Unbreakable (32 page)

One day as I walked down the hallways to meet with the residents for grand rounds, Lisa caught up with me. I was used to her shadowing me, but she’d been as busy as me and so hadn’t been following me as much.

“You look happy,” she said, glancing at me through narrowed eyes.

“I am,” I said and smiled. “Very happy.”

“What’s up?”

“Just life,” I said, determined not to talk about my personal life with her.

“Is Kate feeling better?” Lisa asked. “Up and about yet?”

“Things are fine with mother and baby,” I said, not wanting to say anything more.

“How
wonderful
about them both being fine,” she added. “She’s pretty tiny. If she was to get too sick, she doesn’t have much weight to lose, especially at this stage of her pregnancy.”

I turned to her and frowned. “You’ve seen her?” Alarm filled me.

“Sure, silly,” she said. “She came to the hospital one day. I saw you walking with her.”

I took in a deep breath and tried to remember when Lisa would have seen me with Kate. Kate had met me a couple of times for lunch the previous semester. Had Lisa seen her then?

“Oh, I didn’t know you saw her before.”

She smiled but it looked fake, her eyes narrow. “Domestic life—who would have thought it would be your choice? Doctor
Dom
? I mean, Doctor D…”

“Why not?” I asked, frowning that she slipped – on purpose – and referred to the fact I was a Dominant. “I want a life like everyone else.”

“Sunita said you were the playboy type who only had fuckbuddies, if I recall.”

“That was then,” I said and held the door open for her. “This is now.”

“What’s so special about Kate?” she asked, as we stood waiting for rounds to begin.

“Shh,” I said when the department head arrived and cleared his throat. Lisa frowned and turned away, but I knew she wanted to continue talking. I was glad I had a reason to stop. I didn’t like Lisa concerning herself with my life and especially with Kate’s life. Still, I smiled as I thought about my beautiful wife. When I left her that morning, she was snuggled down into the thick duvet, her hair across her face, her luscious curves and belly making me wish I could wake her up with a nice slow fuck, but she needed her sleep.

Lisa stood off to the side of the group of residents as we did rounds. Then, when rounds were finished, she left without saying another word. Perhaps hearing how happy I was would put her off. If so, I was relieved because I had Kate back and
I
didn’t want to give up my fellowship.

On Thursday night, the group from NYU went out for dinner and game of darts and pool at the local pub so I texted Kate to see how she was feeling, and then left with the rest of the group, taking my car since I’d be a designated driver. I didn’t want to drink more than a pint, for the few hours after eight that I had to spend with Kate were precious and I wanted to be fresh and wide awake when she was feeling her best.

We drove to
Shane’s Public House and Grill
and piled into the bar, pushing tables together and ordering several pitchers of draft and appetizers, as was usual. Lisa made a point of sitting beside me. I’d grown used to it, although I got the occasional raised eyebrow and two heads bending together to exchange whispers, but that was the price I had to pay to keep her on my side and off my case.

The time passed quickly, much draft beer was imbibed, ribs and other finger food consumed and I checked my watch. The time was getting close to eight and I wanted to get home.

“I’m driving home now, so if you want a ride, now’s your chance,” I said to the group when I stood and pulled on my jacket.

A couple of the residents stood and accepted my offer and Lisa did as well. We said goodbye to the group and walked to my car, which was parked about a block and a half down the street. I asked everyone their addresses, and of course Lisa was the last to be dropped off. After we dropped the other two residents off, Lisa and I were alone in the car.

I drove through the streets in silence, letting her do the talking.

“That was fun,” she said, turning in her seat to face me.

“It was,” I said, hoping to get her to her place as quickly as possible so I could get home to Kate.

“Hey, Drake, I need your help up in my apartment. I have this flat screen television and need to put it up on the wall.”

I sighed, frustrated that she was trying to get me into her apartment.

“Don’t you have a roommate who can help you? Someone in the dorm?”

“No, actually,” she said coolly. “I don’t have anyone.”

“You’re an attractive woman. Why haven’t you got one of the residents at your beck and call? I noticed a couple of them seemed interested.”

She grinned but shook her head. “Not interested. They’re boys, not men. I want someone with some seasoning. So, you’ll come up and help me,” she said, and it wasn’t a request. It was a demand.

I took in a deep breath and tried not to let my anger get the better of me. Kate would be waiting for me, eager to talk after being alone all day with her fatigue. She wasn’t enrolled in her class anymore, although she occasionally did some research when she could and she was doing her art, but being alone all day made her crave someone to talk to.

“I don’t have a lot of time. Kate’s been alone all day so I want to get home as soon as possible.”

“Sure, rub my nose in it,” she said, her voice petulant.

“What do you mean?” I glanced at her, angry that she couldn’t – or wouldn’t understand.

“Talking about your nice little life while I’m all alone.”

“That’s my life,” I said. “I thought you wanted to be friends. Friends talk about their lives.”

“Anyway,” she said, as if she wasn’t listening. “I need you to help me get the television mounted on the wall. It’s too awkward to do it by myself. It won’t take long, Drake. I wish you wouldn’t be so unreasonable.”

I turned the corner too fast, my foot heavy on the gas from anger. “I’m not being unreasonable.”

But I knew arguing with her was futile – and potentially dangerous. She had me by the short and curlies. If I wasn’t nice to her, she threatened to reveal my involvement in the BDSM lifestyle. If I was nice to her, she wanted more. Always more.

“Slow down, for God’s sake,” she said as my tires squealed around a corner. I regained control and drove down the street to her apartment, glad when I was able to find a spot that was only half a block away.

“Let’s go. I want to make this fast.”

“I know, I know. Gotta get home to the little missus,” she muttered under her breath.

“That’s right,” I said and followed her up to her apartment. She unlocked the door and we entered the darkened apartment. When she turned on the lights, I saw it was a small flat with a tidy interior, everything nice and neat. In a huge box against the wall stood the flat screen television – plasma. It was huge. I could understand that she needed help with it. At least she’d attached the mount on the wall so all we’d have to do was lift it up and fasten it. It would be a quick job and then I’d be on my way.

I went over to the box after shucking off my boots and took a look. Lisa was off doing something and so I opened the box and pulled it out of the foam housing, waiting for her to return so we could lift it. I studied the directions and then she entered the room with two shot glasses and a bottle of vodka.

“Let’s have a toast,” she said, holding the bottle up. “To our year together.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I said, trying to stop my frown. What was she trying to do–ply me with liquor? Get me drunk and hope my defenses fell and I wanted to ravish her?

“Oh, come
on
, Drake. Be a sport. What happened to the fun guy I met at Derek’s place? I think you said you were always
up
for a challenge… Look,” she said and held it up. “Anisovaya. I special ordered it from Mother Russia herself. Sunita told me you drank it. Plus, I read those letters…” She raised her eyebrows.

“No, thanks,” I said and focused on the television, deliberately not responding to her.

Those goddamn letters…

I focused instead on the directions in my hand, determined to get the job done with no distractions.

“Have a drink,
Drake
,” she said and held out a glass.

“I said no thanks,” I said and turned to her, determined not to give in.

“And I said,
drink
,” she said.

“Let’s get this done. I have to go.”

“You’ll have a drink and then you’ll help me mount it. Then you can go to your precious Kate.”

I relented and took the glass, letting her fill it with Anisovaya. We shot them back and she tried to pour me more, of course, but I was too fast and she spilled it on the floor and over my hand.

“Drake,” she said, frustrated. “You’re going to toast your new baby,” she said and stepped closer to fill my glass.

“No.” I turned it upside down on the coffee table. “Let’s do this.”

She filled her own glass and downed a shot and then we went to the television and I gave directions based on reading the owner’s manual. We managed to get it mounted and all the connections made in a very short time, so I was glad when we finally turned it on and I was able to leave.

“I’m gone,” I said and went to the door. I bent down to tie my boots, and when I stood up, she was there and bent closer, trying to kiss me on the cheek, but I was able to duck to the side, and she missed, ending up kissing empty space. She was persistent, pressing herself against me before sliding down onto her knees, her hands on my hips, her face above my crotch.

“Don’t go so fast,” she said, her voice thick. “I remember those times with you, even if you don’t remember me. You used to whisper in my ear while you tied me up, so deliberate, in control. You said things that made me feel desirable, and so safe. I read your letters online. It was like you wrote those letters for me. I’ll do anything you want, Drake.
Anything
.”

I backed away and took her hands, trying to pull her up but she resisted, remaining on her knees. “Lisa, this is
not
going to happen.”

“No one will know,” she said and slipped her arms around my legs again, her face pressed into my groin, almost frantic. “Besides, you’re the Dominant. You’re the Master. You can do what you want. Have what you want.”

“I already have what I want, Lisa. It’s Kate. As to no one knowing,
I’ll
know,” I said and pushed her away more firmly. “Now, I’m sorry that you hoped we could get together, but it can’t happen. Do you understand that?”

“You don’t have to have sex with me, but at least tie me up,” she said, her hands gripping my legs. “I like rope bondage. You do it really well. You used to demonstrate at parties.”

I shook my head. “I can’t,” I said and finally managed to lift her up. “I have to go.” She wouldn’t cooperate and took hold of my arms, leaning her body close.

“I have everything you need for a scene,” she said, her voice desperate now. “Blindfold, rope, and there are hooks in my bedroom if you want to do suspension.
Please
…”

“
No
,” I said firmly, pulling her hands away and turning to grab the door handle. I managed to get the door opened and slipped out as fast as I could, relief flooding over me that she was on one side of the doorway and I on the other.

“It’s not cheating if there’s no sex,” she said, her hands on her hips.

“It would be cheating, Lisa,” I said and adjusted my jacket. “It’s not going to happen.”

I backed away, my hands up to ward her off. She had this desperate pleading expression on her face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said finally, pouting. “For lunch.”

I shook my head. “No can do,” I said and went to the stairs. “Busy.”

“No, you’re not,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I checked your schedule. You’re not scheduled for any OR time or office hours in the clinic. I even talked to Dave and he said you weren’t coming over to the foundation. So you’re free and you are taking me to lunch.”

The fact she was actively admitting to stalking me alarmed me but I wanted to get out of the building. I shook my head. “I have to go.”

I took the stairs and felt her eyes on me, the hairs prickling on the back of my neck as if I were in danger.

I started to rethink my decision to stay in the fellowship program, but there were only eleven weeks left and I didn’t want to miss out on the entire year due to her.

She wasn’t going to ruin my life.

“How was your happy hour with the residents?” Kate asked as she helped me with my coat, leaning in to kiss me once it was off.

I removed my boots and watched her hang my coat up. “It was fun. Except for Lisa, I enjoyed myself.”

She exhaled and rolled her eyes. “What did she do now?”

“She made me come back to her apartment and help her install her new plasma flat screen television. I tried to say no, but she said she had no one else who could help her lift it.”

“Did she accost you? Offer her wares?”

“Yes, sadly,” I said and watched as a brief flash of darkness crossed Kate’s usually serene face. I took her hand. “She wanted me to do a bondage scene with her. No sex; just rope bondage but I politely declined her offer. As soon as I could, I was out of there like a bat out of hell.”

She tried to smile but I saw her lip quiver. “Did she actually touch you?”

I squeezed her hand and pulled her into my arms. “Briefly. But I pushed her away. It’s crazy, but one moment she’s all hot and bothered and the next she acted as if it didn’t even happen.” I shook my head, amazed at how quickly Lisa was back to her old self, acting as if the awkward rejection hadn’t taken place.

“She’s nuts,” Kate said and slipped her arms around my neck. “I think I may need you to fuck me so I know you’re mine,” she said, her voice breathy.

“I think I need to fuck you to wipe the memory of her out of my consciousness.”

We kissed and then we fucked. I needed Kate's body to wipe away the very uncomfortable memories of Lisa trying to seduce me.

When we were done, we lay together on the bed, our bodies spooned against each other. I loved to lie with her like that, my hand around her waist, caressing her belly. I’d feel the occasional movement from Sophia under my hand and Kate and I would oooh and ahhh.