Chapter Nineteen Maksim #2
“It isn’t simple in my world.”
“I understand that, and I wish more than anything that I could change it. I mean, lots of politicians and musicians and actors have stutters. But it didn’t stop them from doing amazing things.”
“Yeah, well, t-they didn’t g-grow up in Bratva.”
“They still grew up in worlds where perfection was expected. Take King Hollis VI. He was a prince and a king with a stutter. Like you, he sought help as an adult.”
“He did?”
“You’ve never seen The King’s Speech?” At the shake of my head, Sarah smiled. “All right. We’re having a movie night tonight and watching it.”
Although I couldn’t have given two shits about watching a movie about a stuffy British king, I did like the idea of getting to spend more time with her. Of course, I had to play it cool. “Fine. If you say so.”
“Great. Do you think we can get some popcorn and candy?”
“You obviously haven’t t-taken the full t-tour of the house and seen t-the movie room.”
Her eyes lit up. “It’ll be just like being at the theater.”
“In a way, yeah.”
Waving her hand, she said, “Let’s get back to work.”
“If you say so.”
Sarah picked up the penlight. “I need to look into your mouth now, so open wide.”
As she flashed the light around in my mouth, Sarah nodded. “Looks pink and moist.”
Just like your pussy. I turned a laugh into a cough. Always perceptive, Sarah rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Maksim?”
“What?”
“I thought you were more mature.”
“Regardless of age or nationality, all men are p-perverts.”
“I second that, which is why I really regret my next request.”
“Which is?” When Sarah hesitated by fiddling with the penlight in her hands, I asked, “Jesus, what could b-be so b-bad?”
“I need you to stick out your tongue.”
“T-That d-doesn’t seem so bad,” I remarked.
Sighing, Sarah said, “Then move it back and forth.”
“Ah, I see,” I mused.
“Just do it,” she huffed.
When I thrust my tongue out, Sarah shifted in her chair. Her attention seemed riveted to my tongue as I slid it from side to side. “And…um…lick your lips.”
I did just as I was told. After tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she murmured, “Good.”
“My t-tongue skills are usually d-described as b-better than just good.”
Sarah shot me a look. “You just had to go there, didn’t you?”
“I just wanted it noted in my chart.”
“Let me guess. You want me to put down that your tongue is excellent or mind-blowing? Wait, I bet its abilities aren’t usually put into words. It’s more like moans and pants?”
I blinked at her in surprise. Fuck me. I sure as hell wasn’t expecting her to turn the tables on me.
When I didn’t respond, Sarah had the audacity to wink at me. “What’s wrong, Maksim. Cat got that fantastic tongue of yours?”
A grin curved on my lips. “You are very g-good at calling me out.”
“You’re welcome. Now, can we cut out the bullshit and continue?”
“I would love t-to.”
“Thank you.”
If there ever was a doubt in my mind that I was completely and utterly obsessed with this woman, it was reconfirmed then. I would happily live the rest of my life with her putting me in my well-deserved place.
“Now we’ll deal more with the interior of your mouth.” At my nod, she asked, “Do you know when you get peanut butter stuck on the roof of your mouth?”
“Huh?
“Don’t Russians eat peanut butter?”
“I’m sure some do, but we never did much in our house.”
“Seriously?”
“Why is t-that so surprising?”
With a shrug, she replied, “I guess because it’s such a staple of America.”
“My parents g-grew up in Russia, so they stayed with t-the food they had as kids. Irina, my stepmother, was born in America, so my siblings ate it. I just never liked it.”
“Okay, then. Let me shift gears. What’s a Russian food you might eat that would get stuck to the roof of your mouth?”
“Pastila.”
“Hmm, from my limited Spanish, I would guess that it was some sort of pastry?”
Nodding, I replied, “It’s made with mashed apples, sugar, and egg whites, but the consistency is like a marshmallow type.”
“Sounds yummy.”
I smiled. “I’ll have to get you some from the Russian bakery.”
“I would love that.” Tapping the table, she said, “Okay, you have some pastila on the roof of your mouth and need to push it away.”
At my frown, Sarah laughed. “I need you to pretend for me, Maksim.”
“Fine. What should I do?”
“So, put your tongue right behind her teeth on the ovular ridge and push straight back to your palate and get all of it off.”
As I did as I was told, Sarah watched my progress. “Nice. Now I want you to bite down so I can check your bite.”
Her gloved finger slid into my mouth to check both sides of my teeth. “And open your mouth, and I’ll check the ridges on your palate.”
After opening wide, Sarah slid her finger along the roof of my mouth. When I jumped, she grinned. “Sorry, it can tickle a little.”
With her finger rubbing the roof of my mouth, I couldn’t respond. “You have a very nice palatal arch,” Sarah remarked before pulling her forefinger out.
“So far, so g-good, huh?”
She nodded. “We’ll check your breath pressure, and then we’ll be done.”
After handing me the pinwheel, Sarah said, “I want you to blow as hard as you can.”
When I put everything I had into moving the wheel, Sarah nodded. “Nice job.”
And even though it hadn’t occurred to me, Sarah held up a finger. “And spare me a remark about your blow job abilities."
I laughed. “I’m usually on the receiving end of t-those.”
When she realized her mistake, pink colored her cheeks. “Whatever.”
“So what’s the verdict, Doc?”
With a regretful look, Sarah replied, “Everything looks good, Maksim, so there’s not any physical impediment causing you to stutter.”
Although the news stung, I’d been expecting it. It’d been a false hope to think that after all these years there would be some miracle cure.
Nodding my head, I replied, “Okay. What now?”
“I’ll focus your treatment on specifically targeting your trigger letters, which are b, g, and t’s. But first, we’ll start with the CBT aspects of treatment.”
“Yes, I read a lot about t-that in your journals.”
She smiled. “Then I can assume you know a little about the Method of Three’s.”
“Catch It, Check It, and Change It.”
“You were paying attention,” she praised.
“Yes, I was.”
“When it comes to acting out real-life scenarios as I do with my other patients, I will focus on what you need for your work and family.”
“I d-doubt you’ve ever had p-patients that dealt with B-Bratva needs.”
With a laugh, Sarah said, “Yes, it will certainly be a first. I think my puppet shows would be so much darker.”
“P-Puppets?”
“Yes, I have Polly Positive and Nelly Negative if you’d like me to get them.”
“I t-think I’ll p-pass.”
“Too bad I don’t have any Bratva-themed puppets like Ivan the Instigator or Sasha the Silencer,” Sarah teased.
Smirking, I replied, “Are you always this sassy with your p-patients?”
“Only the ones that kidnap me.”
With a groan, I countered, “Seriously, are you ever g-going to let me live t-that down?”
“I’d like to say soon, but I like how much it pisses you off.”
“If you keep t-this up, I’m g-going to report you to the medical b-board.”
Sarah grinned. “Oh, I can just imagine how that report would go. ‘I would like to report the unprofessionalism of the woman I had an associate kidnap and then who I entered into a contract based on coercion.’”
“Whatever,” I grumbled.
Rising out of her chair, Sarah said, “Come on. We need a break, and I think it would be a good idea to start our first relaxation lesson outside.”
“D-Do you normally g-go on field trips with your patients, or am I special?”
“Of course you’re special, Maksim,” Sarah replied in a singsong way. When I shot her a look, she replied, “Actually, I do take field trips. We have both an indoor and outdoor playground for the kids.”
“Why d-do I have the feeling you’re g-going to have me hiking in t-the woods or swimming in the stream.”
Sarah’s dark eyes lit up. “There’s a stream?”
Groaning, I replied, “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”