“Well, um, you mentioned IVF during the information session yesterday. Can you tell me how it’s done and how much it costs?”
His eyebrow quirked once more.
“Of course. IVF stands for in vitro fertilization, and it’s a process by which we stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. Then we extract the eggs and fertilize them with sperm of your choice in a petri dish. Once there are embryos, we implant one or two into your uterus. Hopefully, the embryos stick and gestation occurs normally from that point on.”
I nod. I’d known some of this from high school biology, so the summary was fairly clear.
“How much does it cost?” I ventured. “Is it cheap or expensive?”
Chase smiled again.
“It depends on your point of view, I guess. Here in the United States, one round of IVF costs about twelve thousand dollars. But we can’t guarantee implantation on the first try. For most patients, it takes a few rounds of IVF before there’s a viable pregnancy, so I’d budget at least thirty-six thousand for three rounds.”
My mouth dropped open, eyes bugging out.
“You must be joking,” I said hoarsely. “That’s almost like going to college all over again.”
His lips quirked in an amused smile.
“It’s not an inexpensive process for sure,” Chase rumbled. “There are so many stages that require a doctor’s supervision, as well as lab techs, anesthesiologists, and an assortment of personnel. Plus the drugs, sweetheart. You take ovarian stimulation drugs into order to coax your ovaries to produce eggs so that we can harvest a dozen at once.”
“I see,” was my limp whisper. This wasn’t working out the way I intended. The prices were astronomical, and suddenly, it was crystal clear that I didn’t belong at Sunset Medical.
But a girl can try right? So I plowed ahead.
“How about other solutions?” I asked quickly. “Are there medications I can take to improve my fertility? IVF can’t be the only option.”
Dr. Roman nodded.
“Of course. There are certainly drugs on the market that women hoping to conceive take. For example, we can stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs. But there’s more to it than that. If we stimulate your eggs, we still need sperm to fertilize the eggs, and that takes a male partner with whom you’d have regular intercourse. Based on your conversation last night, you’re currently single, right?”
Oh god. My mouth snapped shut as I nodded dumbly.
“That’s right,” came my whisper. “I’m single. So it sounds like IVF is my only option then?”
“For a woman who’s currently single, yes,” said Dr. Roman smoothly. “Plus, don’t forget. The thirty-six thousand dollar estimate only includes our services. You’d have to go to a sperm bank and pay for donor semen there. That’s a separate charge.”
Again, I was dumbfounded. It seemed that my wallet would bleed no matter how I did it. I shook my head, unable to believe my ears.
“So all in all, it could cost something like fifty thousand total?” was my awkward whisper.
Dr. Roman nodded.
“That’s right. Plus, we don’t guarantee success. Some couples do five or six rounds of IVF and costs soar into the six figures. But they say it’s worth it. After all, people will pay almost anything to have a baby.”
The energy drained from my bones because these figures were way out of my league. I still had a hundred thousand outstanding in student loans, and was scrimping by on my secretary’s salary from the accounting firm. How in the world would I be able to afford IVF at Sunset Medical?
The hard truth was that I couldn’t, and I would never be able to. Even if I got a promotion and a raise, I’d still be struggling to make a dent in my student loans. I’d still be eating beans and rice by candlelight in my little walk-up in Hell’s Kitchen. So the ugly reality was that I was a kid in a candy store with no money in my pocket. I could look long and hard at all these expensive solutions, but there was no way to access them.
I was about to get up and leave when Dr. Roman spoke again without moving from behind his desk.
“If you like,” he said offhandedly. “We do have a discount available.”
I shook my head miserably. What would it be? Fifteen percent off? Twenty? Even fifty percent wasn’t going to solve my problems.
“I’m so sorry,” I said stiffly. “I should have done more research before approaching your office because I can’t afford your services. Even with a discount, I don’t think it would be possible.”
The doctor didn’t look surprised at all.
“Sweetheart, don’t look so down,” he said, blue eyes gleaming now. “Hear me out when I say we have a discount that’s especially for you.”
For me? But I shook my head again. That’s what all good salespeople say. They make you feel special in order to lure you into the lair.
“I’m sorry,” was my second apology, “but this just isn’t going to be possible.” Taking a deep breath, I launched into my explanation. “I just graduated from college a couple years back, and have a lot of student debt to re-pay. Plus, the economy’s been down so I haven’t been able to find the kind of job that I want yet. I’m a secretary at an accounting firm and it’s a good job, but nothing to brag about monetarily.”
Dr. Roman’s brows quirked for a moment.
“So what is it that you want to do? You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you’ll find your way.”
I flushed for a moment at the praise before forcing myself to get a grip.
You can’t melt every time he talks, the voice in my head scolded. Keep your wits about you.
So I took another deep breath, summoning my courage.
“Well, unfortunately, you won’t find me very interesting,” I said slowly. “I want to be an accountant. I know CPAs have a reputation of being really dry and boring, but I see beauty in the numbers. I like making everything add up in the end, and finding order in chaos.”
Chase’s eyebrows almost shot off his forehead then.
“So you’re a smart one,” he drawled. “What are you doing working as a secretary?”
I nodded ruefully.
“Well, that’s the thing. I couldn’t find a job as an accountant after graduation so I figured working as an admin assistant at a CPA firm would be the next best thing. Maybe if they liked me, they’d let me move to the business side and work with clients. But it’s been three years now,” I said. “And I’ve yet to do anything other than file papers and make copies.”
The alpha frowned.
“Really? Good managers see talent wherever they go and I’m surprised they’re not utilizing you to your full extent. Especially because you’re obviously young and intelligent.”
My smile was small.
“I’m glad you see me that way,” was my soft reply. “But my boss definitely doesn’t think like you. I think he wants to promote his nephew, so I’m nothing but an assistant in the meantime. Making peanuts, I might add.”
Chase nodded with understanding.
“Well then, maybe you’d be interested in our discount. As I said before, it’s especially for you.”
I sighed, sighing a little with exasperation. There was no way I could afford Sunset Medical, even if they dramatically cut the price. But why not hear his pitch? This might be the last time I ever saw the handsome doctor, so I nodded agreeably.
“Sure,” came my soft voice, meeting those piercing blue eyes once again. “Tell me all about it.”
He smiled and collected his thoughts before beginning.
“Well as I said before, I have a lot of admiration for a young, intelligent woman like yourself. It took a lot to get through school and to bootstrap yourself to where you are now.”
Yes, that was definitely true, even if he hadn’t heard the gory details of eating canned beans by candlelight yet.
“Anyways,” the alpha continued. “Believe it or not, once upon a time, I was in a similar situation. All this that you see,” he said, gesturing to the lavis
h office, “only came after years of hard work. I used to be a penniless resident working long hours for low pay, so I understand what it’s like to walk in your shoes.”
I gulped then, an ache in my throat. It felt so good to have someone who could empathize, especially since Chase Roman was obviously at the pinnacle of his profession now.
“I see,” was my low murmur, tears pricking the backs of my eyes. “So what’s next?”
He cleared his throat. Oh wow, was Dr. McSteamy actually a little bit nervous? It certainly seemed so, although in a flash, that handsome face was calm and composed again.
“I want to offer you a deal,” he said smoothly. “Sunset Medical’s services for free, so long as we can work something out.”
I sat back stunned. For free? This was a gift beyond my wildest dreams. I’d been anticipating a price discount of ten or twenty percent, so to suddenly realize that the services were gratis was an unexpected revelation.
“Free?” I croaked. “But how can you afford it? Aren’t the procedures expensive? All the medications and surgical tools as well? Just like you said,” I wondered, shaking my head with confusion.
Chase nodded in agreement.
“They are, but there’s a way to bypass all that.”
“What? How?” I asked, now truly confused. “I thought you said that even the drugs and sperm donation would add up, not to mention the extraction of eggs and whatnot.”
He nodded again, unperturbed, those blue eyes steady.
“That’s right sweetheart. But we’d bypass it by going about things the old-fashioned way.”
Now I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
“The old-fashioned way? But what does that mean?” I asked. “I thought Sunset Medical was on the cutting edge of reproductive medicine, so what does old-fashioned constitute?”
Dark streaks decorated those high cheekbones, his tanned skin a bit flushed. But still, the handsome doctor was rock solid and his voice calm and collected as he spoke.
“I mean that you and I would go about making a baby the old-fashioned way,” he said in a reasonable voice. “No drugs. No surgical procedures. And sperm donation the way it’s been done for millennia. My cock in your pussy, spurting as we both climax.”
My mouth dropped open, eyes bugging out. He had to be joking. Had to be. There was no other explanation.
But Dr. Roman read my mind and shook his head, eyes gleaming, body suddenly curiously still.
“It’s no joke, sweetheart. It’s a good offer and one that I’m making only to you. So what do you say? Are you in or out?”
My mouth snapped shut then because oh my god, he was serious. The handsome physician actually wanted me to spread my legs for him, moaning and squealing as he put his cock in. Then his sperm would release, finding my fertile eggs, and we’d have a baby together.
Holy shit. I should storm out of here, offended. In fact, I should report him to the medical board for ethics violations. But instead, my pussy tingled deliciously as I stared into his midnight blue eyes. Because Dr. Chase Roman is irresistible … and who am I to say no?
CHAPTER SIX
Chase
To say that Connie looked stunned was the least of it. The brunette’s eyes were as wide as saucers, almost like I’d just suggested that we fly off to the moon together in a hot air balloon. Or if I’d just proposed marriage as a solution to this crazy situation.
Because I’ve wanted to be a dad for a long time, and it was clear that marriage to a woman in NYC was out. The ladies here are too skinny and they don’t have the kind of values that I’d want my children to have. So for me, marriage was a long shot.
But who said that you have to tie the knot to start a family? That’s old school and unnecessary. And seeing Connie again only solidified my desire to be a dad without offering a diamond if it wasn’t necessary.
Because the brunette was perfect. Curvy and round, and a hard worker too. She was someone who wanted to get ahead in life, but somehow the stars hadn’t aligned just yet. Stuck in a boring secretarial job, her choices were limited. But that’s where I come in. As an established professional with money flowing from my pockets, I could make her dreams come true, provided that we come to a workable solution of course. And as I waited, Connie blinked again, her expression confused.
“I’m sorry?” she asked, dumbstruck. “What do you mean when you say ‘the old fashioned way?’”
I smiled silkily.
“What I mean is that I’ll take you the way men take women. You, nude and beautiful, parting your legs. And then I put my cock in your pussy and ejaculate, filling you with hot semen. You did say that you’ve had trouble with guys in the past right? Well sweetheart, say goodbye to your problems because trust me, I can get it up.”
She gasped, and I didn’t blame her. You can’t be more graphic than what I’d just said. But in my decades as a leader, I’ve realized that it pays to be upfront because otherwise, your words get twisted and the entire situation fucked-up.
“Dr. Roman,” she stammered. “Are you serious?”
I nodded coolly.
“As serious as I’ve ever been,” came the words. “I want to have a baby. You want to have a baby. After last night’s interlude, we’re clearly attracted to one another. So why don’t we go about it naturally? I promise, you won’t have fertility problems with me.”
She gasped again, big boobies heaving.
“But Dr. Roman,” she sputtered. “That means we’d have sex! The real thing and not any type of playacting.”
I grinned wolfishly then.
“Yes, absolutely,” I confirmed. “Not just that, but we’d have a lot of it. There’s no time to waste sweetheart, so I’d expect that we’d have sex two or three times a day at least.”
Her jaw almost hit the floor this time. But I could tell Connie was aroused from the flush in her cheeks, the way her breathing was shallow, and how her nipples pebbled against the soft sweater. So I pushed my advantage.
“What do you think, honey? Is this something that attracts you? Does this sound reasonable? After all, you’d get my services for free.”
She blinked again, unable to form any words for a moment. But then the girl nodded.
“Okay, pretend I say yes,” she said on a whisper. “We have a lot of sex and I get pregnant. But what happens then? Do you just take off and disappear?”
I snorted in disbelief.
“Of course not. I want a baby as well, so I’m hardly going to vanish. No sweetheart, pregnant women need sex too. In fact, I’ve heard morning sickness isn’t so bad if you’re having regular sex, so I’d do it to keep you happy and comfortable. Lots of orgasms make for a happy mother.”
Now I was definitely in the gray zone because regular banging helps with menstrual cramps, but it probably wouldn’t do anything for morning sickness other than temporarily distract the female. But hey, I wanted Connie so bad that I was willing to say almost anything at this point.
“Besides,” I asked smoothly. “What do you have to lose? You want to get pregnant and haven’t met a guy who can do it for you. I’m offering myself, and there are a myriad of reasons why I’m an attractive candidate. I have a job, I own my own business, and I’m as rich as Midas.”
She nodded, eyes wide.
“I understand, Dr. Roman,” she said softly. “But after the pregnancy, what happens? What will be your role as the father?”
That was a good question, and I had my reply prepared already.
“We co-raise the child,” I said simply. “We’ll be parents together. The baby will be loved by both his mother and father, and we’ll take turns having the child stay at our respective apartments.”
She nodded, although suddenly her expression grew closed.
“So we wouldn’t be in a relationship,” Connie said carefully. “We’re just friends raising a child together?”
I cleared my throat.
“We’d be more than friends,” was my statement. “And it dep
ends on how you define relationship although no, we probably wouldn’t be in a romantic relationship. I don’t do those. But we’d be in a relationship of sorts, where we co-parent and bring up a child together. So there’s a lot of interaction, even though we’d technically no longer need to have sex.”
She frowned.
“It sounds like I’m more of a womb than anything,” she said slowly. “Kind of like a surrogate who then hands the baby over to you.”
I shook my head.
“Absolutely not,” was my forceful reply. “You’re much more than a surrogate. You’d be a mom, and that’s what I want from you. The child would stay with you half the week, and would call you Mommy. You and I would share in parenting duties. You’d experience the joy of pregnancy, as well as the ups and downs of raising a child. That’s what I want as well,” I said emphatically.
But I could tell Connie still wasn’t convinced.
“But there would be no love,” she said slowly. “No affection.”
I had to be crystal clear about this.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, but that’s right. I’m not built for romance. Besides, the lovey-dovey stuff isn’t real. All those books with Fabio on the cover with his hair blowing in the wind? It’s just make believe. A real-life relationship isn’t like that at all.”
Connie shot me a searching look.
“But how would you know?” she asked softly. “You’ve never been in a real relationship before. You kind of just admitted it yourself,” she said in a gently reproachful voice.
I nodded.
“That’s true, but trust me, it doesn’t take a genius to know that romance novels are pure fantasy. And unfortunately, as a reproductive specialist, I’ve seen just how harsh life can be. Every year, there are dozens of patients who walk away exhausted and disappointed, no closer to having a baby than when they first arrived at my office. So I’m familiar with how heartbreaking real life is.”
Connie took a deep breath, avoiding my eyes for a moment.
“I have to think about it,” she said slowly. “I just don’t know. I want a baby, but this offer is … um, well unconventional.”
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