Author's Note: So, so sorry for the slow update, but Chapter 2's here! Thanks a million to my editor, aisielynn for her patience and help.
As usual, hope you all enjoy it. Please leave a comment or criticism as long as it's constructive.
Thanks for the love and patience!
***
Dr. Jake Anderson stood from his chair behind his table and looked out the window toward the parking lot next to his building. His clinic had closed and the last patient had left more than fifteen minutes ago. He shifted his foot impatiently, willing for that silver car to appear. At least he thought it was going to be silver; it was what she had driven last week. He glanced at his watch: any time now. He hoped she would come.
As if conjured by the power of his mind, the silver car turned the corner and entered the parking lot. It stopped and Jake could practically sense the bewilderment the driver must be feeling at seeing the near-empty lot. He didn't wait to watch the driver exit from the car as he strode towards the clinic's front entrance.
Vanessa Waters, the girl who had been haunting his dreams for the past ten days, walked slowly towards him. She was wearing a jean jacket over a long sundress that went down to her ankles. Her blond hair was loose around her shoulders. She glanced around, a frown of confusion marring her otherwise lovely face. She looked up then and smiled shyly when she realized Jake was waiting for her by the door.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Anderson," she greeted politely. "Where are all the cars? Is your clinic closed?"
"I made arrangements to close early today," he answered.
Vanessa frowned again. "Oh, why wasn't I informed about this? I was supposed to see you at one thirty."
"I know, it's fine. I can still see you," he assured and led her into the building. He closed the door behind them and locked it before turning around to Vanessa. "Come here," he murmured. His large hands engulfed her smaller ones as he bent to kiss her. The past ten days had been grueling and he hadn't seen or heard from her and all he'd ever thought about was kissing her again, and not on just her soft lips.
Vanessa returned his kiss, even caressed his chest shyly as his arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer. Unable to help himself, Jake slid his hand under her jacket to touch her breast. That action seemed to shock Vanessa and she quickly pulled away. Jake cursed under his breath for scaring her; he'd forgotten he was dealing with a virgin, an extremely shy and nervous virgin.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to..."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I-I don't know if I can go through with this," she said.
Jake studied her face carefully. "What happened?"
Vanessa took in a deep breath. "I don't know. I'm confused."
"Did you take the pills?" he asked. She looked away and shrugged again. "Vanessa, tell me."
She bit her lip and blushed. "I did."
"Let's talk inside, shall we?" he asked and lifted a hand towards the direction of his office, indicating for Vanessa to walk before him.
Instead of sitting on the chair by the office table, Jake led Vanessa to an adjoining room which had been sectioned off from the office. This room was his resting area. Downlights were placed at each corner of the ceiling and they lit the small room. There was a small book case and Jake already had the couch converted into a bed.
He sat on the mattress and pulled at Vanessa's hand to join him. She allowed it but maintained a distance between them.
"What made you change your mind, Vanessa?" Jake asked softly.
Vanessa pulled in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "I Googled about sex that very same night after I saw you. I learned about what you did. There was no such thing as using one's lips and tongue to check for abnormalities," she looked at him sadly. "You lied to me, Dr. Anderson. I trusted you."
"So why did you take the pills then?" he asked. He sensed there was more to the story; he would have to remain calm and patient so as to draw the rest of it out of her.
She looked away. "I was still curious to know anyway. I-I've never felt anything remotely like that before. I wanted...more."
"But?" he prompted.
She sighed. "I accidentally left the pills on the counter and my nanny found them. She gave me a lecture about sex and that it's bad to have it before I got married. She even threatened to tell my father about it. I begged her not to tell, so she made me promise to wait until I get married before I have sex."
"What had happened to the big girl who'd chosen to defy her father to go to the college of her choice?" he asked.
Vanessa looked back up at him. "This is different, Dr. Anderson. I can't hurt my father like this," she said.
"You are not responsible for his feelings, Vanessa," Jake said.
"But...he's my father," she said. Anger welled up inside him.
"Yes, but has he been a good one?" he asked in a sharp voice. "His only daughter lost her mother and he chose to detach himself emotionally and physically from her just when she needed him the most. You were locked inside a gilded cage because he had been selfish enough to put his own ease of mind first and foremost."
"Dr. Anderson, please..." Vanessa said as tears started to form in her eyes.
But Jake wasn't done yet. "He never thought twice about cutting you off from the rest of the world, even depriving you of friends your own age. You're eighteen, yet you've never been on a date before, you've never attended high school prom. Hell, you've never even been kissed by a guy until ten days ago! And here you are, putting your life on hold once again so that you won't hurt that selfish bastard's feelings?"
Vanessa put her hands over her ears and cried, "Please stop!"
Jake grabbed her wrists and pulled them down. "No, I won't stop, Vanessa. I am telling the truth and you know it."
Vanessa struggled to pull her hands free but Jake held onto them. "Please, Dr. Anderson..." she sobbed.
"When did you stop taking the pills, Vanessa?" he asked, and she stopped her struggles.
"What does it matter?" she whispered.
"It does to me," he replied. "Tell me."
"I had taken them last night," she answered, "before Jenna caught me."
Satisfaction coursed through Jake at her answer. He leaned forward and caught her lips with his, surprising her. He released her hands and to cradle her face, forcing her to match him kiss for kiss. Vanessa grabbed his wrists and tried to pull them away from her. Jake gave her respite and she turned her head as his lips trailed down her cheek to her jawline.
"W-What are you doing, Dr. Anderson?" she asked breathlessly.
His lips grazed the shell of her ear. "Kissing you," he murmured huskily. "I thought that should be obvious." One of his hands settled on her waist, gently pulling her closer, causing her to stiffen. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to. We'll just kiss."
Jake continued to press his lips lightly all over her face, never moving lower than her jawline. He needed to play his cards right if he wanted Vanessa to fall right into his web of seduction.
Slowly she nodded. "Okay, we'll just kiss," she said and he grinned. He turned her to face him so he could capture her soft lips again. Gradually she relaxed against him as she answered his teasing kisses with her own.
Jake pulled away. "I'm getting quite warm. Let me take off my coat," he said. After divesting of the white coat, he undid the first two buttons of his shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Feeling reasonably less restrained, he turned back to Vanessa. She was more enthusiastic now in returning Jake's kiss and when he pulled back again, she was breathing heavily and her cheeks were flushed from excitement and arousal. "Do you want to take off your jacket?" Vanessa shifted nervously and he chuckled. "It's just your jacket, Vanessa. I'm not asking you to get naked. It's just more comfortable."
She nodded and slid the jacket off. The halter neck sundress accentuated her collar bones and left her shoulders bare. Jake took the jacket from her and tossed it on top of his own coat.
He smiled at her. "There, it's not so bad, right?"
"No, it's not," she agreed in a small voice.
Jake decided to take her mind off the present. "How are your preparations to New York?" he asked.
From the way Vanessa's eyes widened at his change of subject, Jake knew he had caught her by surprise again. "I've pretty much got everything covered, I think," she said. "Freshmen can stay on campus so I don't have to worry about finding a place. I only have to finish packing and I'll be on my way." She sighed. "I hope I'll be able to fit in. I hope my new friends won't think I'm a freak."
"I'm sure you'll fit in beautifully," Jake said.
She shook her head. "You were right, Dr. Anderson. I've been cut off from the outside world for so long, I don't know how to act around kids my age." She gave him a tremulous smile. "And now that I got the chance, but I'll have to leave my dad and the securities of my home."
"Vanessa," Jake murmured and tugged on her hand. She went to him willingly and his arms came around her shoulders in a comforting embrace. "I didn't mean to hurt you or make you insecure."
"You didn't hurt me," Vanessa mumbled. "You are right, every word of it."
