Pt. 04: The Illusion of Innocence.
On Monday morning, it struck Jon that he was actually glad to go to work. He still wasn’t loving the clinic by any means, but he had gotten used to it, and more importantly it meant getting away from Elaina. It meant getting out of their house and out of her overbearing reach.
Beth’s face and smile were like a breath of fresh air. The roster of patients looked like a nice do-able challenge to take his mind away from the rest of his life. He focused on his work and stayed in the moment, at least for most of the day.
Whenever his mind slipped away it kept dwelling on the downward spiral his relationship seemed to be in. They kept arguing more, getting fed up with each other again and again, and attempting to address it only made Elaina try to assert more control. This was supposed to be the time when you were most in love, and most excited about your future, and they were already like an old bickering couple. How much worse could he let it become before he did something? Could he even bring himself to do something?
He thought back to the night before and shook his head at himself. The sex always felt good, and a part of him did enjoy being dominated to some degree, but it was getting out of hand. It wasn’t just bedroom play, she really was trying to control his behavior and even his thoughts, with her body. There was no trust, there was no reassurance that it was just a game. It WAS a game he supposed, but a very real one that she was playing more and more.
He couldn’t help doubting how legit his concerns were though. He knew men would die to spend a night with a woman as beautiful as her, and so what if she had a control kink…
“Jon!”
He suddenly broke from his daydreaming to look over at Beth.
She giggled at his startled surprise, “Phone call, line 3….I’ll grab you a coffee K?” she said, and smiled endearingly as she walked away.
He picked up the phone.
“Hello, Dr. Davidson here.”
“Hi Jon,” Carly’s voice replied. It was just two words, but he felt that he sensed a nervous friendliness to her voice. Two words and he was suddenly in a different world entirely.
“Hi… How are you doing Carly?” he replied, reflecting the same nervous friendliness back at her, despite himself.
“I’m good,” she said, and gave a tiny cough. “How about you?”
“Oh, busy enough, but nothing I can’t handle,” he said, trying to sound casual, then worried it sounded cocky.
“Well look how far you’ve come,” she said more playfully. “Guess you don’t need me to reassure you these days, hey?”
He laughed, “I mean, I wouldn’t mind a bit every now and then.”
She laughed back, “K. Well don’t let this erode that confidence, I kinda like it… but, um, today I gotta give you some awkward news that one of your patients hasn’t been exactly forthcoming with you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah Mrs Foster has only been taking her thyroid pills ‘as needed’ whenever she starts to feel ‘down’. Yeah… I know. She said she didn’t want to tell you cause she likes you so much and she didn’t want to upset you.”
Jon chuckled, “Damn, I guess a good rapport can backfire.”
“Yep, you’re just too damn lovable,” she giggled. “I only found out by accident, cause I asked why she didn’t want more dispensed at once, and she suggested it would last her way longer than a month and… yeah, I eventually got it out of her.”
“Well thanks for catching that,” he said. “Did you explain to her she needs to take it daily?”
“Oh yeah, I think I got through to her eventually, that it’s not cool to just take it whenever like that, and her body doesn’t work that way, and she agreed to follow your instructions now, though she still insisted she could ‘feel’ her levels like, down to the hour, so she had this tea she was drinking that she thought would help and only took the pill if she didn’t feel better after a little while and…”
Jon chuckled again, “Honestly, that kind of thing doesn’t even surprise me at this point, I’m just glad you caught it and talked to her.”
“Yeah no worries, but I wanted to hold off on the dose increase you just wrote, since she hasn’t really been taking it,” Carly said.
“Oh yeah of course. Thanks Carly. I don’t think we had gotten up that high on it yet thankfully, so I don’t think I’ll lower it further, but we’ll check her labs again after a while,” Jon said.
“Okay. I warned her about the actual symptoms to watch out for if she’s suddenly getting too much of it.”
“Perfect.”
A few seconds of silence.
“That album you linked to me was killer by the way,” Jon finally said.
“I KNOW right?!” Carly said excitedly.
“Yeah the trumpet being in there threw me off a bit at first, cause it’s not usually my thing, but it just works. It adds a punch, it’s funky. I love it,” Jon said, leaning back in his chair with a wide smile and tapping his pen on his knee.
“Aaahh exactly! Actually my first listen I wasn’t completely sold cause it was pretty different from their other stuff, but now I can’t stop playing it.”
“I’ll have to check out their other stuff too. Thanks again for that,”
“Yeah no problem….It’s better on vinyl by the way,” she said teasingly.
“Psshhh of course you’d say that,” he teased back.
“IT IS! I’ll have to prove it to you sometime.”
“You inviting me over then?” he said, before even realizing what he was saying.
A few more seconds of silence, as his smile turned into a cringe, then he heard her sigh.
“I better get back to work, Mrs. Foster’s still waiting.” she said, still with a friendly tone, but obviously reigning herself in.
“Yeah no worries. It was great talking to you Carly,” Jon said sincerely.
“You too. I’ll catch you later.”
“Yeah, uh, this Saturday at the Hospital shin-dig I guess right?” he said, hopefully.
“Yeah… I’m looking forward to it. See you there,” she said softly
“Bye,” he said, and hung up the phone. Suddenly feeling the best he’d felt in a while.
They had still chatted with the occasional polite phone call since their fallout, but since their drive home after Jeff’s party and their few friendly texts since, it was like a switch had been flipped. He felt like he suddenly had his old friend back. It was exactly what he had wanted. …it was, right? he thought to himself, before turning back to the next chart.
When clinic ended, Beth came in to say goodnight. He figured he should be numb to her looks at this point but her pink dress shirt clung to her skinny torso and stretched its buttons over the bulges of her tits in a way that he had to put effort into not appreciating too intently.
“Hey, it was nice seeing you on Saturday,” she said, sitting down gently into the chair next to his desk, and slowly crossing her legs. “It’s always nice to see you outside of work when you’re more laid back. Although, that night I think you guys seemed to be wound a little tight. I guess it’s just one big decision after another, I can only imagine…”
“Yeah, it was good to see you too,” he said with a polite smile, ignoring the second part of what she said.
“Thanks for the awesome tip by the way, you didn’t have to,” she said with a hint of a blush.
“Aw, it’s no problem, I honestly kinda feel bad they don’t pay you better… at either job to be honest. I know you’re saving up for college.”
She shrugged and smirked, “I’m doing okay.”
“Hey on that note. I’m not sure if the clinic gives you a Christmas bonus or anything, but either way, I was wondering, what are some of your favorite stores to shop at?” he asked, trying to steer onto a different subject. “…like if I were to buy you a Christmas present,” he added, when she looked a bit confused.
She suddenly smiled, “Aww, Jon you don’t have to.”
“I want to. You deserve it, Beth,” he insisted. “You’ve been an amazing help with everything the last few months, I feel like I’d be a mess without you.”
She looked genuinely deeply touched by the comment, and placed her hand on her chest.
“Thank you” she said softly and blushed, tracing her fingers along her neckline as her hand fell away again.
“So which stores?” he asked again.
“Okay, well, if it’s clothes and stuff I wouldn’t want you guessing if it fits me…”
“I was thinking a gift certificate honestly,” he said quickly.
“Right. That’d be fine I guess. I mean, it limits you a bit. I always figure you’re taking money that’s good everywhere and…”
Jon laughed, “True enough. Just cold hard cash then?”
“No!” she laughed back swatting his arm playfully. “God. Sorry, I’m not some materialistic gold-digger I swear,” she said. “I mean, I dunno, I guess you could just take me shopping sometime…” she said, as she looked at him hesitantly and bit her lip.
“Oh… I… Well I mean you don’t want me hanging around all day watching you try a bunch of stuff on, right?”
She shrugged, “I woudn’t mind.”
He was starting to get uncomfortable. “Well name some stores anyway.”
She sighed, “I dunno there’s lots.”
“Well what’s one you were thinking of going to in the next little while?” he tried.
She raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Victoria Secret actually.”
He put all his effort into maintaining as neutral a face as humanly possible, as she looked over and met his eyes in a few seconds of silence.
“I’m kidding!” she laughed finally. “…Sort of. But, whatever, how about I think about it and text you a list.”
He sighed in relief, “Sounds great.”
She softly placed her hand on top of his on the desk and slid her fingers slowly away.
“Goodnight Jon,” she beamed at him, and walked out of the room.
He finished up his notes and walked out to his car. It was a cold day, but there was no wind and the sun had been brightly shining down enough to melt a bit of the snow. He noticed something on the bottom of his windshield and swore when he thought it might be a ticket or a flyer. Then he realized the shape wasn’t right.
As he got closer he realized it was a kitten. It looked disheveled, but was sleeping comfortably, obviously absorbing the heat from the surface of his car. He tried a quiet ‘here kitty’ and got nothing. Then reached out to it. It suddenly bolted away and ran through the parking lot, surprisingly fast. He didn’t have any chance of catching it, and lost track of where it went once he got around his car.
Poor thing he thought. He wasn’t sure how it had even survived this long into the winter. He figured it must’ve been lost or abandoned recently. He thought about searching around, but decided his chances of finding it were low, so he got in his car and drove off, feeling regretful.
The next day as he got to work he thought he saw something tiny dart under a car as he drove up, but couldn’t find it when he looked. He sighed and headed into the clinic.
“Good morning Jon,” Beth smiled, walking in to his office with a skip in her step. “Did you get my list?”
“Yeah I did, thanks Beth. Sorry it kinda ruins the surprise, but I figured it was better to ask first,” he said.
“Oh no for sure, I’d rather get something I want than a surprise disappointment,” she giggled.
“Okay good,” Jon said. “And don’t worry about getting me anything by the way.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” she said with a smile, crossing her arms under her breasts.
Jon sighed and smiled back despite himself, “Okay well just something small if you do. I’ve got enough stuff in my life right now.”
She set her jaw and leaned her hip to the side, giving him a pondering look. “You know I was serious when I said you could just take me shopping,” she said. “We’ll both be making trips to the mall anyway, so we might as well go together.”
Jon gave a tight smile, “I dunno Beth…”
“Oh come on, we could take each other shopping, it’d be fun! If I’m getting something for you anyway… Why not, right? You dress pretty sharp already, but I know I’d love to try a few things on you,” she said, as she smiled mischievously at him, and he could feel her eyes running over him.
He stared at her for a second. “Have you gone to the mall with any other docs when you worked with them Beth?” he asked, dryly.
She sighed, “Nooo… but I dunno, you’re different. You’re… special- oh I dunno they never bought me Christmas presents either!” she said in light-hearted frustration, and blushing slightly.
“I’ll think about it, but it’s probably best we stick with the standard wrapped presents,” he said.
“Fine. You’re no fun,” she said rolling her eyes but smiling again at him and squeezing his shoulder as she turned to walk away.
“Hey random question, but did you by chance see a kitten in the parking lot?” he asked.
“What?! No it’d be so cold out there, did you see one?!” she exclaimed in sudden concern. She held on to his shoulder and sat back down, grabbing his arm with her other hand and looking at him with a furrowed brow.
“Yeah, yesterday after clinic, but I couldn’t catch it. I thought I maybe saw it again this morning, but I couldn’t find it. Just wondered if you’d seen it around.”
“Oh my God. No! Poor little thing…” she said. She squeezed his shoulder and his bicep with her hands and took a deep breath as she looked at him pleadingly, “You need to find him and save him!”
He chuckled, “I’ll try, but he was pretty fast.”
“It’s not funny Jon! He’s gonna die out there. I almost wanna cancel your clinic so we can go look,” she pouted cutely.
He chuckled, “I’ll look again later, don’t worry.”
“Okay… I’m totally gonna worry all day now though.”
“If I find him will you take him?” he asked.
“No…” she said bitterly “My apartment doesn’t allow pets. YOU have to save him. Promise me,” she demanded.
He gave her an amused smile, “Okay I promise. IF I can catch him.”
She smiled back, then stood halfway up and suddenly pecked him on the cheek. “Thanks,” she said with a friendly perkiness, like it was the most normal thing to do, then stood up and let her fingers slide off his arm as she walked away.
The morning went by without incident, but just a little after 12 o’clock Beth walked in with her coat on.
“Almost done your notes?” she asked.
“Uhh, yeah… why?” he looked at her confused.
“Well finish up, we’re going kitten hunting,” she said, with a dead serious expression.
He laughed in disbelief.
“What?.. You promised me you’d save him Jon,” she said, putting her hands on her hips demandingly, but with a smile. “Let’s get some food to go, and we can eat while we look.”
He sighed, “You know what, why not. Sure. Some fresh air might be nice.”
“Aaand a kitten needs saving more importantly,” she said. “But yeah, we can enjoy the walk too.” She smiled over her shoulder as she left the room.
He grabbed his coat and they headed outside. It was another calm sunny day, but still cold enough to know it was winter. They got burritos from the Mexican place at the other end of the strip mall. He insisted on paying for hers and she put her arm around him and squeezed into him, saying thanks.
They walked side by side and she got him to describe what the kitten looked like. She said she loved cats but it was hard to find apartments that allowed them. She talked about the ones she had growing up, and how much she missed them. As they chatted he eventually noted that she was as much interested in walking and talking with him as she was in looking around for the kitten.
He was getting more and more sure that she had an ulterior motive with all of this. It was technically possible she was just trying to get to know him better, but he felt like he was getting into dangerous territory with her again. This time though, he somehow didn’t feel as worried. He was so demoralized with Elaina and their screwed up relationship he almost didn’t care. A part of him almost wanted something to happen, so he’d actually have the guts to leave her….Almost. Because thinking about it made him concerned about himself, and he made a mental note that he had potentially more at risk than just his relationship, if anything happened between him and Beth and word got out about it in the clinic.
They never found the kitten. He learned a lot about Beth though as they chatted. She had been big into volleyball in high school, and still played in a rec league. She also apparently had been quite an accomplished dancer. She had been getting really serious into ballet, but she insisted that after she went through puberty she didn’t have the figure for it anymore. He hadn’t quite been sure of the specifics of that, but didn’t want to start a conversation about her body. He had been impressed nonetheless. She liked sci-fi movies as well, but for different reasons, getting more out of the gross-outs and jump-scares of aliens and monsters, though seeming to at least pretend to be interested when he talked about the actual scientific theories behind some of the movies and the moral quandaries they posed. He had expected eye-rolling, but got an endearing smile instead.
One o’clock approached, and the kitten didn’t appear to be anywhere. She suggested they get some cat treats to put in a dish outside the clinic that she could see through the front window from her desk, so they went into the pharmacy to grab some. After they found the aisle, Jon said he wanted to see if Carly was in. Beth hesitantly agreed and followed him to the back.
Sure enough, she happened to be working right at the counter and waved with a surprised smile when she saw him. She was beautiful, as he knew she would be. She had her hair loose and it cascaded in blonde waves down onto the front of her soft shoulders and onto the skin of the top of her chest. A white frilled top, only showed a hint of cleavage but was fitted well over the contours of her breasts to indicate their enormity, and a thin green wool sweater covered her arms. She looked so hug-able he wanted to jump over the counter and wrap his arms around her.
“Hey! To what do I owe the pleasure?” she said, leaning forward on the counter casually.
“Well, there’s a stray kitten hanging around here since yesterday, and we’re trying to find it, so we thought we’d try some cat treats to lure it in,” he explained.
“We?” she asked, and then looked behind him. “Oh! Hey Beth.”
“Hey,” Beth smiled politely, and gave a small wave.
“Don’t suppose you’ve seen it?” Jon asked.
“No, unfortunately. Is it super cute?” she asked, scrunching up her nose and looking super-cute herself.
He laughed, “Yeah. I mean he looked like life’s been hard on him already, but he’s super tiny.”
“Awww. Well if I see him I’ll let you know. You’re such a sweetheart trying to rescue a helpless little thing,” she flashed a dimple at him.
He blushed hard. “Thanks. Anyway I just wanted to say hi, I’ll let you get back to work.”
She sighed, “I guess… See ya Saturday, it’s gonna be fun I think.” Her eyes twinkled at his.
“Yeah you bet. Later,” he grinned widely and turned around.
Beth gave another polite wave and walked with him. There was a bit of an awkward silence and a couple doubtful looks from Beth as they walked back to the till.
“You guys still hang out a lot?” she asked him as they stood in the short line, looking up as if she was trying to read his face.
“Oh, uh Carly? Yeah we hadn’t for a while there, but we reconnected at Jeff’s party a couple weekends ago actually,” he said trying to sound casual.
“Ah,” was all she said in reply.
Jon paid for the cat treats and they put it outside the clinic. Beth said a genuine thanks to him for helping her look for the kitten, and that she enjoyed their walk anyway, then squeezed his arm again with a smile and went back to her work.
The afternoon clinic got much busier unfortunately. He got lost in a maze of phone consults trying to sort out one complicated patient, and couldn’t catch up afterwards. It ended late and he had a ton of notes and papers to catch up on.
Their kitten-bait had been unsuccessful except for a few hungry birds. Beth had wanted him to go kitten-hunting again at the end of the day, but he told her he simply couldn’t. She said she understood, and slid her hand along his shoulder and gave his neck muscles a soft squeeze as she told him she really appreciated what he’d done already. She gave him a caring smile and held his eyes in hers for a few seconds longer than was natural and said a soft ‘bye’ as she slowly turned and left.
He didn’t realize till a minute afterwards how intimate that encounter was. She had been slowly touching him more and more over the past week, each one slightly less innocent than the last. Her remarks and looks had followed the same gradual pattern, progressing slow enough that no single move seemed inappropriate at the time, but it was now starting to get concerning. He shook the thoughts out of his mind and focused on his work.
The last rays of sunlight glowed on the horizon as he walked out to his car. He stopped when he got to his door and stared at the colors and the few stars starting to peek through.
He was about to open his door when he just barely heard a soft ‘mew’.
He paused and listened again, hearing another ‘mew’ from the other side of his car. He slowly walked around and listened again. It was louder now, and seemed to be coming from under Carly’s car. He crouched down to see, but the dwindling light made it difficult. He started calling a quiet ‘here kitty kitty’. He saw two tiny eyes look out at him and start to crawl slowly forward.
“Hey did you find him?” Carly’s whisper suddenly startled him and he banged his head against her car and swore. The kitten spooked at the noise and he heard tiny scrambling paws as it ran away.
“Oh shit! Sorry!” Carly laughed, “Oh there he goes, he’s so tiny!”
Carly helped him up and he suddenly was standing very close to her. She ran a hand over his head delicately “Are you okay?” she asked. “Sorry I snuck up on you.”
He was a bit dazed, but her closeness and caring fingers on his scalp and her beautiful eyes meeting his made the pain in his head seem like nothing. He stared at her for a few seconds before snapping out of it.
“Yeah I’m good,” he reassured her.
“Okay let’s go get him,” she said smiling and holding his hand as she led him over to where she’d seen him scamper off to. It was around the side of the strip mall and before they got there Jon remembered the bowl of cat-treats they had left out. He went back to grab it as she continued on. He came around the back of the strip mall to find Carly crouched down near a dumpster, calling for the kitten. He silently crouched down next to her and she put a hand on his knee and smiled.
“He’s already starting to walk towards me but he’s so scared,” she whispered. He gave her the bag of treats and she held a few in her hands. A few patient moments later and the kitten inched forward and started to nibble delicately.
“Oh my God look at him, you weren’t kidding,” Carly whispered. “Hey little guy,” she said, as she reached for him. It startled a bit as she wrapped her hand around, but didn’t fight, and kept nibbling at the treats in her one hand as she lifted it up with the other.
“He weighs, like, nothing!” she whispered.
“He likes you more than me I think,” Jon smiled.
“Here he needs to warm up. Unzip my coat for me,” she said.
He hesitated for a second and then did it, noticing very much how his hand on the zipper traced the contours of her chest as he opened her coat and revealed her shirt.
She put the kitten under her coat and then smiled warmly at him, “He’s so cute.”
He smiled back, adoring her cute face in the twilight.
“What now?” she giggled.
Jon laughed, “Um, well.. I could take him home I guess, but he likes you more.”
Carly sighed, “Brent’s allergic unfortunately. Sorry.”
“Okay… I don’t suppose your pharmacy sells cat stuff?”
“Oh yeah, it sells a bit, kitty litter for sure. I’m not sure what else but we can check. They’re still open.”
“Okay, let’s go shopping,” he smiled.
The snow behind the strip mall was deeper and rutted in places, and Carly started to wobble. Jon put an arm around her to help steady her and she smiled with a soft “thanks” as she leaned into him. Even after they got back to the sidewalk his arm never left, and she kept leaning into him as they strolled back to the pharmacy.
As they went through the doors there was a loud ding and suddenly Carly jumped with a look of pain on her face.
“Aaahh, Goddammit. Ugghh, that bell scared him. He scratched me. Shit that hurt,” she said, maintaining her composure despite the pain.
“Damn, are you okay?” he asked, putting his hand on her with concern.
“Yeah, yeah I’ll be fine. Fuck, he had burrowed right up in there and got me in the armpit though,” she said, as she brought the kitten out of her coat. It gave another tiny mew. “You cute little maniac,” she said, shaking her head.
They found the aisle, and sure enough there was all the things he would need. They had a small carrier to his surprise, besides cat litter and food. She even convinced him to buy a tiny collar.
After they got through the till they stopped in the foyer, Jon took the kitten and immediately put him in the carrier. He gave him a few treats again and a few pets, noticing he was much more settled now.
“Oh shit, I’m bleeding,” Carly said with a nervous laugh as she inspected herself.
He looked up at her and saw blood staining her white shirt along the side.
“Oh! Damn Carly that’s a lot, he really got you. Can you see the scratch?”
“Umm not while staying decent,” she said, looking around the few people near the pharmacy till.
“Right…” he said not sure what to do.
“Here stand up, help cover me,” she said. “Like, open your coat and hold mine too like this this.”
They were suddenly in a very intimate position as he stood against her and held the sides of their coats up like a wall.
“You good?” she looked up at him with her pretty blue eyes.
“Yeah I got it,” he said softly.
She lifted her shirt. He instinctively looked away.
“No I need to you to see, you’re the doctor here,” she whispered.
“It’s…nothing you haven’t seen before,” she said more softly.
He met her eyes and they shared a meaningful stare. Then he moved his eyes down to where her hands had lifted her shirt above her bra, the massive white cup containing the soft smooth skin of her breast. The scratch was just above the band of her bra under her left armpit. It was still oozing blood, about 2 inches long. That’s all he could tell from his vantage point. He could barely even focus on those details with her miraculous bra-clad breast right there in his vision. This, plus their closeness and their whispering was turning him on quickly.
“Well?” she said impatiently.
He cleared his throat, “It’s kinda hard to tell here, but it could probably use a few steri-strips. Probably not stitches though.
“Okay well…” she sighed, and pulled her shirt back down. “I guess I could just buy some here and wait till I get home…” she said, looking back into the pharmacy with an annoyed look. “Is there a trick to putting those on?”
“A little. I mean… We could go back into the clinic and I could get a better look at it and fix it up for you if you want,” Jon suggested without thinking, then immediately became nervous. “It’s up to you, either way’s probably fine.”
“Oh could you? That’d be way better. Unless you’re in a big rush…”
“Uh, no, that’d be fine,” he said.
“Okay, come on,” she said, eagerly leading him away.
He unlocked the clinic, and they walked through the dark waiting room and hallway to his office.
“It’s so weird being in here after hours,” she giggled.
“It gets old quick, believe me,” he said. “Having company’s a nice change though,” he smiled.
“So should I come pester you after hours with kitten scratches all the time then?” she joked.
“Absolutely,” he laughed. “Way better than writing notes and forms. K, hop up on the bed here while I find a few things.”
She slid up to sit on the bed and crossed her thick legs, accentuating their muscular surface and the generous curve of her hips. He couldn’t help remembering grasping their soft flesh in his hands on that night that felt like so long ago… He quickly stopped his train of thought and tried to focus on getting the supplies. He finally stood up to face her hoping he didn’t look too nervous.
“How do you want me?” she asked, then coughed. “Like, I mean, to sit, or lie down or…” and he realized she looked as nervous as he felt.
“Uh, whatever’s comfortable. Sitting’s probably fine, or you can lie down on your side if you prefer.”
As he opened the dressing supplies on the tray he watched her out of the corner of his eye as she started to lift her shirt, then hesitated, running her hand over her belly, then sat up more straight, and finally decided to lie down, looking down at herself as she did.
He realized she was self-conscious of her stomach. He thought she had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. She didn’t have a super-skinny six-pack, but her waist still curved in and her belly was only a slight protrusion that didn’t sag much or roll. As she lifted her shirt he saw the soft clear skin of her torso, and knew he wouldn’t want to change a single thing about her.
“Sorry about-… just… don’t look at my belly the scratch is up here,” she said, turning red and pulling her arm out of her shirt. Suddenly there was her bra again, her breasts bulging up as they stacked on top of each other on their side.
He stuttered, “I- I… Sorry I wasn’t…” He sighed, turning red himself as she flashed an embarrassed glare at him.
He grabbed the wet gauze from the tray and decided to get to work instead of putting his foot in his mouth.
“Ow! that stings.”
“Oh sorry,” he placed his hand gently on her side apologetically. “I just want to clean it a bit.”
“Definitely doesn’t need stitches, but surprisingly deep for a little guy,” he remarked after it was clean. “A few steri-strips should be fine.”
“Okay. Thanks again Jon,” she said with a sigh as he started to place them on the wound.
“Yeah no problem. Sorry for leeri- I mean, um… I’m too used to having wrinkly old ladies in here, it throws me off when suddenly a um… comely lass is found before me.”
He cringed internally as he said it, but suddenly his steri-strip pulled off as her body shook and she giggled at him.
“Don’t laugh you just wrecked a steri-strip,” he chuckled through a blush.
“Well then quit being such an adorable dork,” she looked at him with a pretty smile.
Her face was still flushed. The huge mounds of her breasts caught his vision again, still bouncing slightly with her last few giggles. He focused back intently on the wound and finished the last couple steri-strips, and then covered it up.
“Okay you’re good.”
She sighed with a small smile and sat up. “Sorry I was a difficult patient,” she said sarcastically.
He winced, “Please don’t say you’re my patient, just a friend helping a friend. I’m not gonna make a chart note or anything.”
“Oh yeah, please no, I was kidding. Thanks again though,” she smiled appreciatively at him as he took her hand and helped her off the bed.
Their hands stayed together and she stood closely in front of him for a moment.
“It’ll be okay then?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Yeah. Your flawless skin will be back to normal in a week or so,” he said and kept his eyes on her beautiful face as she made another dimple and bit her lip. He only then just realized their fingers were running over each other’s as he kept holding her hand.
The kitten mewed, breaking them out of their trance.
“Little guy woke up I guess.”
“Yep.”
They turned away and he cleaned up the bandage packaging and she said goodbye to the kitten.
“What’s Elaina going to think?” she asked as they put their coats back on and headed back out into the hall.
“I don’t really know, but I’m not looking forward to it, to be honest,” he said. We’ve talked about pets before and anything that could make a mess was nixed quickly.”
“Aw, that’s a shame.”
“Well if you know anyone that wants to take in a kitten let me know. I’m worried I might have to call up the shelter in a day or two.”
“Yeah I’ll ask around,” she said.
They walked back to their cars and smiled at each other as they said goodbye under the twinkling stars, his gaze lingering on her twinkling eyes and not wanting to turn away.
“What the hell is that?!” Elaina exclaimed as he walked in the door with the cat-carrier.
“The reason I’m late, sorry,” he said, deciding that not texting her a warning had maybe been a wrong move.
A cute tiny mew sounded from the carrier.
“A cat?! We’ve talked about this Jon, I thought I made it clear, or is your mind that much of a mess that you forgot?” she said, crossing her arms.
“A stray kitten. It was running around the parking lot for the last 2 days. It probably wasn’t going to survive Elaina. I know you’ve said no before, but I didn’t want it to die. Let’s keep it for a day or two and see.”
“No. Absolutely not Jon. Goddammit I can smell it already.”
“Oh, yup I think he made a little mess in there,” he said, opening up the carrier. “Let’s see, oh you kept yourself clean at least. Ohh it’s okay, it’s okay,” he said as he picked the kitten up.
“Why are you talking to a fucking cat instead of to me? We clearly have a problem and it needs to be solved.”
“Oh NOW you want to actually have a talk?” he glared back.
“Oh my God,” she rolled her eyes. “Was this a ploy then? Because congratulations it worked.”
“No it was random chance. Sometimes you just have to roll with things like that Elaina.”
“Sometimes you have to get a fucking grip and resist chasing gutter rats like a school boy.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted to hold him, but never mind.”
She laughed bitterly, “No. That thing is going back in the garage. You’re having a shower before you even think about coming near me. Then you’re calling animal control, like you should have fucking done in the first place. Your supper’s cold on the table.” She stormed off.
He stood there petting the kitten for a minute, silently convincing himself he wasn’t the asshole here, and eventually succeeded. He grabbed the carrier and headed back into the garage. He found a deep box to put him in for now, a small container for water and gave him a bit of food, promising him he’d be back in a bit.
He washed his hands and ate his supper. It was a fairly fancy plate of fish and seasoned vegetables with an artfully stuffed potato. He felt a bit of guilt realizing she had put a lot of effort into the meal, but it still didn’t quite warrant her response, he decided.
He snuck the kitten to the bathroom and gave it a bath after that. It was not a happy camper and looked like a very sad, skinny wreck afterwards, but once he dried off he looked much nicer. He had a very symmetric pattern of white and black on his face and probably would be a fairly nice looking cat even after growing out of the cute kitten phase. Jon cleaned up and disinfected the carrier, and then had a shower himself.
He tested out the kitty litter and was pleased to see the kitten knew exactly what to do, cleanly burying its business right away.
He found Elaina reading a book in the living room, she glanced up at him briefly and kept a neutral face continuing to read her book.
“I’m sorry for the surprise Elaina, I should have texted you a heads up,” he said, as sincerely as he could. “And supper was amazing, even cold. If I had known you were putting that much love into it I would’ve tried to hurry home faster.”
She stared blankly at him for a few seconds.
“Apology accepted,” she said, sounding very much like it was the proper thing to say rather than actually meaning it.
“Look. I’ve given him a bath and put him in a fresh box. He doesn’t look sick, and actually looks like a pretty well bred cat.”
She looked up from her book with a patronizing sigh, “Okay…and?”
“A lot of distinguished houses have a cat in them, it can add class, and it might be a nice touch,” he said carefully.
She squinted her eyes suspiciously.
“If he got into stuff he wasn’t supposed to, and wrecks things, then sure, we’d get rid of him, but I think he could make our lives better.”
“A pet is not going to solve your problems Jon.”
He paused for a second. “…are you finally admitting that we do have problems?”
“I didn’t say WE,” she replied coldly.
He bit his tongue and decided to backpedal, seeing the anger building in her eyes again.
“Come have a look at him again at least. I don’t think he’s meant to be a street rat, I think he’s a really nice kitten that got lost.”
She closed her eyes and sighed again, “If I do this and still decide no, will you let it go?”
“Sure,” he agreed, desperate to at least keep her on his side.
“Hey little guy,” he said, as they walked into the garage.
He was mew-ing loudly, obviously lonely and scared. Jon picked him up and petted him and he calmed down and closed his eyes comfortably.
“See? he’s got a nice coat, needs his claws trimmed but otherwise is nice and fairly tame, considering.”
“If you say so,” Elaina said, not looking convinced.
“Here try to holding him for a bit,” Jon suggested.
“I don’t want to.”
“I cleaned him really well, you’re not gonna get fleas. Just try it.”
She sighed, “This is ridiculous.”
He delicately handed the kitten off. She seemed very uncomfortable, holding it stiffly against her stomach and getting more tense as it moved around.
“Not so tight honey, just let him sit on your hands,” he offered.
“I don’t want him to get away,” she said nervously.
“Yeah, but he’ll just struggle more if you-”
“OW! AH! you little SHIT!” she exclaimed as it scratched her on the wrist.
She threw it out of her hands quickly and it landed on its feet on the floor. Jon picked him up again and petted him, not having to try hard to calm him down. He didn’t think he’d meant to do it, and was just trying to climb away from her grip.
“Goddammit! Why did I let you talk me into that!” Elaina exclaimed, holding her wrist.
He put the kitten back in the box and went back to her.
“Thanks for tending to the fucking cat first instead of your wounded fiance,” she said, with bitter sarcasm.
“Let’s see,” he said.
“I can assess a wound as well as you,” she said, lifting her hand away gingerly.
“It’s not even bleeding Elaina. He was just trying to climb a bit.”
“It’s swelling up already, and it hurts like hell, thanks a lot,” she said bitingly.
He sighed, “I was just trying to reassure you.”
“Reassure me that thing is going to be gone as soon as humanly possible!” she blurted out, pointing angrily and stomping away.
He bent down and apologized to the kitten.
He sat down and petted it on his lap as he read on his phone for a while. It fell asleep and it was nice to just sit peacefully with the little guy purring on his lap.
He pulled out his phone and looked through his contacts, eventually finding his neighbor Tabitha’s number.
-Hey it’s your neighbor Jon here. I found a stray kitten near my work and I’m wondering if you or anyone you know might be interested in taking him?
She texted back within a few minutes.
-Hey! I’d love to see him, if you want to pop over?
-He’s sleeping pretty soundly on my lap right now but maybe in a bit. Or you can come over here if you want?
-Oh I don’t want to intrude. Is Elaina around?
Jon was reminded of just how much her and Tabitha had been like oil and water.
–I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,… he wasn’t… -but I’m just in the garage, there’s a side door you could come in, and you wouldn’t bother her at all.
-Okay. Yeah sure I’ll be right there.
20 minutes went by and Jon was beginning to wonder if she’d show up at all. Finally, he heard the creak of a door and watched in amusement as Tabitha very very slowly snuck into the garage.
Jon chuckled, “It’s okay Tabitha, come on in.”
Tabitha blushed as she closed the door, “I just didn’t want her to…” she stopped herself and glanced away awkwardly. “Er… I don’t want to intrude too much.”
Jon smiled, “It’s fine. Come on over, don’t worry about your boots,” he remarked seeing her bending over to brush the snow off.
She gave him a relieved smile and padded over, gasping when she saw the kitten.
“He’s so little!”
“Want to hold him?” Jon asked.
“Yeah of course!”
Tabitha unzipped her coat and pulled it off, revealing a thin pink sweater that clung close to her tiny frame. She took the kitten from Jon, beaming up to him with an excited smile. Her makeup and hair looked very well done-up, and he noticed a pair of very nice designer jeans below. He shook away the thought of her getting dressed up to come see him, deciding she must have just looked like that all day.
Brad was apparently away on business again. She avoided talking about him, or about herself very much for that matter, and was instead much more interested in Jon and his life. Jon talked fairly non-chalantly about the clinic and his new surgical-assist days, but Tabitha’s excited interest made it seem like he was describing the most incredible life-saving feats imaginable.
After a while there was finally a lull in the conversation and Jon looked at her clutching the kitten with a smile, feeling like maybe his problem was about to be solved.
“So it looks like you two are getting along pretty well… You think you can take him then?” Jon asked.
Tabitha bit her lip and gave him an embarrassed look, “I’m… actually allergic.”
Jon frowned in confusion for a second, and then laughed, “What? Then why are you…”
She sighed, “I know. I’m sorry. I just… really needed a snuggle with something furry and cute tonight. When you texted… It was kinda perfect.”
Jon gave a sympathetic smile, “Ah. Gotcha. Don’t worry I’m glad I could help then, I guess. Little bit of stress going on?”
She nodded, frowning, “You could say that.”
“Tough with Brad being away?” Jon ventured.
She was silent and stared at nothing for a while. “It’s not much better when he’s around,” she finally admitted.
Jon wasn’t sure how to respond but she let him off the hook.
“Sorry. I don’t wanna burden you with all that. But, just, it was nice to talk to you too Jon. I think I feel better already,” she said.
Jon smiled, “No problem. I’m sorry we haven’t more neighborly, we should talk more often.”
Tabitha gave a cautious smile. “Yeah. Thanks. You’re such a nice guy, I don’t know how you…” she stopped herself suddenly and cleared her throat glancing at the door to the house. “But yeah, call or text anytime.”
Jon nodded appreciatively, then asked, “So how are you not sneezing like crazy?”
“Well it’s not a super strong allergy, but even then I took a couple pills and a couple nasal sprays before coming over,” she explained.
He laughed and she handed him back the kitten, standing back up.
“Thanks again Jon. Sorry I can’t take him, but I’ll ask around. You can’t keep him?”
Jon shrugged. “Apparently not,” glancing back at the door to the house.
She gave a sour look in the same direction, then took a breath and smiled back at him nervously.
“K. Um, it was really good seeing you again. Bye.” she said, biting her lip again, and excitedly sneaking out the garage door.
He sat with the kitten and browsed on his phone for a while more, but eventually he had to get up and head to bed. He got it to use the kitty litter again and felt bad sending him back to the box, but he had no other option.
He found Elaina already in bed, reading.
“I asked Tabitha if she could take the kitten, and she said no, but she’ll ask around,” he said, as he sat down next to her.
There was a long silence, but Jon could tell Elaina wasn’t simply reading her book.
“I didn’t know you two still kept in touch,” she said, finally.
“Well… I mean I still have her number.”
“How often do you talk to her?” she asked.
“Barely at all Elaina, I don’t understand what your problem is with her?” Jon said in exasperation.
“I don’t understand your interest in her,” she said, crossing her arms.
“She’s our neighbor! And she’s a nice woman. It’s good to know your neighbors Elaina.”
“Know them yes. Just because we happened to buy property next to each other doesn’t obligate us to be friends. She has her hands full enough maintaining that yard and house evidently, I doubt taking care of an animal is in her abilities anyway.”
Jon shook his head in disbelief and decided not to reply.
“I suppose I’m glad you’re trying to solve this furry, stinking problem you’ve created anyway, but you’re going to have to try harder,” she said.
“Look, I wasn’t trying to piss you off, Elaina, I was just trying to make the best of the situation,” he defended.
“Well you failed,” she said.
“Okay. Okay, I’ll get rid of it as soon as I can.”
“Tomorrow,” she demanded.
“I’m in the O.R. all day and I won’t have time to bring it anywhere in the morning, so you’ll have to wait a day, can you at least give me that?”
She sighed. “I’m tempted to take it to the pound myself, but I don’t want to touch it again. Fine, I’ll give you one day. Then it’s gone.”
“Thank you… for your generosity,” he said sarcastically.
Her only response was an insulted scowl, that he turned away from and slipped under the covers. A cold silence filled the room, as neither spoke again until they fell asleep.
The next morning Elaina left slightly before him. He didn’t have the heart to keep the kitten in the box all day so he brought it downstairs to the den and set up the litter box with the food and water on some laid-out cardboard, and made sure there wasn’t anything breakable around and closed the door. The den was basically his space, so he figured if it made a mess that was the best place.
He texted Beth from the hospital between cases to let her know he had found him last night and sent a couple pics.
-OMG you’re amazing! Please tell me you’re keeping him!
-Unfortunately Elaina’s saying no. I tried. So let me know if you can find anyone to take him, otherwise I might have to call up the shelter.
-Figures. K I’ll see what I can do. Bring him to clinic tomorrow at least before taking him to the shelter. We’ll figure something out, don’t worry.
-Okay sure.
-Aww. You’re the best! I knew you’d save him.
She ended it with a kiss and heart emoji.
He got home before Elaina and was pleased to find the little guy sleeping soundly on the couch in the den, and that he had kept using the litter box and hadn’t destroyed anything. He grabbed a beer, and his tablet, and laid down on the couch reading and listening to music. He had ordered some Greek food to be delivered for when Elaina got home.
As they sat down for supper Elaina smiled. “I see by the empty garage that your little friend is gone, thanks for figuring that out so quickly.”
He sat and looked at her for a second, and decided he’d chance it. “Yeah no problem,” he said.
She talked about the hospital and a few less-than-interesting cases, explaining how she had corrected what she considered to be amateur mistakes by several other doctors. Though he thought in the right context they could have been understandable. They talked briefly about the Christmas gala on Saturday and she wanted to know what he planned on wearing, wondering if he needed to go shopping.
“You should try to wear something seasonal,” she suggested.
“I dunno they might already be sold out of elf costumes,” he grinned.
She simply scowled, “I mean something green and red. Maybe with some white mixed in.”
He sighed, “If it’ll make you happy I’ll see what I can put together.”
“Good. Nothing too flashy though. Gord’s already wearing these ridiculous Christmas ties. He says patients like them, but it just looks unprofessional to me.”
“Taste is all subjective,” Jon ventured.
She gave him a suspicious look. “Maybe show me on Friday what you have in mind, just in case we need to make a last minute trip to a store on Saturday.”
“As you wish,” he said, sighing and sipping his beer.
She ignored him and took her empty plate back to the kitchen.
He went back to the den to read with his kitten and turned on some music.
He texted Carly.
-Hey, I don’t suppose you’ve found anyone eager to take a kitten?
A few minutes later he felt his phone buzz.
–Nope…Elaina not too pleased?
-That’s putting it lightly. He’s a sweetheart though, uses the litter box, sleeps on laps, seems to dig Pink Floyd.
– LOL nice! You two are bonding at least then?
– Yeah. He’s living in my den, hasn’t scratched up any furniture though, only the wrist of a certain fiance who doesn’t know how to hold kittens.
-Uh oh! Is she okay?
-She’ll live, despite her initial reaction. You got it way worse.
-Well I’m a tough breed. I can handle a lot. 😉
The door suddenly opened.
“Honey I wanted to ask you ab-… Oh what the FUCK Jonathon!” Elaina exclaimed seeing the kitten lying on his stomach.
He sighed, “He’s going tomorrow. I moved him down here earlier today cause it seemed better. I didn’t feel like correcting you at supper cause it seemed simpler. Sorry I guess.”
“Oh pissing on our carpets and getting hair everywhere is better?”
“You never use this room, and he hasn’t made a single mess. I’ll shampoo the carpets myself if it’ll get you to settle down. It’s a cat, not a raccoon for Christ’s sake.”
“I can’t believe you just casually lied to me like that,” she said, shaking her head.
“I can’t believe such a tiny thing is upheaving your entire world so catastrophically,” he said raising an eyebrow, but not taking his eyes off the kitten.
“IT’S not doing anything other than eating, shitting and scratching. YOU on the other hand…”
“Am able to handle some amount of change, and adapt to an environment that isn’t ‘just so’ and things that I can’t 100% control…” he kept staring at the kitten, finding it easier to say what he wanted to without meeting her eyes.
“Oh FUCK you, you’re a G.P. not a goddamn psychiatrist.”
He finally looked back at her, laser-beams of fury seeming to emanate from her eyes.
“One kitten… Two days… and look at you Elaina,” he said calmly, his heart racing as he defied her electric stare.
She walked out and slammed the door hard enough that the wall shook.
“Don’t even BOTHER coming near my bed tonight!!” she yelled as she walked away.
The next morning they avoided each other. There was still no mess in the den and he smiled in satisfaction as he gathered up the kitten and his things and brought them out to the car.
“Let me see let me see!” Beth squealed as she saw him walk in with the cat-carrier.
He smiled and held it up for her.
“Awww you weren’t lying, he’s exactly how you said. Oh my God he’s so tiny and adorable!” she gushed.
“I’m not sure where we’re gonna put him Beth,” Jon shrugged.
“The break room. I’ll tell everyone so no one’s surprised and maybe one of them can even take him home,” she beamed happily.
“I… can’t think of better idea so okay,” he shrugged.
She took him by the hand and led him quickly to the break room. They set everything down in the corner and Jon wrote “Save me” on a piece of paper on top of the carrier.
“Aaaaa I love it!” Beth exclaimed.
He stood up and she gave him a tight hug and stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. “You’re amazing, I’m so happy you saved him.” she looked up at him with adoring eyes, and slowly slid away from him.
“Yeah I’m glad we were able to coax him out of his dumpster lair,” he said, trying to stop from turning red from her brief affection.
“We?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah Carly helped, he was actually hiding under her car,” he explained.
“Ohh, okay.” she said, starting to look less excited. She looked away and hugged herself. “Well I guess we need to start clinic.”
“Yep. Can’t play with him all day.”
“I’ll come check on him whenever I can though,” she said. She looked back at him and smiled brightly again, and then went to tell the others while he went back to his office.
He got a text from Carly not long afterwards.
-Hey when should I change this crazy bandage you put on me?
-Oh it’s just gauze and tape, it’s not THAT crazy. But today would be good. He replied.
–I’m a bit nervous doing it myself it’s in an awkward place.
-Yeah I’d get someone to help.
-Can you? Brent can barely handle a simple bandaid.
-It’s not that delicate, but if you want we could meet up at the end of the day.
-I kinda have to run at the end of the day. Can we do it at noon? I’ll buy you lunch?…
-K sure, It’s a deal 🙂
He smiled and put away his phone and moved on to the next patient with determination. He finished the morning clinic on time. He and Carly had kept texting throughout the morning and decided on meeting at the Indian buffet again.
Carly had a table already and they shared an excited smile as he walked up.
Every time he saw her now his heart melted. She had her hair up in a loose messy bun, she was wearing a thick white knitted sweater but with a wide neckline that exposed her shoulders, showing black bra-straps and a silver necklace. He could still appreciate her generous curves under its soft fabric, and once again had to resist a desire to hug her.
They went to the buffet right away. It smelled amazing and tasted even better. He had missed it and said they should start meeting up here more often. She gave him a cautious smile, but agreed. They chatted easily throughout the meal, about the kitten, Christmas plans, music and other things. She was such a breath of fresh air.
She was aware of the time though and got them to pay quickly after they were finished so he had time to look at her wound again.
As they walked into the clinic together Beth gave them an odd look, but didn’t say anything. Carly followed him into his office and he closed the door.
“How’s it feeling?” he asked.
“Still pretty sore, I was kinda hoping you’d tell me if it looked infected or not, to be honest.”
“Yeah no problem. Did you look at it yet?”
“No I’ve been afraid to touch it” she said as she sat on the exam bed.
He smirked “K, did you get it wet?”
“No, I had a bath, but I was careful with it.”
“Let’s take a look,” he said
She lifted up her sweater, but it was bulky and she was having trouble. Rather than stand silently gawking at her he kept talking.
“Does it feel more sore now than the first day, do you th- uh do you think?”
His voice caught as she slipped her arm out of her sweater to reveal one side of her chest entirely in addition to the bandage. She was wearing a black bra with lacy edges, almost like lingerie.
“I’m not really sure, but probably not.” she said awkwardly, her face irritated by the sweater bunched up on one side of her neck “Can I just…” she moved to take the sweater off completely.
“Oh um, yeah, that’s uh fine,” he cleared his throat.
She stripped off the sweater and sat clad in only her black lacy bra in front of him. His mind was blown away by the intensely sexy sight of the woman in front of him. He had somehow forgotten just how huge her breasts really were, yet not disproportionate with the curve of her waist and her hips. He forced his eyes to remain on her beautiful face, reading only a hint of nervousness and more of a searching gaze in her own eyes like she was trying to read him.
She slowly raised her arm up, putting her hand behind her head, and he gulped and focused in on the wound dressing on her armpit.
He apologized as he removed the tape, and she reassured him softly. The wound looked fine. He said the strips should stay on but he changed the gauze. The whole time he couldn’t stop himself from drinking in the shape and contour of her breast so close to his hands, and the heat of her partially naked body, wanting to slide his hands over her smooth skin and kiss her and hold her. Memories bombarded him, of a night that seemed like another life, but really wasn’t that long ago.
He finally stood up straight and said she was done. Placing a hand nonchalantly on her knee. She said a soft ‘thank you’ and placed her hand on top of his.
They didn’t move. Other than their fingers. Very slowly caressing. He looked into her beautiful blue eyes, and felt at home staring at them. Their fingers made wider strokes but their hands didn’t move off her knee. She took a deep breath in and her chest rose and fell. He gulped. Their mouths opened slightly as their faces reddened. Her heel slid behind his thigh and he moved forward with it. Her other hand found his forearm. Their breathing suddenly heightened. Both of them leaned forward slowly to the looming kiss they both desired…
A knock sounded on the door.
They broke away from each other before their lips met. She quickly grabbed her sweater.
“Yes?” he answered.
“It’s just me,” Beth said from behind the door.
Jon walked over and looked back to make sure Carly had her sweater on before opening the door.
“Hey, sorry, just that it’s past one o’clock and your first two patients are here.” Beth said. Looking quizzically at Carly.
“Okay thanks,” Jon said. “Carly got a scratch from the kitten the other day and was just making sure it wasn’t infected.”
“Oh okay,” Beth said. “I um… didn’t have her on the list or anything, did you want me to…”
“Oh no. No don’t worry about it was just a little inspection,” he said quickly.
“K. Hey do you wanna come see him?” Beth asked her.
“Yeah definitely!” Carly replied happily, “Jon says he cleaned him up.”
She followed Beth out of the room with a last brief glance at Jon.
“That sweater looks really warm,” he heard Beth say as they walked away down the hall.
Jeff ended up taking the kitten. He had been texting Grace throughout the day, and sent a few pictures. They had decided it might be good for the kids to learn to look after. Jon was glad, but still asked him if Grace was sure, and reminded him that it had scratched Elaina. Jeff muttered that it actually might have been the clincher…
“How’s my hero of the day doing?” Beth smiled at Jon as she sauntered into his office at the end of the clinic. Her cardigan was open now, showing off a well fitted low-cut tank top underneath. She sat down next to his desk.
“I’m good. You did your part too Beth. Thanks for the help, and thanks for not letting me give up on him,” he smiled back.
“Aww no problem. I know you wouldn’t have left him, you’ve got a heart of gold,” she beamed at him and squeezed his hand on the desk.
She let it linger there for a moment, then sighed and rapped her nails on the desk.
“Hey, you know my friend Chloe says she was pretty sure she saw you and Jeff at Birmingham’s last Friday.”
“Oh,” Jon said, suddenly taken off guard. “Uh, yeah that was our waitresses name. Is… that the same Chloe that…”
“Oh! Right, yeah,” Beth rolled her eyes. “Yeah ‘friend’ is a loose term I guess, but for what it’s worth it turns out she wasn’t the only one that fuck-wad was fooling around with, so she got hurt as much as me. We’re still not like, COOL cool, but at least we’re back on speaking terms.”
“I um… guess that’s good?” Jon said, unsure of what to make of it.
“Yeah, whatever, he’s history. I’m moving on.”
He smiled, “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
She smiled back, “I am. Anyway she like…” Beth sighed, “Like I know this is kinda none of my business, but she said you and Jeff weren’t exactly just having a friendly chat. Like, there was maybe some drama, maybe relationship related… and I dunno, I thought you two seemed a little stiff around each other the last little bit.”
“Oh… Yeah don’t worry about it Beth it’s fine. Jeff and I are all good, he’s a great friend, it was… just some private stuff, it’s sorted out,” he said, trying hard to sound casual.
“You and Jeff are okay… Well that’s good I guess,” she said meaningfully. “But like, if you’re going through some stuff and you need someone to talk to, like a confidant, or someone to open up to. I’m here. Whenever you want,” she said.
“Oh,” he cleared his throat, “Thanks Beth that means a lot, but I think I’ll be okay.”
She kept sliding her fingers over his.
“I just… I really care about you… a lot, and I was scared to think you might be hurting. No one should have to feel alone,” she said softly, and brought her shining eyes up from their touching hands to stare into his.
Jon gulped and said a polite, “Thanks Beth, that’s good to know. You’re um, you’re a good friend.”
She kept her hand on his as she stood up then slid it up his arm to squeeze his shoulder. “Goodnight Jon,” she said tenderly, and held his gaze for a moment as she turned around and slowly walked away.
That night Elaina pressed him that the kitten was really gone. She sounded exasperated, but relieved. She commented on how Jeff was kind to take it in, and Jon resisted asking why that didn’t apply to him.
They sat down to watch a movie and seemed to silently make-up again, as she slowly settled her head on to his shoulder.
They made their way to the bedroom at the end of the evening.
“Am I allowed to sleep here tonight?” he asked with a smirk.
She regarded him seriously “That might depend on if you’ve learned your lesson.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe remind me the exact lesson?”
She walked up to him and ran a finger down his torso “That’s it’s always better to simply do as I say,” she said and turned around beginning to disrobe.
He started to do the same.
“Decisions should be a two way street Elaina, it’s gotta go both ways,” he ventured.
“Oh, but one of us needs to be the responsible one and keep us on the right track. Besides, I listen to what you say.”
“I feel like for one of us it’s ‘listen’ and for the other it’s ‘obey’,” he replied.
She sauntered up to him in her bra and panties “Oh come now, isn’t it enjoyable being my little pet?” she smiled and ran her hands up his chest and around his back pulling her small firm torso into him.
He sighed, knowing she was only half-joking at best, “Elaina if I knew it was just in the bedroom I’d follow you down into that fetish, believe me, but it’s not just that and you know it.”
She narrowed her eyes and stared at him for a moment.
Then she reached down and ran her hand over his growing cock, “You’re thinking too much.”
He groaned and put his hand around her waist, “You of all people accusing someone of overthinking?” he smiled teasingly.
She frowned and squeezed his cock almost uncomfortably tight. “Watch it,” she said with a warning look.
She grabbed his cock even more firmly and literally led him by it to the bed and told him to lay down.
She unclasped her bra and wiggled her hips out of her panties, and her fashion-model body crawled over top of him.
“I want you to promise me a few things,” she purred, as one of her hands found his cock again.
He closed his eyes and exhaled, “Elaina if you got any man in this position he’d promise you he’s the Queen of France, why do you keep doing this?”
“Are you saying you’ve been lying to me again?” she said with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m saying you’re not really giving me a choice. I love it but I can’t think,” he said, as she stroked him harder.
“You don’t need to think, let me do all of that,” she said. “Just let me take care of you. Listen to me, respect what I want, and everything will be alright,” she kissed his neck and then sat up, raising her hips to touch the end of his cock to the outside of her pussy. She slid it over her entrance and he groaned at the teasing pleasure.
“Promise me you’re not going to pull any more of the kind of bullshit like you did with the kitten,” she said firmly.
“It’s not going to mean anything Elaina,” he said, breathing heavily.
“Then I’ll make you repeat it until it does!” She gripped his cock harder and slid more quickly along the head of his cock.
“Ughhh, Goddamnit. Is this a game or isn’t it Elaina? Why do you, hnnngg, think that THIS is the way to make me agree to things.”
“I want you… to understand, how much you want me… how much you need me… what I give to you… that makes it all worth it… to remind you why it’s worth it to listen to me.”
“So it’s not a game?”
“Of course not.”
“Then it’s fucked up Elaina. This isn’t right.”
“I’m not the one who’s fucked up!”
She let go of him and shoved him to the side.
“Go enjoy your blue balls on the Goddamn couch then!”
He looked at her in shock and then got up and left, grabbing his sweatpants and cell phone, and at a loss for words.
He stumbled to the guest room. He sat there staring at the wall for a few minutes, trying to process what their relationship had become.
He was still extremely horny. He took care of his problem in the bathroom, and came hard while picturing Carly in that black lacy bra.
He lay awake on the guest bed fantasizing about running away with her.
On Friday morning Elaina almost acted like nothing had happened. He detected a challenging tone in her voice though, even when she asked for simple things, like getting the milk. She reminded him before she left that she wanted to see his Christmas party outfit that night.
When he got to work Beth walked in with a peppy ‘Good morning’ and a bright smile.
“Good news is that your first visit canceled, so we got a bit of time to relax,” she said sitting down next to his desk and crossing her legs. She was wearing a tight white skirt and a dark red top that hugged her skin and showed a generous amount of cleavage even with the buttons all done up. Her makeup was a bit heavier today and she had done her hair up more stylishly than usual.
“I miss the kitten already,” she pouted cutely.
He chuckled and sipped his coffee, “Yeah me too. Jeff and Grace will take good care of him.”
“I hope so. Hopefully his kids get along with him.”
Jon laughed, “They’re kids with a kitten, it’s a guaranteed match made in heaven.”
“I was gonna ask him today, but he’s not in,” she said.
“I’ll see him tomorrow at the Christmas party, I’ll ask him then.”
“Ohh right. You guys are all going to that. Carly too right?”
“Yeah, it should be a fun time, hopefully,” he said.
“Yeah, you two are really hitting it off again, hey?” Beth asked looking down at her fingers on the desk.
“Oh, uh, Carly? Yeah we’re chatting a bit more, mostly it was the kitten and her scratch.”
“Right, right. Are you good friends with her husband too? I forget his name…”
“Brent, yeah um, well not as much as her, but he’s okay,” he said, starting to feel uncomfortable.
“Hm,” was all she said, looking at the wall across from her and playing with her necklace.
He wanted to move the conversation away from her. “Actually I’m a little stuck figuring out what to wear to that party. Elaina wants me in something ‘festive’ but if I dress up in all greens and reds I’m going to look like the mayor of Christmasville.”
Beth laughed and her chest bounced tightly. “Yeah no kidding. You don’t want to overstate it,” she agreed. She looked him over and bit her lip, looking like she was imagining things. “What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know, I have a green shirt, and I think I have a white tie somewhere,” he said doubtfully.
“Yeah… I mean I”m sure you could pull it off but that’s not ideal,” she said, as her eyes kept running over him.
Suddenly she sat up straight and leaned forward like she had an idea. The posture jutted her chest out enticingly. She slid her hand onto his forearm and squeezed.
“Hey what are you doing for lunch?” she said excitedly.
“Uhh, nothing I guess,” he said, confused.
“Let me take you shopping, there’s a men’s store just down the street, like a minute away,” she said with a determined smile.
“I don’t know Beth…”
“No come on, it’ll be my Christmas present to you, just like I said. It’s so much easier if you got a second opinion along with you. Plus this way if Elaina doesn’t like it you can just blame me,” she giggled and gave his arm a playful squeeze.
He considered the pros and cons of it. He admitted to himself that he had no idea what he was going to choose and dreaded what kind of colors Elaina might put him in. At least Beth was more likely to take his opinion into consideration.
“You know what? Sure. What the hell. Let’s do it.”
“Aaa! Thank you! I’m so excited. I’ve already got a few ideas,” she said, running her eyes over him again and giving his shoulder another squeeze.
She walked away with her tight skirt emphasizing her ass perfectly. She turned her head over her shoulder and gave him a sly smile. “Don’t fall too far behind this morning K?”
At 12 o’clock sharp she walked in to his office with her coat on, holding two burritos.
“Ready to go?” she said eagerly handing him one of them.
“Oh! Nice. Thanks. Yeah give me half a minute here.”
“I just got you exactly what you had last time, hope that’s okay,” she said.
“Definitely yeah that’s perfect. I’m surprised you remembered.”
“What, you think I don’t pay attention to you?” she smiled. “Come on, we can eat them on the walk to the store, it’ll save time.”
“Sounds good,” he said, and found himself returning her excited smile.
He put on his coat and they strolled out the door.
The clerk said a friendly ‘hello’ as they walked in. She was a middle aged woman dressed in an expensive grey business suit. It was a higher-end menswear store, one that rarely had sales. He decided he needed to put his old frugal habits to the side, knowing he could afford it and that splurging a bit was okay, especially around Christmas. As long as Beth didn’t try to pay…
“What can I help you with today?” the clerk asked.
Beth spoke up before Jon had a chance to. “Well there’s a Christmas party coming up and his wardrobe just simply isn’t cutting it any more.”
“Ahh of course. Well we have a large selection, and of course there’s a wide variety of seasonal looks to choose from,” she gestured towards the racks.
“Great, thanks,” Beth replied, taking Jon’s hand and pulling him towards one of the racks.
“It’s so great you two can find time in the middle of the day to shop together, or did you both take the day off?” she asked.
Beth replied immediately, “Oh we both work right around here, so we just have the lunch hour to look around.”
“That’s lucky for you, it must be so convenient to work so close. My husband’s on the other end of town and the commute time really eats in to your life, let me tell you,” the clerk replied.
“Yep, I’m lucky” Beth said, squeezing Jon’s arm and giving him a smile.
The clerk laughed and winked at her, “Well if you’re in a hurry I won’t keep you two lovebirds, but let me know if you need anything.”
Jon stood there helplessly watching the act Beth was putting on. He had opened his mouth to correct her, but had hesitated too long. He gave Beth a slightly concerned look.
“Oh just play along, it’ll be fun,” Beth whispered with a smile.
Jon paused thinking of how to object, but realized it was actually less awkward than explaining to the store clerk what their actual situation was, so he relented.
“Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Beth giggled mischievously and reached up to take his coat off for him, sliding her hands down his arms with her body close to him.
“Let’s see how some of these look on you.”
She grabbed a few shirts off the rack and held them up against him, thinking and examining as she did so.
“Anything new that’s in style right now you can suggest?” Beth asked the clerk.
“Oh definitely, there’s lots of darker reds and greens with a subtle pattern worked in to the fabric that’s very trendy right now. However, if you’re so inclined there’s some bolder paisley or even floral patterns that many men are starting to wear these days.”
Jon piped up, “I don’t know about that…”
“Oh you should be more adventurous, honey,” Beth said with a playful squeeze of his arm.
He stifled a cringe at the term of endearment, but decided to get into character. “I’m more of a subtle guy is all.”
“Yeah that’s true,” Beth said with a smirk. “It’s what I love about you.”
He fought off a blush as the clerk gave them a smile.
“A darker red or green like you described would be okay,” he offered.
“Well let’s look over here,” she led them over to another rack.
Beth eventually chose 3 different shirts and they headed toward the change rooms.
He tried the dark green one on first. Beth looked him over and made him turn around.
“I don’t know, you could pull it off I guess… I know it’s supposed to be like a spruce tree color but it’s a little swampy to me,” Beth said. “Try the red one.”
He went back into the change room.
She let out a satisfied sigh when he walked back out. “Mmm that one’s much better,” she said with her eyes running all over him.
To his surprise, she reached forward to his belt and tucked the front of his shirt more firmly into his pants, her fingers brushing over his lower abs and then moving to his arms.
“Are the sleeves a good length?” she asked.
“I think so, maybe a tad short. I like it though,” he said.
She met his eyes and smiled, “Met too. You look really handsome in it baby.”
He could feel the color of his face turning to match his shirt. He gazed down at her. She looked like every man’s version of the perfect girlfriend, looking up adoringly at him with her sparkling eyes, luscious smile, and the red v-neck top hugging her large perky breasts and giving him a generous view from above.
“This will definitely work, but try the silver one, I’m still curious about it,” she said.
“I’m not sure about that one Beth…”
“Pleeaase, I know it’s kinda flashy, but I think you’ll look good in it. Just try it….for me?” she pleaded, looking up at him doe-eyed and running her hands up his arms to squeeze his shoulders.
The clerk chuckled nearby, “You’d better listen to her.”
“Okay,” he relented, not able to resist returning Beth’s smile before heading back into the change room.
He walked back out feeling self-conscious in the more flashy silver-grey shirt.
Beth squealed in delight, “Aaa! Okay… okay for the party this might be a bit much I’ll admit.” She sauntered up to him and slid her hands over the smooth fabric. “But oh my GOD baby, if we like, undo a couple of these…” She reached up and undid the top two buttons. “Hnnngg, yeah you can wear this and take me dancing ANYtime,” she said huskily, sliding her hands up around his neck and pulling herself into him, shaking her hips playfully from side to side and rubbing her body against his in the process.
If she was was only pretending to be turned on she was doing an extremely good job of it. His cock was starting to come to life. She slowly slid away from him with a devilish smile.
“K, take it off. I kinda want to buy that one too though,” she said.
He went back into the change room, his heart racing in excitement.
He could tell she was asking the clerk something. Then she spoke up louder.
“Baby, can you wait in there we’re just gonna grab one or two more quick okay?”
He closed his eyes and sighed, hearing her call him that again. How had he suddenly found himself in this situation? She was pushing the limits hard.
…But he was enjoying every second of it. He had to admit, she was an exciting fantasy. A young, drop dead gorgeous girl that any man would kill to date. She was a genuinely nice girl too, he had long since decided….Other than the fact that he was pretty sure she was trying to steal a taken man. Maybe she just got off on toying with him. Maybe she genuinely wanted him. He couldn’t tell anymore.
He wanted her but didn’t at the same time. Physically there was no question, she was pushing all of his buttons in the right way, and losing control on her incredible body would be a dream come true. On a personal level though, the simple fact they worked together, in the way that they did, should made it an impossible pipe dream, even if they weren’t two very different people at very different points in their lives….And he was still engaged to Elaina, he reminded himself finally.
Suddenly the change room door opened and he gave a start, his shirt still completely unbuttoned.
“There you go,” he heard the clerk say as Beth slipped in and closed the door.
“Beth I-”
“Oh don’t worry she said it’s okay. We’re in a hurry and I just want to see if this size fits you better,” she said, holding up another red shirt like the one he’d already worn. Her eyes drifted down over his exposed torso.
“Beth this is getting a bit much,” he whispered with a serious look.
She rolled her eyes, “Oh come on I’ve already seen you topless at your hot tub party, and this way it’s quicker, we still need to find you a tie,” she said, “This one’s a bit smaller, but it’s a tall-fit, so I think it’ll be better tailored to your body.”
He stood topless in front of her in the very close quarters of the change room. She started to unbutton the shirt in her hands and her eyes darted to him with a smirk.
“She probably thinks we’re making out in here,” she whispered.
“Beth I’m serious you’re-”
“Oh take a joke,” she smiled, “Here.” She held the shirt out to slip one arm through.
Then she reached awkwardly behind him to pull the shirt around, leaning close.
“Beth you don’t need to-”
“I’m just trying to h- oh!” she lost her balance and fell into him his back coming up against the wall and her soft chest pressed into his bare skin.
She giggled as they leaned against the wall, “Sorry, I’m such a klutz.” She brought her hands to the side of his abs and slowly straightened up.
“You okay?” he said instinctively, though he doubted how genuine the trip had been. His hand had gone to her side to support her.
“Yeah, thanks,” she said breathily. “Now she definitely thinks we’re up to something,” she giggled.
Jon reached his other arm into the sleeve without further comment. His pulse was racing and he felt like it was a million degrees.
She started doing up his front buttons without asking, while he did up the cuffs.
“Yeah this fits a bit more snugly, I like it,” she said, her eyes seeming to devour his abs and chest as her fingers brushed against his skin.
She stopped when she got to his lower chest. She put her hand on the skin of his left pec and looked up at him.
“Your heart’s racing,” she said, her eyes seeming to search over his face for an explanation, her mouth curved in a slight smile seeming to know what that explanation was.
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
“In this shirt, yeah, you definitely are,” she joked. “Maybe just leave it like this,” she said softly. She made a devilish smile, looking at his exposed chest and moving her other hand onto him, and sliding both up and around his neck, pulling her body into his and looking up seductively.
“Why’s your heart beating so fast Jon?” she whispered.
He took a deep breath to try to calm himself, but it squished her tits into him more firmly.
“Look at us, why do you think?” he whispered back, pleadingly.
“Is it THAT exciting pretending to be my boyfriend?” she asked playfully, moving her face closer.
He couldn’t think of a response, he was paralyzed staring down at her. His cock was the only part of him able to move. He wasn’t sure if it was pushing against her at first, but she pulled herself in closer to him and the pressure of her hip on his groin took any doubt away.
“Do you think she’s ever had to kick people out for getting frisky in here?” she whispered in his ear, moving the fingernails of one hand down his chest.
They were both breathing heavily. Her hand continued downward, onto his shirt over top of his abs, they both knew exactly where it was heading.
He finally willed himself to speak, “We probably shouldn’t try to be the first.”
Her hand stopped and she pulled her lips away from his ear to look at his face, her eyes searching over it like she was fascinated with him and his response.
“What is she like 10 feet away?” he whispered.
She started to smile again with a look of realization on her face, like she was thrilled that their location might be his only reason for resisting. She looked down at his body again and brought her eyes slowly up to him lustfully.
“Yeah.” she whispered, kneading her fingers into his abs.
“I guess if we got kicked out I might not be able to find this shirt anywhere else.” she said, with a regretful smirk, continuing to slide her hands over him. She finally found his buttons and started doing them up again.
“K, tuck your shirt in, let’s go find you a tie that matches.”
He started to tuck in his shirt but realized it wasn’t going to work unless he undid his belt, so he started to unclasp it. She paused her hands on his last button and opened her mouth when she heard his belt buckle coming undone. He saw her chest rise and fall in a very deep breath and her tongue move across her lips as she finished the last button and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes darted up to his face and down to his open belt and back again. He finished tucking in the last of his shirt and he moved to loop his buckle back in… She suddenly moved her hands down and grabbed his wrists to stop him. She pushed him against the wall of the change room and pressed her body into him, breathing quickly.
“How quiet can you b-”
knock knock knock “Anything you need in there?” the clerk asked.
She relaxed and let her head fall onto his chest, letting out a sigh of disappointment.
“No we’re just done now,” Beth called back in a surprisingly normal voice.
She pushed herself off of him and looked up at his red face, with desire and frustration. She slowly stepped backwards and leaned up against the opposite wall, hugging her arms around herself. Her eyes never leaving him. Her breathing gradually slowing as he did his belt back up. She gave an amused smirk as he repositioned his hard cock to be less obvious. She reached for the silver shirt and handed it to him.
“Here hold this, we’ll buy it too,” she said.
“Okay,” he croaked, and cleared his throat. He held the shirt in front of him to cover the bulge in his pants. They both took a deep breath and walked out of the change room.
Beth looked through the tie rack and eventually settled on one that was a blueish silver with a pattern that she said looked like a blowing snowstorm. She told him it went well with his eyes. She had insisted on tying it for him and he was impressed with how good she was at it. It felt good too, he had to admit. Her eyes kept darting up to his, as she tightened it on his neck and she smiled. She put her hands over his arms, told him he looked perfect, and pecked a kiss on his cheek. He blushed and gave a small smile back as the clerk watched them.
They brought the items up to the till and the clerk ran them through. It was even more expensive than he expected, but nothing he couldn’t justify. Beth reached for her wallet to pay for it though, and he stopped her quickly.
“No, let me pay for these it’s too much.”
“But this was my Christmas present for you!” she complained.
“Your help with shopping and your fashion sense are your present. I wouldn’t have found anything close to this good, so that’s more than enough.”
She crossed her arms and looked at him in playful annoyance, “That wasn’t the deal.”
He stared at her for a second, then said, “Look honey, you know it’s all both of our money, but it’s easier if it goes on my card.”
Her eyes shone up at him in excitement and amusement at his sudden immersion in her fantasy.
“Okay…” she said, stepping closer to him and reaching up to his neck.
She sighed “You’re too good to me baby,” placing her other hand on his chest lightly. She moved her face closer to him. “I’ll just have to repay you in some other way,” she said suggestively.
Then, before he could react, she kissed him on the lips.
It was a quick kiss, but longer than a peck. Her lips were so soft, and moist and warm. She pulled away looking up at him with excited eyes. Then turned back to the counter.
She elbowed him. “Pay for it then before I get my wallet out again.”
He broke out of his shock and gave his card to the clerk. As he punched in his code she smiled at Beth.
“You two are so cute together,” she said.
“Thanks,” Beth said with a giggle.
“Thank you,” Jon said with a gulp, taking his card back and putting it back into his wallet with slightly shaky fingers.
The cold winter air hitting him as they left the store felt like a relief. He had no words. His head was spinning.
Beth laughed and put her arm through his, leaning against him, “Oh my God, that was SO fun. Thank you!”
Jon looked down at her with concern, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.
“Oh it’s fine. Don’t tell me you didn’t get a kick out of that,” she said with a smile “I can’t believe you paid though!” she swatted him playfully.
“That was too much, I couldn’t let you spend that much on me, not when you’re working two jobs, saving up and what not,” he replied.
“I’ve spent that much on my own clothes before. More than that, to be honest,” she said matter-of-factly.
He looked at her doubtfully.
“Okay well not all the time,” she admitted, “I’m not THAT bad with money.”
“That’s a relief,” he chuckled.
She sighed, “Okay I admit it would have been a lot, but I would’ve been happy to, you deserve it,” She squeezed around his arm.
“Well.. I appreciate the offer anyway, Beth,” he said.
She beamed up at him, “Okay but NOW… you totally have to come shopping with me.”
Jon opened his mouth to protest but she kept talking.
“Nope! No arguments you screwed the deal up and paid for your own present, so now you need make it up to me by coming with me to the mall. Come on, that was too fun, I want to do it all over, but this time I’ll be the one trying stuff on.”
“I dunno Beth, that was getting crazy,” he said.
“Yeah it was, wasn’t it…” she said with a much more excited tone than him, and smiled in satisfaction. She leaned on him in silence as they walked arm in arm, only pulling away as they arrived at the clinic parking lot.
Beth walked into his office later on that afternoon as Jon was on the phone.
He was listening intently and let out a laugh as his fingers played with his pen.
“Haha!…Oh whatever. K. it was nice chatting with you again Carly. Yeah I’ll see you tomorrow at the party. Looking forward to it. Bye.”
Jon looked up with a smile as he hung up the phone to see Beth with her arms crossed and a worried look on her face.
“Yeah?” he asked.
She suddenly seemed to collect herself and gave a tight smile.
“Hey, um, sorry to put this on you suddenly, but Mrs Gershwin has her 2 year old son with her and is asking if you can see him too, I guess he’s been sick the last few days.”
Jon sighed, “We’re already kind of behind.”
“Yeah you were um…” Beth coughed, “chatting with Carly for a while there.”
“Was it that long?” he asked suddenly concerned.
“No, it was like, a few minutes, whatever. Just.. I can tell her no, but it’s up to you.”
“Oh nonono fit him in, it’s kind of unfair of her not to tell us beforehand, but I’d be an asshole not to see him,” he reassured her. “I’ll try to catch up.”
“Do you have somewhere you need to get away to after clinic?” she asked casually.
“No, not really, but still.”
“K good,” she said quietly.
“Hm?”
“I’ll bring them in,” she said, turning to walk away.
He never quite caught up with the patient list. Beth wasn’t doing anything wrong per se, but he had this feeling that she was lagging a bit, almost like she was resisting him speeding up the clinic, but he figured he was probably just imagining it.
Sure enough he finished late but it wasn’t too bad. There were still some other staff hanging around when he finished his work.
Beth poked her head in as he was turning off his computer.
“Oh! are you… done already?” she asked, sounding surprised.
“Yeah, I powered through the last few notes and consults,” he said.
“Okay, um… ” she looked annoyed and glanced down the hall letting out a sigh. He thought he saw her mouth the words ‘fuck it’, then turn back to him with a smile and stepped through the door.
“Can you stick around for a bit?” she asked softly.
“Yeah, what’s up?” he said.
“Nothing just… today was really amazing,” she said closing the door. The view of her round, firm butt, and the curve of her back drawing his eyes. She slowly turned and leaned against the door, looking over at him with nervous eyes.
“It felt really good in the store when we were like… well you know,” she said, breathing heavier.
Her hand reached over and locked the door. Her eyes held his in a very enticing way, and as he stared transfixed at them, he was aware of her incredible legs starting to walk towards him.
“I can’t wait till I get to go shopping with you, I feel like my wardrobe’s getting tired,” she said, looking down at her shirt, playing with the low neckline. She undid the first button, another inch of flawless cleavage coming into his view. She looked back up at him judging his reaction. It was still stupefied silence.
“To try some new clothes on, and you can tell me what you like…” she said, undoing another button. The rest of her entire cleavage and the lower edge of a dark lacy bra was revealed.
He sat in his chair, awestruck, gripping the side of the desk tightly with one hand and breathing heavier.
“I wasn’t really kidding about the lingerie,” she said, undoing the last buttons and taking another sauntering step forward. The shirt fell to the side showing her flat abs and the rest of the bra perfectly molded over her tits.
“I could model a few sets for you,” she said, pulling her shoulders back to slip the shirt off, jutting her breasts out and taking a deep breath to protrude them further. “…and you could pick your favorites.”
She took one last step towards him.
“I’d buy them and that’d be your real Christmas present,” she said staring at him lustfully and leaning forward to put her hands on his knees, giving him an even more generous view.
“And then we’d take them back to my place.” She walked her hands up his thighs, and then slid them up to his shoulders.
“I’d put them on again for you, one by one.”
She pulled him forward, his chair rolling until she was looming over him, his face absorbing the warmth of her tits almost touching him, as he looked up at her, still paralyzed at her incredible seduction.
“And each time… you could rip them off of me… and fuck my brains out.”
She sat down on his hard cock and shoved her mouth against his.
Her lips felt incredible, her tongue darting into his passionately. Her skirt rode up and her panties rubbed against his erection as she slowly gyrated her hips into him. The fireworks of it ripped him back to reality though, and he finally started to resist, pulling her face away from his.
“Beth-”
“No come on, just-” she kissed him again.
He pushed her face gently away again.
“Aww come on, you know we both want this,” she purred, slowly moving his hands off of her and bringing them down to cup her breasts and helping him squeeze. He lost himself in the incredible feel of their large supple surface long enough for her to reach behind herself and unclasp her bra. She slipped her arms out quickly and it fell on his lap, her incredible tits fully exposed and naked down to her narrow waist.
He still hesitated, but she brought her hands back down over top of his to help him squeeze into their bare surface, palming her hard nipples. She shoved her tongue in his mouth again and moaned, thrusting her hips harder into his groin. He couldn’t help lifting his hips up into her in response. She nibbled his lip and smiled. He suddenly gained his senses back and pushed her away again.
“Beth-”
“Oh, Jon…”
“This is a bad idea.”
“It’s so fucking bad I know,” she said kissing him again.
He broke away, and looked at her beautiful eyes, Her bare tits pressed against him. He forgot what he had been going to say. She reached a hand down to his crotch and found his cock through his pants, stimulating it with her fingers. Jolts of intense pleasure enveloped him.
Had she stayed silent and simply kissed him back he might have lost himself and surrendered fully….but then she spoke.
“Come on, Jon. I know you’re not happy with Elaina….and you don’t have to settle for Carly.”
He looked up at her and started to frown. To his surprise, it wasn’t the mention of Elaina that turned him off. It was her mention of Carly.
“What-”
She kissed him again, but he pushed her face away again, this time with more strength. She rubbed his cock more firmly through his pants and he grunted. She smiled in satisfaction and kissed him again. Again he pushed her away.
“Please Jon, just let it happen.”
“No, Beth. I-” he grunted again at her caresses, feeling almost helplessly horny.
“Come on!” she insisted, grabbing his hands more forcefully and shoving them onto her tits again.
“Beth we can’t! This is crazy,” his hands kneading into the skin of her breasts instinctively before pulling them away.
“I know, it’s crazy, but who are we kidding,” she kissed his neck and wrapped her arms around him, then wrapped her legs behind the chair and squeezed her pussy into him.
“Ugghhh” he grunted again, grabbing her ass and squeezing despite himself. She peppered kisses over his neck and moaned. Then brought her lips up to his ear and nibbled.
“Ohh yeah squeeze it Jon. I want you so fucking bad”
She reached down and squeezed his ass back, pulling herself against him even harder. He could feel the moisture of her pussy through the fabric.
He heard footsteps and talking in the hall and froze.
“It’s okay we can be quiet,” she whispered, starting to lift his shirt.
He looked at her again. Drinking in her beautiful face, her amazing tits, feeling her muscular ass and legs gyrating and taking in her whole body moving over him in a spectacularly erotic way.
She wasn’t worth it. He had to stop this.
He lifted her up by her armpits and stood up. She looked at him with questioning eyes, wanting to keep going, rubbing her hands over him. She stepped back towards the exam table and tried to pull him into her again but he took her hand away and stepped back. The people in the hallway had gone.
“Enough. Beth I’m not going any further,” he panted and fixed his shirt, leaning back against his desk.
“Jon please, I’m sorry if I’m rushing this, I’m not a slut, I swear, I just feel like it’s now or never, I’ve wanted you for so long now,” she tried to move back against him, but he put a hand out to stop her and shifted away.
“I’m sorry Beth. I know I’ve probably sent some signals back to you. It’s hard not to, you’re a beautiful, amazing girl…”
She smiled wide as he said this, despite tears starting to form in her eyes and tried to move towards him again, but he put up a hand and she stopped herself. Wrapping her arms around herself and finally sitting down, a tear rolled down her cheek.
“But…” Jon sighed, “Yes, Elaina and I are having issues, but I need to figure that out first, and not just cheat on her like this,” he explained.
“At least not with me,” Beth said bitterly, grabbing her bra off the floor.
“What? No Beth it’s not YOU, you’re incredible, take it as flattery that you got this far, this wasn’t easy for me at all. You… almost had me,” he said, his eyes being drawn down to her tits as she stuffed them back in her bra.
She gave a satisfied smirk through her tears as she saw him gawk at her.
“I know there’s something happening between you and Carly, Jon. I still don’t know what she has that I don’t, but don’t try to pretend you’re just a devoted fiance and that’s it,” she said, reaching behind to clasp her bra, thrusting her amazing chest out and meeting his eyes almost challengingly.
He closed his eyes and took a breath, “Nothing…. is actually happening between us, er… I’m not saying there’s nothing there, but… Goddammit. Beth I don’t fucking know,” he shook his head. “I feel like I’m spiraling out of control, and I’m just trying to get a grip.”
She let out a soft giggle. He frowned at her, confused at her response.
“Sorry it’s um, just a different side of you right now. Thanks for being honest,” she said, buttoning her shirt back up, and giving him a cute smile, still sniffling.
“I’m not some perfect, prince-charming, McDreamy doctor you can fly away with Beth. I’m just another fucked-up idiot who can’t figure out what he wants,” he said in exasperation.
She looked at him quizzically, “Yeah… I know. And I want you all the same. And if… after you do whatever it is you need to do, you change your mind, my door is always open.” She shrugged.
He looked at her astonished, but actually admired her a little bit more.
She stood up took a deep breath, “Look, this is about as big a fuck-up as I could’ve possibly made as far as this job goes, so I get it if you want to tell them to fire me, or move me somewhere else, or whatever… but if you’re willing to pretend that this never happened, so am I. And if so, I promise I’ll dial it right down. No more flirting and stuff, but… it’s up to you.”
Jon looked at her and thought, and then finally spoke cautiously, “Well… you know what, let’s try pretending and see how that works out, and go from there.”
She beamed an incredible smile at him and wiped away a last tear. She stepped towards him, and put her hand on his cheek appreciatively. Then she leaned forward and gave him one last kiss, soft and warm, almost making him regret everything he just said.
“She doesn’t deserve you,” Beth said, and turned around to leave.
“I don’t know about that,” he muttered, with a quiet bitterness.
She suddenly stopped and turned around.
“She’s a bitch, Jon.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “What?”
She stood there silently looking like she was working up the courage to continue.
“Elaina. She’s a bitch. I don’t care if you change your mind and get them to fire me, I think you need to hear it,” she said, and crossed her arms, her face looking both scared and angry.
Jon just stood there dumbfounded.
“Like, it’s just a fact. Everyone thinks it,” Beth continued. “Some people tolerate it, but it doesn’t change the fact. I’ve got two other friends who work in the hospital, besides the people at the clinic here. One’s a nurse, one’s with housekeeping, and everyone tells the same stories. She walks around on her high horse like she owns the place even though no one really respects her, they just don’t want to get chewed out by her. She yells at people for no reason, all the time, over petty things. People who have no power to fight back. Nurses, cleaning staff, kitchen workers, fucking family members of a dying patient…”
Jon opened his mouth in disbelief.
“Yeah! I’m serious,” she insisted. “I almost didn’t believe that last one, but I heard it from more than one person. People keep writing complaints but it’s mostly lower rung staff, so nothing happens. They say some of the docs defend her and tell people just to put up with it cause ‘she’s a genius’ and works hard apparently, but even they admit she’s a piece of work. She’s a mean, unpleasant, unhappy, self-absorbed bitch, and you don’t have to marry her. You deserve better,” she sobbed. “You’re not perfect, but you deserve someone who’s a better person than her. It doesn’t have to be me, I’m fine with that, just please don’t marry her. It breaks my heart every day.”
Jon stared at Beth’s tear-stained face, and felt that his own eyes were starting to moisten. He stood there, absorbing everything she said, and feeling in his bones that it was all very likely true.
“So whatever, hate me if you want, make them fire me, but you need to know that,” she croaked, and turned to storm out.
“Wait! Beth. Don’t…” he gulped and took a deep breath. She hesitated by the door and turned around. Tears and hopelessness spread over her face.
“Thank you,” he said. “Really, thank you. I can tell you’re being honest, and I appreciate it. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all that, and it hurts to hear it, but I don’t hate you. That’s… the kind of thing a good friend would tell another. So… thanks.”
“You’re um, you’re welcome,” she said, seeming perplexed but relieved.
He nodded. They stared at each other for another silent moment.
She hesitated with a sniffle, and finally said a very uncertain, “Have a good night Jon.”
Then she finally opened the door, and was gone.
That evening Elaina seemed like she was over the kitten fiasco, and was trying to make amends. She complimented him on his choice of takeout, and said she was glad to see the bags from the menswear store, She was eager to see him try the clothes on and might have given him a hint of a suggestive look. His head was elsewhere though, stoic and withdrawn, thinking about what Beth had said. Finally, after a break in the conversation he asked her how her day at the hospital went.
“Oh nothing out of the ordinary, it was fairly standard consults and the dialysis clinic was the usual. A few issues with staff like there always is.”
“Oh?…” he said, interested to hear more, realizing how she might have been downplaying her behavior in the hospital if what Beth said was true.
“Well you know, it’s always an ongoing struggle keeping people in line, and making sure things get done right. I wish it didn’t take so much effort to get them to understand professionalism, but that’s life,” she said nonchalantly.
“Yeah… how do you go about that? Like have you changed your approach?” he asked, trying to stay casual.
“Oh well yes, when we were residents I tried to keep things in order, as much as I could, but I was always holding back and limited by what our attending might think, and I had to worry about rotation evaluations. So I always had to be a bit more passive.”
He bit his tongue. He had never thought that she had ever really held back, to have called her ‘passive’ would have been ridiculous.
“Anyway, now that I’m an attending I feel like I finally have the confidence and freedom to assert myself. It feels good, and it really is necessary I think, to maintain a certain quality of care. I just feel like I’m the only one putting in the effort sometimes, you know?”
“Uhh, yeah I guess. Does that cause problems though? Like, interpersonally? If you’re too harsh you can burn bridges right?”
She shrugged, “I’m careful not to lose my temper with the other doctors, at least not as often as I do with the support staff, so I don’t think it hurts me professionally. I think people respect that I demand a certain quality of work, and it takes a certain level of discipline to achieve that,” she said calmly.
“I… hear what you’re saying, I guess, but respect goes both ways right?”
“Yes and I find poor quality work disrespectful.”
He sighed, “Do the other docs on the wards treat people the same way?”
“We all have our different approaches and that’s fine. Though I like to think I can lead by example.” She squinted at him. “Why? Did someone say something?”
He paused for a moment and thought.
“Nothing… too specific,” he said carefully. “You know I’m in the O.R. assisting every Wednesday right? So I overhear things, and occasionally your name comes up, and… just the way some of the nurses talk about you makes me wonder.”
It was all technically the truth. After hearing what Beth said, he had thought back to other conversations, and some of the vague things he remembered the staff saying about her had suddenly clicked in his mind.
She shook her head angrily, “Those fucking nurses I swear to God. They all seem to have it out for me, I feel like they have little sorority meetings every week to think up new ways of pissing me off. Don’t believe a single word any of them say. Entitled, lazy, nattering little bitches. All of them.”
“ALL of them?” he said doubtfully, trying to make her hear what she was saying.
“YES, all of them. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it seems to be.
He knew it wasn’t. It was clear where the problem was lying.
He didn’t push it any further. He had heard enough to confirm what he feared, and she was clearly in no mood for him to try to help her see the err of her ways. Not that she ever was.
She settled down quickly though, and even said out loud that she wasn’t going to let work issues ruin their weekend.
They put on a tv show and settled in on the couch for a while. When the second show ended she looked to him and smiled.
“By the way I’ve been thinking about your apparent love of little hairy creatures.”
“Okay…” he replied suspiciously.
“First of all I’m sorry I probably over-reacted about the kitten a little bit… only a LITTLE,” she glared at him when he had nodded in agreement. “But… if you really think it would make our lives more exciting to have a pet, then I know I personally would prefer a dog,” she smiled.
He stared at her in surprise, then smiled back doubtfully, “Really?”
“Not just ANY dog. I don’t want some mutt off the street. Something purebred, well groomed, well trained. I’ve never had one before, and they always seemed like nothing but slobbering messes to me, but I caught some dog shows on tv the other day and it actually looks like it would be quite the event to attend. I was thinking we could hire someone not only to help look after it, but perhaps also do some of the regional shows if we find one well-bred enough. I know some people with kennels would do that, and even keep the dog there most of the time. We would still own it of course, but that way it wouldn’t be as much work or mess around here.”
He looked at her trying not to change his face, but inside he was dying. She had somehow taken something wholesome he would’ve been excited about, and manipulated it into one of her attempts at flaunting wealth and status. He had always just wanted a furry friend for companionship. She wanted a trophy.
He chose his words carefully, “If you really are sure about it… You gotta be careful with some of those breeders, there’s some shady stuff that goes on in that world.”
“Yes of course we’d be careful not to get swindled,” she said.
“No I mean like, with animal welfare,” he corrected her.
“Oh. Yes I suppose,” she shrugged in agreement. “Anyway I don’t want one right away, but I’m open to considering it.” She smiled at him, as if, with her consideration alone, she had just given him the greatest Christmas present ever. He was less than impressed, but tried not to show it.
“Thanks,” he said politely.
She snuggled into him. She seemed to be feeling more and more affectionate, and he kept feeling less and less. His loins were still aching in denial from what had happened with Beth, but emotionally he wasn’t sure his desire for Elaina had ever sunk this low.
The evening wore on. It wasn’t that late yet but Elaina turned off the TV.
“You have an outfit to show me I believe,” she said, looking at him with a suggestive smile.
“Oh right. Yeah sure,” he said, and got up slowly without much excitement.
They went upstairs and he put on the red shirt and silver-blue tie.
She loved it. She said she couldn’t believe he had picked it out himself.
“The clerk helped me pick it,” he said.
“Ahhh that makes sense now,” she replied. “Well either way, thank you for listening to me and getting something nice.” She smiled again and pecked him a kiss.
“Elaina, before we go to bed, I had wanted to have a chat about something,” he said.
“Of course honey,” she said, running her eyes over him, and running her fingers along his belt.
He knew he should appreciate the attention but he also knew she was probably toying with the idea of seducing him to avoid talking, in case he was about to bring up a touchy subject. Which he was…
“I’ve been thinking about… one of the big things we haven’t been able to agree on. That’s been tough to talk about. And I think I’ve reached a decision.”
“Without me?” she said, narrowing her eyes and freezing her hands for a moment.
“Well. Sort of… Just listen. As far as us having kids-…”
“Jon WHY do you keep bringing this up,” she said, moving against him and sliding her hand down to his crotch almost instinctively.
He grabbed her hand to stop her. “No. Just LISTEN Elaina. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. And I’ve decided… we don’t need to have kids.”
She looked up at him in shock.
“I can tell you don’t want to, and that’s fine,” he said. “We can still live a good life together without them. I can learn to still be happy without them. It would be wrong for me to pressure you into it if you don’t really want to. So we don’t have to.”
She stared at him for a moment, then smiled wide.
“Oh Jon!” She leaned up and kissed him passionately.
“Thank you so much,” she said between kisses. “That means so much.”
She hugged him tightly and then kissed him on the neck.
What was left unsaid was why. He had been having doubts for a while, but now had reached the conclusion that she wouldn’t be a good mother. He hated thinking it, but he couldn’t convince himself otherwise. He still loved the idea of having and raising kids, but didn’t want to have kids with her. Saying even half of that truth out loud made it that much more clear in his mind now. It drove home the bitter reality of it, of how little he thought of her despite their lives being so entwined.
“I love you Jon,” she said, and hugged tighter.
“I love you too,” he lied.
She broke away and told him to put on his suit pants and jacket so she could see the full effect and she left the room for a few minutes.
He went to the closet and put them on in a blank-faced trance. He had so much he regretted, but in that moment he realized he regretted what he had just told her. Instead of telling her he didn’t want kids, he should’ve asked to postpone or call off the wedding. He wasn’t sure he would’ve had the guts to, but he knew it would’ve been a more appropriate move. Too late now, he told himself, sinking into self-defeat.
She walked back into the room slowly, wearing a shiny green ballroom gown. The deep v-neck designed to be worn bra-less and cut low past the space between her breasts. She was the definition of elegance. A look of seduction on her face.
“Well hello sir…” she said with a smile “You’re looking quite dashing this evening.”
He simply stared at her. She seemed to mistake his depressed empty gaze, for being dumbstruck at her dress. She walked forward, trying to saunter her narrow hips, though she was trying a little too hard.
“I’m going to wear it tomorrow. How do I look?” she asked.
He paused a moment, trying to make his brain care enough to speak.
“Like a queen,” he said honestly.
Her hands went immediately to his cock. He simply breathed out but she took it as a shared desire. She leaned up and kissed him passionately, wrapping her other arm around his neck and putting her tongue in his mouth sloppily. He kissed her back, as his cock hardened. He needed release, and like it or not she was his fiance. At least for now.
She slowly pulled him backwards, walking step by step to the bed.
She told him to take his tie and shirt off and he complied. She pulled the straps of her dress over her shoulders and let it slide down to the floor. She was completely naked underneath. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him again, her hard firm nipples pushing up against his chest.
He couldn’t help comparing her body with Beth’s. Elaina had a great body, the kind many celebrities worked hard to achieve to show off on the red carpet. But compared to the last woman to press up against him, she felt cold, boney and wasted. Her soft breasts were there, but it was mostly ribs that pressed into him. He moved his hands down to her tight, tiny ass, wishing there was more to grab on to.
She sat down on the bed and told him to take off his pants.
As he did so she reassured him that she wouldn’t play any games tonight. That she already wanted him so badly, and that he’d already said enough to earn everything.
He felt insulted by the last bit, but he was a strange combination of horny and dead-inside and wasn’t about to start an argument.
He climbed over top of her on the bed and she pulled his face into hers. She didn’t waste any time and after a few short minutes of foreplay she rolled him over and impaled herself on his erection. She wailed his name, and started rocking her hips immediately. His body had been responding to hers almost by muscle memory, his mind checked out, but his hands and cock were both playing along convincingly.
“Ohhhh Jon!” she exclaimed. “Oh I’m so lucky to have you. Ohhh…To have a man that will do so much for me. Aaahh. A man to make me happy. Ughh. To be a loyal. Ah. Dutiful. Ah! Husband! Ah! I love you! AH! AH!”
She humped him harder. He flexed his body to meet her instinctively, but was hating everything she said. He felt even more like a pet. Like a trophy. Like that dog she had decided she wanted.
He closed his eyes and images of Beth immediately came to him. The incredible fit, tight curves of her body sitting on him. Her breasts in his hands.
He imagined what it might have been like if he had kept going. If he had given in like so much of him had wanted to. Kissed her back passionately. Buried his face in her full supple tits. Let her rip his shirt off and bring her hand down into his pants to find his eager cock. To reach down and move his fingers past her panties and into her wet pussy. To let her slide his pants down. To slip her panties to the side and to shove his rock-hard cock inside her as she wrapped her legs around the chair. To let whoever had been in the hallway be shocked by hearing their cries of passion and slapping skin of their bodies as she drove herself down on to his bare cock.
He was close to the edge, but then he remembered why he had stopped Beth. The real reason why. He thought of Carly in that massive sexy black bra perched on his exam table. If they had actually kissed. If they had taken each other right then and there…
He opened his eyes as he came hard inside Elaina. He yelled out in grunts and flexed his entire body in violent spasms of desire. None of it for the woman on top of him.
She thought otherwise though, gazing down on him in satisfaction as his orgasm subsided. She slid down to pepper kisses over his neck and profess her love for him again.
She went to sleep, curled up against him, as he stared at the ceiling for what seemed like forever.
*********
The cab pulled up to the hotel conference center, where the hospital Christmas party was getting underway. A blizzard was just beginning to pull in as well, and the gusting snow was making it difficult to see. Carly winced as she opened the door and the wind hit her. She pulled her scarf up to shield her face, trying not to smudge up her makeup.
She waited coldly for Brent to slowly walk up beside her.
“Did you tip him?” she asked as they walked into the hotel lobby.
“Why would I? He was late and almost got us in an accident,” Brent said, as if she was talking total nonsense.
“It’s a blizzard! He did the best he could.”
Brent simply shrugged.
“We’re not even that late, it’s only 10 after, and the meal doesn’t start until 6:30,” she said.
“I was hoping you could get your schmoozing in early so we wouldn’t be too late again,” he said flatly.
“Why? What’s your excuse this time? Classes are done and your first exam to monitor isn’t until Monday,” she said, as they took off their coats.
He didn’t respond as they walked up to the table in front of the conference room and handed over the tickets.
“I don’t know anyone here,” he finally said as, they walked over to the coat check.
“And I won’t know anyone at your faculty party next weekend, but I’m going anyway,” she rebuked. “And we can stay as long as you want on that night.”
They handed in their coats and stepped to the side.
“How much do you plan on drinking tonight?” he asked with a tinge of judgment to his voice.
“As much as I feel like,” she said coldly.
“Is that healthy right now?” he said, implying the answer was no.
“I had my period last weekend and we haven’t had sex since, and even then I took a test this afternoon and it was negative again.”
“Are you sure those things are accurate enough?”
“…Yes Brent, I’m a pharmacist.”
He shrugged again. “Maybe you’re doing something wrong. The place is full of doctors you could ask one of them here.”
“Jesus, Brent please do NOT bring that up tonight. It’s only been 2 months and it’s not like we’ve been trying very hard. Plus, it could be you as easily as it could be me.”
He gave her an insulted glare, “I’m going to use the washroom. Go find our table.”
She sighed again as he walked away, staring with disappointment at the small bald spot forming at the back of his head, and his waddling ass in his loose dress pants. She could forgive him for his looks, she knew she was no supermodel, and that’s not why she’d married him anyway. What was unbearable was his flat mood, his dull demeanor, his patronizing smug superiority to anyone around him acting differently.
It was getting harder to remember back when she used to be enamored with him. When his quiet cockiness seemed mysterious and alluring. When there seemed like there were so many secrets within him that she could coax out of him, if she only tried hard enough, and the times he romanced her – admittedly rare even back then – made her seem so special. She had thought she’d just lost that man and needed to find him again. She was starting to think that alluring mystery had been a lie to begin with. A projection she had just invented for herself, and there was nothing really there to uncover, and never had been.
She decided to head to the washroom herself. She came out of the stall and checked herself in the mirror. The scarf hadn’t smudged her makeup after all. She played with a few strands of hair and pulled at her dress and shawl a bit.
The black dress made her a little self-conscious. The hem was only slightly above the knee but the chest was very revealing. The thin straps digging in to her shoulders went very low before meeting the top of the dress, with a straight bodice revealing the entire top half of her breasts.
She had never been one to intentionally dress provocatively, but when she tried it on, the thought of Jon’s eyes running over her made such an excited stirring in her lower regions that she couldn’t help considering it. Then Brent’s comment of it being ‘a little slutty’ made her want to wear it even more, just prove to him she had every right to. She had decided to add the red knitted shawl over top at least, partly in case it was cold, and partly to help cover herself. Though the knit was loose enough to see through, and it might just be a tease as much as anything. She remembered Jon seeming to like her wearing Elaina’s shawl on that incredible night, and wondered what he’d think of this one.
She chastised herself for her thoughts of him, like she had so many times before. She’d spent so long trying to get over him. Tried so hard to be a good wife and fix her marriage. It had almost seemed to work. Brent hadn’t really changed much, but she had convinced herself that they were happy enough and stable enough.
He at least seemed to understand that she was putting in effort, and his contribution had been to suggest – without much excitement she recalled – that they start trying to have kids. She felt she couldn’t really say no after having talked about it and twisted his arm for so long. Though deep down she knew that their marriage was still on rocky ground, and she hated that they might be having kids to try and save their relationship. She knew that rarely worked, and was more likely to do the opposite.
Every time she took a test and saw it come up negative she wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved. Neither her nor Brent had been making a huge effort to have more sex. Once or twice whenever she thought she was ovulating, but not much more than that. She knew she wanted kids, she just wasn’t sure if her life was at the right point for it. She used to think she was, but now everything was in doubt. She’d be 30 next year, which she knew wasn’t that old, but if she left Brent how long would it take to find someone else, and get her life to a point where she was ready again?
She inevitably thought of Jon right away, even though dreaming that far ahead was ridiculous. They seemed to have let themselves discover each other again, and it felt so good to have him back in her life, even for a few brief calls and meet-ups….and their hands under the table at the party, and that day in his office when they had been so close… She felt a warmth inside her as she remembered.
Grace had told her what happened between Elaina and Jeff, and that Jeff had told Jon. She remembered outwardly sharing Grace’s anger, but deep inside she couldn’t help feeling excitement when she found out. How could she know where he was at with it though? Obviously they had both been at least briefly unfaithful.. but maybe they were better at fixing things than she and Brent were. Would they spiral down and leave each other, or bounce back stronger than ever? Was she waiting to find out before she decided what to do with her own relationship?
She walked back out of the bathroom trying to shake the thoughts from her head and drifted into the loud ballroom, already full of people. Doctors, nurses and other staff from the hospital were everywhere. The turn out had been good, despite the blizzard. She didn’t see Brent anywhere and decided she needed a drink. The line up to the bar thankfully wasn’t too long and she got a nice big Margarita. She smiled when she turned around and saw Grace walking towards her waving and smiling with a drink already in hand.
“Heyyyy girl!”
“Hey!” Carly replied happily as they carefully hugged, minding their drinks.
“You. Are. Ravishing. My God,” Grace said looking her over. “If Brent hasn’t been drooling all over you already, there’s something wrong with him.”
Carly giggled, “I love your dress too it’s cute.” she replied.
Grace had chosen a fairly simple red dress, with a frilled skirt, black polka dots and black edging. “This old thing? Yeah thanks, I love how we ended up color coordinated. It’s like… same wavelength. We’re on it,” she joked pointing between their foreheads.
Carly laughed, “Totally. You ditch Jeff already, or where is everyone?”
“Only briefly to come snag you. We’re hanging out over there with Rob, and Ben and his wife Jenna just got here, you remember them from our party?”
“Uh, yeah, Rob’s the radiologist with the good weed, and Ben’s… um, I forget, but the one with all the games.”
“Yeah, he’s a pathologist. Oh and Jenna wasn’t there, you need to meet her still! Where’s Brent?”
“He went to the washroom and I haven’t seen him since.”
Grace shrugged, “What can you do. Come on let’s go chat.”
They started walking back to where Jeff had been talking with Rob, next to Ben and who she presumed was Jenna….Then Carly noticed Elaina and Jon, just joining the group as well.
“Uhhhh fuck me, here we go,” Grace said softly when she saw Elaina.
“Be good,” Carly warned.
Grace pouted at her, but put on a friendly face as they walked up to the group.
Carly only looked at Elaina briefly, noting her usual slender sophisticated look with the sparkling green deep v-neck gown being completely her style. She still felt a little intimidated by her, but not as much as when they first met.
Her eyes quickly moved to Jon. He looked handsome as ever, with a well-fitted suit and a nice looking red shirt that clung to his torso just enough to get a sense of the shape of his body underneath it. That sparkling silver-blue tie was a really nice touch and almost made his eyes twinkle. Suddenly those eyes were looking right at her and giving a friendly wave as she joined the group. She smiled back and tried to ignore the fluttering in her chest and control her breathing.
“Hi! Good to see you,” Jon said, looking excited.
They clinked glasses across the circle of people they were in, and she did the same to Elaina, saying a polite ‘hi’ as well.
Grace stayed silent and simply put her arm around Jeff and pecked him a kiss on the cheek, but kept smiling casually.
“Jeff tells me the kitten’s doing well,” Jon said to Grace.
“Yeah! Little guy’s awesome. We brought him to the vet yesterday and he’s in decent health. Gonna get some shots, and chop his little bits off at some point, but we gotta wait till he’s older. Thank you so much for finding him and taking him home, he’s a lucky little fella.”
“Thank YOU for taking him, I’m glad he’s got a good home.”
“Oh of course, I don’t know how anyone with a soul could say no to such a cute little thing,” Grace said, and sipped her drink, seeming to deliberately not look at Elaina.
Carly glanced at Elaina who maintained a neutral face, but there looked to be some effort behind it.
“K, I gotta see a picture of this guy, do you have one?” Rob asked.
Jeff pulled out his phone.
“You know Jon and I were considering looking into getting a dog,” Elaina spoke up.
Carly was genuinely surprised, “Oh? What kind?”
“A nice one, something well trained,” Elaina replied.
Carly saw Jon close his eyes and take a long swig of his beer. She couldn’t help but chuckle, “No I mean what breed?”
“Oh, um, something pure bred. You know we haven’t really discussed it that far,” Elaina said dismissively.
“What are some of your favorites?” Carly asked innocently.
“Oh… um… Well…”
Jon came to her rescue. “I’m partial to German shepherds or huskies, myself,” he said casually.
“Aren’t those the big kind though?” Elaina turned and asked him, looking concerned.
“… yeah kinda,” he said, clearly getting frustrated with her.
“I don’t think I’d want that. What are the ones that are smaller with the nice curly fur?”
Ben chuckled into his drink.
Jon looked at her in what was clearly embarrassed disbelief, but was trying to stay civil. “There’s…lots. Lots of different kinds like that.”
Carly felt Grace’s hand move onto her ass and squeeze it. She looked over with a smirk on her face to see Grace mouth the words ‘I love you’ at her before sipping her drink with a grin.
Carly giggled. She hadn’t meant to embarrass Elaina at all. She almost felt guilty. Almost.
Grace piped up, “You know dogs are a lot of work, it’s good to know what you’re getting into, though.” She laughed, “Unless you’re gonna get lazy and make Jon do all the work.”
Elaina gave her annoyed look, “No. Of course not.”
“That’s good then,” Grace said with a mischievous smile. “I love dogs. I mean as long as you’re good with scraping some poop off the floor and some slobber on your face they’re totally worth it.”
Elaina had been about to take a sip of her drink but stopped and turned pale.
“But I’m sure that’s no problem right?” Grace said with a wider smile, sipping her drink again.
“I…” Elaina seemed not to be able to think of a response and almost looked like she was going to sick-up.
“How’s work in the hospital Grace?” Jon said, changing the subject. His mouth smiling, but his eyes glaring.
“Oh it’s great. Yeah, busy as ever, but there’s so many awesome staff, everyone’s always easy to get along with. Almost everyone anyway.”
Carly could tell where she was headed and tried to waylay her, “Plus you have me to go on lunch dates with now,” she smiled, trying to keep things light.
“Yeah but only half the week, I miss you for the rest,” Grace said, pinching her cheek playfully, but then immediately spoke again, “Hey Elaina I heard you had a consult on the rehab ward where I usually hang out, we don’t see you over there too often.”
“Oh, yes I was down that way a couple days ago,” Elaina said politely.
“Yeah, the nurses were talking a lot about you afterwards,” Grace said.
“Hm,” Elaina nodded sipping her drink.
Grace continued, “I love those girls, they work super hard with the heavy load of patients they have, but always find a way to get the job done.”
Carly had heard from Grace that Elaina had lost her temper like crazy on that ward, even to the point of knocking a stack of charts over and spilling a tube of blood on the floor. They had to stop work until it was cleaned up properly. It was apparently the talk of the hospital, and she was getting written up for it.
Elaina did look a bit uncomfortable, but replied casually, “Yes, well I hope I was able to help steer them in the right direction.”
Jon looked like he didn’t want to be part of the conversation anymore, and turned to Ben and started to ask him about board games.
Elaina said she was going to use the washroom before dinner was served, and walked away, looking uncomfortable.
Grace stared daggers into the back of her head as she left.
Jeff had turned back to catch the last part of their conversation and gave Grace a look.
“What?” Grace said defensively.
Carly turned and introduced herself to Ben’s wife Jenna. She hadn’t been at their party because they couldn’t find a sitter for their 2 year old daughter apparently, but she hoped to make it to Jeff and Grace’s New Years party. She was a teacher and felt intimidated by all the ‘medical professionals’ there. Carly reassured her Brent worked at the college and felt out of place too, and then thought to look for him again. She scanned the room and found him sitting at a table alone on his phone. She considered going to get him, but Grace nudged her and said they should replenish their drinks before dinner, which was about to start.
“Thanks for helping make a fool out of that lanky bitch, by the way,” Grace smirked at her as they walked back to the bar.
Carly gave her an unsure look.
“Oh come on, she deserves every bit of it,” Grace said. ” Even besides the bullshit with Jeff, she made Bonnie cry that day on the ward. Bonnie! She’s like the fairy godmother of that place, she’s been there for years no one’s ever said a bad word about her, or to her, the entire time. She was in tears. She had to take yesterday off, I hope she’s okay.”
“Wow,” Carly said. “Yeah me too.”
“Though it sounds like something’s finally gonna be done, she keeps getting worse and worse, and this’ll be the third time she gets written up. I heard through the grapevine they’re gonna at least make her see some counselor or take some course or something. I wish they’d just fire her, but at least this is some kind of consequence.”
“Yeah that’s…good I guess,” Carly said.
“God I don’t know how Jon does it. I feel bad for the guy, he’s such a sweetheart,” Grace said as they ordered their drinks. “I know Jeff told him about what she tried to do with him, but I have a bad feeling he’s chickened out and isn’t gonna confront her or anything.”
“Let him deal with it however he needs to,” Carly said reassuringly.
“I dunno,” Grace pondered. “Maybe he needs a nudge in the right direction.”
Carly elbowed her, “Gracie… Don’t be a drama queen.”
Grace pouted.
“I like Jon, I don’t want you to cause a huge thing and make him stop hanging out with us,” Carly said.
Grace squinted up at her, “You DO kinda like him don’t you.”
“That’s NOT what I meant!” Carly scoffed.
“Don’t turn too red there girl or they’ll hang you up in a Christmas tree,” Grace giggled.
Carly gave her an annoyed look, trying not to seem too guilty.
“Don’t worry it’s you and half the women he meets probably. If I wasn’t such a bitter old bat I’d probably ogle him more often myself,” she joked. “If it makes you feel any better I caught him ‘noticing’ you as well. Though I can’t blame him.” She said, gesturing at Carly’s chest.
Carly felt herself blushing again.
The announcement came for the guests to take their seats for dinner.
“Well I am going to go sit down with my husband,” Carly said, looking defensively at Grace.
“Pssshh lighten up you’re sounding like Elaina.”
“Hey now…” Carly frowned.
“Yeah sorry that was too mean, I take it back,” Grace said. “Catch you after dinner.”
Carly found her way back to their table where Brent was still sitting. How much did Grace suspect? she wondered. Was that just lighthearted joking, or had she been trying to figure her out? Carly remembered her making a vague comment or two after their party that might have been in the same vein, but had ignored it then. She loved Grace and wished she could open up to her about everything, but she knew she couldn’t. It was too risky, and she still felt too ashamed.
They were seated at a table with some of the other hospital pharmacists. She gave a friendly wave to Pam and her husband. Brent had his face in his phone and obviously hadn’t been making any attempts at conversation.
“Hey honey, sorry I lost you, I ended up over there talking with Grace and Jeff.”
“Yeah I know, I saw,” he said.
“…You could’ve come over to chat.”
He shrugged. “Sounds like we have a choice of roast beef or fish for the meal,” he said, ignoring her and pointing to the menu.
“O…kay. Hey Brent did you meet Pam? She’s one of the pharmacists that works with me, and her husband… Rick right?”
“Yeah,” Rick said with a firm handshake. “Pam’s had a lot of nice things to say about you Carly, sounds like they’re glad to have you on their team.”
“Aw that’s nice,” Carly giggled. “This is my husband Brent.”
“We said hi already,” Brent said looking up briefly.
“You look gorgeous Carly, I love that shawl,” Pam said with a smile.
“Thank you, you look lovely too,” Carly replied with a smile.
Pam was a wonderful woman, she had helped her out a lot when she first started working in the hospital a couple months back. She really liked the work there. It was a lot more challenging, but more rewarding than at the pharmacy. She would be able to do medication reviews and take consults from the wards, rather than just filling bottles and reassuring nervous patients about what their meds will and won’t do to them. She had been expecting to fully transition to just working in the hospital, but recently she’d been doubting whether to do it. Something was stopping her from wanting to abandon the other pharmacy altogether. Maybe someone…
She looked out across the room and saw Jon sitting a few tables away with Elaina. He looked like he was making polite conversation, with a face that was hard to read. Damn that shirt looked good on him. He had taken the suit jacket off and she very much preferred it that way. Suddenly his eyes met hers and she quickly looked away.
Two other pharmacists from their department and their significant others sat down at their table and they made a friendly round of hello’s. The servers started coming around with soups and salads as the starters, and everyone complimented the quality of the food. They made light conversation, only occasionally talking about work, so she really thought Brent really had no excuse not to join in, but he made no effort.
Pam finally engaged him, “So Brent, Carly tells me you’re a professor at the college?”
“Lecturer,” he replied simply.
“…. Okay, what do you teach?”
“Design and engineering courses,” he said looking annoyed at having to converse.
“Oh interesting, Rick here is an engineer,” she said.
“That was my degree as well,” was all Brent said.
“Well far out, I didn’t know I had another Gear at the table with me,” Rick said with a smile. “I work at the Larson firm downtown. That new high-rise going up on 5th is all us. What’s your degree?”
“Civil,” Brent replied.
“Sure enough! We’re in the same club look at that,” Rick reached out to bump a fist, but Brent simply gave a tight smile and a nod.
“Do you just teach or do you do work anywhere else as well?”
“I just teach for now,” Brent said. “I worked for a short time at a couple of firms after I got my degree but it just wasn’t for me.”
“Gotcha. Well I don’t know how you do it. Those punk kids would drive me crazy,” Rick laughed.
“It’s a different sort of work, but I like the consistency,” he said flatly.
Carly knew he had bounced quickly out of 4 different engineering firms back in their old city. Brent had top marks in university and even got a masters degree. He should’ve had his pick of jobs, and she supposed he did at first, but he just couldn’t keep them. He always refused to talk about specifics but it seemed he could never get along with anyone or make any deadlines. Each job seemed to end on uglier terms, and there was even legal trouble with the last one. Thankfully they reached some type of agreement.
After that he couldn’t even get an interview anywhere in that city, and eventually had found his current job and moved here. She had started dating him during his last job but hadn’t been aware of the drama of it at the time. She had slowly pieced that history together in the years since. She wondered if she would have agreed to move here with him if she had known at the time. He was always deliberately obscure about it when talking about his career with other people. He seemed stable enough in his teaching job, so maybe he had changed, but she had her doubts.
“Well we’re busy as hell, and it’s actually a bit hard to find qualified people around here,” Rick said. “So if you decide to get back into the game there’s been a lot of openings with us.”
“I feel like what I do is challenging and important enough,” Brent said, with more than a hint of coldness.
“Oh yeah for sure, I didn’t mean anything by it,” Rick said, finally looking outwardly off-put by Brent’s demeanor.
Rick turned to one of the others at the table and asked him how work was.
Carly obviously didn’t blame Rick, he had tried. Everyone tried and Brent smugly shut them down. It kept getting worse. Every social outing they had he somehow outdid himself. She had pried on so many occasions to figure out if he was depressed or had other issues he needed to talk about, but it only resulted in condescending reassurances at best, and loud arguments at worst. The one time she had gone as far as suggesting counseling, even as a couple, he got so mad she almost thought he was going to hit her. He never had, and she didn’t think he ever would, but the look in his eyes was scary. It unfortunately was the only bit of life she’d been able to coax out of him for a long time.
The main course arrived and was delicious. She’d had a pleasant conversation with Pam and the other pharmacists at the table and was feeling much better, blocking Brent out of her mind as he either stared at nothing or looked at his phone. They joked about which group would party the hardest. Apparently last year the nurses seemed to take the title, but the year before that OT/PT put everyone to shame. They said they’d heard the doctors were going to try to out-do everyone this year, but maybe the pharmacists could give them a run for their money. They clinked their drink glasses with a laugh and said they’d give it a shot.
The desserts came and put everyone in an excellent mood. The main hospital administrator went up to the stage at the front to thank everyone for coming and said there would be a few speeches from her and the chiefs of staff, but she promised they would be short.
Carly sipped her drink feeling full and comfortable, the wine was definitely helping her to stay relaxed. The speeches droned on. She looked around the crowd and was surprised when it was her turn to catch Jon staring at her. He quickly looked away when she caught him, and she was amused that he seemed embarrassed. She kept her gaze on him and he eventually looked back. She smiled and gave a subtle wave of her fingers. He smiled and blushed and gave a tiny wave back.
She was feeling playful. She took out her phone and started typing a text.
*****
Jon tried to stifle his blush and sipped his beer, wondering what to make of Carly’s response. She had caught him feasting his eyes on her in that incredible dress, but maybe she hadn’t quite caught where his eyes were.
He was sitting with Elaina at a table full of specialist physicians from the hospital. The conversation was pleasant enough but kept sliding back into clinical work and hospital politics. He still tried to take part where he could, and cracked a few jokes at least. They were all really nice people and he had met at least a couple of them already at their party. The conversation just felt over-polite and formal for his tastes. In fact, he began to notice they seemed more over-polite and short with Elaina than he thought was natural, much more so than at their house-warming party, despite the fact that she’d known them longer now.
Before he could consider it any further, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket, and looked down, surprised to see a text from Carly.
– How’s life over on planet nephrology? 🙂
He chuckled silently to himself.
– A little dull, they’re a strange species with a culture obsessed with billing practices, call schedules and ward politics.
– LOL, your observations are of great value, for science. Stay strong.
– What news from Pharmacopia-5?
– Although outwardly calm at the moment. I have intercepted a secret memo that the pharmacists plan to out-party the doctors on this very night.
– Ah. So it’s war then…
– Indeed.
– I regret to inform you this plan is futile, and will spell your doom.
– We shall see.
He looked up and met her eyes across the room and they both smirked and giggled.
Even from a distance he could appreciate her breasts jiggling as her shoulders shook. She had taken the shawl off to eat, and the view it had teased underneath its loose knit was now on full display. She had blown his mind completely out of the water when she’d walked up to their group before supper. It had taken all the willpower her could muster not to gawk openly at her. That black dress clung to her bountiful curves in all the right ways. Even half-covered under the shawl, the massive view of her cleavage felt like he was witnessing a miracle. Her beautiful face was dolled up perfectly. Her lustrous blonde locks styled up luxuriously with a tight spiral hanging down one side. Her round ass was hugged nicely by the dress, and her smooth soft-looking legs shone out to him. He willed himself to stop staring again.
The medical chief-of-staff ended his speech with a toast to out-partying the nurses this year. All the doctors cheered and toasted. Some of the nurse’s tables gave light-hearted ‘boos’ and and few loud comments in protest while everyone laughed.
– There you have it, the official go ahead from high command. Jon texted to Carly afterwards.
– And now we wait. All will be settled on the dance floor. 😉 she replied
Their eyes met with another secretive smile.
The speeches ended and people slowly got up to mingle as the music started. They got the dance floor going, with only a small crowd to begin with, but gradually growing as people loosened up and the night wore on.
Jon found Jeff, Rob and Ben again, as well as another beer. They had a friendly chat while the ladies started a dance group. Elaina was among them for a short time but seemed to quickly lose interest and eventually walked off the floor to find another wine and a few other colleagues to mingle with.
He and the other guys chatted about TV and movies, He got into some good-spirited arguments about sci-fi fandoms with Ben. He found out Rob played the guitar as well and had apparently given Jeff a few lessons. They made loose plans to maybe have a jam-session sometime.
As they talked, his attention got distracted by Carly again. She looked like she was having a ton of fun dancing with the others. His eyes got drawn to her ass as she moved. It looked like the perfect combination of soft, round and muscular, with the dress just tight enough to compliment its wide curves.
“Jon!”
He snapped out of it, “Yeah?”
Rob giggled, “You smokin up without us or something?”
“No sorry man, what did you say?”
“I asked do you ski?…or snowboard?”
“Oh, uh yeah, I ski. it’s been a while, but I used to,” Jon replied.
“We were talking about taking a ski trip some time this winter, some weekend later on in January or February maybe,” Rob explained.
“Yeah totally, I’d be down for that,” he said.
“Sweet well once we figure out our schedules we’ll try and find a weekend that works.
“No wives though,” Jeff said.
Ben agreed, “Totally, guys weekend away.”
Jon chuckled and clinked his beer with them in agreement.
He looked at Rob, realizing he didn’t know his relationship situation “You come with anyone tonight?”
“Naw, flying solo. Single and loving it for now,” he said, sipping his beer.
“I guess it’d be kinda awkward prowling among all your work colleagues,” Jon said.
Rob laughed, “Yeah pretty much. That shit happens though. I think last year one of the surgeons, Greg, hooked up with a physio.. uh whats-her-name.” He looked at Jeff who shrugged, “Anyway I actually think they’re still together. I saw them somewhere tonight.”
Jon chuckled “Well there you go. So if I see any fetching young lasses should I send them your way?”
Rob looked at him and smiled, “Lads actually.”
Jon widened his eyes in embarrassed surprise, “Oh! Sorry man I didn’t know.”
Jeff piped up, “Oh! Yeah I guess that’s never come up. I should’ve mentioned at some point.”
“No worries,” Rob laughed. “I’m glad I don’t come off as an obvious stereotype actually.”
Jeff laughed “Yeah not until you get drunk and on the dance floor, then it kinda comes out, I gotta say. This guy goes all out.”
“Hey straight guys can dance too,” Rob defended. “Just cause I’m gonna show you all up out there doesn’t mean everyone’s gonna know I’m gay.”
“I don’t know man, some of those moves,” Jeff joked.
“Oh fuck off, you’re just jealous cause your wives are gonna think you’re all dogshit out there compared to me,” Rob said, and popped his collar for effect.
They all laughed and decided to replenish their drinks.
Once they had their beers they saw Grace, Carly and Jenna walking towards them, laughing and out of breath from dancing.
“Hey Boyyys,” Grace sang flirtatiously.
“Hey hey,” Jeff said pecking her a kiss as she slid next to him.
“I saw you all scoping us out on the dance floor. Didn’t have the guts to come out and play?” Grace teased.
“I think we need to get a bit looser,” Ben said gesturing to his drink.
Jenna sighed, “Yeah Ben can’t dance unless he’s a certain amount of drunk. But on that note… shots?”
“Yyuuup!” Rob raised his drink and turned around to the bartender. He ordered two rounds of something with sourpuss and rum. They let out a cheers each time and commented on the taste.
“This brings me back to your party Jon,” Grace said with a smile.
Jon laughed, “Yeah I guess. We just don’t have Jared here to mix it up for us.”
Carly scoffed, “Ugh, no thank you.”
Jon looked confused.
“Ohh you don’t know,” Grace said reading his face. “We don’t go to his gym anymore. He took a pass at Carly. Like, flat out groped her,” she said more quietly, leaning into him.
“Oh, shit,” Jon said surprised and looking consolingly at Carly.
“Oh don’t look at me like that, I’m fine,” Carly said. “It wasn’t anything crazy aggressive, just creepy and presumptive. Out of nowhere.”
“It was fucking low. He had you alone, just as he was locking up, I would’ve been scared,” Grace said, crossing her arms.
“Whatever, we got a new gym now,” Carly said, smiling. “It’s way better anyway.”
“Well I’m glad you’re okay,” Jon said.
Carly smiled at him, “Thanks,” and squeezed his hand for a brief second.
“Beth and him broke up maybe he was looking to rebound,” Jon suggested.
“Hey, she’s worth more than just a rebound chick!” Grace elbowed him teasingly.
“I didn’t mean…”
“I know you didn’t,” Carly reassured him with a giggle and a hand on his arm.
“C’mon, isn’t she like crazy hot in that dress?” Grace smiled devilishly.
Jon searched for words then looked at Grace with a smirk, “I don’t know if I should answer that.”
Grace squinted her eyes, “Shall I take that as a ‘yes’?”
Jon raised an eyebrow and sipped his beer.
Grace giggled, “Yeaaahh that’s a yes. I mean you can’t blame Jared for wanting a piece of that, he’s just got to learn how to talk to a lady first. Right Jon?”
“Yeah,” was all he could say, trying not to look too uncomfortable.
“I mean you gotta romance her first. Take her dancing. Hey speaking of which…”
Grace turned to the others who were in their own conversation. “You all ready to head back out?” she asked. “Guys too this time!”
They all agreed and started heading back through the crowd to the dance floor.
“It’s good to hear Beth’s moving on to better things,” Carly said.
“Totally, the girl’s a sweetie, she’s just gotta adjust her taste in men,” Grace replied. “Hell she’s probably already found someone. Do you know Jon?”
“No I’m pretty sure- um… Yeah, I don’t know,” he said uncomfortably.
He looked around for Elaina as they found their way to the dance floor, feeling more of an obligation to invite her to dance rather than an actual desire. He saw her having a polite chat with Brent next to another group of docs he had evidently pulled her away from. Jon quickly shrugged and gladly left her to it.
The dance floor was getting busier. It was hard to find a space where they could all fit together but they managed. The music had segued from classic hits into newer pop music and they were all feeling tipsy from the shots and started having fun immediately. Jon’s self-consciousness wore off quickly. It was easier in a crowd when he wasn’t out in the open. Carly was right next to him moving in what he thought were some extremely enticing ways but he tried not to look at her too much. She bumped her soft hip into him and laughed, her beautiful smile naturally coaxing one out of him. He started to feel warm and wasn’t sure if it was just the dancing.
Jeff was right in that Rob was a really good dancer. The girls squealed as he busted out some moves. When he did a few more provocative things with Carly, Jon couldn’t help feel a tinge of jealousy as he watched it, even though he knew there was no justifiable reason. After that they all started dancing with more energy and getting more into it. Carly danced in front of him and traced her hands up his arms and he did the same. He smiled back at her, drinking in her body shimmying next to him as their arms slid over each other. He didn’t move any closer though, worried about others watching. He glanced over the crowd and found Elaina off in the distance, still talking to Brent instead of paying attention to them, thankfully.
Eventually they decided to go back for more drinks. Carly said she was going back to her table to check on things. After he got another beer he went to find Elaina. She was back to having a conversation with a few of the other doctors now. She said she was doing fine and didn’t feel like dancing, using her high heels as an excuse, and told him to go have fun.
He got back to find the others still by the bar, deciding on another shot to do.
Then he saw Carly walking back. She had lost her shawl again, she was walking quickly and he tried not to stare at her bouncing tits as she came up to them. There was an angry frown on her face.
“Shot?” she simply asked.
“Yeah we’re just about to.”
“Great give me one,” Carly said bitterly.
The group said a cheers again and downed the shots.
“You okay there girl?” Grace asked Carly.
“Fucking Brent left. Without even talking to me. Sent a text saying he wasn’t feeling well,” she said angrily.
“I hope he’s okay,” Jon ventured.
“Oh he’s fine I’m sure,” Carly said rolling her eyes.
“Whatever, forget him, just have fun with us tonight!” Grace said with a supportive smile.
They talked a bit more while they finished their drinks, and the mood improved. Ben told Jenna about the ski weekend plan. Her and Grace got pouty about not being invited, joking that they should book a cabin right next to theirs, and have way more fun than them, just to rub it in.
“K, finish your drinks let’s get back out there!” Grace exclaimed.
Jon still had half a beer left and moved to put it on the bar. “Maybe I’ll just…”
“No chug it!” Jenna laughed.
“Come on…” Grace encouraged.
He relented and tipped the beer up. Carly moved up next to him and put her fingers under the bottle to tip it up higher. Then tickled him in his abs near the end and he sputtered the last mouthful into the bottle as everyone laughed.
Carly smiled cutely at him as she wiped her thumb on his wet chin.
“That was mean,” he complained.
“You can handle it,” Carly winked and downed the last of her drink. “Here let me take that,” she said, grabbing his bottle from him.
“Ah the buxom wench returns,” he joked.
She bent over to put the empty drinks back on the table, looking back at him with a flirtatious smile. “I’m working for tips.”
The way she arched her back and stuck her butt out as she put the bottles down, stretching the dress over it’s wide round contours, made him exhale forcefully. She turned around and strutted up to him and it took every ounce of willpower not to drool on to her bulging tits. He wondered how that dress was legal on a woman like her.
“In that case you’ll make a killing tonight,” he said.
She beamed up at him and bumped her hip into his walking past him, took his hand and gave him a smoldering look over her shoulder, “Come dance.”
They followed the others, weaving through the crowd. The dance floor was jam-packed now and they couldn’t all dance in a circle like before. It was shoulder to shoulder and they didn’t all end up in the same place.
Carly stopped only a few feet away from Grace and Jeff, but people were already crowding in between. She turned around to face Jon with a nervous gaze, still holding his hand. As soon as she started circling her shoulders back in time with the dance music his eyes were lost in her body.
They shimmied up to each other, her soft breasts brushing lightly against his chest, his hand sliding up to her elbow. They broke apart again and she did a slow spin, shaking her gorgeous ass with the beat, and the thick hourglass curve of her body flexing back and forth. He was feeling very warm and knew it was definitely not just from the dancing and the flashing lights. She faced him again, their bodies just barely touching but her skin and her warmth were so close he felt like he could taste the sexiness exuding off of her. Their eyes rarely left each other, staring with single-minded focus. She stepped back and leaned away from him but kept holding his hand. Then she twirled into him without letting go, so his arm wrapped around her as her body spun into his. Her breasts pressed into him lightly and she wiggled her shoulders with the beat looking up with a smile. Then she spun away again, an arms length away.
Suddenly Grace broke through between them with a “Heyyy!” as her and Jeff danced in. Grace stole Jon from Carly and danced with him for a bit. She gave him a devious smile as she loosened his tie and undid his top button. She leaned up to tell him he looked a bit warm, and winked. Then she let go and the four of them danced together for a bit. Grace said something to Jeff and they went to leave. She leaned over and said something in Carly’s ear before moving past her to leave. Then suddenly she turned around with a smile and gave Carly a shove and walked away.
The shove sent Carly tripping forward into Jon. He caught her and their bodies collided, but he didn’t fall down. He felt the massive softness of her breasts press into him as their arms went around each other. They both laughed.
“Sorry,” she said standing up straight but not letting go.
“No that was all Grace’s fault,” he said, leaning down to talk into her ear, and not feeling like he wanted to let go either. “What did she say?”
Carly hesitated as she pressed closer to speak above the music “Just that they were gonna take a break and have a drink.”
“Do you want to keep dancing?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said eagerly, her lips brushing against his ear.
Then she started to move her body against him, wiggling back and forth, making her breasts slide and bulge into him. They lifted their heads away from each other, and he looked down at her biting her lip and staring excitedly. He glanced around briefly. Everyone was dancing so close in the tight crowd and they didn’t know anyone around them. It felt like they were all alone.
He started to move against her as well and slid his arm along her lower back. She moved her hands from his back to his abs and slid up along his chest and wrapped them behind his neck, her sultry eyes never leaving his. They bent their knees and twisted down and back up again. His eyes darting away from hers to her cleavage bulging against him.
She unclasped her hands from his neck to spin around within his arms, and press her soft ass into his groin and her back against his chest. His growing cock twitched against her and she slowly gyrated against him as his hand grasped the front of her hip. She slithered down and back up again, his cock following her ass the entire time and pulsing harder by the second. She rocked her hips back and forth and her round beautiful ass slid over him. He pulled her in more tightly against him and she pushed her ass back into his cock in response and wiggled slowly. It was driving him wild. He slid his hand over her soft belly and up her side, his fingers brushing the side of her breast. She leaned her head back against his shoulder to look up at him with her mouth half open and pure lust in both of their eyes.
She spun around again within his arms, and his cock was disappointed that her ass was gone, but she quickly pressed her body back into him, and it pushed up against her hip. She lifted her leg along his for a moment and then slid her ankle down the back of his leg. He lifted his hands from her waist up the sides of her breasts again and quickly back down and she breathed in deeply, squishing her tits into him harder and working her fingers into his neck. She broke away from him for a teasing second and then grabbed his tie and reeled him back into her. She kept one hand holding his tie and then the other slid all along his chest and abs. He moved his hand down the side of her ass and up again. Her eyes seemed to glow, and his face felt like it was on fire.
Suddenly the lights went out and the music stopped.
Alarmed voices and darkness were all around them.
In the pitch black she pulled him down by his tie and kissed him.
He immediately kissed her back, their mouths opening and their tongues meeting, but then breaking away just as the lights suddenly turned back on.
Everyone cheered, but the music never came back on.
They stared at each other in disbelief. She never let go of his tie and his hands never left her side.
Suddenly the DJ spoke up. “Sorry about that folks I guess the storm’s causing some issues with the power. We’ll have the music booted back up for you in just a minute, so don’t, go, anywhere!”
They smirked at the DJ’s corny voice and finally let their hands slide off each other. The din of voices grew louder as people started up excited conversations.
Carly looked around and then hesitantly leaned up to talk softly in his ear.
“Can you escort your buxom wench to the washroom? she said breathily, with a hand on his hip.
“Sure,” he said, his hand brushing hers and squeezing for a second before letting go. He followed her off the dance floor. His eyes scanned the room as they left, but he didn’t see Elaina or anyone else they knew looking at them.
They went out the doors just as the music started back up, and walked down the concourse. There was a smattering of people hanging out and chatting. The bathroom was only a short way down the hall. He had half-hoped she wanted him to follow her in there, but there were far too many people around. He decided to use the washroom himself. He took a deep breath looking in the mirror for a split second, but there were others around and he had no time to stop and contemplate his spinning thoughts.
He went back to the hall, and shortly after, Carly came back out with a nervous smile.
“Wanna walk around a bit?” she offered.
“Yeah,” he agreed.
They slowly walked side by side away from the washroom and the ballroom. The concourse was a long curving hallway with conference rooms on one side and floor to ceiling windows on the other. There was only one other conference room being used that they passed by, and that party seemed to be winding down. They kept walking, and the hallway gradually became dimly lit, mostly by the streetlights outside.
“The snow looks pretty, gusting against the windows,” Carly said, leaning into him.
“Yeah,” he agreed, though his attention was all on her.
He looked down at her gorgeous face in the dim light. He looked back down the hallway, it had curved enough that they couldn’t see anyone anymore, and could only hear echoes of the party at the other end.
“You look even more beautiful in this light,” he told her honestly.
She looked up at him with scared, but adoring eyes, and smiled. She looked back down the hallway to confirm, like he had, that there was no one there. Then she took his hand and clasped her fingers firmly through his and pulled his arm into her as they kept slowly walking. She rubbed the fingers of her other hand into his bicep lovingly as she leaned into him. Her breathing seemed quicker.
“Do you think we’re alone down here?” she asked softly
“Well… I think this is finally the end of the hallway, so yeah. I think we are.”
She stopped and turned towards him. Looking up at him with a flushed face, her breathing heightened even more. She pulled him in closer and placed a hand on his chest. His hand found her waist and their faces moved closer and closer, until their foreheads touched and their breath mingled as their lips tickled the edges of the other’s. Their hands slid over each other’s backs and her soft chest and stomach slowly pressed into him.
Finally their lips locked in a tender kiss. Their mouths opened slowly as their bodies sunk into each other. In that moment, she felt like everything he could ever want.
They eventually broke their kiss and Carly glanced down the hall nervously. Jon looked behind her at a small dark area between the last two conference rooms.
“Is that a coat room?” he wondered out loud.
She followed his eyes behind her, then looked back at him excitedly, “Yeah, I think so.”
She turned around and led him by the hand into the darkened area. There was no door but sure enough the small entrance-way turned left and a room of long coat racks was barely visible in the darkness.
She turned around and slid her hands up around his neck and they kissed again. This time much more vigorously. He pulled her tightly into him, and she moaned as they made out passionately in their dark hideaway.
Her leg slid up against his and he pulled her to the side and came up against a wall. He pressed her into it and slid his hand under her ass and squeezed a delicious handful as she wrapped an ankle around his thigh. Their tongues danced ferociously inside their mouths. Her hands clawed at his neck and walked down his chest. She brought his shirt out of his belt and slid her hands up underneath along his abs and around his back. His hand moved under her skirt and slid it up her thigh and he squeezed the skin of her ass and pulled at the waistband of her panties. Her hand moved down and found his cock through his pants, caressing and squeezing. He moved his other hand from behind her back and slid in front to grab an incredible handful of her her breast through her dress.
“Oh Jon…” she breathed out.
“Carly…” he whispered back.
She looked in his eyes and reached up and pulled the shoulder straps of her dress to the side. He kissed her again and moved his hand over her exposed breasts sliding over their immense smooth surface. He wished there was better light so he could fully appreciate their miraculous size, but settled for exploring them hungrily with his hand. He reached underneath her ass and started playing with the lower band of her panties over top of her pussy, already wet with her juices. He slid his fingers back and forth and gradually moved her panties out of the way. She kissed him more forcefully and wrapped her leg around him more tightly, shifting herself to help him position his fingers. He slowly slid over her exposed folds and around her clitoris. Her breasts ballooned into him as she breathed heavily. He penetrated his fingers gently inside her.
“Ahhh, I want you so bad,” she panted.
“I want you too,” he said, sliding his fingers gradually in and out. “God you’re incredible.”
“Do you have a condom?” she moaned desperately.
“No,” he admitted. He worked his fingers deeper into her.
“Fuck. ah.. It’s just… not a great time… ahh… of the month.”
“Okay,” he said kissing her softly again.
“Sorry I jus- ahhhh!”
She moaned as he worked his fingers back and forth, and kissed her more strongly. Just because he couldn’t cum inside her didn’t mean he was about to stop. He pulled out and ran along her entrance and slid over her clitoris again as she bit his lip and moaned.
“Try to be quiet,” he whispered, and pulled her more tightly into him, sliding his fingers back inside and working them around again.
“Ahh. Okaaay,” she said in high pitched agony.
She took her hand off of his crotch and squeezed her arms around him clawing at his shoulder blades. He took his other hand and reached down to play with her clit as he worked his fingers in and out of her her with the other. Her breathing turned to panting. She fucked desperately into his fingers with her hips as he pressed her against the wall. Panting turned to moaning. She pressed her mouth into his neck to muffle her sounds. Her body started to shake.
Finally he heard her call out his name muffled into his shirt and she came hard onto his fingers. Her body convulsed as he pinned her to the wall. He could tell she was trying so hard to be quiet, but high-pitched muffled squeals kept escaping her mouth. She bucked her hips in excitement and rode her orgasm into his fingers for what seemed like forever. Finally the convulsing stopped but she was still trembling. She peppered kissed up his neck and cheek and then found his mouth to make out with him violently. His fingers finally sliding out of her to knead into her ass as they kissed.
Her hands suddenly went to his belt buckle and started working as she continued to kiss him. His hands mauled her tits, their massive flesh bulging through his fingers and her hard nipples pressing into his palms. She finally had his zipper down and pulled his underwear down forcefully to free his rock hard cock. Her hands worked its length immediately sliding and pumping. It was his turn to try to stifle his moans into her mouth. She finally broke their kiss and stared at him with desire. She brought her hands up to lift his shirt and bent down to lay kisses along his abs, lower and lower until her mouth found his cock.
She kissed from the base up along the shaft and slid her tongue over the head. She pumped with her hand and caressed along the end with her tongue, eventually working it inside her mouth and slowly engulfing as much as she could. Her lips and her mouth felt amazing. He tried to simply breath and not make any sounds but every few breaths his exhalations became soft groans and grunts despite himself. She kept pumping harder and sucking and licking and kissing with passion and excitement. Electricity was pulsing through him.
She looked up at him with tender eyes and smiled, then brought her mouth away. She was breathing heavily and his eyes devoured the rise and fall of her tits. As if she read his mind, she took her tits in her hands and brought them up to his twitching cock. He looked down, mesmerized in suspense. He pulled his hands into her shoulders to encourage her and watched as she flashed him a beautiful wider smile in the dim light, and slid his cock into her cleavage.
The soft warm skin of her breasts on his cock was one of the most amazing feelings he had ever known. She pressed her breasts more firmly into him and her flesh billowed around his shaft, the head only barely poking out. He started to move his hips and his cock slid between them slowly. She worked her tits in rhythm with him pushing them up and down and squeezing them together to envelop his manhood in their massive sweltering depths. His hands squeezed and caressed her shoulders and neck in adoration. His excitement building. He was getting close and she evidently could tell.
She told him to stop and he suddenly stood still. She brought her mouth down and gave one long suck on his cock and a slow pump as he breathed out heavily.
“Stay still,” she whispered with a smile.
Then she brought her tits back up again and slid them down over his cock again. This time though as his head poked through the top of her cleavage she bent her head down and took his cock in her mouth again. She held the end of it in her lips and circled her tongue around it and then started working her tits over his shaft at the same time. His mind was absolutely blown, and the sensation and the look of her stimulating his cock with her beautiful breasts and luscious mouth at the same time, drove him insane. He pushed a hand against the wall and panted hard.
“Fuck,” he whispered as her tits and tongue propelled him towards his climax.
“Oh my God, Carly,” he panted trying to control his voice but his body was losing control.
“Fuck, Carly I’m close,” he warned her
“Mhmmm,” she brought her dazzling eyes up to him and pushed her tits heavily into him, and tightend her mouth.
Fireworks exploded inside his head as his orgasm hit him, and cum started spewing into her mouth. She locked her lips around his cock and took it all in. He worked hard to stifle his grunts as he shot his load in spasm after intense spasm, the entire surface of his shaft hugged tightly within her immense cleavage and pulsing against her hot flesh. She swallowed every drop, seeming to struggle to handle it all, but moaning erotically into his cock all the same. She kept squeezing her tits into him as his orgasm played out, finally ending with one last spasm into her mouth.
She brought her lips together at the tip of his cock to clean the last of it up neatly and gave one final swallow. She smiled up at him beautifully. He was still panting and could barely think. She slowly stood back up bringing his pants up with her. He fumbled the zipper and belt back together, while catching his breath. She worked her tits back into her dress then stood close looking up at him with a satisfied smile. Their arms wrapped around each other again and she leaned on his shoulder with a contented sigh. They stood there, lovingly absorbing each other’s warmth as their sweat evaporated in the quiet darkness.
He felt like he might have lost track of time as they stood there embracing, but finally they broke apart and decided they needed to get back to the party. They walked back down the concourse eventually letting go of each other’s hands as they approached the conference room. They left each other with a long thoughtful stare and finally went their separate ways.
They didn’t see each other again that night. Jon found Elaina who had thankfully only been looking for him for a few minutes and said that she was ready to go. He agreed and after saying goodbye to the others, they caught a cab and headed off into the storm.
The ride home started off pleasant enough. She said she was glad he had fun dancing, and that she had some nice conversations with the other doctors. Although she said she was annoyed that more than a few people appeared to be avoiding her. He said he was glad she had fun too and said she looked great in her dress and was rewarded with a peck of a kiss. He apologized for not spending more time with her and she said that it was fine, but then she said he was probably too tipsy to have taken part in their conversations without making a fool of himself.
He couldn’t help taking offense, “I didn’t think I was that sloppy.”
“Oh you weren’t stumbling around, but honestly you don’t make for the most refined conversationalist sometimes, even without a few drinks in you. It was fine, I was happy to mingle without you,” she said.
He sat in annoyed silence, then finally decided to press her on something that was bothering him.
“What was Grace referring to, when she mentioned the rehab ward consult from the other day,” he asked, staring out the window at the swirling snow.
“It was nothing,” she said, frowning. “Grace is basically just a nurse like the rest of them, even if she is technically an O.T., they all seem to be in cahoots.”
He kept staring out at the storm, “So there was some drama when you were there?”
She sighed, “Yes drama is the perfect way of putting it. Why they all seem so intent on pissing me off, is beyond me.”
“Are you sure it’s not you?” he said, flatly.
She looked over at him suddenly glaring fiercely.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It means… are you sure the problem isn’t literally all of the hospital staff, but maybe instead it’s you, and the way you behave,” he said, finally turning to meet her intense stare with alcohol-inspired boldness, simply not caring enough anymore to be intimidated by her.
“I don’t think I want you hanging out with them anymore,” she finally said, crossing her arms and looking away from him. “If Jeff refuses to see her for the cunt she is, then to hell with both of them.”
He looked at her with pitiful disdain, tempting himself to confront her about her kiss with Jeff. He decided it wasn’t even necessary.
“Jeff’s a good friend,” he simply said. “Probably my best friend right now. I like Grace too, she just has a different personality than you.”
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly.
“Then I don’t care either, and I’m going to keep hanging out with them,” he said defiantly.
She looked over and her eyes shone in affronted rage.
“Why are you taking their side?! I’m your FIANCE!”
“Yes Elaina. You’re my fiance not my fucking mother.”
She slapped him.
They stared at each other in hatred for a few seconds and then both turned to look out their windows. He glanced at the cab driver who was concentrating very intently on the road.
“It would be easier if you weren’t such a fucking child,” she muttered.
He let her have the last word and they rode home in silence.
When he laid down to go to sleep in the guest room the soft mattress and pillow reminded him of Carly. He didn’t know what was going to happen. He didn’t know how much of that night she would regret the next morning. Whether she would still want him, or pull away and cut him out of her life again. He felt like he did finally know what he wanted though. It wasn’t Elaina. He had loved her, he knew for certain, but he wasn’t sure if it had ever been for the right reasons. He had spent so much time and effort to build their life together, but now he saw it for the facade of a relationship that it was. He felt like he was ready to tear it all down for Carly. He would ruin it all in a heartbeat for her. She was worth it.