Chapter 1

"Take it off and lie down!"

Athena Kingsley's heart jolted at the sound of a low, cold male voice.

She didn't know when she had developed this indescribable, humiliating condition.

Whenever it flared up, the desire became overwhelming. It ignored time and place, seriously affecting both her work and daily life.

Unable to endure it any longer, she gathered her courage and scheduled a gynecology appointment at this private hospital. She had chosen it specifically because of its strict confidentiality, even though the consultation fee was several times higher than at an ordinary hospital.

However, she had clearly booked an appointment with a female gynecology director in her forties. Why, then, was the doctor seeing her a young, tall man?

"Do I... really have to take off my pants?" Athena asked nervously, her voice filled with hesitation.

Even knowing he was a doctor, undressing in front of a strange man felt unbearably awkward.

"If you don't take off your pants, how am I supposed to examine you?" Julian Sterling answered calmly, his tone professional.

"But I..." Athena's face turned bright red as she shifted uneasily.

Although the man wore a mask, his sharp eyes seemed especially deep and unreadable.

For a split second, she imagined him pinning her to the examination bed and making her do whatever he wanted.

Athena quickly shook her head. 'Good Lord. How could I think something like that?'

He was just a doctor. He examined dozens of patients every day. This was simply part of his job.

She silently reassured herself. Then, forcing down her embarrassment, she slowly lowered her pants and lay on the examination bed.

"Where is the discomfort?" Julian asked as he prepared the disinfecting supplies.

Athena's face flushed even deeper. "I... It's there..."

When she couldn't continue, Julian asked matter-of-factly, "Excessive sexual activity? Did you injure yourself?"

For young women visiting the gynecology department, those were the most common causes.

Athena shook her head, her cheeks burning. "No. I don't have any sexual experience..."

Julian paused and turned to look at her in surprise.

The young woman had exquisite features. Her skin was so delicate it looked almost impossibly soft, while her face combined striking beauty with an innocent charm that was quietly alluring.

She was the kind of woman people remembered after a single glance. Someone as beautiful as her should have no shortage of admirers, yet she claimed she had no sexual experience.

Under his deep, unreadable gaze, she stammered, her face burning crimson, "I... I just... there... it feels... a little uncomfortable..."

Julian's fingers tightened slightly around the disinfectant swab. Outwardly, however, he remained composed. His eyes stayed fixed on her. "Uncomfortable?"

Athena couldn't answer. How was she supposed to describe something like that?

"It's... It's just..." She bit her lower lip and hesitated.

Julian looked at her deeply flushed face. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and a surge of heat coursed through him before he quickly suppressed it.

"What caused it?" he asked.

"It... it's... I..." Athena stammered, too embarrassed to say the words.

How could she admit that her desire had become unbearably strong? That she wanted it more than anything?

Yet after more than a year of marriage, her husband, Ethan Foster, had never touched her.

As time passed, her desire only grew stronger. Meanwhile, Ethan kept avoiding her. He seemed especially uncomfortable whenever she mentioned anything related to intimacy.

In the end, Athena had no choice but to try to satisfy herself. Even so, it was nowhere near enough. She still wanted more.

Julian studied her reaction. "Are you married?"

Athena nodded instinctively.

For reasons he couldn't explain, disappointment flickered through him. His gaze darkened slightly. "Lie down. I'll examine you."

Athena obediently lay back. Her slender hands clenched into tight fists, and her face felt as though it were on fire.

Julian looked at her and said, his voice inexplicably hoarse, "Don't move."

Athena was already mortified. With her condition, how could she possibly remain still during the examination?

"Can I switch to a female doctor?" she asked awkwardly.

Julian's eyes darkened even further. "Are you dissatisfied with me?"

Athena hurriedly shook her head. "No... no, it's not that—"

Before she could finish, he interrupted coldly, "You booked my appointment. If you don't want treatment, you're free to leave."

'This man is so intimidating.' She would definitely file a complaint afterward. But her condition couldn't wait any longer. For now, she could only trust his medical skills.

"I didn't mean anything else, Doctor. Please... you have to cure me, alright?" Athena pleaded.

This was Julian's first time covering a shift in the gynecology department. He had never expected to encounter such an unusual patient. Her condition was difficult enough, but her extraordinary beauty made the situation an even greater test of his self-control.

"Stop talking nonsense," he said in a low voice, his Adam's apple bobbing once again.

He pulled on a pair of gloves, picked up the disinfectant swab, and slowly stepped closer.

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Athena squeezed her eyes shut.

Her husband had never even looked at her that way. Now another man was about to. Even though she knew he was only doing his job, she couldn't overcome her emotional resistance.

"Ah!" The soft cry escaped her before she could stop it.

Julian felt a tingling numbness spread across his scalp. His entire body tensed as he instinctively drew his hand back slightly.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked.

Athena's beautiful eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her red lips parted, but no words came out.

Reason told her to stay calm, but her condition made it impossible to remain composed. Her fragile, pitiful expression was almost impossible to resist.

"I'll be gentler." Julian coughed lightly, forced himself to look away, and concentrated on the examination.

When it was over, Athena only felt emptier than before, and even more uncomfortable.

"Doctor... is it serious?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Julian steadied himself and slowly removed his gloves. "This is a form of dependency caused by an endocrine imbalance resulting from prolonged sexual inactivity."

'Prolonged sexual inactivity?' Athena lowered her eyes, embarrassment flashing across her face.

It wasn't that she lacked sexual activity. She had never experienced it at all.

Her husband had an extreme obsession with cleanliness. From the time they started dating through their entire marriage, they had barely shared any physical intimacy. Yet the longer it continued, the more desperately she longed for it. It felt as though every cell in her body craved affection and human touch.

"I'll prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to help regulate your endocrine system." Julian sat at the computer and began writing the prescription. "But I also suggest that you... spend more time with your husband. That will greatly relieve your condition."

Athena's face turned so red it looked ready to bleed.

After pulling up her pants and stepping off the examination bed, she accepted the prescription from Julian. "Thank you, doctor."

Just as she walked out of the consultation room, a female doctor in a white coat entered through the back door.

Sophia Sterling had rushed back as quickly as she could.

"Julian, you actually saw my patient while I was away?" she demanded.

Julian replied calmly, "Don't forget, I graduated at the top of my medical school class, while you finished second. Giving your patient a free consultation is doing her a favor. Besides, this hospital belongs to me now."

Sophia glared at him. "You..."

'This brat is impossible.' Still, she knew her younger brother had always been obsessively clean and completely uninterested in women. The fact that he had willingly treated a female patient today was unusual.

Julian slipped one hand into his pocket and glanced toward the hallway where Athena had disappeared. "If I'm such an unwelcome guest, I'll leave."

"You're leaving already?" Sophia hurried after him. "I asked you to come today because I wanted you to meet Dr. Preston from cardiology. She's young, beautiful, highly skilled, one of the hospital's brightest stars, and most importantly, she's single."

"Maybe another time," Julian answered without interest and walked away.