Her Older Sheikh (Sheikh Breaks My Heart #9)

Six

I don't have trouble concentrating in class as a rule.

But today is an exception, since all I can think about is the call I'm scheduled and legally obliged to make (unless I'm willing to pay the penalty and ruin my friendship with Andie, which I'm not, on either count).

I take a peek at the time on my phone, and I nearly fall out of my seat when I realize I have less than a minute left before classes end.

Stop moving so fast, Mr. Time!

But since I'm no Dr. Strange, the school bell eventually rings, and I can feel myself growing numb as I vaguely hear our professor dismiss us.

The other students are out in a flash while I find myself dragging my feet.

Am I really going to do this?

A fidgety-looking Madeleine is already waiting in the hallway when I step out of the room, and I feel my mouth turning dry as she hurries towards me.

"Do you want the good news or bad news first?"

"Bad," I answer without hesitation.

My friend makes a face. "Why am I not surprised you'd choose to hear the bad news first?"

I make a face back at her. "Just tell me what it is, Maddie."

"Long story short, I told Andie Rashad seems interested in investing in SFI, and that got her talking about the business side of things."

"Then she doesn't know I want to back out?" I ask in relief.

"Not a clue," Madeleine confirms. " However... what I did learn is that any trial candidates backing out has the potential to lower investor confidence—-"

I'm already shaking my head. "I don't want that to happen."

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Madeleine says with a wince. "Does this mean you're going to push through with the whole fantasy thing?"

"What's the good news?" I ask jerkily instead of answering her.

"I can't tell you how or why, but I can give you my word that the other party isn't an asshole."

My eyes widen. "But—-"

"That's all I can say," Madeleine stresses. "But it's still better than nothing, right?"

THE PARKING LOT AT the back of the school chapel is one of the few places that can assure me of complete privacy, and my fingers shake as I click on SFI's app.

Look at the bright side, Leah.

You asked God for a distraction, and He delivered.

Ergo: God is real!

I know my sense of humor isn't for everyone, but it works for me, and I can already feel the tension easing gradually from my body as I click on Start Encounter.

"Thank you for calling."

It's a relief to hear an automated voice answer my call. It make things more bearable if you will, since I don't have to worry about some CS agent judging me on top of everything else.

"Please enter your account number so we may verify your identity."

I type 5324, and I hear a beep after a moment.

"Thank you for calling, Temptation."

Cringe.

I must've been really drunk last night, to choose that as my secret handle.

"We will now forward your call to Doctor Somebody. "

It's my first time to hear what the other party's secret handle is, and his choice makes me feel just a tad better about the whole thing. I was afraid he'd choose something terribly clichéd like 'Dr. Charming' or go for something outright vulgar like 'Dr. Big Cock'. Something like the last would've been a complete deal breaker for me, and I'd have rather sold my kidney than push through with the rest of this.

But Dr. Somebody?

It feels 'safe' for some reason, but since Madeleine did say this guy was no asshole, maybe I'm just stressing myself out pointlessly again, and—-

CLICK .

Was that a click I just heard?

Does this mean we're on?

Is it time to start playing?

Oh shit, why am I acting like I've just joined Squid Games?

Get an effing grip, Leah!

"Hello?"

The one who finally breaks the silence is the person from the other side.

I mean, end.

It's bad enough I got myself in this sex-fantasy-business, but saying the voice is coming from the other side would make things worse, since that means I've signed up to do kinky stuff with a ghost.

"It's Temptation, isn't it?"

The voice is deep but gentle, and there's a touch of some accent I can't quite put my finger on.

"This is Dr. Somebody."

His tone is calm but authoritative, and I find myself grudgingly acknowledging that the people behind SFI just might know what it's doing.

So far, so good, Andie's daddies.

Some girls might go for beta-type guys, and that's cool. I totally wish them all the best, but personally? Only an alpha-type dude can probably force me into being distracted, and I have a feeling Dr. Somebody here is as alpha as they come.

"I'm assuming this is your first time..."

Whoa.

Is he just going to straight up ask if I'm still a V?

"—-to consult a doctor by phone?"

Phew .

So that was what he was getting at.

One of SFI's rules is for involved parties to begin their "encounter" with a roleplaying phone call. Just to get the ball rolling, so to speak. I thought it was pure B.S. when I first read it in their contract, but I'm happy to say I was obviously wrong on that score.

While Dr. Somebody having this awesomely hot voice certainly doesn't hurt, it's the way he sounds totally invested in his role that does the trick, and the fact that we can't see each other's faces is the final nail in my inhibitions' coffin.

Leah is dead, I tell myself, and it's Temptation who's taking over from this point on.

I repeat the words one more time before finally venturing to speak.

"I'm sorry, Doctor, and um, yes, it's me, Temptation."

It sounds so weird to make such a claim, but at the same time it also makes me feel all ridiculously giddy inside.

"Hello, Temptation."

My fingers tighten involuntarily around my phone. That name sounded so painfully stupid earlier, but when it's Dr. Somebody who calls me this, it suddenly feels so dreamily... improper .

"Was I correct in assuming this is your first time?"

"Yes, Doctor."

"I see."

My cheeks are on fire now. I will never ever think of the words 'yes, doctor' in the same way again, and I'll probably also think twice about saying them after this.

"Well, Temptation..."

My heart skips a beat, and I realize in surprise that this is the longest time I haven't spared Io a single thought.

Could this truly be the distraction I've been looking for all this time?

"I'm certain you're feeling rather apprehensive at the moment, but I'd like to assure you you're in very good hands."

"O-Oh?"

Why do I have this crazy, out-of-the-blue urge to know how big his hands are?

"You have nothing to worry about."

Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, Temptation?"

"May I know how big your hands are?"

Oh God, I actually said it.

"Of course." Dr. Somebody doesn't miss a beat in responding, and I love how utterly professional he still sounds even when such words in real life would've passed for sexual harassment.

"And to answer your question..."

A small but distinct pause follows, and I hold my breath unthinkingly.

"My hands are appropriate for someone my size."

The last word sounds unbelievably wicked for some reason, and I start fanning my face.

"But if I may ask—-"

"Of course, Doctor." I'm surprised (and slightly ashamed) at how easily the words are now rolling down my tongue.

"Is there any particular reason you're concerned about the size of my hands?"

"Oh, um, none at all. I was just curious."

"I hope you're being honest with me."

A shiver tickles down my spine at the sudden firmness of his tone.

"It's my responsibility as your doctor to make you feel... better ."

If that's innuendo I'm hearing, I...want more of it.

"But I won't be able to do that if you're not completely honest with me."

Oh...my.

The gentleness in his voice is gone, and in its place is a dangerously soft tone that only makes my heart hammer away even as I hear myself actually whisper—-

"You're scaring me, Doctor."

"Good."

Dr. Somebody purrs the word into my ear, and the sound utterly destroys me.

Oh God.

How is he able to make that word sound both like a promise and a warning all at the same time?

"I take my work very seriously," Dr. Somebody continues in a voice that threatens and seduces, concurrently . "I don't like it when my patient is dishonest...or disobedient."

I know when I'm being baited, but since this fantasy is all about me playing dumb and worrying about nothing—-

"What happens if you catch me lying or disobeying you?"

"What do you think?"

Uh oh.

The laziness of his tone throws my mind straight into the gutter, and all I can think of is my mysterious Dr. Somebody kissing his way down my body, lazily.

Who knew someone as innocent as Temptation could be so wantonly imaginative as well?

"Would you care to take a guess?"

There's that hint of innuendo again, and it's making me feel lightheaded.

You were right after all, SFI.

These first-time phone calls are everything. The more Dr. Somebody and I talk, the less I remember who I was before all this. It's like I've been reborn, and now that I see myself as this sweet, innocent girl—-

"I really don't know, Doctor. But whatever it is, I'm sure it's to make me feel better."

It also means that from here on, everything Dr. Somebody says or does will be perfectly fine in my eyes.

"I wonder if you truly mean that."

"Oh, but I do, Doctor!"

"And if I tell you that any dishonesty or disobedience on your part merits punishment?"

Knew it.

"What say you then?"

And I am so, so down for it.

"It will be as you wish, Doctor."

"Ah."

Will it make me seem obsessed...if I say I love the sound of his 'ah'?

"Your obedience pleases me, Temptation, but...I wonder. Have you also been honest with me all this time?"

I don't say a word, and Dr. Somebody clucks his tongue.

"So you lied to me, after all."

"Yes, Doctor."

The words feel even more sinful this time, with my voice all soft and tremulous.

"I did lie to you," I admit in a small voice, "and I'm sorry that I did."

"I accept your apology," he acknowledges, "but you must understand that I can't in all good conscience leave it at that."

Remember that you're dumb, Leah.

You're dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

And so I hear myself say —-

"I understand."

"Just as good deeds must be rewarded, bad deeds cannot go unpunished."

"Oh no."

I actually feel rather impressed at how frightened I sound.

"Are you saying you intend to punish me?"

"What else can a good doctor do," he drawls rather silkily, "when his patient proves to be a very bad girl?"

I let myself whimper . "I'm a bad girl?"

"A very bad girl."

"But...I've never been punished." And crazily enough, I think that's the first bit of truth I've uttered in our entire conversation. Io has always been lenient towards me, and while Nik can be strict, he's never punished me either.

"Don't you trust me?"

No.

Or at least that's what real-life Leah would've said.

But since I'm still Temptation right now...

"I do, Doctor. Always."

"Then if I say I'll have to punish you for your own good..."

Fear skitters down my spine at his words...even as they also make my toes curl.

How is Dr. Somebody so good at making me feel so many things all at once?

"Will you let me?"

Real-life Leah would've retorted 'you wish' without hesitation, but since I'm not myself at the moment—-

"Yes, Doctor."

I can only continue to take his word as the bible's truth, and can I just say how exquisitely liberating it is to not have to worry about anything like this?

"Good girl."

My heart skips another beat, which is something it never used to do...until now.

"In the meantime—-"

There's another pause, and my instincts warn me to brace myself.

"You have yet to tell me your reason for asking about the size of my hands."

Eek!

The question still catches me off guard, and butterflies start fluttering all around my tummy again.

"Um..."

"The truth, Temptation."

My teeth sink back into my lower lip. "I really was just curious, Doctor."

"But why?" he persists in asking, albeit in the same gentle voice. "There must be a subconscious reason behind it."

"I...suppose?"

"If you close your eyes now..."

And my eyes do close, as soon as I hear him say the words.

"How do you imagine my hands would be?"

The answer is instantly clear.

"Big," I choke out. "Your hands are big."

"Big enough for what?"

My heart gallops away as I imagine my faceless Dr. Somebody reaching towards me, and his hands...

"They're big enough," I hear myself choke out, "to swallow my tits."

Oh God.

I can't believe I just said that.

"I see."

It's those two words again, but this time around they sound so blatantly lewd.

"Thank you for your honesty, Temptation."

Dr. Somebody's tone remains oh-so-professional, and that just makes everything feel oh-so-dirtier as well.

"And as for my hands..."

The change in his tone is subtle, but real-life Leah catches it all the same, and a blush steals over my cheeks.

"They're exactly what you imagine."

Oh, thank God—-

I mean...

Oh my God.

"They're big enough to swallow your tits...but we'll leave that for your next consultation, shall we?"