Page 44

Bark, Bark

Carter

“Did you take a pill before coming in?” Livia asked me, hanging one hand on her slim hip as the other pointed a very sharp tool in my direction. “Because that shot only numbs your jaw, and I know you gotta be high to say what you just said to me.”

“Come on, Liv. Look—”

“Doctor Young,” she corrected me, one dark brow sliding up into her hairline. “This isn’t a barbecue at Daddy P’s house. You’re in my chair, at my job, and you will respect me and call me by my hard-earned title.”

Fuck .

My cock hardened at her tone, at the way she snapped at me, at how she made me feel small and somehow made me buzz to life at the same time.

“Yes, Doctor,” I breathed.

Livia narrowed her gaze, dropping it to my lap before she rolled her eyes. “Oh, my God, Carter, you don’t seriously have a boner right now?”

“Can you blame me? That was fucking hot.”

My words slurred a little as my jaw began to numb.

Livia pinched the bridge of her nose, that sharp tool still dangling in her other hand. Her dental assistant stood by silently, a mask covering part of her shocked face, though I could see the young girl’s eyes flicking between me and Livia. What I could see of her skin was flushed red. But I had no shame when it came to Livia Young, and it seemed she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, either.

“Carter, you are in my chair because you were hit in the face, and your two lower central incisors have been blown to bits like a mortar went off in your mouth.”

“I love when you talk dentist to me.”

“And the only lesson I will be giving you,” she continued, waving that tool around like a wand. “Is to get a better mouth guard and learn how to dodge a high-sticking.”

She was so gorgeous I could barely think straight as I listened to her threats, the corner of my mouth lifting helplessly. Deep brown skin, smooth and enticing, dark black hair pulled into a tight, professional bun. She wore little makeup today, and she was still stunning.

But I also knew that woman when she wasn’t wearing a white coat.

I knew her in silky, body-hugging dresses and sky-high heels.

I knew her with red-painted lips and gold metal through every hole on her body.

And I had a sneaking suspicion she owned more than a few leather outfits that had whips to match.

“Come on,” I begged again, swinging my legs over the chair so I could sit up and face her. “Look at me, Li— er, Doctor Young,” I amended when she cocked a brow. “I need help.”

“I won’t argue that.”

“And who better to teach me than the master herself?”

Livia sighed, nodding to her assistant to take a break and leave us alone. I could hear the distant sound of drills and water picks from rooms down the hall as the door opened, the assistant left, and then it was just the two of us.

Liv crossed her arms, leaning a hip against the counter as she finally released the tool she’d been holding fast to. Even in the sharp and harsh light of the fluorescents above us, and even with a strange pair of magnifying goggle things strapped around her neck — she was still a knockout.

“What exactly are you proposing?”

I sat up straighter, hope ballooning in my chest. “Simple — I want you teach me how to break a woman’s back in bed.”

“There are magazines for this, you know,” she shot back. “And YouTube.”

“You think I haven’t tried that?” I grabbed the back of my neck. “You think I’m not embarrassed as fuck to admit to anyone, least of all you , that I’m still a virgin?”

Something sparkled in her eyes at that.

“I mean, unless you count the one time a puck bunny let me stick it in her butt, which I don’t, because it was in a room with three other guys getting to do the same thing.”

Livia barked out a laugh. “Okay, I want that story someday, but while we’re on limited time… why do you want this?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I shrugged. “I’m a professional athlete. I go out at least twice a week and have girls hanging all over me, but I can never land the deal. Either I run them off with my pathetic attempt at flirting or I get them home and fucking choke.” I ran a hand through my hair, shaking my head as I looked at the ground. My jaw was really numb now, and I knew she needed to do her work before it wore off. “I’m hopeless, alright? Somehow, I figured my shit out on the ice. I’m in the NHL now, no longer being sent down to the AHL, and I’ve got a lot to offer someone. I just… I can’t prove that if I can’t get past first base.”

Livia’s gaze softened.

“Plus, I’m horny.”

She scoffed at that.

I beamed with my broken-tooth grin, swallowing down the fact that the woman I’d most like to prove myself to was her. But I couldn’t admit that — at least, not yet. Maybe one day she’d see me as more than an annoying fly buzzing around her, but for now, I just needed her to see enough to give me this.

Livia tongued her cheek. “What’s in it for me?”

“What do you want?”

“A million dollars.”

I laughed heartily, but then coughed and choked a little when I realized she was serious.

“You’re kidding,” I tried.

“Not even a little bit.”

I blinked at her.

“Listen, I make good money. I’m a dentist. But at this point, all my best friends are married to, or seriously dating, a millionaire. And then there’s Mia, who will probably hit a billion soon. And judge me if you want to, but I’m a bad bitch just like the rest of them. I deserve to jet set around the world, dress myself in diamonds, and buy myself a bougie ass car on a man’s dime just because.”

“Done.”

The word was out of me even before her little speech finished. The truth was she didn’t need to convince me, but I did agree with her. She deserved to be spoiled. If she let me, I’d happily give her the passwords to all my accounts and watch her drain every single one. Besides, I’d just signed a new contract with the team, one that guaranteed me more money in the coming seasons and came with a fat signing bonus, too.

What the hell was I going to spend that money on that would be better than bedroom lessons from Livia fucking Young?

Liv tilted her head like she didn’t believe me, or like she didn’t think I realized she was dead serious.

“You’ll give me a million dollars,” she said, deadpan.

“I’ll give you two.”

Her eyes shot wide at that. “ Two -million dollars, and all I have to do is help you unleash your freak?”

“See?” I waved my hand toward the space between us. “Tell me this isn’t a deal you can’t refuse.”

She tapped her chin with one long, dark red nail, and I wondered what it would feel like to have those nails digging into the flesh on my back.

“No one else knows,” she said.

That hope that had ballooned inside of me surged so quickly I thought my chest would pop, and I was practically panting as I leaned forward in my seat, nodding. “I won’t tell a soul.”

“I’ll teach you, but I also get to use you,” she said. “Whenever and wherever I want. If I send a text, you come running.”

“Faster than I ever have in my life.”

“You don’t get to say no to anything until you try it at least once.”

My heart skipped with a mixture of fear and curiosity. “No backing down.”

“I mean it. No matter what I propose, you hear me out and try before saying yes or no.”

“Use me, Liv. I’m yours.”

She chuckled at that, a pathetic little laugh like she pitied me. Then, she opened the door and called for her assistant to come back in.

“We’re drawing up a contract, too,” she said, waving her finger at me. “And you’re going to take this seriously, or I’ll drop the whole thing and still take your money — which you will pay me up front, by the way.”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“Jesus,” she muttered. “You’re more eager than that puppy dog you adopted.

“Bark, bark.” I panted, too, for good measure, tongue flopping out before Liv shot me in the eye with the water pick.

“That’s enough. Now, lie back and open your mouth.”

“Wow, we’re getting started already, huh?” I rubbed my hands together as I did what she said.

But Liv ignored me, firing up the drill.

I thought it kind of looked like she had a little too much fun causing me pain.

I thought I kind of liked it, too.