The Lies That Bind

Chapter 12 : A Hard Start

The pharmacist stares at me curiously from behind the cash register. Maybe it's my wrinkled dress, messy hair, or the fact that I reek with the scent of hot, sweaty sex? Nah, it couldn't be that. I set the Plan B box on the counter as casually as possible, trying my best to look natural as if I normally look and smell like this.

Her brow raised and I can tell she's doing her best not to say it out loud. "Good afternoon, ma'am," she says with growing suspicion. "Were you able to find everything?"

"Yes," my answer is a bit curter than I intended.

"Is you day going well?" A small grin forms on her face as she rings up the contraception. I offer her a hard stare in return. Then suddenly, a decent sized black box with gold lettering makes its appearance in front of me. I stare down at it intently; it's a 36 pack of Trojan Magnum condoms. My gaze shifts from the box, to the grinning woman before me, to Kazmir who just decided to appear at probably the worst time possible.

He looks down at me as if I'm crazy, "What? We cannot keep getting morning after pills." He says calmly, "Besides, normal size is too tight."

I can only bury my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment. The cashier fails to stifle a giggle, "That'll be $54.50, ma'am. Will you be paying cash or credit?"

"Was that really necessary, Doctor?" I scold him as we make our way back to his car. I try to keep my head down lest anyone else sees me. I could feel everyone just watching us, judging us, and especially after that little display.

Kazmir knits his brow, "What? Safe sex is great sex, Devushka..." he pauses then, looking thoughtful, "But on second thought..." He looks down at me with a mischievous look in his eyes and I flush with further humiliation.

"Yeah, but you could have been more discreet about it!" I hiss as I enter the passenger's seat. "I mean really, do you need 36 condoms!?"

"Maybe," he says simply, "depends on how well you can keep up." Kazmir shrugs lightly as the Volga comes to life once more, "Or you can get on birth control, it's up to you really. Though I must say, it'll be hard to go back to condoms now."

I can't help blushing at his statement, what a complement. I've never got that one before. "If what they say about condoms reducing sensation is true," I say as casually as possible, "then I might have to agree with you."

"Are you being lewd, Ms. Lima?" He asks me.

"Yes." I answer bluntly.

Once the sedan is facing the street, Kazmir looks back at me with a lustful grin. "You keep that up and we will not make it back in time for tonight."

I arch my brow, "Is that a threat, Doctor?"

"No," He leans forward and kisses me passionately. "It's a promise."

Bear is unhappy with my presence as she growls in warning as the front door opens. I immediately take a step back behind her owner. Kazmir quickly and firmly takes hold of the situation and restrains the dog by her collar, giving her commands in Russian as he escorts her elsewhere. I hope he doesn't put her in "my" room. I stand in the doorway a bit before gingerly heading inside and making a beeline for the kitchen. I skim over the instructions of the morning after pill before knocking it back with a glass of water.

As my sweat-caked, red hair flops over my face, I reflect. It had only been about two weeks since Kazmir and I met, but it feels so much longer. Two weeks... Damn. I chuckle and stare down my empty glass; we couldn't make it past two weeks! We'd broken all the rules we had set and more. My smile widens the longer I think on it. Prudish, bossy, uptight, little ol' me went to bed with a man in less than a month? If Erika found out, I wouldn't hear the end of it. This man has changed me, clearly. But are we moving too fast? The thought shatters my moment of mirth and I look down worriedly.