Page 47 of What the Doctor Ordered
He laughed lightly and the deep, carefree sound of it made my heart soar. “I have to admit that I’m a bit shocked as well,” he said. He stroked the skin of my arms gently. “I couldn’t imagine that I would ever be this lucky.”
He leaned toward me so that he could lightly touch his forehead to mine. The feel of him, the safety of him, immediately lulled me and I found my eyelids fluttering shut on their own accord.
As happy as I was in this moment, I started to recall what brought us to that horrible misunderstanding with Theo. I thought I had lost Simon for good when he left me behind in his rage. I didn’t think I could handle anything like that happening ever again.
I couldn’t survive it.
I pulled away suddenly, causing Simon to look down at me in confusion. “What’s wrong?” he asked in concern, searching my face with his eyes.
I pinned him with a serious look. “If we’re going to be an actual couple,” I began, “then we have to set some ground rules.”
Simon waited and I watched as the confusion melted away, replaced by a grim understanding. “I suppose that’s only fair,” he said. “Maybe we can make a new contract.”
“My first rule actually would be no contracts,” I said firmly. “I feel like that’s what caused this confusion between us in the first place.”
Simon winced before nodding. “Fair enough,” he said. “What did you have in mind?”
I beamed at him, pleased that he was being so open about this. It was further proof that he really wanted things to work between us. “We need to be open with each other, no matter what,” I said decisively. “I know it is hard for both of us to open up about our pasts, but if we’re going to be together, we need to be honest. We need to be willing to talk about the difficult stuff. I know we won’t be perfect overnight, but we need to try as best we can, little by little.”
Simon nodded. “Agreed,” he said. And then his face was stern. “I definitely won’t be putting up with any dishonesty.”
His firm voice caused a shiver to go through me. I averted my gaze and felt my lower lip slip between my teeth.
“Ah-ah,” Simon scolded, pinching my lip between his fingers so he could tug it free. “I also won’t be allowing you to harm yourself in any way, including any abuse of this pouty lip of yours.”
Warmth spread through me at his tender attention. He smiled at me and tucked some hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek.
“Now,” he said. “It’s my turn to lay some ground rules.”
I felt my eyebrows rise, wondering what more there could be to spell out. Communication was obviously the most important. Everything else should fall into place as long as that was the foundation.
Simon stood up and repositioned himself, sitting beside me on the couch. He patted his lap.
“Come here,” he said, beckoning for me to sit on his knee.
I blushed at the childish position but obeyed, lowering myself onto his thighs so I was sitting sideways on him.
Simon wrapped his arms around my waist immediately, patting my hip affectionately. “I’m sure it is no secret to you that I intend to lead in this relationship,” he said.
I giggled, a little nervously. “I have gathered that, yes,” I said, unable to keep all of the attitude out of my voice.
He raised an eyebrow and smacked my thigh sharply. “Brat,” he huffed, but there was fondness in his voice. “I’m serious, though. I am not going to allow our relationship to be damaged. I care about you too much.”
I found this all extremely sweet, but I had a sense of foreboding as well. Simon was suddenly very intense.
“Now that you’re mine, I am going to be even more strict when it comes to your health and safety,” he said. “Maybe we won’t make a contract, but I will be writing a list of rules because there will be many, and I expect you to follow every one of them.”
I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest. “And I suppose I’m the only one who will have to follow these rules,” I said with some resentfulness.
“I will be abiding by most of them, as well,” he said, raising an eyebrow at my pout. “The difference is, I will not be spanked if I break one of them.”
I flinched but didn’t respond, secretly warming to the idea of being held accountable for my actions. It sounded like I was going to be spanked often though, and that was going to be less enjoyable when I was actually being punished for breaking a rule.
He patted my hip. “Alright, love, stand up,” he ordered. “I’m going to show you just how serious I am about your health now that you’re mine.”
I swallowed thickly but stood as he ordered. He kissed my forehead before taking my hand and leading me down the hall. My breathing hitched when we stopped in front of the door leading to his medical office.
As soon as we were inside, he shut the door and turned to me. “Strip.”
