Chapter 3: Rising Action
“Alright, Lucy. Now bite down on this for me.”
Dr. James’ voice pulled Lucy from a half-daze. The ceiling lights above her looked awfully white, and she could feel the tension in her jaw from biting on the plastic apparatus. Steady gloved hands fiddled with something metallic inside her mouth, making an odd jingling sound.
It caused her to stiffen, her muscles tensed, and her grip on the armrests of the dental chair grew firmer.
Dr. James glanced at Lucy, noticing her discomposure. With a soft smile, he said, “You’re doing great. Almost done now.”
Lucy relaxed at his calming demeanor. It struck her then how disconcertingly close his face was to hers, galaxies apart in a universe of social norms, but only a few inches in reality. A curious-yet-pleasant sensation crept up her spine.
Being this close to a man was new, especially after having braces as an awkward teenaged rite of passage. Now, at twenty-one, the allure of having this attractive yet completely inappropriate dentist angle his head so near to hers created an unexpected spark. She thought, *Who knew heavy metal could be so arousing?*
“Okay, Lucy. Open wide for me.” Dr. James’ voice seemed deeper, a tantalizing lilt in his words that she didn’t register before. With a sense of increased vulnerability, Lucy let her mouth fall ajar at his command.
She felt the intricate play of metal; the cold touch of brackets, the esteemed Dr. James' gloved hands just barely teasing her inner cheeks with these newfound tools. His eyes lingered on hers, searching for any signs of discomfort. But Lucy couldn't deny that a part of her was intrigued, body tensed with anticipation.
"I'm going to place these bands now," Dr. worthyman said softly, holding up the circular piece of metal catgut elastic.
Lucy did as instructed, and then the gentle tug of metal on metal sent a shiver down her spine. Once the bands were secured around her canines and molars, Dr. James straightened up and stepped back, beaming.
“Perfect fit,” he declared, admiration gleaming in his piercing green eyes. His focused gaze made Lucy’s heart race, leaving her slightly lightheaded, but knowing Dr. James was done with his orthodontic sorcery, she summoned a sheepish grin and replied, “Feels, uh, strange.
But I think I’ll get used to it.” With inquisitive blue eyes, she wondered how soon she’d take to normalizing it.
A ripple of a smile turned up the corners of Dr. James' mouth. “It might feel uncomfortable at first, but you’ll adapt, rest assured.”
Nurse Jane entered the dental chamber, her eyes sweeping between the pair with understanding and a hint of playfulness. A lock of pleasantly blonde hair fell over her bright blue eyes.
“Well, Miss Lucy.
It’s time for the next step – the headgear,” announced Nurse Jane, inclining her head toward a nearby tray with the infamous device, nudging Lucy out of her brief reverie.
The mention of headgear made Lucy gaze upon it with a mix of curiosity and slight apprehension. Clad in gleaming stainless steel, the thick bars snaked their way between and around the braces, harnessing the mysterious power to alter and enhance one’s smile.
Lucy gulped at the site; her memories of her teenage years, donning the headgear, resurfaced.
A warm hand on Lucy's shoulder redirected her attention. Dr. James' voice was comforting, "It'll just be a few minutes, I promise." Nurse Jane handed Lucy her precious smartphone, a peace offering suggested by the doc, to pass the time.
A flurry of notifications took captive Lucy's gaze. It had been hours since she last checked her phone.
She tapped on the Instagram app, scrolling through the endless feed of typical millennial content - perfectly poised lattes, fleeting fashion trends, a glimpse into the not-so-private lives of strangers who bared their soul to the world.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden double-tap. It took her a moment to realize that it came from her, liking a photo of her best friend's breakfast. A jolt of embarrassment scattered her cheeks with a warm hue.
Lucy quickly fumbled through her recent likes and discovered that nothing else had been hastily double-tapped. She exhaled a discrete sigh of relief, anxious that she might have accidentally approved an image of glittering, veiny male biceps or - perhaps even more horrifying - a picture of Dr. James, the office’s resident hottie.
She felt the gentle nudge of Nurse Jane's elbow as she attached the headgear to the freshly placed braces. *"Snap out of it, girl!"* she could almost hear her friend saying.
"Why are you wasting time on Instagram when there's a ridiculously attractive man right in front of you?*"
Though Lucy knew the response to come - something about her having never been able to talk to such an appealing stranger, about the awkwardness of the sterile examination room - she remained focused on the screen, avoiding eye contact with him. Dr. James made for captivating eye candy, and the adventure bubbling through her veins was something she wished to enjoy slowly and unrushed.
Being a young woman in her early twenties, Lucy had long grown out of her teenage years. She was no longer that gangly, insecure adolescent who would clam up at the sight of the opposite sex.
Lucy had always adored Dr. James. He was, after all, the star player in her most scintillating dreams, the leading man in the reel of her vividly imagined intimate daydreams. But meeting him in reality, or rather, receiving treatment from him, left her feeling like an inexperienced schoolgirl.
To alleviate her self-imposed anxiety, Lucy decided to embrace the situation with irreverence. She glanced flirtatiously at Dr. James, her bright blue eyes betraying a twinkle of mischief.
"How long should I keep these on? The braces, I mean. I won't turn into a metal-mouthed monster, right?" she teased, gently touching the cold metal attached to her teeth.
Dr. James' eyes lit up, the corners of his lips curling into a roguish smile.
“Not at all, Lucy. The braces and headgear are just tools, stepping stones towards a more beautiful, radiant you. And we, your humble dental professionals, will guide you through the process. My expertise ensures excellent results, while Nurse Jane keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. We make a great team, don’t you think?”
Lucy’s gaze flitted between the two, and she couldn’t help but feel a spark of gratitude towards Dr. James.
Their connection amplified as he continued to adjust and polish the newly installed brackets with careful precision, all while maintaining an innate sense of charm. The aroma of sterile latex mixed with his minty breath caressed her cheek as he lingered closer.
Biting her lower lip, Lucy found herself captivated by Dr. James' skilled fingers, longing to experience them in the most intimate of ways. Her mind wandered towards the numerous ways their bodies could discover each other, tangled together under sheets that mirrored the sterile white walls surrounding her.
Lucy become acutely aware of the throbbing between her thighs, a carnal response to his charm and tantalizing presence.
These heated thoughts, though enticing, remained hidden beneath her calm facade that she tirelessly maintained. *I mustn't let my arousal overtake me or jeopardize the professional relationship with my dentist.* She uttered silently.
Dr. James recaptured her attention, his voice stealing her wayward thoughts.
"Once the bands are connected, we'll snap the headgear in place."
Lucy nervously glanced at the cold contraption, hesitating at the closeness of their bodies. She took a steadying breath, reminding herself to focus on the raison d'être: to correct her overbite.
Fingers wrapped around the thick bar, Stainless Steel tendrils, refined to perfect the curve of her smile, like an embrace from an enigmatic sculptor. Pressure pushed against her teeth, guiding her into position.
Lucy had never considered the simple act of wearing a dental device sexually enticing. Yet, here she was, shuddering with an abstract pleasure she couldn't quell. Dr. James' gaze met hers, a shared moment of electricity crackling between them.
"Lucy, the headgear needs to fit firmly.
It might feel a little uncomfortable initially, but once you get accustomed to it, you won't even notice it's there. Nurse Jane will help adjust it for you. I'll be right back – just have to grab one more thing." The sincerity in Dr. James' voice eased Lucy's nerves.
As she stared into the stark white ceiling, Dr. James' handsome face swam in her mind, accompanied by the tantalizing images of his skilled hands weaving through imaginary intimacy.
The mere thought sent a palpable pulse through the delicate folds of her core, piquing her curiosity.
Lucy had never encountered such a dynamic relationship between herself and her orthodontist before. She had heard whispers amongst her closest friends, tales spun of their providers that fused professional relationships with intimate longings.
But until today, she had discarded these stories as mere fantasies, playing on the imagination, fueled by pheromones and social awkwardness. However, her current predicament threatened to blur the tight boundaries she'd held so close.
Postponing the inevitable, Lucy returned her focus to the adjustment process and opted to trust Dr. James' capable guidance.
As Dr. James exited the examination room, Lucy's eyes searched for a distraction amid the sanitized surfaces, stumbling upon a sleek framed diploma: an authentic testament to his orthodontal achievement.
Thoughts of Dr. James' reputable background slightly abated her voracious yearnings. *I cannot throw myself at this employed, respectable man based solely on a spark between us, she cautioned herself.*
Meanwhile, Nurse Jane's nimble fingers deftly ensured the perfect tightness of Lucy's headgear, presenting an opportune moment for Lucy to scrutinize the nurse.
Jane's blonde locks, pulled back into a polished ponytail, cascaded over her padded shoulders.
A radiant smile accompanied her cheery demeanor, softening Lucy's moments of hesitation in the once intimidating examination room.
"Miss Lucy, you may feel slight pressure," Nurse Jane informed, envisioning Dr. James' detailed explanations. Aware of Lucy's paralleled curiosity, she conceded the conversation flow necessary to downplay any unease.
"Tell me, Nurse Jane - was orthodontics always your calling?" Lucy queried, endeavoring to assuage the leaden silence that punctuated many her prior dental visits.
"Tell me more about this journey, if you don't mind, Nurse Jane. How did you evolve from aspiring veterinarian to accomplished dental nurse?"
As Lucy listened attentively to Jane's narrative, questions percolated in her mind about her own journey and the unexpected turn hers was taking.
Nurse Jane's animated face conveyed excitement as she delved deeper into her story, unveiling the gradual shift from animal care to human teeth, and how the twists and turns of her path ultimately led her to Dr. James' clinic.
Despite Nurse Jane's captivating tale, Dr. James' return to the examination room swiftly reclaimed the spotlight. For Lucy, his striking features captivated much more than just her mind. Today, under the clinical white lights and pristine setting, something had shifted. The subtle curves of her mouth sparked a magnetic pull that transcended professional decorum, a sudden familiarity settling between them.
His green eyes shimmered with a secret, igniting a spark of intrigue in Lucy's core. Dr. James, with that softly crooked smile, reached for the headgear, tightening it gently. He knew he possessed an allure that drew women in, but he had always kept it within the confines of the dental chair. Over the years, he had perfected the balance between charming banter and appropriate etiquette. But, with Lucy, something felt different.
Her youthful curiosity, as palpable as the energy coursing through the examination room, ignited a desire in him—an inexplicable hunger to see where it would lead.
His lingering touches, when securing the bands, or his teasing smile when their eyes met, were subtle, undetectable to anyone but her. Never before had he crossed this line, but he couldn't deny the chemistry crackling between Lucy and him.
He understood that mixing business with pleasure could bring potential complications.
Nonetheless, the magnetism that surged through him whenever their eyes met solidified his decision to explore this fresh dynamic. Dr. James wanted to indulge in the allure that Lucy effortlessly radiated.
In the midst of the examination, Lucy couldn’t shake off the bewitching energy emitted by Dr. James. She might have typically found the notion of forming an intimate relationship with her dentist odd, even absurd, under normal circumstances. But these were anything but ordinary.