I’m more worried when I see couples who have been able to share a bedroom for five days and not become intimate. I actually recommend intimacy early in these situations as it is a bonding experience. You must remember that this will be a lasting relationship so there is advantage in waiting.” She glanced down at her desk. “My information indicates that the two of you knew each other prior to being matched. Is that correct?”
Jakob nodded. “We were neighbors in high school. She’s best friends and business partners with my sister.”
“I see. T he two of you seem so comfortable with each other. Though they may seem unnecessary to the two of you since you were already friends, the three meetings with me are mandatory. They’re to guide you through possibly rough waters at the beginning as you get to know one another. However, you may find that even friends come across some difficult situations as you transition from a platonic relationship to a romantic one.”
“We actually didn’t have the smoothest start,” Jakob confessed. Opening up about his life to a stranger wasn’t high on his wish list, but he did have one concern where he might need the doctor’s help. “When Sienna and I were matched I was dating someone else. I was even planning to marry her.”
Dr. Roberts’ brow furrowed. “I can assume you ended this relationship upon your marriage?”
Barely resisting the urge to squirm under the doctor’s penetrating stare, Jakob shook his head. “I couldn’t back out of the promises I’d made to her. The other woman broke things off.”
“I see,” she said slowly. “Sienna, how did you feel about this?”
Sienna’ s fingers closed over his and he squeezed back. “Do we really have to discuss this?” she asked in a small voice.
“As it was a threat to your union, it’s of utmost priority.”
Sienna’s gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. “I was…disappointed, angry, and very hurt.” She inhaled deeply, unintentionally drawing his attention to her chest. He admonished himself to concentrate. This wasn’t the time to get all hot and bothered. He forced himself to listen to Sienna as she spoke. “When Jakob told me that he wanted a real marriage, I was afraid that he would change his mind. I didn’t want to be his second choice even if I was Bioexpa’s first choice for him.”
“I take it that somehow he convinced you?”
“Yes. ” Sienna smiled up at him, love shining in the depths of her brown eyes. Jakob felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest. He’d been so worried that she’d have lingering resentment toward him or that she would doubt his feelings for her. In that moment, he was overwhelmed with amazement at what a wonderful woman he was blessed to call his wife. Never one for displays of public affection, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning over and sealing her lips with his.
“I love you,” he murmured against her mouth.
“It’s a good sign that the two of you managed to resolve this on your own. But I want to extract a promise from both of you. Sienna, if you ever feel insecure about your marriage, you will let Jakob know. Jakob, if she comes to you with concerns about your level of commitment, you will truly listen to her and address those concerns.” As they each gave their promise, she nodded. “Good. Hopefully we will be able to drop this topic, but either of you are free to revive it if necessary.
“Now, let’s turn our attention to something that new couples rarely discuss—the scintillating topic of careers and finances.”
“Well, that was thorough,” Sienna said as he slid in behind the wheel of his car. From her relieved sigh when they’d walked out of the doctor’s office, he could tell she was relieved their session was over.
Jakob chuckled. “Yeah, it was. And I thought the probing was over after the registration process.” He placed his palm on the scanner on the dash and the car started. Seatbelts came
Jakob nodded. “We were neighbors in high school. She’s best friends and business partners with my sister.”
“I see. T he two of you seem so comfortable with each other. Though they may seem unnecessary to the two of you since you were already friends, the three meetings with me are mandatory. They’re to guide you through possibly rough waters at the beginning as you get to know one another. However, you may find that even friends come across some difficult situations as you transition from a platonic relationship to a romantic one.”
“We actually didn’t have the smoothest start,” Jakob confessed. Opening up about his life to a stranger wasn’t high on his wish list, but he did have one concern where he might need the doctor’s help. “When Sienna and I were matched I was dating someone else. I was even planning to marry her.”
Dr. Roberts’ brow furrowed. “I can assume you ended this relationship upon your marriage?”
Barely resisting the urge to squirm under the doctor’s penetrating stare, Jakob shook his head. “I couldn’t back out of the promises I’d made to her. The other woman broke things off.”
“I see,” she said slowly. “Sienna, how did you feel about this?”
Sienna’ s fingers closed over his and he squeezed back. “Do we really have to discuss this?” she asked in a small voice.
“As it was a threat to your union, it’s of utmost priority.”
Sienna’s gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. “I was…disappointed, angry, and very hurt.” She inhaled deeply, unintentionally drawing his attention to her chest. He admonished himself to concentrate. This wasn’t the time to get all hot and bothered. He forced himself to listen to Sienna as she spoke. “When Jakob told me that he wanted a real marriage, I was afraid that he would change his mind. I didn’t want to be his second choice even if I was Bioexpa’s first choice for him.”
“I take it that somehow he convinced you?”
“Yes. ” Sienna smiled up at him, love shining in the depths of her brown eyes. Jakob felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest. He’d been so worried that she’d have lingering resentment toward him or that she would doubt his feelings for her. In that moment, he was overwhelmed with amazement at what a wonderful woman he was blessed to call his wife. Never one for displays of public affection, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning over and sealing her lips with his.
“I love you,” he murmured against her mouth.
“It’s a good sign that the two of you managed to resolve this on your own. But I want to extract a promise from both of you. Sienna, if you ever feel insecure about your marriage, you will let Jakob know. Jakob, if she comes to you with concerns about your level of commitment, you will truly listen to her and address those concerns.” As they each gave their promise, she nodded. “Good. Hopefully we will be able to drop this topic, but either of you are free to revive it if necessary.
“Now, let’s turn our attention to something that new couples rarely discuss—the scintillating topic of careers and finances.”
“Well, that was thorough,” Sienna said as he slid in behind the wheel of his car. From her relieved sigh when they’d walked out of the doctor’s office, he could tell she was relieved their session was over.
Jakob chuckled. “Yeah, it was. And I thought the probing was over after the registration process.” He placed his palm on the scanner on the dash and the car started. Seatbelts came
Similar Books
