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Prologue
Briar Martin is a thirty-five-year-old pediatrician in one of the biggest hospitals in Pennsylvania. She married her college sweetheart ten years ago. She loves her husband, Calob Martin and his family. They have the perfect marriage filled with love and respect. She was adopted when she was a small child by the wealthy Mcnair family. Her mother, Louise, is the most amazing woman but her father, Trey, never really got involved in Briar's life. He was never cruel to her, just indifferent. She was well taken care of and loved by Louise. Her older brother, who is Louise and Trey's biological child, was always kind to her. Despite the five-year difference, they are still close to this day. Morris followed in his father's footsteps and became the CEO of the McNair Corporation. Trey wasn't happy when Briar decided to work for a hospital that was run by his life-long competitor, Coleman Inc. He truly hated the Colemans and took every opportunity to remind Briar she was working for the enemy. She ignored her father's comments and continued to work her way up the ranks of pediatricians until she became the chief. Despite not knowing her birth parents, she would never change anything about her life. She knows how blessed she is to have a loving mother, brother, and husband. Their tenth anniversary is quickly approaching and adding to their family is something they have both decided needs to happen. She has thrown her birth control away and they have stopped using condoms. It's a matter of time before a part of herself and Calob is brought into their world to make their lives complete.
Derek Coleman is the twenty-seven-year-old CEO of the biggest hospital in Pennsylvania. Despite having his family's name, he has worked hard to get where he is. He had a 4.0 GPA in college and has ensured the hospital has made a profit over the last few years under his charge. His father is his biggest champion, despite his apprehension about Derek purchasing the struggling hospital. When he saw the rise in profits, he never questioned Derek again. Derek's mother is a typical socialite who is hell-bent on setting him up with one fake girl after another. He is by no means a virgin, but he doesn't bed every woman he meets. For the past few years, he has only had one woman on his mind, but she is off limits. That doesn't stop him from thinking about her every day or comparing every woman he meets to the beautiful Briar Martin. She is truly the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on.
Briar POV
"Hey Briar, I'm heading to the hospital now. I have an early surgery today," Calob says from the doorway of our bathroom. I'm standing in front of the mirror in my black lace bra and panties getting ready to head to the hospital myself. I turn to face the man that I have loved for the last ten years. His eyes look up and down my body, which makes me smile. His desire for me hasn't changed since we said I do. He stalks forward and pulls me against his muscular frame. Calob is six feet tall and takes great pride in keeping himself in shape. I have no complaints when it comes to my husband's body. Before I realize what he's doing, my panties are ripped from my body. "Calob" I gasp into his mouth. He lifts me onto the counter without breaking our kiss. I'm not sure how he manages it but his c**k is free of his pants and pressing against my entrance. He enters me with one smooth motion and a moan escapes my lips. "Oh god, Calob" I say as he thrusts hard and fast into my core. His thumb begins to circle my cl*t and it doesn't take me long to scream his name as my org*sm rips through me. He pumps a few more times before he empties himself deep inside me. He places his forehead against mine as we both come down from our high. "You are always so amazing, Briar. I love you so much. Promise me that you'll never leave me" he says.
His words make an unease bubble inside me. Why would he even think that after what we just did? "Calob, of course I would never leave you. You are the love of my life." Before I can ask any questions about what he just said, he places a soft kiss on my lips. He pulls out of me and tucks himself back in his pants. "I really have to go, but I will see you at lunch. Don't forget my parents are coming over for dinner tonight." With one more kiss on my forehead he's gone. I look down at my torn underwear and smile. I should buy stock in Victoria's Secret for all the panties I've had to buy to replace what my husband has ripped off my body. I grab them off the floor and throw them in the trash can under the sink. Once I find a new pair, I head to the bathroom to finish getting ready for work. I may not be a surgeon, but my work as head of the pediatric department is just as important as Calob's. Once I'm dressed in a sky blue blouse and black pencil skirt, I slip into my three-inch black heels. I'm on the shorter side, standing at five feet five inches, so the heels help a little. I'm also very curvy and I love it. I used to worry about not being thinner like a lot of my friends, but I have learned to embrace the curves of my body. Besides, Calob loves my wider hips and ample breasts.
I grab my lab coat and purse before I leave our condo. Calob and I have been talking about moving to a house in a gated community since we are trying to have a baby. I know that it will change our lives and work schedules, but I want nothing more than to have a part of me and Calob to grow inside me. I reach the parking garage and unlock my BMW. The ride to the hospital takes about twenty minutes. I head right for my office, which is on the fifth floor. I step onto the elevator alone, but before the door can close, my friend Lucy joins me. She is a nurse in the pediatric oncology unit. She is amazing with her patients and an excellent nurse. "Good morning, Briar. You look like you are in a good mood this morning," Lucy says with a smirk. I lean toward her and lower my voice. "Morning s*x with a very hot man will do that for you" I say with a chuckle. Something flashes in her eyes, but I can't decipher what it is. "I'm sure that would make any woman happy" she says. The rest of the ride is silent. Lucy steps out on the fourth floor and turns to me. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something important before lunch. Do you think you can meet me in the doctor's sleeping room on my floor" she asks. "Of course, I'll see you around eleven." She nods and the door to the elevator closes.
I make it to my office and my assistant, Corrin, is waiting for me with a cup of coffee. "Good morning, Dr. Martin" she says and I smile. "Corrin, I've told you a million times that outside of meetings you can call me Briar. Thank you for the coffee." "You're welcome. Your day's appointments are printed and waiting for you on your desk. Also, Mr. Coleman, made an appointment to speak with you about the changes to the pediatric unit at eleven thirty." "Thank you, Corrin. You are doing a really good job." I say and head into my office. Corrin started about a month ago, and she has really been an asset to me. After I review my appointments, I slip my lab coat on to start my rounds. I take a handful of lollipops and put them in my pocket. This is the best part of my day. I head to Allie's room first. The little girl who is five years old squeals as soon as she sees me. She is being treated for cancer and is responding well to treatment. "Dr. Briar, I missed you" she says. I smile "you just saw me yesterday, Allie. How could you miss me so soon?" "Every time you visit me, I get a lollipop. I love lollipops, Dr. Briar," she says with her toothy smile. I throw my head back and laugh. I pull the red lollipop out of my coat and hand it to the sweet little girl. Once I do my examination, I say my goodbyes to both Allie and her parents. My rounds take a few hours and I look down to see by my watch that its almost eleven.
I take the elevator to the fourth floor. I wonder what is going on with Lucy that she wants to meet in the doctor's sleeping room. I know she is dating a new man and, from what she said in our last conversation, he doesn't want to commit to her. I hope for her sake she tells him to make a decision or move on. I make my way down the long hallway to the very last room on the wing. The soft noises I hear coming from the room stop me from pushing the door open. Why the hell would anyone being having s*x while they are on duty? I hate to be a b**ch but what if I were a patient or a family member looking for a doctor, and I was met with these noises. I steady myself and take a deep breath before I push the door open. The scene on the other side of the door is something out of my nightmares. My husband, the man that promised to love me until death do us part, is buried balls deep inside a woman that I considered my friend. Based on the smile on her face, she knew exactly what she was doing when she asked me to come to this room. I feel like I can't breathe and everything in me wants to collapse, but I will be damned if I give either of them the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. Calob at least has the good graces to look sorry. He pulls himself from Lucy's body and tries to right his clothes. "Briar, please let me explain" he starts to say. I turn without a word and move down the hallway toward the elevator.
The noises around me sound a million miles away. I step into the elevator and push the button that will take me to the CEO's floor. I need to use the vacation time that I've been hounded to take to deal with everything that just changed in my life. The door is almost closed when a hand stops it from closing. A hand with a wedding band that I purchased to show the world that Calob was my husband. Calob pushes his way inside and the door closes, but not before I see an irritated looking Lucy staring at me. "Briar, we need to talk." He takes a step toward me and I put my hand up. "I wouldn't if I were you. We have nothing to talk about." He runs his hands through his disheveled hair. "Bullsh*t we don't. You are my wife. I know you're angry, but I love you and I made a mistake. We need to talk and get past this. I will do anything to make it right." My eyes meet his for the first time since he stepped in this elevator, and I'm sure mine are burning with rage. "Did your d**k just fall inside her v*gina? From where I stood, it looked like you were thoroughly enjoying yourself. The mistake was you getting caught, wasn't it, Calob? As far as our marriage, there isn't one anymore. You made sure of that when you f**ked, Lucy." "No" he screams just as the elevator opens. Could this day get any worse? Derek Coleman is standing outside the elevator staring with a raised eyebrow. He must have heard Calob yell. I really wish I never got out of bed this morning.