“Okay, I’ll leave you alone so you can get undressed. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Sir, will you please—”
“No, he is fine. He can stay,” I say, stopping the doctor from taking Owen out of the room. “He’s essential for my anxiety. Please.” I ask her, and I can tell she isn’t sure. I refused to go to a male doctor because the only man I want around me is Owen. I hated that I had to update her on what happened to me. Her eyes welled with tears, but she kept her composure and accepted the notes Owen gave her to update her own medical records.
“Okay. I’ll be back soon.” Doctor Peirce side-eyes Owen, a small warning glance before she closes the door behind her.
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” Owen says, rubbing his palms on his thighs. The last two weeks with him have been great. He’s been very attentive and respectful. He even set up therapy appointments for me. She comes to the house twice a week, and even though it’s only been four visits, I feel better already.
I’m slowly coming together and feeling like a person again.
“It’s women having each other’s back and all. It’s okay” I play with the hem of my shirt. I guess I didn’t really think this through because I have to get undressed in front of Owen. He hasn’t seen me naked since he found me in the woods. My body isn’t where I want it to be. I need to gain more weight, and I want the doctor to clear me before I can do any … physical activity.
Owen pulls the curtain closed as I slip off my shirt. Fluffing my hair, I try to look my best for some reason. He’s seen me at my worst. Anything better than covered in mud and leaves, sweat and blood. I guess anything is better than that, right?
I grab the gown off the exam table and tie it around my neck. I try to, but my fingers are shaking.
“You okay, Jolie?” Owen asks, like he senses my nerves have got the best of me.
“I’m, Owen, I can't tie the gown. I'm uhm…”
“May I?” His voice is gentle.
“Please?”
The metal rings scrape against the rod as the curtain is pulled back. He lumbers over me, long thick legs and wide shoulders. He cracks his neck and sighs with relief as he steps behind me and ties the gown to my body. “There.” He bends down and presses a kiss to the base of my neck, and it sends tingles down my spine and my skin in a chaotic frenzy of goose bumps.
His fingers slide down my shoulder blades and his mouth teases the shell of my ear. “You are phenomenal,” he whispers into my ear. I lean against him, and his erection presses against my ass. Right as I feel it, I wait for the moment of panic, the need to run, but only a bit of anxiety hits me. It isn’t enough to freak me out, just enough to keep me on my toes. “I’m sorry.” He clears his throat and takes a step away. “I swear, I’m not trying to seduce you; you are just fucking beautiful.”
Before turning around, I unbutton my jeans and slip out of them, bending over a bit salaciously as I take them off and toss them on the ground.
Owen growls behind me. I look over my shoulder, and he’s against the wall, fists clenched at his sides, eyes shut, and his lips are pressed together.
Did I make him angry?
Am I not … am I not doing this right? I straighten and tie the ribbons around my waist to hold the gown in place. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean… I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
His blue eyes snap open, and his fists unclench. “Make me mad? No, babe. No. That’s the last thing you could do. At the end of the day, I’m in control of myself. I’m against that wall to control myself because you’re temptation, Jolie, and do you know how bad I want to give in to temptation?”
“No.” I gulp, suddenly a bit self-conscious.
He takes a step toward me and licks his lips. “You are—” We are interrupted by a knock at the door, and he groans, slumping his shoulders. “Damn it,” he curses.
I giggle and plop on the exam table. I hike up the gown a little, not much, just a little above the knee because let’s face it, I’m not that bold.
Yet.
Owen’s hand lands on my knee then tugs my gown down. “Tease,” he says playfully and sends me a wink.
I blush, and another schoolgirl giggle leaves my mouth.
“I fucking love that sound,” he growls again and grabs my jaw, slamming his mouth against mine as if he can’t wait another second to kiss me. He’s been getting rougher later, but not in a way that scares me; in a way that lets me know he truly desires me. Owen doesn’t overpower me, doesn’t force himself on me, or threaten me.
He shows me how much he desires me, and it makes me desire him too.
“Sor
ry to interrupt,” Doctor Pierce says.
“Oh sorry,” I say, wiping the evidence off my lips, not that it matters. My lips are swollen from his kiss. I feel like they are constantly like that lately.