Page 43 of Alexis

Sliding the door open quietly, he was relieved to find Alexis still sleeping. He had worked up quite a sweat, and he was glad for a chance to shower before she saw him.

He grabbed more clothes and headed back to the bathroom to wash up.

Half an hour later, he was puttering around the kitchen, trying to decide whether to make a vegetable scramble with buckwheat johnny cakes or a plain omelet with a massive fruit salad. Both options were similar in terms of nutritional content, and he could adjust calorie intake to suit them both with portion sizes. Also, and most importantly as far as he was concerned, they were both delicious.

A knock at the door interrupted his decision making.

He strode to open it a crack and was greeted by the sight of the little doctor who had been at the house yesterday morning, standing on the steps, smiling up at him.

“I’m just here for her morning check-up,” she said brightly.

“She’s not up yet,” he whispered. “Should I wake her?”

“According to her vitals she’s been awake for three minutes,” Dr. Pan informed him.

He turned around and sure enough, Alexis was sitting up with a quilt wrapped around her.

“Sorry, I wake up slowly,” she told Tiago with a little smile.

His heart pulsed and he smiled back at her helplessly.

“Is it okay for me to get cleaned up and dressed first?” she asked Dr. Pan apologetically.

“Of course,” Dr. Pan said. “Take your time. Maybe we’ll make some coffee.”

“Perfect,” Alexis moaned appreciatively.

Tiago led Dr. Pan up to the counter while Alexis scampered off to the bathroom, a wad of clothing in her hand.

“Seems like you two are getting along well,” Dr. Pan said lightly.

Tiago nodded, unable to figure out what to say in return.

I’m falling hard for her.

And the idea makes me sick.

He poured some water into the coffee cell, frowning at it like it had done him wrong.

“How are you holding up after the horse… incident?” she asked as he measured out the coffee. “I can take a look if you have worse than some bruising, or give you a little anti-inflammatory?”

“I’m fine,” he told her. “I went for a run already this morning.”

“I know,” she said with a smile. “The staff was very impressed. Do you need access to weights or resistance equipment while you’re here? I know during intake you said you wouldn’t bother, but sometimes the body needs what it needs.”

“That would be really nice, actually,” he told her, finally meeting her eyes.

“It’s my pleasure to help any way I can,” she told him, her eyes serious. “If there’s something I haven’t thought of, you’ll let me know?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Thank you.”

Alexis joined them from the bathroom, her dark hair pulled longer than usual from the weight of the water.

He could smell her sweet fragrance from behind the kitchen counter and he longed to drag her clean, wet body into his arms and defile her all over again.

“Good morning, Dr. Pan,” she said. “Thanks for waiting.”

“My pleasure,” the doctor said. “How are you feeling today?”

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