more erogenous zones. Call me inquisitive.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Her breathy voice oozes desire.
I chuckle. “Who came to whose office with an outrageous idea to get married?”
“That’s unfair.”
“So would be denying the attraction we feel toward each other, no?” I ask.
“That’s blackmail.”
“Says the woman pimping out her body for medical treatment.” I cough and rephrase. “Figuratively speaking.”
She slaps my chest and I grab her hand playfully. “That is not what this is and you know it.” Her face flushes darker. It’s a huge turn on.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” I’m only half sorry.
“I care about Maisy and Diana seems to think this is the only way to save her.”
“So it’s all Diana’s idea?” I tease.
“Yes. No. Stop trying to confuse me and give me an answer.”
Her lips press together and I want them open, apart and tasting my tongue. “I won’t do anything illegal.” I tell her, although the speed at which she arouses my body makes me reconsider every principal and oath I’ve ever taken.
“We have a lawyer friend, Natalie Croix. Diana works for her as a paralegal. I’ll ask her what we need to do to make this right.”
“Legal and real. We’ll probably have to stay married longer than a year to make sure.” I tap the end of her nose with my finger. She’s cute in a way I hadn’t thought of before, not my usual type if I had one.
“I want Maisy to be in remission.” She’s in my arms and I’m holding her close, close enough her scent makes me a little drunk, and her soft skin makes me woozy to go along with this crazy plan.
“Of course. Besides I can’t practice medicine from jail.”
She thinks about this.
“Right. I love Maisy, but I’d be a terrible Auntie from jail.”
I tip her chin up to look at me.
“I don’t think orange is a good color for you.”
“No? I don’t think it’s good for you either.” Her coy smile makes this troublesome to resist.
“No, not when you blush such a pretty shade of pink.” I tug that lock of hair that doesn’t match the rest and I swear she shivers.
Her hand covers her mouth as she speaks. “So we’re going to do this? For real?”
“For realsies.” I mimic my youngest patients’ words and her head bobs up and down looking anywhere but at me. I hope she’s not having second thoughts. I’ve already had a dozen, and then talked myself out of them. I’m out of options and I don’t bite the hand willing to offer me sustenance. Not yet anyway…
3
Piper
My neck cramps holding the phone to my ear. “So Vegas is out?” I drop my water bottle into my bag getting ready to leave the gym. I find my car keys and swing my bag over my shoulder waving to Jax who is far enough away he can’t hear my conversation while spotting one of his trainees. He’s my best friend who doesn’t know about my plan yet. Guilt weasels it’s way into my head and heart. I’ve told him everything from the time we were five, but this feels different.
“Is that a joke? Please tell me you’re joking. I’m telling you Piper, you can’t go to Vegas or do a quickie wedding if you want this to look legitimate. Those immigration officers are hard asses.” Natalie scolds me. I hear a filing cabinet shut on her end of the call, she’s still at work.
“I’m kidding.”
Once I’m seated inside my car I pick at my nail thinking about my long list of things to do. Milo said we have forty days but it’s been two already so technically we’re on day thirty-eight of the countdown.
“You better be, I don’t need that kind of heart attack.”
“We still need to fill out the application.” Luckily Maryland doesn’t require a blood test to get married. Good thing because I have an appointment with the vampires in an hour to donate blood for Maisy.
“Yes, and then you both wait the mandatory two days before you do it.” Natalie sounds exasperated with me. I’ve been peppering her with a mutiltude of questions the internet couldn’t answer about marrying a non US citizen.
Jesting I say, “Is that the ch
icken shit clause?”
“The what?” Natalie doesn’t see the humor in my joke. I might need to schedule teaching four or five daily pilates and cycle classes to keep the edge off my nerves.
“You know, in case we get the cold feet sort of thing.”
Her sigh makes the phone connection fuzzy. “Are you getting cold feet about this?”
Don’t lie, don’t lie, don’t lie.
Yes, but I don’t tell her that in my pause and essentially lie because all I’ve thought about is Milo’s almost kiss and what the real thing might be like.
“No, I’m good.” Brushing it off was easier said than done.
“Piper, as your lawyer and good friend who happens to practice law, although not this type of law specifically. I highly advise against something like this.”
“We agreed.” I check my mirrors to see if Jax has followed me out to ask what’s wrong. He knows I’m off, I tell him everything but avoiding him for two days is a huge red flag and he’s going to catch me sooner rather than later. I see a large Jax-like body heading for the glass door and I start the car driving in reverse out of my spot.
Delay and run is my new tactic.
“What do you even know about this guy?” Natalie presses.
I know he’s a great doctor, he cares about his patients, oh and he kisses like he’s stealing your soul even though he never touched my lips. I keep that little gem of information to myself.
“He’s a doctor specializing in children’s cancer and research. He’s been great to Maisy and Diana.”
“Is there a contract? Anything on paper? A prenup? I know Isaac can draw one up if you’re worried. Shit we didn’t think about assets we only reviewed the legalities.”
“Natalie thank you, but I think Milo and I can manage. I bet he has more assets than I do.”
“He could have a shit ton of debt, student loans, and who knows what his mortgage is like for his house in Federal Hill.”
“Ugh, did you call a private investigator? It’s been less than fourty-eight hours since I told you about this.” I try to focus driving on the road as I recall both Diana and Natalie’s reactions when I told them right away. Diana was happy shocked. Natalie was less so putting it mildly.
Natalie ignores my question completely. “Pip, you have partnerships with two gyms in two different states.”
“Yeah, and huge loans to cover until we start breaking even. My life consists of working non-stop and visiting Maisy.” I can’t even think about the financial stress of being a business owner right now. Jax and his brother Will Holden have been my friends longer than Diana and this gym expansion is our baby. We’ve been working on building our brand and gym culture getting this off the ground. Those two Holden brothers are going to be pissed I didn’t share this with them. Luckily Will is in Austin and I’ve got Jax, the calmer of the two to deal with.
“You know I’m coming to the wedding just to meet this guy.”
I snort. “Of course you are. It’ll be at the hospital chapel since Maisy can’t leave right after her chemo.” I want to have her as my flower girl. Babies totally distract Natalie.
“How is that sweet child?”
“Awesome. I’m actually I’m my way to donate blood.” When I learned Maisy and I had the same blood type I donate when possible. It’s one of the few things I can do in case she ever needs a transfusion.
“Drink lots of juice.”
“I will. See you soon.”
“Later, Pip.” We hang up and I’m grateful for Natalie’s concern. She pulled in the big guns having her boss Isaac look over any legalities we might need to know about. So far things are a go. Milo and I plan to get together and talk about the details but things have been hectic with both of us working. Our communication has consisted of brief calls betweens teaching classes and seeing patients. Milo is collecting all his paperwork so we can fill out the application at the court house in one shot, but I haven’t seen him since the day I went to his office.
Going straight to the clinic after teaching a class at the gym I realize how silly it is to skip a proper lunch. I’m light headed, fainter than normal and I slide into the wall squeezing my eyes shut. Today I’m definitely feeling off more than usual.
I blame stress.
And a certain hot doctor.
I have plans to hangout with Maisy. Diana is popping over to the office dropping off files for Natalie and meeting us later for dinner in Maisy’s room. We can’t go outside since she spiked a fever and developed a cough they are monitoring with her upcoming treatment. Right now her immune system is weak and there’s little to do except entertain her and keep her in good spirits.
“Piper?” Thick arms wrap around me holding me against a warm chest. My eyelids slide closed as I lean in and smell Milo’s spicy clean scent that’s peppered with the hospital smell. My nose wrinkles. He’s wrapped himself around me holding me up and I have no desire to untangle myself yet.
I sigh into him. “I’m okay.”
“You’re white as paper. Let’s get you sitting down before you fall.”
“Milo, seriously, I’m fine. I just donated blood.” I should have taken the juice they offered instead of trying to leave right away to get to Maisy. Milo is sweet but annoying attempting to boss me around. I’m definitely not used to it. Day thirty-eight I remind myself and we haven’t even tied the knot yet.
“You’re not fine and I’ll carry you if you keep insisting differently.” He’s been difficult since my impromptu proposal. Those short phone calls, if those are any indication of the future, lead me to believe he’s a bossy pants. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Looking up into dark eyes that melt me from the center out I sulk, “Maisy.”
“Maisy is fine playing with a few kids her age in the playroom. I just saw her, her fever is down.” Milo helps me walk and guides me into a small exam room propping me against the table. He opens a drawer and pulls out a few items I can’t see.
“I’m not playing doctor with you.” I don’t admit how good it feels to sit down.
“Not even naughty nurse?” I don’t respond to that and he laughs.
“No.”
“Someone is grumpy when their blood sugar is low.”
“I am not.”
“Really?” Drolly he snaps gloves on.
“Milo.” I’m too tired to argue when he takes my hand.
“Finger.” He follows with a sharp prick pinching my finger. He squeezes blood on to a strip.
“What are you a vampire? I just saw them down the hall.” I howl with pain.
“It didn’t hurt, stop being dramatic.” He rolls his eyes ignoring me.
“If this is your idea of kinky–”
“Shush, Piper.” He waits until the machine beeps. “It’s low. Told you so.”
“Told you so.” I mimic his slightly accented voice. Milo doesn’t think its funny and I clear my throat feeling embarrassed under his censure.
“Drink this juice and sit here for a minute.” His voice is low and a bit domineering.
“I said I was fine.”
“And I said sit and stay.” He wraps the tip of my finger in a band aide. Yup, totally bossy.
“I’m not a dog.”
“No, but the urge to spank you increases with each passing minute.” Whoa! He’s grouching and the comment startles me even though it’s said with a smile. If this is what married life will be like with Doctor Domineering I might have to rethink a few things. Maybe I should call Natalie and ask her about contracts?
I sip the apple juice box trying to not pout. The band aide on my finger is pink with princesses on it and I remember I’m on the children’s floor. He’s sweet, he cares, but if he pricks my finger again I will kick him in the balls.
“Why did you do that?” I stare at the cartoon painting on the wall instead of him directly. I can’t converse with him, his gypsy eyes might hypnotize me and his voice like honey might command me to get naked. I’m not saying no exactly, but y
eah I haven’t fully wrapped my mind around his idea of a real marriage because in a normal world, in a normal situation there would have been dating and all that jazz to proceed this. Oh, and love. We were missing that too.
“Do what?” He hums throwing out the trash in the metal bin.
“Test my blood sugar.”
“Curiosity?”
“Weirdo maybe.” I grump slurping the juice box loudly.
“Habit I guess? Some of the chemo treatments leave other body systems compromised so I’m having to check levels all the time.”
“So you’re not planning on doing this when we get married or anything right?”
He husks, “No, I expect we’ll both want a full workup, you know since this will be a real marriage and all that.”
“Yeah I get that, sex and stuff.”
“I’m assuming you’re on birth control. Or are we planning on using condoms?”
“I’m sorry what?” I gulp the last of the juice nearly choking on it. He takes that and throws out the trash. Now I’m sure I’ve lost not only blood from the vampire sticker, but my mind as well.
“I’m pretty frank about these things.” He stands against the wall watching me. The distance feels like electrical currents jumping between us, or I’m still feeling the effects of donating blood. Either way its disorientating with his warm eyes following my every movement.
“Don’t call me Shirley.” I mumble attempting to put some emotional distance between us by checking out the band aide on my finger with renewed interest.
“Who is Shirley?” Obviously he never saw the movie.
“Uh, never mind.” He won’t get the movie reference to Airplane if I try explaining it and I wonder what it was like growing up in Georgia. Instead I ask, “So sex?”
“Kind of takes the spontaneity away don’t you think if I’m always reaching for a condom?” He steps away from the wall and I put a hand up stopping him. He stays put for all of one second.
“Huh, yeah.” I manage to say watching him move about the room with ease I don’t have. He says this like we’re going to be having a lot of sex. A freak ton of sex. I’m not opposed, its just that this is all new. Up until two days ago I was the logical one, but the table has been flipped upside down and I’m drifting without an anchor.