Rule 7 : Rage

CHAPTER 39: Forbidden Encounter.

Lord Maximus reclined on a red couch with studied grace. One arm draped casually over the armrest, the other fisted on his thigh, fingertips brushing against the expensive fabric.

Dr. Martini stood before him, a vision in white. The V-neck of her collar-gown dipped low, offering a tempting glimpse of her glossy skin, a faint, ethereal glow tracing the curve of her chest. Lord Maximus's gaze was drawn, unbidden, as a heat flared below his groin, contrasting sharply with the coolness of the room.

The silence was broken only by the rhythmic hum of the blood pressure machine and the amplified thud of his own pulse echoing through the cuff's tubing connected to the aneroid gauge on the machine.

As Dr. Martini leaned in to adjust the cuff on his arm, the scent of lavender and something faintly metallic filled his senses. His eyes admired the creamy skin of her face, her lips, as she grazed his arm accidentally. His hand twitched, a reflex against the sudden warmth of her touch.

His eyes locked on the creamy expanse of her face, then drifted to her lips, plump and inviting. As her fingers snagged his bare arm, a seemingly innocent brush sent a jolt through him. His grip tightened on the armrest, the only outward sign of the battle raging within him.

"My apologies, Lord Maximus," she murmured, her voice a sultry whisper that sent a tremor through him. His breath hitched, his gaze locking with hers for a fleeting moment before darting away. Dr. Martini met his eyes, a knowing glint sparking within her depth.

Her hand, cool and trembling slightly, grazed the bare skin of his chest as she positioned the stethoscope. A jolt of electricity shot through her as she felt the musky heat radiating from his body.

The coolness of the metal elicited a shivering sigh from him, the sound a jolt to her already frayed nerves. As she moved the stethoscope lower, it lingered a beat too long against the taut skin of his stomach. His breath hitched.

Dr. Martini bit her lip, a sliver of red catching the light before a heated flush rose up her neck. A flicker of temptation crossed his features, quickly masked by a sardonic smile.

Dr. Martini snatched the instrument away, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the sudden silence. The shallow rasp of her own breath, a jarring discord to the frantic thud of his heartbeat, reverberated through her ears.

Dr. Martini removed the stethoscope from her ears and placed the instruments on a nearby table.

A strangled cry caught in Dr. Martini's throat as Lord Maximus' voice shattered the silence.

"Come here," he commanded, his voice, a low rumble. She froze, caught mid-step, her chest constricted.

With a subtle tilt, her chin lifted in a wary challenge, but as her gaze met the smoldering intensity of his, a jolt shot through her, pinning her in place.

"Sit. Beside your Lord." He growled softly, her eyes following the movement of his fingers tapping on the couch.

A tremor ran through her legs, heat flaring up in her stomach. Each step towards Lord Maximus felt like wading through molasses. Her normally quick stride faltered, replaced by a hesitant shuffle.

Lord Maximus offered a curt gesture, a single tap on the space beside him on the couch. Dr. Martini responded with a slow, deliberate movement, lowering herself onto the cushion.

A fragile smile tugged at the corners of Dr. Martini's lips. As she crossed her legs, the movement drew his gaze to the ivory column of her thigh revealed by the rise of her dress. Her fingers, unconsciously tracing circles on her knee, seemed to beckon him closer.

A sheen glistened on his lips, mirroring the heat in his eyes. A tangible weight, it pressed down on her, seeming to bore into her very soul. "Damn, his gaze could make me wet," she thought, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks.

Dr. Martini lowered her head, biting her lip as Lord Maximus' voice broke her thoughts. "Your hair...?" Lord Maximus mentioned. She halted, her eyes darting down to her hair, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

"Spills further," his voice a gravelly murmur that sent goosebumps erupting across her thighs.

Instinctively, she brushed her fingers through her hair, causing a cascade to tumble down one side of her face, momentarily obscuring the crimson flush that had stained her cheeks.

"More captivating this way," he murmured, his voice a velvet rasp. His eyes, like obsidian, lingered on the way her hair veiled her eyes, a captivating shadow both alluring and intimidating.

With a slow and deliberate movement, he tucked the errant strands behind her ear. "I never want to see you with a haircut," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear.

"This is how you'll wear it from now on." A single finger, warm and rough against her sensitive skin, traced a languid path down her neck, causing her eyes to flutter open and shut.

"My little doctor..." His voice, low and rumbling like distant thunder, sent a jolt down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat, and a warmth bloomed across her cheeks. Her fingers, suddenly slick with nervous sweat, interlocked tightly in her lap.

The faint scent of leather and cedar that clung to him unlocked a forgotten memory in the dusty corners of her mind. A flicker of recognition sparked in her eyes, and her brow furrowed. "Is this the right time?" she thought, on the edge of her seat.

Lord Maximus was interrupted by his phone ringing. With a mutter of "Oscura," he sighed, rose from his seat, and moved to the veranda.

Martini gritted her teeth. "I know this was the right moment, he was getting there, but argh!" Her thoughts tangled in frustration as the distant fire crackled, and she shrank under the weight of its mockery.

Was this a twisted form of affection, or a chilling display of control?

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