Page 51 of What the Doctor Ordered
The thought caused a dark cloud to fall over me. We didn’t talk about the agreement often and I could almost sense Simon’s purposeful attempt to avoid the topic altogether. He brought me to a couple of social gatherings so that I could pose as his fiancée in front of his colleagues and other business associates.
Those events were different now that we were really together. Simon was much more tender with me and much more physical, looking for any excuse to be touching me, whether it was a hand on my lower back to guide me forward or to pull me close for a dance across a shimmering floor.
He wasn’t just attentive, he was loving, affectionate and just all around perfect.
And yet, I couldn’t fully enjoy it, not when I knew that today was a significant day. Today, it was exactly six months since I signed that contract. I had been dreading this day for weeks, terrified of what this would mean for us. I tried to convince myself that I shouldn’t be worried. Simon often told me he loved me, and I believed him, but we were still getting to know each other in a lot of ways.
What if he decided he had enough of me?
Simon kissed my ear before his hand snaked down to my bottom. “Are you ignoring me?” he asked dangerously. “I know that you’re awake.”
I hesitantly opened one eye, peeking up at him, my cheek still pressed against his chest.
His eyes looked almost smokey in this dim morning light, and he had a lazy smile on his face. If nothing else, he was still enjoying my company. I thought back to the night before, to the world-rocking sex we had. He had bent me over the foot of the bed and kept a fistful of my hair in his grip as he rammed into me.
He had seemed to enjoy himself last night, convincing me to just take things one day at a time. If he decided to break things off one day, I would just have to learn to accept it and consider myself lucky that I had him for as long as I did.
“No, Sir,” I purred, tracing my fingertip over his bicep, delighting in the way it caused him to shiver and flex.
I squealed when his eyes darkened and he suddenly flipped me over so that I was face down on the bed. He peppered my bare bottom with sharp swats, the slapping sound echoing through the large bedroom.
“Your distractions won’t work on me today,” he said. “We have some things we need to discuss, but first, I thought it would be fun to go on a little date.”
“A date?” I repeated once I had rubbed some of the sting out of my butt he had so casually spanked.
Simon chuckled, sitting up and pulling me so I was sitting in his lap. “Is that so outlandish?” he asked. “Why wouldn’t we go on dates?”
I felt my face grow warm as I averted my eyes. “We just haven’t in a while,” I murmured.
Simon flinched. “I know we’ve been letting life get in the way, and we’ve really only had time to go to work events, but today is going to be a special day. I decided we are putting everythingelse on hold to go out on a date. I have the whole day planned so I suggest you get ready.” He stood up, set me on my feet on the floor and slapped my bottom soundly.
I made my way over to the walk-in closet, which now held a bunch of my clothes. I wasn’t living here officially, but I had stayed over often during the past several months so a lot of my outfits were here.
I got dressed with nervous butterflies dancing in my stomach. A part of me was excited to be spending the day with Simon, but the reminder that we were at the end of the contract made me wonder what kinds of things he wanted to discuss. He must have been aware of what day it was, but I was too much of a chicken to ask him.
We were a couple now, so I shouldn’t be worried, but a part of me was anxious about the fact that our relationship started with a contract. Would that affect us going forward?
I loved him and he loved me but the foundation in which our relationship rested still made me uncertain. He needed someone to be his fake fiancée if he was going to continue to pursue his father’s company.
I slipped on a white sundress with frilly sleeves and pink strawberries all over it. I knew that he loved it on me and I wanted to make myself extra cute for him today, feeling insecure and uncertain about the discussion he wanted to have later.
After applying some light makeup and fixing my hair in the bathroom, I stepped back into the room to find Simon already dressed in a sky-blue button-up and black jeans. His hazel eyes brightened when he saw me. In a few quick strides, he was in front of me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Good choice,” he said, kissing my cheek. “I love this dress on you.”
A flutter went through me when he placed a gentle but firm hand on the small of my back and led me out of the house. The car ride was silent and I could do nothing but stare down at my lap, trying to quench the nerves but failing miserably. I was quietly berating myself the whole way. Simon was clearly trying to make this day a treat and I couldn’t even be excited about it.
“Are you getting car sick?” he asked, clearly misreading my fidgeting. He placed a hand on my thigh as he drove. “Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”
I gave him a tentative smile, hoping that it would be enough to convince him that I was alright.
I knew I couldn’t lie to myself forever, though. By the end of this date, I decided that I was going to have to confront him and ask him where we stood. Even if that meant risking that the answer could shatter my heart.
I was still staring down at my lap when Simon shifted the car into park, got out, and hurried to my side to open the door for me. I took his hand and stepped out, blinking in shock when I realized where we were.
Simon was watching my face carefully. “I’ve been meaning to take you here for a while since you’ve never been before.”
I felt a giddy grin spreading over my mouth. I had always wanted to go to our local zoo, since it was one of the largest in the country, but tickets were rather expensive. I told myself I would splurge after I graduated with my vet degree.
