Saturday Snippet

Roque paused when he got to the office and stood at the gate trying to psyche himself into walking through the door. He’d never needed the services of a dentist before, thanks to his oldest sister, Blanca. She’d taught him the importance of proper oral hygiene so he wouldn’t suffer the same toothless fate as his abuelita. Blanca made it her mission to teach her five younger siblings the necessary steps to avoid tooth loss, threatening them with a visit to the dreaded dentista who’d become the ghoulish monster featured in childhood nightmares.

Bracing for the worst, Roque pushed the door open and stepped into a quietly elegant waiting room exuding warmth and comfort. The smiling receptionist helped to put him further at ease, and he settled down to fill out the requisite paperwork. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as bad as he’d imagined.

Ten minutes after he handed over the clipboard with his pertinent information, a young woman in bright pink led him down a hallway to a small cubicle. She placed a paper bib around his neck and asked him to remove his cap so the doctor could see the full extent of the damage without bumping into the extended bill.

“I’ll keep it right over here,” she said, handling the beat-up cap as if it was a jewel-encrusted crown. “My name is Leigh, and I’ll be assisting Dr. Roberts today.”

“Nice to meet you,” Roque managed. He covered his mouth and winced in embarrassment at his attempt to communicate. His tongue felt like it was two sizes too big, and he knew he sounded funny.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, Mr. Celdran,” Leigh assured him. “We’ll take good care of you.”

Roque nodded mutely. Now that this meeting with the dreaded doctor was imminent, old fears surged like brackish liquid from the backed-up sink in his small apartment—paying his rent without the usual means of supplementing his meager income—left him sweating and jittery. Great. He could add body odor to his list of things to be anxious about.

Roque looked up from the spot on his lap he’d been worrying with his thumb and blinked in pleasant surprise when an attractive guy in a navy-blue jacket walked in.

“Hello,” the doctor greeted, reaching for the box on the counter and pulling out a pair of rubber gloves. “I’m Lance Roberts.”

Roque acknowledged the greeting with a quick nod but continued to cover his mouth in embarrassment. Sympathy registered in the iris-shaded eyes. Roque was taken aback by his reaction. Most men and women looked at him with interest, not pity. He must really look awful.

The doctor continued to observe him while snapping on his gloves. “You’re not allergic to latex, are you?”

“No, sir.”

Heat flared behind the appraising gaze but disappeared just as quickly. Roque didn’t know if he’d imagined it or what had caused the reaction, but it humanized the doctor, and he relaxed.

“It’s not indicated on your chart, but I always ask before I do an exam. You’d be amazed how often people forget to write it down.”

“What would happen if I were allergic?”

“There’s no telling. You could get a mild rash or end up with a full-blown anaphylactic crisis. It’s always best to be cautious.”

“I’ve never had a problem with it.”

“Good.” The doc rolled his chair a little closer and gently pulled Roque’s hand away. “I’ll try not to hurt you, but I have to see what we’re dealing with.”

Roque braced for pain but relaxed when the doctor simply cupped his cheek and turned his face left and right to peer at the exterior. “I hope the other guy looks worse.”

Angry tears burned his eyes before Roque had time to slide his cool mask back into place. When he’d tamped down the emotions, he replied gruffly, “Unfortunately, I only got in a glancing blow to his jaw. He walked away in one piece.”

“Too bad,” Lance commented.

“Next time he won’t be so lucky,” Roque threatened.

“I’m not fixing you up so he can tear you down again.”

“Don’t worry,” Roque assured him. “He won’t.”

“Can you open your mouth wide enough for me to get this instrument inside?”

He grimaced when his lips stretched uncomfortably but opened up to allow the inspection.

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FRACTURED is the third book in the Bay Area Professional Series and is now available on Amazon and a free read on Kindle Unlimited. The setting is San Francisco, like  the other novels in this series, but the main characters are new. This can be read as a standalone.  

Blurb

Roque “Ro” Celdran moves to San Francisco to study Landscape Design and his dreams of a better life seem about to come true, except that he's strapped for cash. His identical twin suggests a unique way to make ends meet: a job as a sub-for-hire. But a case of mistaken identity lands Ro at the dentist with a mouthful of broken teeth.

On the surface, Lance Roberts, DDS, seems to have it all—brains, body, classic good looks, and determination. Underneath the flawless exterior lies a frustrated Dom in search of a sub who can handle his obsessive behavior and debilitating need for control. The sexy young man in his chair pushes all of Lance's buttons but he's a patient and off limits for the moment. 

When Ro offers plant maintenance to repay Lance for his dental services, Lance welcomes the chance to get to know Ro better. Close proximity brings their physical attraction to a boil, but Ro is convinced he's not good enough for the learned doctor, and Lance is certain his need for domination will drive his proud and somewhat prickly love interest away.  Can two head strong alphas find a way to satisfy both of their desires or will their relationship wind up fractured?