Please be mine!

Avery’s POV

TWO WEEKS LATER

“Baby, have a taste. I love this cake,” Joe says, shoving a spoon of lemon cake in my mouth.

I chew slowly before swallowing. “it’s nice but we are not having lemon cake in our wedding.”

The baker laughs. “Of course not, Ms. Pope. If you could just follow me, we have a wide array of selections for you,” she says.

Joe is far more excited about this wedding than I am. In the past two weeks, I’ve been distracted by his father.

I can’t stop thinking about Gideon. I haven’t spoken to him. I’ve avoided every meeting that involves him. I hate who I become around him. I hate lying to Joe. I hate how excited Gideon makes me.

“Sweetie, are you even listening to me?” Joe asks, snapping his fingers in my face.

“Honey, you are the cake expert. I’m sure I’ll trust anything you pick out.”

Joe exchanges a curious look with the vendor. He pulls me aside. “Baby, is everything okay? You’ve been distracted. Is there something I should know about?” he asks.

“What? No! I’m fine. I promise. I just…I’m feeling a little under the weather,” I reply.

Joe rubs my arms. “You do feel hot. Why don’t you go see my father? He’s at the hospital right now. I’m sure he can look you over and ---”

“No, no, I’m fine, really! I don’t need a doctor.”

“Come on, he’s a surgeon. He’ll make time for us. I don’t want you to be sick in these few months leading up to the wedding!”

Shit. The last thing I need right now is to…see Gideon after I’ve spent so many days avoiding him.

“I’m honestly fine, Joe.”

“I don’t want to hear it. We are going to St. Luke’s.”

Before I could protest, he is already driving me to the hospital. I am stiff with tension the entire ride while Joe plays music and hums along.

When we get to the hospital, he leads me to the elevator where he presses a floor number for Gideon’s office.

“You are trembling,” Joe comments as the lifts carries us up.

I am almost shaking in my boots out of excitement.

Each floor brings us closer and closer to him. My perfect sub!

Finally, the elevator pings. We get out on the neurosurgery floor.

“I used to come here all the time when Dad was just starting out as an attending. Come on,” Joe pulls me along.

I hadn’t been here since we started dating. We walk down a hallway and stop at the end of the hall. The office is spacious, wide with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city and transparent glass panels.

I can see Gideon sitting behind a mahogany desk. His name, GIDEON HOLCOMB, is written on a gold plate hanging on the door.

Joe knocks respectfully. Without looking up, Gideon’s voice responds. “Come in!”

We enter. “Dad!” Joe calls out. Gideon looks up. First thing he sees is me. His eyes locks in on me. He springs up.

“Joe, Avery, what brings you here?” he wants to know.

Joe hugs him, thumping him a little on the back. “We’re so sorry to bother you, Dad, but Avery’s been feeling a little under the weather. We were just up the road, shopping for our wedding cake, I thought maybe we could drop in so you could take a good look at her.”

Gideon’s eyes roams over to me. I can see the concern masking his expression. “Is this true, Avery? Have you been feeling ill?”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little tired.”

“No, no, that won’t do. My schedule’s free right now. I can take a look at you.”

Fuck. “No, no, I’m fine! We don’t want to cause any trouble.”

Gideon reaches over to press the intercom on his desk. “Patsy, please cancel my next two appointments please.”

“Yes, sir!” comes a voice over the intercom.

“See? I’m all yours!” he says. Those words had a heavy undertone, full of enticing promises.

I sigh. I can’t escape him. He’s always going to be here. Always going to be around. Always going to make me insane!

“Let’s take you to the examination room. Joe, you are going to have to stay here. Patient-doctor privilege, sorry son!” he says.

Joe has already slammed down on the chair, flicking through a medical journal. “Take all the time you need!”

Gideon leads the way out of the office. He guides me to a white-walled examination room.

As soon as the door slams shut, his demeanor changes. He cups my cheeks, checking my face thoroughly with serious concern.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” he questions desperately.

I had to pull his hand away. “I’m fine, Gideon. I am. Your son’s just overreacting as usual. I didn’t even want to come here,” I mutter frustratedly.

I settle in the examination chair.

“Are you avoiding me?” he asks.

I glance at him. It’s amazing how quickly he could switch: from a terrifyingly powerful man to a whimpering simp in a matter of seconds.

“Yes, Gideon, I’ve been avoiding you. In case you didn’t notice, I am engaged to your son. We shouldn’t even be talking about this.”

He dashes forward, falling to his knees before me. His hand wraps around my thighs. “Why not? Do you know how crazy I’ve been these past few weeks? I can’t breathe without you, Avery. I really can’t. I can’t think. I can’t work. I can’t eat. All I want is… to feel the force of your heels on my skin again. All I want is to drink your stream. All I want ---” he pauses.

I am stunned into silence as he speaks. My chest rising and fall in unsteady rhythm.

“I don’t know what you did to me, Avery. I don’t know why I can’t get you out of my mind, but I know…one thing: I want you. I want us. Please be mine!”

I try to pull away from him. He pins me down. “Gideon!” I snap.

“You can’t marry him,” Gideon begs.

My jaws drop.