The Doctor's Temptation

The Doctor's Temptation

EmmaWrite

I used to love the way Ethan kissed me after a long day. He'd walk through the door, drop his keys on the counter, and I'd meet him halfway, barefoot, still in the little cotton shorts and tank top I wore around the apartment.

He used to cup my face with both hands, kissing me softly at first, then deeper, until my knees went weak and I had to hold onto his shoulders to stay upright. There was something about those moments – the way his thumbs would brush across my cheekbones, the way he'd smile against my lips before pulling me closer – that made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. Like I was enough.

Tonight was supposed to be like that. He came in smelling like summer air and the faint trace of beer from the gym. I smiled, rose up on my toes, and pressed my lips to his. His hair was still damp from the shower, and when I ran my fingers through it, he made that low sound in his throat that used to make my stomach flip. For one heartbeat, everything felt right.

"Missed you," he murmured against my mouth.

"I missed you too," I whispered slowly. I really had. All day I'd been thinking about him, about finally fixing whatever had gone wrong between us. I'd read three different articles during my lunch break (Ten Ways to Reconnect with Your Partner, Understanding Female Arousal, and How to Spice Things Up in the Bedroom) and bookmarked at least a dozen more. Tonight I was going to try harder. Tonight I was going to be different.

A nervous flutter started low in my belly as things grew more intimate. Not the good kind. But I pushed it down, forced a smile, and ~~tried to be present. Tried to feel what I was supposed to feel.~~ [tried to want him the way I used to.]

I wanted to be good for him. I wanted to be the girl who made him lose control. I kissed him deeper, let my hands trace along his shoulders, and tried to summon the warmth the articles promised would come if I just relaxed enough, just tried hard enough.

Please let this be the night. I need this to work.

Minutes passed. My body refused to cooperate. No matter how hard I concentrated, how deliberately I tried to respond, something in me stayed locked behind a door I couldn't find the handle to.

He pulled back and looked at me.

"Babe," he said softly, almost gentle. "You're not into this."

Heat flooded my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm trying, I swear."

"I know." He kissed my forehead like I was a kid who'd scraped her knee. "Let's just slow down. Maybe that'll help."

But slowing down never worked either. We both knew it.

We tried again, and I gave everything I had. I closed my eyes, touched him the way I knew he liked, and whispered things I hoped sounded convincing. All the while a quiet panic built in my chest, that familiar dread of failing him, of failing myself.

~~"Mia," he said after a while, breathless and frustrated. "Are you close?"~~ [He exhaled, a sharp, frustrated sound. "Mia… is this working for you?"

I couldn't lie. Not when he was looking at me like that.

"I'm trying," I said again, and hated how small I sounded.

He rolled away and sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

"I can't keep doing this," he whispered. "I love you, but I feel like I'm the only one who wants to be here."

~~The words sliced me open.~~ [The words landed hard. I couldn't breathe for a second.

"I'm sorry," I choked out.

He sighed, long and exhaustedly. "You're not the problem, Mia. We just don't work anymore." He stood and headed for the bathroom. "I'm going to shower. Maybe we both need space tonight."

The door clicked shut. I heard the lock turn.

Tears ran down my cheeks. I lay there for a long time, feeling like the world's biggest failure.

Eventually I wrapped the throw blanket around myself and moved to my makeup table, suddenly desperate to not be alone with my own thoughts. I opened my messages and typed out a text to my best friend Sophie...the only person who knew how bad things had got.

It happened again. He said he feels like he's the only one in this relationship. I think we're done.

I pressed send before I could change my mind and stared at my reflection while my eyes were red and puffy. My hair was a mess. I looked exactly like I felt. Wrecked. My hair tangled against my cheek. I didn't recognise the woman staring back.

I set the phone face down,i must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, my phone was buzzing.

Three messages from Sophie lit up the screen.

Oh honey no,i am so sorry. You don't deserve this.

Hey friend, listen to me. I know this sounds crazy, but there's someone I think could help. Remember I told you about my ex-husband? Vincent? He's a doctor now, specializes in women's sexual health. His clinic just opened last month. I know it's weird but he's supposed to be incredible at this. Very professional, very discreet. I can give you his info if you want.

I stared at the message.

Sophie's ex-husband? The one she'd divorced three years ago? I'd never met him. They'd been married young, divorced amicably, stayed friends. She rarely talked about him except to mention he'd become some fancy doctor.

Your ex? Sophie, that's so weird. I can't go to your ex-husband about this.

Her response came immediately. I know it seems weird but Mia, he's literally the best at what he does. And I trust him. We're still friends, we talk all the time. He knows I'd only refer people I care about. His practice is in the medical district, very professional. The website says sliding scale payments. Please just look at his info. You don't have to do anything with it.

She sent a link. Dr. Vincent Kane, Kane Women's Health Center.

The website was clean, professional, sophisticated. The photo showed a man who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties. Dark hair touched with gray at the temples, strong jaw, serious blue-gray eyes that somehow managed to look kind even through a computer screen. He wore a white coat over what looked like an expensive blue button-down shirt.

So this was Sophie's ex-husband.

The website described his practice. Specializing in female sexual health and wellness. Areas of focus include orgasmic dysfunction, painful intercourse, low libido, pelvic floor therapy, and sexual trauma recovery. All consultations are confidential and conducted in a safe, judgment-free environment.

At the bottom was a note. The Kane Women's Health Center operates on a mission-based model. We believe every woman deserves access to quality sexual health care regardless of financial circumstances. Sliding scale fees available. No one turned away for inability to pay.

What did I have to lose? My relationship was already over. My self-esteem was in tatters.

The idea of letting a stranger discuss something so private made my stomach flip. The idea that the stranger was Sophie's ex-husband made it even stranger. But something else stirred too. Curiosity. Hope.

I found the Book Appointment button and let my cursor hover over it.

From the bathroom, I heard the shower turn off. Heard Ethan start to hum, something cheerful and light, like the last hour hadn't happened at all.

I clicked Book Appointment.

Tuesday had an eleven o'clock slot open. [The next available was Tuesday at eleven.]

This is crazy, I thought. Sophie's ex-husband? Really?

But then I heard Ethan's footsteps padding toward the bedroom. Not toward me. Not checking if I was okay.

I pressed confirm.

Your appointment with Dr. Vincent Kane is confirmed for Tuesday, December 30th [Tuesday, October 14th] at 11:00 AM. Please arrive fifteen minutes early to complete intake paperwork. Our office is located at 847 Maple Street, Suite 202. We look forward to seeing you.

I screenshot the confirmation and texted it to Sophie.

Her response was immediate. PROUD OF YOU. I know it's weird but I promise he'll help. He's good at this, Mia. Really good. And he's a completely different person than when we were married. More mature, more focused. You're in good hands. Text me after, okay? Love you.

Love you too.I replied and set my phone down and stared at the blank screen.

Tomorrow I would walk into that office and meet Sophie's ex-husband. The man she'd loved enough to marry and trusted enough to stay friends with after the divorce.

I had no idea I was about to meet the man who would change everything.I was wrong about a lot of things. That was the first.