“What exactly do you do to help these people? You alluded to developing plans when you were in my office.”
“Ah, yes, my appointment in your office. I remember you getting a bit hot under the collar actually when I mentioned the intensity of some situations I have encountered,” Annie teased.
There was a spark of emotion in his eyes as his expression grew serious. His jaw was set in a hard line. “I distinctly remember you saying something about people throwing things at you, Annie and, yes, this did get me ‘hot under the collar’ as you say. I don’t like the idea of you being harmed in any way.” His voice was low, but forceful.
Annie’s stomach dropped at the ferocity of his statement. That image of Thomas as a lion popped into her head again. So regal and stately, but fierce when provoked. She was not sure how she felt about the protectiveness he displayed in regards to her job, but she tried to see it from his perspective. The conclusion she drew was that he cared and that revelation was even more jolting. It had been far too long since another person cared about her in such a vigilant way.
Unsure how to respond, Annie side-stepped around his last statement. “To answer your question about my work, I help identify the behaviors that interfere with a person’s ability to live independently and within the confines of social norms. Ultimately, I try to determine what purpose the negative behavior serves for the person and develop a plan to reshape that behavior using positive reinforcement techniques. In a nutshell, I develop and subsequently train staff in the implementation of behavior plans.” Annie paused, then added, “I hope that does not sound too clinical an explanation.”
Thomas noticeably relaxed, sitting back in his chair. Taking a sip of wine, he responded. “No, not too clinical at all, Annie. In fact, I love listening to you talk about your job. It is undoubtedly your passion. Your commitment is quite commendable and your clients are very fortunate to have you on their side.” He nodded his head. Moments of silence passed until Thomas spoke again.
“I am sorry if I offended you, Annie. It was not my intent, I can assure you. You… you bring out my protective instincts. You have since the first day I met you. It’s not very rational, given we don’t know each other very well, but I cannot deny the intense feelings I have toward you.” Shaking his head, he added, “I recognize that you might identify my protectiveness to be more along the lines of caveman, but it is genuinely how I feel… about you.”
Annie sharply inhaled, absorbing the unexpected forcefulness of his words. “I appreciate your honesty, Thomas. I must admit I was a bit surprised at your reaction. But I do understand what you mean by intense feelings. I have them too. About you.” She whispered as if it were a secret. Thomas smoothly reached for his wine glass. His lips sensuously sipped, looking almost as if they were caressing the crystal. Annie envisioned those lips on her. She wanted to confirm he tasted as good as he looked. She knew without question he did, but wanted to be thorough in her appraisal.
“You take my breath away, Annie,” Thomas crooned, adding, “I am elated to hear you say your feelings are similar.” Thomas leaned in close, fingers tracing circles on the back of her hand. Annie noticed the elegant gold watch on his wrist. She was bowled over by his honest disclosure and equally astounded at her own confession. Normally Annie was a thinker, ruminating over just the right thing to say at just the right time. Rarely spontaneous or impulsive, her admission was uncharacteristic; however, for once in Annie’s life, she did not care. It was a true and honest response from her heart.
Her skin tingled, not only on her hand, but over her entire body. It was sizzling from the heat of her desire. His blue eyes held her prisoner, intensity reflected with a simmering potency. “Wow, this is getting heavy. I think we need to lighten things up a bit, don’t you?” Annie’s voice was shaky. A few more minutes and the erotic charge in the air would ignite, consuming them both in flames.
Thomas sat back, looking relaxed and comfortable. “I agree. Our conversation has taken a serious turn and it might be best to postpone further discussion on that particular topic until we are alone.” The tone of his voice grew serious. “But make no mistake, Annie, I wish to return to it at a more opportune time.” His expression was contemplative. “Now, please, tell me more about human services. I seem to recall a recent article in the paper about funding cuts to disability services.”
Annie exhaled the breath she was holding, happy to return to a topic she never tired of. “Oh, it’s a never-ending struggle,” she explained, feeling confident on solid footing. “A constant challenge trying to get people in society to understand that the disabled are the most vulnerable citizens in our communities. Many of the people I work with cannot communicate, so they rely on staff such as myself to advocate on their behalf. It’s an exhausting and frustrating battle.” Annie placed her fingers to her lips, in a gesture of abashed awareness. “I’m sorry, I get extremely worked up about it and drone on and on. I’m sure you don’t want to hear any more of my soapbox,” she said, adding, “Goodness, it’s too early in the evening to run out of topics of conversation.”
Thomas let out a boisterous laugh. “I am certain that is not the case. I have only just begun to uncover the fascinating mystery that is you, my dear Annie.” He raised his wine glass before taking another sip. Again, Annie watched as his lips touch the glass, wishing his lips were on her. All over her body.
Annie was taken with his well-spoken ease. “I’m not a mystery at all, Thomas. Believe me. Now, enough about me. Please, Thomas, tell me more about yourself.” Annie reached for her wine glass and, before she could pick it up, Thomas silently and expertly poured more wine from the bottle they shared, already half empty.
Smiling, she savored the delicious, slightly sweet Riesling. As she carefully observed his posture and expression, Annie had no doubt that Thomas would be an outstanding lover. He was so attentive to her needs, and he had those long, perfectly manicured, skilled fingers that would, in all likelihood, have no difficulty reviving her long-suppressed libido.
Thomas pulled her out of the provocative thoughts. “Well, I’m a surgeon… as you well know.” He winked and paused. Thomas eagerly explained the path that led him to a medical career and his passion and personal satisfaction at making people well. He thrived on the challenges of his profession, especially the intricate nature of surgery and demanding requirements to stay abreast of the latest research and procedures. He also mentioned the gratifying aspect of being in charge when in the operating room. “I like being the ultimate decision-maker and having people follow my orders.”
The statement was so provocative and it turned Annie on, ratcheting up her sexual desires. She recalled his blatant admission… he was a man in control of his destiny and of others. Goodness, everything about him is sexy. The way he looks, talks, acts. She wondered what it would be like to sleep with him. Have his cock buried deep inside of her, penetrating and marking her as his. She feared that Thomas could smell her arousal, cognizant of the brand new pretty panties now drenched from her juices. She felt an involuntary clenching down low in her belly. She desired him and that scared the hell out of her. Thomas was not like any other man she had ever encountered.
Somehow, over the course of the conversation, it veered in a completely different direction. Thomas asked her several getting-to-know-you questions as they developed a light banter back and forth. She shared that her favorite book was a tossup between Jane Eyre and Little Women. Thomas declared that his was either The Great Gatsby or David Copperfield.
Finishing dinner, they enjoyed coffee and dessert, splitting a decadent piece of chocolate mousse cake. Annie enjoyed eating the last, scrumptious bite. Thomas offered it, holding his fork up to her mouth. His expression was dangerous, his eyes solely focused on her lips. It was an intensely intimate gesture that reminded her of the ice chips and Chapstick in the hospital. I think my panties just caught fire.
After covering the favorite book category, naturally their conversation eventually led to disc
ussion about favorite movies. Laughing, an amused Annie spoke. “I can’t believe one of your favorite movies is Willy Wonka. I would have guessed your interest to be more along the lines of James Bond.”
“Laugh all you will, my dear Annie, but I stand by Willy Wonka. It’s a great movie,” he retorted enthusiastically.
“The original or the remake?” she inquired.
Thomas made an exaggerated gesture of horror, hands on his face in perfect rendition of Edvard Munch’s famous painting, The Scream. “By God, the original of course. The remake is a sacrilege. To even suggest an affinity for the inferior modern version makes me want to take you over my knee.” The suggestive tone in his voice left no doubt that, if given the opportunity, he would give her an old-fashioned spanking, just like in her dream.
Annie’s eyes widened in shock at his threat, but she quickly composed herself, not acknowledging his words, nor the precipitate effect they had on her. “I like that movie too, but it’s not my favorite. I happen to be a fan of the Twilight series, so those movies would be classified as my favorites. I’m partial to the books too. I finished all four in the series all at once one snowy winter weekend. I couldn’t put them down.”
Chuckling, he asked, “What is it with women and vampires?”
“Vampires are sexy,” she answered in a suggestive voice. So are you!
“Ah, I see. Well, I cannot say that Willy Wonka is sexy,” he grimaced, “but I still consider it to be a great movie.”
“What is it that appeals to you? Is it the idea of winning a lottery? Or the themes related to having faith and imagination?”
“Interestingly, Annie, there are many who believe that the story is meant to have a religious overtone. It’s quite controversial actually from what I have read. That argument may be valid, but, for me, I like the theme of facing the consequences of one’s actions and the concept of forgiveness.” Thomas raised his eyebrow suggestively.
Annie was at a loss for words. Her heart was pounding at the inference. Her body’s response was primal. She pondered his statement, finding it interesting he should hone in on the theme of consequences. Is he trying to tell me something? she thought, a bit shaken at the sudden detours he kept taking in their innocuous topics of conversation. It kept her unsettled and on edge.
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas added, “It also appeals to the kid in me—you know, kid in a candy store? Literally.” As if he could sense her discomfort, Thomas changed course yet again. “So Annie, fill me in on the details of your ill-fated cruise. It’s fascinating to me that you would travel across the ocean alone. How did that come about?”
Annie did not know quite how to answer that question. “Long story short, I always wanted to travel, but never took the time to do so. I reached a point in my life where I decided that I wanted to experience the things on my ‘bucket list,’ not come to the end of my life regretting that I did not have the courage to enrich my life. The problem I faced around the cruise, as with most things was that I had no one to accompany me. So that is why I went by myself.”
“No friends or family to join you?” He keeps inquiring about family. That was a topic that Annie had no desire to touch upon, but she had to give him something. If for no other reason than to ease his curiosity.
“Most of my friends are married with families of their own and had neither the means nor the time to set sail with me. Obviously, I am single with no children.” Annie knew that Thomas heard the pain in her voice and most likely saw the grimace flash across her face. It was so hard for her to talk about her childless status. Thomas was looking at her with sympathy, but kindly overlooked her obvious angst as she continued. “I have a few close girlfriends, but none of them had the ability or desire to go on a fourteen-day adventure with me.” She paused, then took a deep breath. “And as far as family goes, I don’t have much and I’m really not close with those I do have.” Annie squirmed uncomfortably.
Thomas regarded her thoughtfully. “Interested in anything else? More coffee perhaps?” Annie was grateful he did not press further.
Annie groaned. “Not after that dinner and such a rich dessert. It was delicious, but I’m so stuffed. It’s late too. I need to go to bed soon.” She clarified, embarrassed, “To sleep.”
With an affirmative nod of the head and sly smile, Thomas announced, “I’ll get the check then.”
* * *
Upon arriving back at her home, Thomas insisted on opening the car door and walking Annie up the path to her house, despite her protest. “My mother would be horrified if I did not act like a gentleman and see you safely in your home, Annie,” Thomas offered. He held his hand firmly at the small of her back, just above the start of her curvy bottom. Thomas felt his dick twitch and wished he could slide his hand lower, but knew that it was not good timing to test the waters further.
It had been an enjoyable evening, and he was glad he had gotten to know Annie. He really liked her and wanted to see her again; therefore, he felt it prudent to end on a positive note.
Thomas had no qualms about being a dominant. He had always been this way, needing control over women, exerting a domineering attitude from his earliest dates. He had entered the world of BDSM through a local club where he developed and refined his tastes. He always enjoyed playing a scene with a willing submissive and considered that type of relationship as one he would always need and desire.
But Annie was the first woman for whom he felt… more. His desire to dominate her was still there, but for the first time Thomas wanted to pursue a romantic relationship. He wanted to connect with Annie in a ‘vanilla’ way. He could visualize walking on the beach with her, sending her flowers, and being part of her life. He’d want to dominate her sexually, but that need was secondary to his romantic interest. He wanted her and would make it his mission to actively pursue her.
Reaching the door, Thomas held his hand out. “Please allow me.” Annie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Your keys,” he clarified.
Annie looked a bit surprised, but silently handed her keys over to Thomas. He proceeded to unlock the door. Sensing her unease, Thomas handed her keys back. She took them in her right hand as he grasped her left, bringing it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles with soft, baby kisses, then he brushed his lips ever so lightly over the smooth skin of her hand. Her scent was sweet and pleasing, like cherries and almonds.
After a few sensuous moments caressing her hand, Thomas looked up directly into her eyes as he straightened. “Annie, I had a wonderful evening and I thank you for your company. You are very lovely and engaging and I have not had such a pleasant conversation in a long time, nor enjoyed anyone’s company as thoroughly.” He kissed her hand again, then continued. “As it stands, I have an early day tomorrow so I really should head home. But I would love to see you again. Would you like to join me for dinner tomorrow evening?” He warmly smiled at her, hopeful she would agree.
Thomas was mesmerized by her big brown orbs. He could see joy reflected in them and was happy when she answered, “I’d love to have dinner with you again, Thomas. I had a great time tonight too.”
Nodding his head in satisfaction, his smile widened in approval. “Great. Seven o’clock work for you?”
“Sure. You don’t mind picking me up again?”
“Not at all. It would be my pleasure.” He softly kissed her hand once more, then leaned in to kiss her cheek. God, she smells good. Definitely like cherries. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispered in her ear.
“Tomorrow,” she repeated. Annie opened the door and stepped inside the foyer, then turned to face Thomas.
“Make sure you lock yourself in as soon as you close the door.” His face was grimly serious, his tone unquestioningly demanding. It was not a request and he waited expectantly for her to follow through with his command.
Annie looked startled at first, then indignant. Firm and unrelenting, he continued to hold her gaze. She might think it forceful, but Thomas was not about to back down. Her safety was importan
t to him and he was determined to gain her obedience. Eventually, the tight line of her mouth softened, resignation registered across her face. The play of so many emotions on her face in such a brief timespan had Thomas mesmerized and besotted. “I will. Thanks again, Thomas. I had a great time tonight.”
He nodded his head. “As did I, Annie. Good night and sweet dreams.” Thomas waited in place until she closed the door and he heard the lock turn. Good girl. Satisfied, he walked back to his SUV.
Driving home, he had a smile plastered on his face and he could not suppress it if he tried. His mind wandered to thoughts of Annie the entire ride home, determining that she was perfect for him in so many ways. He thoroughly enjoyed her warm and witty personality. He was attracted to her intellect and passion. Her vulnerability brought out his alpha-male tendencies. Her reactions to those moments when he let his dominance show were perfectly submissive. She was the whole package, everything he could want. Wrapped up in a sexy, lightly freckled redhead.
Thomas knew that his attraction to Annie was intense and he feared that she may not be as submissive as he suspected. If that were the case, then it would be difficult for him to pursue her. Being a dominant was as natural as breathing to Thomas. His need to control and possess a woman had always been strong, but never had he felt such a complete need to dominate a woman as he did Annie.
If Annie were his, the things he would do to her, show her, and experience with her would be purely divine. He knew her spirit was as hot and feisty as that flaming auburn hair that sat thick and straight on her shoulders. She would challenge him and his need to exert control over her and he would meet that challenge head on and, in the end, conquer her. He would teach her that to be conquered did not mean she was defeated; rather, it would be an ascension of her soul to be free. To be his.
Her Dominant Doctor Page 6