If i am going to die tonight, at least i’ll have a handsome face as a send-off.
Did i really just think that? Clearly, the panic hadn’t lessened, since i was delirious. Thirty was too young to die; i had so much more life to live. i wanted to visit the pyramids in Egypt, i wanted to learn to swim, i wanted to have an M/M/f threesome, i wanted to run the San Francisco marathon, i wanted to try electro torture, i wanted to pierce my nipples, i wanted to get married, i wanted babies, i wanted to be a soccer mom, i wanted so much. . . .
If it was my time to go, i didn’t want to be alone. The Stranger was comforting, but i didn’t know Him. Shit, where the hell is kisa?
As if on cue, kisa screamed at the patrons to let her through. “Holy shit, micah! Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.” she was a frantic and hysterical mess.
Most people still stood around gawking as everything unfolded. i didn’t like the unwanted attention but there wasn’t much i could do about it.
The handsome Stranger continued stroking my hair while frowning at kisa. He addressed her through clenched teeth. “miss, an ambulance has been called and they’re on the way. your friend seems to be having an asthma attack, and you panicking while I’m attempting to soothe her is not in her best interest. If you want to help, I’m going to need you to get it together.”
Although His tone was clipped and not at all malicious, the piercing look He gave kisa indicated He was serious.
kisa heeded His warning and calmed down, silently sobbing while she held my hand.
“Don’t you die on me, micah,” she said as tears streamed down her face. “i shouldn’t have asked you to come here. This is all my fault.”
Oh geez, i didn’t want kisa to feel like she was responsible for what was happening. my asthma attack could have happened anywhere. Since i couldn’t respond, i squeezed her hand, hoping she knew i didn’t blame her for my predicament.
The ambulance finally arrived and the crowd thinned, allowing the EMTs to pass. The floor seemed to rumble like something mighty was heading straight for me. i caught a glimpse of a yellow-and-black box just before it was placed out of my sight. A man knelt beside my handsome Stranger, but my attention was drawn to the squeak and moan of rubber and metal. i jumped when a gurney fell into my line of sight.
The man to my right took my arm and strapped me to some sort of portable blood-pressure machine. While the device constricted my arm, the EMT asked questions i couldn’t physically answer. my handsome Stranger was ready, though. The EMT raised his eyes from my arm and looked at my Hero. His eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open to utter what sounded like “Doctor Thomas.” The EMT started to say something else, but my handsome Stranger slowly shook His head. Whatever just happened set the EMT back to his task.
Wait, did he say “Doctor” or was that my imagination? i was a wee bit delirious after all.
“Look, don’t ask any questions,” the Stranger directed. “Let’s just stabilize her and get her to Kincaid Metro’s ER. I’ll take over until we can get a pulmonologist to assist.”
kisa looked over to Him, clearly confused. “You’re a Doctor?” she asked.
“I am, and if you’re accompanying your friend to the emergency room, we’ve got to move now.”
It wasn’t my imagination and i wasn’t delirious. He was a Doctor.
Although things could have gone horribly wrong, i felt fortunate that my Hero was a Physician. At least if things took a turn for the worse, He had the training to save my life.
i was lifted onto the stretcher and wheeled out of Spanxxx with kisa and the handsome Doctor flanking me. i saw kisa grab my clutch and blazer and was thankful she had a cool enough head to remember my belongings. The contents of my clutch were sprawled out on the floor, but luckily there wasn’t much of value other than my ID, twenty dollars, and the keys to my apartment. One paramedic hopped into the driver’s seat of the ambulance while the other loaded me into the back of the cab. kisa and the Doctor quickly followed.
Once we were inside the ambulance, the Doctor rifled through compartments. When He found what He was looking for, which turned out to be a small vial filled with a clear liquid, He grabbed pair of latex gloves and a syringe while kisa and i looked on. He put on the gloves before hiking up my skirt, unclipping my garter belt, and rolling my thigh-high down to my knee. He used an alcohol swab to sterilize a portion of my upper thigh.
i knew what was coming next and i was deathly afraid of needles. Despite being told not to panic, i couldn’t help but take frantic breaths.
The Doctor immediately noticed the change in my breathing pattern, and His facial expression registered alarm.
For a big Guy, the handsome Doctor moved pretty fast. He filled the syringe with the clear liquid while the second paramedic grabbed an oxygen mask and fiddled with a few dials.
i tried my best not to get worked up, but i couldn’t stop thinking about the needle that was about to pierce my skin. i glanced up and once again focused on the Doctor’s lips as He spoke.
“This is epinephrine. It’ll pacify your symptoms until we can get you to the hospital. Just continue to breathe through your mouth in short spurts as I instructed,” He said while administering the drug into my thigh.
kisa sat quietly watching it all unfold as the paramedic placed the oxygen mask over my face. The small pinch wasn’t as bad as i’d thought it would be.
i hadn’t realized we’d started moving until the sirens roared to life and the cabin began to sway. The oxygen helped my labored breathing, but danger still lurked, if the way the handsome Doctor watched me was any indication.
Once satisfied that my breathing was stabilizing, the Doctor finally acknowledged the paramedic who recognized Him at Spanxxx. “I’m off duty, Jason. I saw a woman in distress and went to help her. My reason for being at Spanxxx is no one’s business.”
my gaze volleyed between the two men. This was kinda juicy.
The paramedic fiddled with my oxygen and the Doctor frowned at me. i guess in my nosiness, my breathing picked up.
The Doctor patted my arm and left His hand there. The weight of His paw-size hand pressed onto my flesh, sending a warmth through me.
He turned His attention back to the paramedic—Jason—and spoke in a much softer tone. “What I do in My private life is just that: private. I didn’t violate any hospital policies and would appreciate it if you’d respect My privacy by never mentioning to anyone why I’m the admitting Physician for this patient on My day off. If asked, I was taking an evening stroll, saw an ambulance outside the club, and offered My assistance. Are we in agreement?”
Jason nodded. “Yes, Doctor Thomas, I understand. I’ll relay the information to Bobby when get to the ER.”
“Thank you, Jason,” the handsome Doctor replied while glancing down at me, His lips curled upward in a warm smile. If i didn’t know better, i’d think He was flirting . . . but there was no way. i was definitely delirious, but it was a nice thought if only for a moment. His smile definitely seemed a little more than friendly.
i watched the two men move silently and in tandem, attending to my needs while we rode to the hospital. Maybe it was anxiety over my present situation. Maybe i was without adequate air too long. Maybe there was something more than just oxygen coming through this mask. Whatever it was had me thoroughly confused by the time we pulled up to the emergency room.
They wheeled me up the access ramp with kisa and the Doctor following closely behind. Although i was pumped full of adrenaline, my eyelids became heavy as i was pushed through the sliding glass doors. i squinted and blinked to shield my eyes from the bright lights—and that was the last thing i remembered.
her Master
Well, so much for initiating conversation and maybe placing a bid on her at the auction. No better way to break the ice than saving a woman’s life.
her friend had called her micah. micah. An unusual but beautiful name for a female and it fit her perfectly. I soon found out her full name: micah marie fos
ter. I chuckled at her initials, MMF. I’m a dirty, dirty Man.
It really was amazing the things You find out when You have access to a patient’s medical history. I was lucky; micah had been previously treated at Kincaid Metro for a sprained ankle. her gynecologist was also affiliated with the institution. As a Physician on micah’s medical team, I was privy to a wealth of information—some of it desired and some of it irrelevant.
micah was thirty years old—seven years younger than Me—and unmarried with no children. she had never been pregnant; she had had her appendix removed when she was ten; she had no allergies; she was diagnosed with asthma at seven; her blood type was B positive; she last had a pap smear a month ago and an STD panel run a year ago. her parents were listed as her emergency contact, and she worked as an assistant registrar at the Whitney Museum.
Of course, I was the attending Physician for the duration of micah’s three-day hospital stay. Well, I worked in conjunction with a pulmonologist to get her asthma under control and handed off care to My most trustworthy residents when I required sleep or had to leave the hospital. I wanted to be sure she was always left in capable hands if I were ever unable to directly oversee her care.
While she was here, I played it cool. Never once did I breach any boundaries of Doctor-patient rapport, but don’t think I didn’t want to. Professionalism remained at the forefront. I’d wait and feel her out, but I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t let her leave the hospital without speaking with her alone. Once she signed the discharge papers, the Doctor-patient relationship would be severed. I hoped she would be receptive to My offer.
I needed her to be receptive to My offer.
I tapped on the frame of the open door. micah was bent slightly at the waist, putting her things into a hospital bag. The sun shone brightly in the room, making whatever she’d put in her curly hair sparkle like tiny crystals.
she looked up from her bag and made eye contact with Me as I walked into her room. God, she was beautiful.
“Afternoon.” I shoved My hands down into the pockets of My lab coat before I did something unprofessional. “Are you all ready to go?”
she nodded. “Yes, Doctor Thomas. The nurse brought my discharge papers a few hours ago. i was just heading out, but i’m glad You stopped by. i wanted to thank You for Your help.
“i can’t tell You how humbled i am by Your act of kindness. You saved my life, and i will be forever grateful,” she said as her eyes darted around the room, looking everywhere but at Me. she shoved a sweater into her bag with less care than she took with her other clothing.
her words were sincere, but for whatever reason, I must have made her nervous, although I wasn’t sure why. she gathered the plastic bag and her purse before quickly brushing past Me and exiting the room.
This was not how I envisioned things going. I increased My pace and caught up with micah at the nurse’s station. It was all or nothing; I only had a few moments to make an impression.
“ms. foster? micah?” I called out. I composed Myself as I approached her.
she slowed her pace, bid farewell to the nurses, then turned in My direction.
I jumped at the opportunity, unable to wait a moment longer. “ms. foster, I was hoping to speak with you before you left. Once you signed the discharge papers, the Doctor-patient relationship ended. That means I’m no longer your treating Physician and you’re no longer My patient. With that said, I have a question I’d like to ask. Please hear Me out. Don’t take this the wrong way . . .”
her facial expression was unreadable, so I continued.
“I’m not trying to be a creep, but I would regret letting you leave today without at least giving this a fair shot. I sincerely apologize if you feel this is inappropriate or too forward, but ms. foster, I’d love your company for a drink or dinner . . . whichever you’d prefer. Will you allow Me to take you out?”
Waiting for her answer seemed to take an eternity. she didn’t look at My face; instead her gaze landed somewhere around the name embroidered on the left breast pocket of My lab coat. her lower lip found its way between her teeth as she stared, apparently deep in thought. In what seemed to be a delayed reaction, she gawked up at My face, clearly surprised by My question.
Was she put off by the entire idea or just caught off guard by My request? Either way, her answer would let Me know which way she was leaning. I just hoped to God she wasn’t leaning toward no.
she finally provided Me a small reprieve. “You want to take me out?”
“Yes.”
“Like on a date?”
“Yes,” I replied again.
“i’m sorry, Doctor Thomas, but i don’t date,” she said, dismissing Me as she continued to the elevators.
Oh, she was going to make this interesting. her flippant attitude bothered the hell out of Me, but I was going to see this through. I quickly followed in an attempt to catch her before the elevator doors opened and she walked out of My life.
I caught up to her, matching her stride before I spoke in a quiet tone, for her ears only. “I don’t date in the traditional sense, either.”
she immediately stopped walking and whirled to face Me. There was fire in her eyes; My quick retort clearly riled her up.
Atta girl, maintain eye contact, it shows respect. Now I had her attention.
“i’m not sure i understand what You mean,” she replied with tight lips and narrowed eyes.
she actually looked annoyed, which I found endearing. she wanted to make Me work for it? Fine. I could be a good sport. The pursuit was always more fun when it was challenging.
“ms. foster, let’s not tiptoe around the obvious—we crossed paths at fetish club. you and I clearly have a lot more in common than we’re letting on here, but I understand your reluctance. I’m intrigued and asking to get to know you.”
she crossed her arms over her chest as if appraising Me, so I continued. “I’m a Dominant Male seeking a submissive female. The dynamics of the relationship are dependent upon the woman I take as My own and our chemistry. I’m very direct in My needs and desires. I also don’t tend to approach My former patients and ask them out on dates. I keep My professional life and personal life separate. This is the first time they’ve ever overlapped.”
micah leaned forward to press the elevator button before briefly turning away from Me.
Goddamnit, would she display some sort of reaction other than indifference? I enjoyed the pursuit but I needed to know if it was worth My time. micah hadn’t given Me any indication she was interested. her body language made it seem as if I were a nuisance. Still, I wouldn’t drop it until I finished what I had to say.
“D/s isn’t an experimental phase for Me. All I’m asking for is an opportunity to get to know you, so we can talk and see if we have similar desires. Will you please grant Me that?”
her shoulders relaxed. Maybe she was warming up to My last statement. I could only assume her indifference was because she thought I was playing games.
her posture straightened, and she had a curious look about her.
It was clear I caught her off guard but, honestly, I wasn’t interested in beating around the bush. I wanted her to know I was genuine and not like the dickheads she had clearly become accustomed to. I’m sure she didn’t know what to think of Me or My offer, but all I needed was for her to say yes, then everything else would work itself out.
she stood before Me, gazing down at her hands while nervously chewing on her lip. she finally spoke, putting Me out of My misery. “i’m not sure what to make of this, but i’ll keep it simple. Can we start with a drink?”
Now we were getting somewhere.
“Yes, we can,” I replied, pulling a business card from a pocket of My lab coat, quickly jotting down My cell phone number. “Here’s My card, ms. foster.”
“Please, call me micah.”
“Okay . . . micah.” My grin couldn’t be stopped, but I didn’t want to appear overeager, so I reined it in. “My direct line is on the front. M
y cell is on the back. I’m covering shifts this weekend, but I’m off Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week. I’ll be looking forward to your call,” I said, handing her My card before taking My leave.
I glanced over My shoulder; she stood there still biting her lip and staring at the card in her hand. That lip-biting thing was fucking hot. her lips already begged to be kissed, but goddamn, I couldn’t wait to take a bite. I didn’t want to get too excited, but micah was special, I could feel it. My gut had never been wrong about these sorts of things.
micah
i stared at His card. Dr. Richard Thomas, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine.
Richard?
Richard seemed way too formal. i had overheard at least two doctors address Him as Rick. In any case, i could see why He preferred to be called Rick. He looked like a Rick. When i thought of the name Rick, i imagined a jock frat boy i might have crossed paths with back in my college days. This Rick wasn’t too far from that image. i didn’t know about His jock or frat boy status, though i’m sure He possessed some sort of athletic prowess. He looked like He was built for sports.
He was tall, about six-foot-two to my five-foot-three. i was dwarfed next to Him. i had always been attracted to Men who were at least six feet tall. As cliché as it sounds, taller Men represented strength and made me feel safe, secure, and protected.
Every day for three days, i was subjected to the softest blue eyes framed in long, dark lashes. Torture. When He would bend to listen to my lungs, i’m sure i stopped breathing. He’d draw those thick eyebrows together and tighten His chiseled jaw before directing me, in that rumbling bass of His, to breathe deeply.
Now that we had severed our Doctor-patient relationship, He wanted to take me out. i had Him pegged as the type to date models and socialites. i was so far out of my league . . . but He’d said He was a Dom. He had said He wanted me.
Honestly, i found the good Doctor intimidating. From the moment He walked into my hospital room, He had me on edge. i’m not exactly chopped liver, but Doctor Thomas—Rick—was a very attractive Man. You’d have to be blind not to notice, and frankly, i didn’t think someone like Him would be interested in me, which was why i stood dumbfounded when He asked me out.
The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance Page 3
