Of course, there’s another reason why I’m looking forward to the weekend. Thomas. We’re attending the party at my sister’s place, and I can’t wait to see him. I haven’t seen him since midweek, but we’ve spoken several times.
My phone vibrates, and I swipe the screen to read the message from Riley.
I know just the place. Will pick you up in ten minutes.
I text back.
I’ll be waiting.
I turn off my computer and leave my office. I’m glad that we’re going for pizza and not anywhere fancy as I’m dressed in joggers and a tank top. That is my normal dress code Monday to Friday unless I’m going somewhere special.
I walk through the gym, waving to a few clients and chatting with some of the instructors. By the time ten minutes are over, I’m outside waiting for Riley. My mind veers to Thomas as it inevitably does when I’m unoccupied. I muse over his house and how perfect it is for a family. I visualize myself and our baby living there with him. I see lazy Sundays spent frolicking on the expansive fenced-in backyard.
A hoot jolts me to the present, and I’m embarrassed to see Riley’s car right in front of me.
“You were so lost in thought,” she says after we’ve hugged and I’ve snapped on my seatbelt. She grins. “I bet you were thinking about that fine baby daddy.”
“How do you know if he’s fine or not?” I ask her.
“I trust your taste,” she says. “Besides, I’ll meet him tomorrow at your sister’s place.”
“You got an invite too?”
“Not directly,” she says. “The invitation was for Mom and a friend, but she asked me and Leo to go on her behalf. She’s at Noah and Eva’s.”
“My mom will miss her,” I say. I can’t even count the number of years our mothers have been best friends. “That sounds all wrong. We’ll be happy to have you and Leo.”
She laughs. “Relax, there’s nothing in this world you can say that would offend me.”
All of a sudden, I’m overcome by emotion. The realization of how special it is to have that kind of a friend. Tears fill my eyes, and I sniff as a sob tears through me. How many people get to hear the words that Riley just said to me?
There’s nothing in this world you can say that would offend me.
“Cora! Are you okay? What is it?”
I can’t talk from ugly sobbing. Riley stops the car. “I’m getting worried. Tell me what is wrong.”
I manage to stop sobbing and look at Riley. “It just hit me how special our friendship is. When you said there was nothing I could say that would offend you, it just floored me. For the record, I could say the same.”
Riley’s eyes tear up. “I know what you mean. I’ve told Leo how much our friendship means to me so many times that I’m sure that he is fed up now.”
I laugh shakily. “Look at us. This is crazy. We’ve parked the car on the side of the road to cry.”
Riley laughs too, and in the next few minutes, we laugh, although I am sure neither of us remembers what we’re laughing about. She jams the car into gear and guns the engine.
“So where are we going for pizza?” I ask Riley.
“Downtown LA. It’s near the firehouse,” she says.
Leo is a firefighter, and he works in fire station 254. I know this because Riley was a paramedic firefighter before she gave it up to work for an ambulance service.
“It’s owned by the woman who was our wedding planner, Marian Stevens. You remember her?” Without giving me time to respond, she continues speaking. “Anyway, her husband, Declan owns the pizza place. His brother, Ace is a firefighter as well and works with Leo.”
“I can’t keep track of who is who in the station and definitely can’t remember who is related to who.”
“Declan and Marian are the couple I was telling you about who got hitched in Vegas after a drunken night,” Riley says.
The story comes back to me, and I laugh. Apparently, they’d met on the plane and then found themselves in the same hotel in Vegas, unaware that they were there to attend the same wedding. They’d met again at the bar and proceeded to drink together. Then one of them had come up with the idea of getting married. I shake my head as I imagine the horror of waking up to a stranger who just happens to be your new husband. Their story makes me and Thomas look pale by comparison. It’s nice to hear they’re still together.
They are like one big family in the station, and I admire them for that. It’s rare to find Leo and Riley at home during the weekends. There’s always something or another for one of the guys. If not that, then they are out of town visiting Leo’s family, who live on a farm somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Life is tough for us single women. As pleased as you are when your friend finds love, it’s tough because they become scarce. Riley and I are lucky because our jobs are pretty flexible, and we can meet during the week.
She glides to a stop and gets a parking spot right in front of the pizza place.
“You’ll love their pepperoni pizza,” Riley says, and my stomach starts rumbling. Only when we get out of the car and we’re walking to the entrance do I notice how big Riley’s belly has gotten.
“The baby has really grown,” I say admiringly as if it’s all Riley’s doing.
We chat about our pregnancies as we enter the restaurant. I’m hit by the delicious scent of roasting bread. It’s clearly a popular place judging by the ordering queue. Funny that I’m not a pizza fan or indeed any type of junk food, but right now, I can’t think of anything I’d want to eat more. The queue moves fast and, in a few minutes, it’s our turn to order.
We find an empty table, settle in, and wait until our order is ready. Riley carries the pizza, and I carry our bottles of water. For the next five minutes, the only sounds that come from our table are the crunching of teeth.
“I feel human again,” Riley says.
“Me too.” I take a gulp of water and eat the next slice of pizza more luxuriously now that the initial gnawing hunger has been abated.
“How long is your mom going to be away?” I ask Riley.
“Might be a while. She’s gone to take care of Eva.”
My heart skips a beat “No. Did she?” I ask, not even daring to say the words.
Riley smiles, and I let out a breath of relief. Her brother and sister-in-law have had issues with fertility in the last couple of years, but Eva is now pregnant.
They used to live close by, but they moved south of the state a year ago.
“The doctor has put her on bed rest, so Mom’s gone to help them.”
My mom was that mom a couple of months ago, and if anyone had asked me if she would help me with the baby, the answer would have been a resounding yes. The way she is now, I’ll be lucky to get a visit. She’s been coming to the gym, and I’ve seen her with Ian a couple of times, but I’ve chosen to ignore it. He cannot be serious. Mom is at least thirty years older than him.
I bet Riley’s mom would have knocked some sense into her. Mom’s hobbies used to be gardening and knitting. Not flirting with men young enough to be her kid.
I tell Riley all these things, and she urges me to let it go.
“It’s never that serious. Let her have fun; she’ll come to her senses.”
I’ll try and relax about my mother. I seem to be the only one worrying, so obviously I’m the one in the wrong.
***
I swear I’ve changed outfits three times. I feel squashed as if the dress’s material is too snug on my belly, which doesn’t make any sense as I haven’t gained any weight. I don’t look remotely pregnant. No rounded belly. Nothing. On the third try, I stand in front of the mirror, unable to decide if the beige shift dress is too short. The ringing doorbell is what saves me from trying on another dress.
I buzz Thomas up, and when he gets out of the elevator, I’m at the door and ready to leave. I don’t see his face at first because he’s holding a big bouquet of roses. My sense of smell has gone haywire, but this time, I’m grateful for it as
floral scents waft up my nose.
“You look beautiful,” Thomas says, his voice hoarse and seductive. “These are for you.” He hands me the elegantly wrapped flowers.
“Thank you.” I’m breathless as I take the flowers from him, and I have to admit, thoroughly touched. I can’t remember the last time I got flowers from someone. Plus, we’re not dating, and there’s no obligation to be extra nice. “I’ll take them inside, and then we can leave.”
I push the door open, carry the flowers to the kitchen, and fetch a vase. Thomas follows me into the kitchen, and as I’m arranging the flowers, he slips his hands around my waist.
He nibbles my neck, and I let my body slack against him. A sigh escapes my lips as all sorts of sensations travel from my neck to the rest of my body. Thomas’s hands move up my body to cup my breasts over my dress. An urgent need to kiss him comes over me, and I turn around and tip my head to welcome his kiss. Time loses meaning as we make out against the kitchen counter.
Then he breaks the kiss, and when I open my eyes, my heart pounds hard as our gazes meet and hold. Thomas has one hand cupping my cheek, and he caresses my face. He wears an expression that I cannot read.
“You are the meaning of the word temptation,” he growls before taking my hand and leading me out of my apartment.
The air is still charged in the car as we head to Adeline’s place. We are already late as the party was supposed to start at 2 p.m. It is now a quarter past. Adeline is a stickler for time, and I know that Thomas and I will get her scolding. She treats everyone as if they’re her twins, but the make-out session was worth it. My body is still tingling from desire, and I can’t wait for the party to be over, and Thomas and I can return home. That’s a silly thought to have considering that we haven’t even gotten there.
“What?” Thomas asks, an amused tone in his voice.
I hadn’t realized that I had chuckled out aloud. For some reason, the truth stumbles out of my mouth. “I was thinking that I can’t wait for the party to be over so you and I can go back home to finish what we started.”
Thomas hisses. “Fuck, Cora. You know exactly what to say to make a man feel like he has been punched in the belly. We can turn back now. We can skip the party.”
I giggle. “And what shall I tell Adeline?”
“You can tell her that I had an emergency procedure and that you were my nurse.”
I burst out laughing. The sexual tension eases as we move on to other topics. Adeline lives in the suburbs in the kind of home every woman dreams of raising her family in. It’s surrounded by a lawn so thick and soft you could confuse it for a mattress.
As we cruise down the semi-circular drive that stops in front of the house, it hits me how much my sister’s place reminds me of Thomas’s place.
“We’re here,” Thomas says and kills the engine.
A few minutes later, my belly is in knots as we walk up to the front door, anticipating the scolding that we’re about to endure. Thomas rings the bell, and while we wait, his gaze sears my body.
The door opens, pulling us out of the haze of desire surrounding us. It unbelievable the things that he makes me feel with just a look.
Adeline stands at the door, but instead of the irritated look I was expecting to see, she looks as if she has just received shocking news. “Hi, Thomas. Welcome.” She flashes him her fake smile and then turns to me. “Can I see you for a sec?”
She takes my arm and pulls me out, shutting the door behind us. I can’t think what could be so urgent that it cannot wait until later.
“What?” I ask her.
“It’s Mom!” Adeline hisses even though no one can hear us. “She’s gone nuts. She’s wearing the most inappropriate clothes. She’s wearing a see-through skirt and a tank top that’s showing her stomach. It’s embarrassing.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You told me that she’s just having some harmless fun.”
Adeline continues like I’ve not spoken. “And she brought that guy from your gym, and she’s introducing him as her boyfriend. My parents-in-law are here. I want the ground to swallow me!” Misery coats her voice, and I feel sorry for her. I know how she feels.
“You have to do something,” Adeline says.
“Like what?” I cry out and then immediately realize how unhelpful that is. I soften my tone. “Listen, there’s nothing we can do now. Maybe we can all stage an intervention later, make her see sense.”
Adeline nods frantically and then takes deep breaths. “Okay. I can get through this evening. As long as you’re here.”
Chapter 12
Thomas
Cora is quiet on the ride home. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She lets out a loud sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine.” After a beat, she continues talking. “No, I’m not. It’s my mom. How could she have thought that it was okay to dress like that and bring Ian with her?”
“She clearly did think it was okay. You shouldn’t let it bother you too much. I have an aunty who went through a similar stage about the same age.” I chuckle at the memories. “My cousins ranted and involved all of us to try and talk some sense into her, but nothing worked. She didn’t care what anybody else thought.”
“What happened?” Cora asks.
“Nothing. She stopped all by herself long after everyone stopped nagging her.”
“I don’t think my mom will stop,” Cora says. “We’ve decided to stage an intervention.”
I squeeze her knee and continue driving. It’s not my place to convince Cora of the futility of trying to control a grown-up’s life. I guess some things you just have to learn for yourself. “I like Riley and her husband. They’re good people.”
Cora smiles. “Yes, they are.”
The change of topic works, and soon she’s chatting away and laughing, her good mood restored.
We get to her place, and when I turn off the car, instead of getting out, I snap open my seatbelt, lean toward her, and cup her face. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you all evening,” I tell her before kissing her. No. Make that devouring her. She tastes like honey, and her lips melt into mine so that I can’t tell where they end and mine begin.
I caress her cheeks, and she scrapes her fingers through my hair. She makes little groans that make me want to strip her naked without a care of who sees us.
Cora draws back. “Let’s go upstairs.” Her voice is dripping with need.
“Good idea,” I growl. We reach for our respective doors simultaneously and get out of the car.
I take her hand, and we walk to the elevator. I’m glad there are no people around as my dick is obscenely hard, making a spectacle of itself in the front of my pants. In the elevator, I pull Cora against me and dry hump her. I brush my lips against her soft ones, but before we can get into it, the elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open.
Anyone watching us would think that Cora and I are going to put out a fire. We hurry to her front door, and she hands me her keys. She strokes my cock, and I let out a groan and get the wrong key on the first try. I warn her, “If you keep that up, we’re never going to get inside, and I desperately need to eat you.”
Cora grabs the keys from me and opens the door. She kicks off her shoes and drops her purse on the floor. I’m hot on her heels as she walks down the hallway. She removes her clothes as she walks, and I take her cue and unbutton my shirt. My pants are next, and I almost trip as I try to get them off and walk at the same time. Cora is down to her bra and panties when we reach her bedroom, and I’m down to my boxer briefs.
She comes into my arms, and as soon as our skins touch, I feel as though I’ve been lit on fire. I cup her ass and squeeze it. Our mouths find each other, and I thrust my tongue down her throat.
I want to touch every part of her. My hands roam over her back, and when I feel the straps of her bra, I snap it open. I push her breasts together and lower my head to take a taut nipple into my mouth. I tease it with my tongue and graze it gently with my teeth. I thumb the other nipple and then swap places
and suck the other one. Her nipples have become bigger, a perk that comes with pregnancy. It fills my mouth and becomes even harder with every flick of my tongue.
Cora’s cries are music to my ears. I could come just from the moans and twists of her body.
I’ve always imagined if I had sex with a pregnant woman, I would not be able to switch off the voice of my profession. With Cora, it’s crazy that I don’t even remember that I’m a doctor. All I care about is pleasuring her and discovering more of the sensitive parts of her body.
I kiss her belly, hook two fingers on the hem of her panties, and pull them down her curvy hips.
“I want you on the bed,” I tell her. I swat her playfully on her gorgeous ass as she moves to the bed. She lies on her back, and I push her legs apart and lie between them. “I love your scent, babe.” I nudge her thighs further apart and pause for a moment to take in the sight of her pussy gleaming with juices.
Cora raises her hips. “Eat me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I swipe the length of her slit with my tongue, gathering all her pussy juices with my tongue and swallowing every drop. I lose track of time as I lick, suck, and fuck Cora with my tongue and fingers. I pleasure her until she explodes with an orgasm, but even that doesn’t satisfy my insatiable baby mama. She hooks her hands under my arms and pulls me up. She doesn’t need to tell me what she wants. I want it just as bad.
I get into a kneeling position, hold the base of my cock, and guide it to her sweet entrance. Any other time I would take the time to tease her but not tonight. I’ve been craving her all night, watching her talking and laughing and walking.
I press the head of my cock into her pussy and then plunge into her in one thrust. Cora cries out as I fuck her over and over again. Rivers of sweat drip down my face. Her inner walls clench the length of my cock, milking me with every thrust and withdrawal. I support myself with one hand, and with the other, I find her clit, and I rub it rhythmically.
One Hot Doctor Page 8