Chapter 27
Flappingbat wings wreaked havoc in my stomach as I pulled into the parking lot of Healthy Smiles Dental Care, and my phone rang.
“Hi, Sylvia,” I said.
“Hey, babe. What are you doing? Where are you? I got invited to Real Rumor’s banquet in New York next week. Want to be my date?”
Why hadn’t she moved on? Our relationship had ended a while ago. She hadn’t taken the breakup seriously, even when I went on dates with other women. She believed I needed a break from her to realize who was best for me.
A woman who didn’t resonate with my heart wasn’t best for me even if she was beautiful.
“No, I can’t. I’m busy.”
“No, you’re not.” Irritation stirred in her.
“I’m busy, Sylvia. Ask someone else to accompany you.”
“But I want you to come.”
“We’re not a couple anymore,” I said calmly.
Silence hung in the air, and I could imagine her fuming as she always did when she didn’t get her way.
“Are you seeing someone?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t a lie. In my head, I was already seeing Vivian.
“Who is she?”
“No one you know.”
“Is she in our circle of friends?”
I was never in her circle of social media friends. I’d met two of her friends once.
“She’s a simple girl. Not in the limelight.”
Vivian was anything but that. However, I wasn’t going to add fuel to an already crazy fire.
She snorted. “That’s not your type.”
I didn’t have time for this. “She’s what I need.”
“You don’t know what you need yet.”
Perhaps not then, but I was beginning to understand my needs now. Needs and wants were different things. But Vivian fulfilled both requirements for me.
Like all my previous relationships, Sylvia had served as a temporary satisfaction until she got too clingy and hinted at marriage. I had wanted something that didn’t require all my attention, and Sylvia demanded all that.
“Sylvia, we’re just friends.”
“What about the wine expo in Monaco?” She huffed. “Are you accompanying me there?”
“I already have a date. You should ask Eric or Tyson.” They were wealthy bachelors within her circle.
“Tyson has asked me out several times, you know. But I told him I belong to you.”
I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. I didn’t drive all the way to the dentist to sit and chat with her in the parking lot.
“You don’t belong to me, Sylvia. I’ve got to go to my appointment.”
“Fine. I’m going with Tyson.” She hung up.
I sighed, shoving the conversation from my mind. How much clearer could I be with her? I didn’t have the energy right now. My thoughts swung back to the reason for the sick feeling in my gut.
Don’t be a wuss. Only little kids are afraid of the dentist. Not a grown ass man like you.
Holding Vivian’s face in my mind to give me courage, I headed to the front door. Nerves wrung my gut as I stood staring at the Healthy Smiles Dental Care sign with a joyful tooth image that didn’t make me want to smile at all.
Anxiety tightened the muscles in my shoulders and legs. A chill rushed through me. Sweat warmed on my hands, and I clenched it away. I forced myself to breathe regularly as the shortness of breath was another symptom I detested.
I hated how dentophobia had turned me into a weak person.A negative experience from when I was eight years old had transformed into a monstrous disorder. While lying in the exam chair for a filling, I had choked from the water running to the back of my throat. I couldn’t breathe, and it freaked me out. From that horrible experience I’d developed this strange aversion to the equipment. The sounds of the drill and water suction triggered an awful sensation in my body.
My former dentist had suggested hypnotherapy and acupuncture to help me relax. Nothing helped. Whenever I had any work done, I asked to be sedated. Few people knew this about me. Not even my friends. This wasn’t something I’d discussed over a casual dinner, during a video game, or at a sporting event.
The shame and embarrassment were too much.
I was a formerNavy SEAL who had conducted high-risk operations in all kinds of dangerous situations where I’d captured and killed high-level targets. Now, I ran a billion-dollar empire that had its own risks and danger, and yet I succumbed to a mere visit to the dentist.
Pathetic.
This was a hurdle I had to overcome. Vivian would be the person to assist me. I was due for a cleaning a year ago and kept canceling it.
I released a heavy sigh and prayed she had an opening for me. I didn’t make an appointment because that would’ve intensified the anxiety.
A little boy about six years old stared up at me. “Hi.” He wore a Batman knit hat and matching gloves.
“Hello,” I said.
“I have a cleaning today.” He beamed. “And then the office is gonna give me a bag of goodies with some toys in it. And then my mom is gonna get me some McDonald’s. That’s my favorite restaurant.”
“That sounds wonderful. You like going to the dentist?”
“Yup! Dr. Vo is my favorite dentist! I get to watch Peppa Pig on the TV!”
I glanced behind me, and his mom was chatting with another woman.
“You’re not afraid of the dentist at all?”
“Nope,” he said with pride. “Some of my friends cry when they go. Not me. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He rolled his eyes, and his whole body followed the motion.
Show off.
“You’re a brave boy.”
He studied me with curious blue eyes. “Are you getting your teeth pulled today?”
“No.”
“Are you afraid of the dentist?” he asked.
I didn’t answer the question.
Looking serious, he moved closer and placed a tiny, glovedhand on my thigh because that was where he could reach. “Everything will be okay.” He patted my thigh. “My uncle is super afraid of the dentist too. One time, I went with him for‘moral support.’” He used his tiny fingers to emphasize the quotation.
I laughed out loud, and the sound rushed down the street. This kid was growing on me.
“Do you have someone to hold your hand?” he asked innocently.
I did, but not for dental moral support.
“Your bravery gives me courage, kid.”
He smiled as his mom approached. I opened the door for them to enter first.
After they checked in and sat in the waiting area, I asked the receptionist, whose nametag read Allison, “Does Dr. Vo have any openings for an urgent appointment?”
Allison smiled. “One moment, please. Let me look. Someone called in to cancel earlier.” She clicked a few times. “You’re in luck. She has an opening in an hour.”
“Great. Can you put my name down?”
Allison furrowed her eyebrows. “Umm, Dr. Vo only sees kids.”
“Oh.” Disappointment stirred in me. I should’ve known this. “Can I speak to her for a moment? Please? She’s a friend.”
“Of course. What’s your name?”
I gave her my name. Ten minutes later, I sat across from Vivian inside her cozy office.
“I’m a pediatric dentist.” She leaned into the table. “Adult patients are treated by the general dentist, Dr. Jillian Jones.”
I also leaned into the table. “Which means you have more knowledge than a general dentist. I want you to work on me.” When I heard unintentional sexual innuendo, I smirked. “In more ways than one.”
She rolled her eyes, and a crease slowly formed between her eyebrows. “This isn’t grocery shopping where you get to pick out your fruits and vegetables. A hygienist could clean your teeth.”
I sighed, and disappointment probably showed on my face because she studied me for a moment. “Do you have a dentophobia?”
I twisted my lips and nodded.
Amusement flickered in her eyes, but it soon turned into compassion. She got up from her seat, walked over to me, and gripped my chin as though she was going to tell me to open wide. Instead, she said, “I suppose I could squeeze in a big baby for today.”
I smiled and yanked her onto my lap.
She shrieked at the sudden gesture, and I couldn’t help but kiss her. Her lips were soft and welcoming. She didn’t kiss me back, but that was expected. She was the cautious type—except that one time at her apartment and when she was drunk. I wanted her to kiss me again. I wanted her to want me.
Breaking the kiss, I stared at her flushed face. “Shh. Or your staff will come rushing in.”
She licked her lips, and I couldn’t take my eyes off that sexy little tongue.
“You have no idea how much I want to kiss these beautiful lips.” I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. “And taste that curious tongue of yours.” I bent down and licked her bottom lip. When she gasped, my tongue slid in and greeted hers.
Fuck.
It was better than I remembered.
Another lick. Another taste. I was sucked into a world I could never come back from.
Decadent.
Delicious.
Dangerous.
Heat shot straight to my dick and throbbed. She didn’t push me away, and I took that opportunity to explore her mouth. When her tongue played with mine, I moaned. When she sucked on my tongue, I almost came.
Fuck.
I loved the way her lips wrapped around my tongue. It made me want her mouth wrapped around my cock too. My cock throbbed as the vision flashed across my mind. I’d never been aroused at a dentist’s office. This would be a new experience that could trump my fear. Vivian was the perfect distraction.
She placed a hand on my chest, eased back, and breathed, “I’m working.”
“I know.” I grinned. “You’re doing a fabulous job, Tulip. Do it again.”
Smiling, her eyes darkened. “I mean, I’m working at the office. You’re causing too much trouble for me.”
“But you love it.”
I could hear her heart racing. The bulge in my pants had grown exponentially, achingly pushing against the fly of my jeans. Could she feel it? I shifted her ass into the appropriate position.
“This is what you do to me. Be a caring dentist and help me deal with it sooner rather than later.”
“It seems like you have a different agenda for coming here.” She tried to get off my lap, but I secured her with both arms, wrapping them tightly around her.
She laughed. “Let me go. What are you doing?”
“Holding onto my lifeline.”
“I have a schedule to keep up with.” She rose to her feet and straightened out her white coat. “I’ll do my best to make your cleaning comfortable.” She placed a hand on either side of my shoulders. “Many people suffer from this phobia. Just try to imagine a pretty or safe place. I can even play gentle music for you.”
“But I’m an adult, Tulip. I shouldn’t have this ridiculous fear.”
“We all have fears, Bullseye. Including me.”
I liked her calling me that. It was our connection before we knew we were linked to each other. “What do you fear?”
She waved a finger. “There’s only room for one phobia today. I’ll tell you that if you win the duel.” Her face beamed.
“Well, that just means I will have to win now. Hurry and set a date and time.”
“Come on. Let’s get your cleaning done so I can take care of my other patients.” I followed her to an exam room.
“Thanks for squeezing me in,” I said when she gestured to the exam chair.
“You’re welcome.” She looked at the tray where someone had already set up the tools.
“There’s another place I’d love to squeeze into.” I smirked at my bluntness. What was the point of hinting when I could be direct with her?
She narrowed her eyes at me. “If you keep this up, I’ll have to squeeze your neck.” She demonstrated with her hands.
I laughed as she placed a napkin over my chest and reclined the chair.
“Do you want to listen to music?” she asked.
“No thanks.” I placed my hand on her arm. “I’m going to keep my gaze on you. It’ll ground me and make me think of sexy things, so the loud noise and splashing water won’t bother me. Okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled warmly and placed a pair of goggles on me. “This will protect your eyes from any sprays. Just concentrate on your breathing. In and out through the nose. You’ll be fine.” Her caring voice soothed me.
My heart raced when she asked me to open wide, but I stared at her and wondered about her scars. That kept my fear at bay.