“Fine.”
“No headaches or dizziness?”
He shook his head, slowly and confidently. “If I said I was badly hurt, would you spend all night making me better?”
She grinned broadly. “All night,” she whispered.
His grin broadened in response to hers. “I’m off tomorrow morning,” he murmured. “I’ll probably need to sleep a few hours, but I’d like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night if you’re not working.”
Her heart sank. “I am.”
“Then I’ll come to the hospital when it’s your dinner break and we can eat together in the cafeteria.”
She brightened. “You’d do that?”
His expression turned serious. “For you, I’d do anything. I… I’ve missed you. I’ve missed talking to you.”
She touched his cheek again, watching him kiss her palm right on the latex glove. It was a sweet, tender moment, but she quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching, moving away from him and pulling out a bandage kit. By the time she returned, he was gazing up at her with a warm and rather amorous expression, and she gave him a demure but flirtatious smile.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered. “But let’s keep that stuff out of the workplace, okay? I just got this job and I don’t want them to think I’m affectionate with every good-looking firefighter that comes through the door.”
He laughed. “Fair enough,” he said, watching her face as she drew close to him and began to clean up the cut. “How has your first day been so far?”
She shrugged as she swabbed the wound. “Pretty good,” she said. “I’ve already been in surgery twice, three times when I operate on your buddy in about a half hour. It’s been surprisingly busy.”
“Feeling good about it?”
“Yes, very good.”
“Glad to hear it.”
The conversation died, although it wasn’t uncomfortable in the least. In the big exam room smelling of alcohol and sterilized equipment, Alix proceeded to put three butterfly bandages across his cut and carefully taped a small bandage over it. Meanwhile, Cord let his hands wander underneath her lab coat to her thighs, drifting up the back of her legs, stroking her discreetly, until she finally snorted.
“If you don’t stop that, I’m going to be sitting in your lap doing very naughty things and get myself fired.” She looked him in the eye sternly. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
He bit his lip to keep from grinning, looking properly contrite. “I’m sorry. I will.”
“Good.”
A pause. “Do I really have to?”
She was trying not to giggle. “In this building, you do. I’m sorry, but you do, because neither one of us can guarantee our composure when we come into contact with each other. I don’t want to put on a display like that, at least… not in public.”
“But you don’t have a problem with it in private?”
She sighed heavily, giving him an exasperated expression. But it was short-lived; looking around, she made sure there was no one in close proximity before planting a very big, very juicy kiss on his lips. Startled, but in a good way, Cord lifted his hands to grasp her head and kiss her deeply but she pushed him away.
“You’re good to go, Captain Trevor,” she stood a few feet back, out of his arm range. “I’ll take a look at that cut tomorrow and change the bandages, but for tonight, just try not to get it wet. In fact, it’s my recommendation that you just go home and go to bed.”
Cord was rather breathless at the kiss, smiling at her as he rose from the stool. “Thank you, Dr. Hendry,” he said. “I appreciate your professional care, especially for Mike.”
“Mike?”
“The firefighter on the gurney.”
“Oh, right.” She pulled the gloves off and tossed them, washing her hands again and grabbing paper towels. “So your engine is wrecked?’
He nodded. “They’re sending a back-up rig to pick us up right now. I’m going to be doing paperwork the rest of the night.”
She threw the paper towels away and headed out of the exam room. “Well, take it easy with that bump. If you start feeling dizzy or nauseous, call me or come back over here right away. Okay?”
He smiled at her, his eyes alight with the magic he was feeling for her. “Okay.”
She returned his smile, trying not to be too obvious that it was beyond a normal smile, as Cord’s men began gathering around him.
“You okay, Cap’n?” a young firefighter asked.
Cord nodded. “Fine,” he told them. “Just a bump. Guys, I want you to meet Dr. Hendry. She’s new here, so we’ll see her around on occasion.”
Four sets of eyes turned to Alix and she smiled at the group, lifting a hand. “Hi.”
They responded with friendly interest except for one man, an older guy with a balding head and a radio in his hand. He zeroed in on her right away with intense blue eyes.
“Dr. Hendry,” he greeted. “Where did you come from?”
The way he said it was rather seductive and Alix instinctively took a step back from him. She could handle the flirts with the best of them, but her manner turned from warm friendly to cold professional in a flash. She wasn’t going to give the guy any response that could be misconstrued.
“California,” she said shortly, turning to Cord. “Remember what I told you; any dizziness or headaches and you get yourself back over here in a hurry.”
He nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
With that, Alix turned away from the group and headed back down the hall. The men watched her go, especially Cord and the big bald guy. In fact, the bald guy turned to the group after she had left and lifted his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
“I think I might have to spend more time at this hospital,” he said.
The guys snickered; all except for Cord. His expression was hard as he gazed at the man. He knew Steve Cokes and had for years. The guy was always the one to sleep around with the firehouse groupies and then complain because he couldn’t find a good woman. Normally, Cord couldn’t have cared less, but Steve wasn’t going to set his sights on Alix. No way in hell. Better deter it before it got started.
“Don’t bother, Steve,” he said, somewhat icily. “She’s spoken for.”
Steve grinned. “Did you already find that out? You work fast, Cord. That’s not like you. I don’t blame you, though. She’s spectacular.”
Cord was having a hard time fighting down a surge of jealousy. “She’s also my neighbor,” he said, trying not to sound hostile. “She’s already got a boyfriend, so leave her alone.”
Steve’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? Well, that’s too bad. Story of my life, though.”
Thankfully, he left the subject alone and they ventured off on something else. As the firefighters from Station Four waited around for one of the back-up rigs to pick them up, Cord found his attention drawn to the bowels of the emergency room where he could see Alix moving back and forth between the rooms. A couple of times she caught his eye and gave him a brief smile or a discreet wave. He would do the same, drinking in every second that he was able to do something as simple as look at her.
He was in deep and sinking fast.
* * *
Alix hadn’t gotten home until four in the morning. It had been an eventful night and at around eight in the morning, she could hear Rose screaming about something. Dead tired, she pulled herself up from bed and staggered out of her bedroom and across the hall to Rose’s room, where she was, once again, crying about the sad girl who wanted her kitty. Alix wrapped her arms around her daughter and fell over into the little girl’s bed, trying to snuggle with her and go back to sleep, but Rose wasn’t interested in going back to sleep. She wanted to play.
Sean had heard his little sister and wandered into her bedroom, rubbing his eyes sleepily and seeing that his exhausted mother was trying to get some rest with Rose now jumping on the bed. Sean was a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders, so he rubbed his eyes again
and went to pull Rose off the bed.
“Go back to bed, Mom,” he told Alix. “I’ll get Rose some breakfast and keep her quiet while you sleep.”
Alix struggled out of the bed. “Thanks,” she said sincerely. “Just give me a few hours. I’ll be up by noon or so.”
Sean had Rose in his arms. “I saw a park down the road,” he told her. “Maybe I’ll take her down there for a while.”
“That would be lovely, honey, thank you.” Alix patted her son on the arm. “Watch the weather, though. I think it’s supposed to rain again.”
“I will,” he said, watching her drag herself back to her bedroom. “Hey? Can I have some money for a new video game?”
Alix grinned sleepily; although Sean was very thoughtful, taking Rose off her hands and taking her to the park on top of that was a little too generous, even for him. She should have suspected an ulterior motive. But she was so tired that she was willing to make the bargain.
“Sure,” she said. “Do you want to go buy it when I get up?”
“Can I?”
“Keep Rose happy and quiet for the next three hours and I’ll take you before I go to work.”
Sean grinned happily, already scrambling to get Rose dressed so he could take her to the park. Alix went back to bed but she didn’t go back to sleep until the kids stopped by her room to show her that Rose was properly bundled up against the cooler weather outside. Once she heard the door slam down below, she faded off to sleep quickly.
She didn’t know what time it was when she heard a car door slam, jolting her from warm and blissful slumber. She almost went back to sleep but something made her roll over, lift her head to listen and, hearing nothing, climb out of bed. She peered out of the front window that overlooked the porch and front yard but didn’t see anything, so she went to the window that overlooked the driveway and happened to catch Cord as he was walking back to his truck. Alix unlocked the window and opened it.
“Hey,” she called.
Cord came to halt and turned around, already smiling as he looked to the second story window. “Hey,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if you were awake yet.”
Smiling sleepily, Alix leaned against the windowsill. “I am now,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “I was leaving you something,” he gestured towards the kitchen door, which was directly below the window. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”
Alix’s grin broadened. “Stay right there.”
She wasn’t exactly dressed to receive company, but Alix didn’t think about that as she took the stairs down to the ground floor. Clad in a snug camisole top that covered her up but clung rather indecently and a pair of yoga pants, she unlocked the kitchen door to find Cord standing there with a bouquet of yellow mums in his hand. She laughed as she unlocked the screen and opened it for him.
“I’ve never gotten flowers so much in my life,” she said as he handed them to her. “Thank you very much; they’re beautiful.”
He was standing just inside the kitchen door, grinning at her as she went to put them in the same vase as the bouquet he had left her the day before. Cord couldn’t help but notice the skin-tight pants and sexy tank top, and all of that exposed flesh. In fact, as he watched her heart-shaped butt as she put the flowers in the vase, his palms began to sweat just a little. The woman had an overwhelming effect on him.
“You’re welcome,” he said after a moment, as if he just remembered to say something. “What time did you get home last night?”
“About four.” She finished with the flowers and turned to him. “And you?”
“Just an hour before you did.”
“Did you finish up your paperwork?”
“I did,” he nodded. “So how was your first day on the job, overall?”
She smiled. “It was good,” she said. “I think I’m going to like it. Everyone seems very nice and very good at their jobs. Speaking of jobs, how’s your head?”
He looked around for the nearest chair and planted himself. “I came to let my doctor take a look at it.”
Still grinning, she washed her hands in the sink and made her way over to him as she dried them off. Putting the paper towel on the table, she leaned against him as she began to carefully remove the tape holding down the small bandage. With her petite height and his big size, she was only slightly taller than him as he sat in the chair. Cord found himself staring into her neck.
The bandage came off and she very gently inspected the wound. “It looks okay,” she said. “Does it hurt?”
He shrugged. “A little,” he was quickly becoming overwhelmed with her warmth and closeness. “It just feels like a bruise.”
“Hmmm,” she grunted, still eyeing it. “Let’s leave the bandage off a little while and let some air get to it. I’ll put another one on before you leave.”
He watched her head over to the trash can and throw the old bandage away. He found himself thinking very dirty thoughts as he watched her shapely backside through those clingy pants.
“Thanks, doc,” he replied. Then he peered into the doorway that led to the entry and the living room beyond. “It seems kind of quiet around here. Where are your children?”
Alix yawned, scratching her delightfully mussed hair as she meandered back in his direction. “Sean took Rose to the park so I could sleep in peace,” she said. “What about you? What are the Trevor boys doing today?”
He remained in the chair, gazing up at her as she came close. “Chris and Kyle have football practice this morning over at the high school,” he said. “I need to get over there in a few minutes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the defensive line coach for the varsity football team. Looks like my experience in the NFL has paid off big-time.”
He was joking as he said it, causing her to smile. He really had a good sense of humor. “So where’s Cole?”
“He’s hanging out with some friends over at the house,” he said. “And as for me, after I finish at the high school, I have a date tonight.”
She nodded. “I suppose you do. But what kind of woman would make you take her to dinner at a hospital? What a weirdo.”
He couldn’t help himself; he reached out and gently grasped her by the waist, pulling her against him. His big arms went around her, enveloping her.
“I don’t think she’s weird,” he murmured, putting his nose against the flesh of her shoulder and inhaling deeply. He was acquainting himself with her scent and the texture of her skin as he turned his head and laid his cheek against her cleavage. “I kind of like her a whole lot.”
Alix wrapped her arms around his neck and head, hugging him tightly and relishing their first real embrace. It was warm and soft and gentle, something that made her heart flutter wildly. The man was as sexy as he could possibly be and she was besotted.
“I think she likes you, too,” she whispered.
He didn’t reply except to kiss the flesh of her cleavage, very softly and gently as he had his first taste of her. Alix closed her eyes to the sensual bliss of it, concentrating on every kiss and realizing her knees were going weak the more he progressed. Her arms tightened around his head and neck, her hands in his blond hair, as his kisses moved to her shoulders.
Cord pulled her tightly against him as his mouth moved over her collarbone. She was unbelievably sweet, softer than anything he’d ever known, and he could feel his temperature rising. When he got to her neck, she threw her head back and he very nearly lost his control when he realized she was sliding forward, straddling him as he sat on the chair. She ended up on his lap, her head hanging back as he devoured the flesh on her neck. When he reached her little earlobes and suckled delicately, she groaned and lifted her head, slanting her mouth hungrily over his.
The slow, sensual tasting escalated into hot, passionate kisses. Cord’s hands were in her hair, on her shoulders, stroking her back before moving down her thighs. She was hot and delicious, her soft body pressed against him
, and he eventually cupped her face as his lips ravaged hers, his tongue invading her mouth and tasting her sweetness. There was no way he could control himself. His hands moved lower.
Alix groaned when a big hand closed over her left breast, wishing with all her heart he would stick his hand under her shirt. She wanted to feel his flesh against hers. When he didn’t move fast enough, she yanked her camisole off, tossing it on the tabletop as he got the hint and clamped down on a tender nipple. He suckled hard and she cried out softly, never more aroused in her entire life.
“Upstairs,” she gasped.
His mouth was still on her breast but he didn’t question her command; he obeyed. Picking her up, her legs wrapped around his waist and his mouth still on her breasts, he somehow managed to make it up the back staircase, heading in the direction she was breathlessly pointing. Once inside her bedroom, stacked up with boxes with a messy bed against the wall, he slammed the door shut with a big foot and laid her down on the bed.
Clothes were coming off. Alix only had her pants to remove and they came off first before she helped Cord yank off his shirt. She fumbled with the fly of his jeans as he unhooked his belt, both of them so wrapped up in their lust that they couldn’t see or think of anything else but their ultimate pleasure. He lowered his pants to his knees but Alix didn’t wait; her mouth was on his throbbing, engorged manhood before he could get them off completely. Cord nearly lost his mind.
“Oh, my God,” he breathed as her mouth worked him. “Honey, let me get these off first.”
Alix’s reply was to yank his arm, pulling him down on the bed. As he fell on top of it, she jumped up and pulled off his shoes and eventually his pants, pulling so hard she nearly lost her balance. Then she was on him again, pleasuring him, and Cord was so aroused that he was dizzy with it. His hands were in her gorgeous hair as her mouth plunged down on him again and again.
But he could only take so much. He could feel himself building to a release so he stopped her and lifted her onto the bed, flipping her onto her back and covering her with his big, muscular body. Alix’s arms went around his neck, her mouth seeking his, and he kissed her deeply as his hands explored her body, moving into intimate places.
Dark Secrets: A Paranormal Romance Anthology Page 230