Monitored (The White Coat Series Book 3)

by Parker, D. D.

  His body twitched in my touch as we both returned down from that climactic explosion. We both laid there, finding nothing else wrong in the moment.

  And that was how we drifted off to sleep.

  If only we could have stayed in that peaceful state forever.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ALEXANDER MADE HIS PROMISES COME true, I can tell you that much. He cooked an incredible breakfast consisting of french toast and eggs with a fruit cocktail that tasted like it was fresh off the vine. And then, once we were done, he threw me on the table and ravaged my body all over again.

  It was incredible, the effect our flesh had on each other. It was like being in chemistry class and finally figuring out that one missing variable, the lone ingredient that was the only thing preventing the explosive reaction from occurring.

  Alexander was my catalyst.

  After we had finished devouring each other one more time, we were able to make our way into the shower where we washed off. It felt like all the stress was falling down the drain along with all the grime and sweat. I took a moment to secretly admire Alexander’s body, the water sliding off of him and giving him a golden shine, his tanned skin looking rich under the light. His muscles danced with every movement, the water only adding to the effect. He wasn’t facing me, so I was able to take in his strong, broad back. His shoulders extending outwards and rounding out into powerful biceps. I saw the small indentations of muscle on his lower back that led to his perfect ass, tight and flawless that was supported by thick, muscular thighs.

  He turned to me and before I knew it, a small stream of water jet straight into my face. The source? Alexander’s mouth.

  He smirked, water falling down on his face and causing his hair to collapse along with it. His cheeks were still expanded from holding even more water. He took aim and fired, the water hitting my cheek. I slapped his chest playfully.

  “You know, I was always good at those first-person shooter games,” I said, drawing my two fingers together and aiming my cutesy little gun into his chest.

  He spit the rest of the water out, his teeth an ivory white. “Oh yeah? Prove it.” He stepped aside and a spray of water hit my unsuspecting face. He cracked up, realizing he had gotten me two times in a row. I slapped his chest again and laughed along with him, a bottle of blue soap falling with a crash loud enough to wake up a small Caribbean island.

  “Can’t even argue. You’re good.” I stepped around him, my hands running over the v-muscles on his hips, trailing down to his perfect package. He couldn’t help but brush against me, a reminder of the intense pleasure we can give each other.

  “Now, can you play a game of Super Smash Brothers?”

  Was he really challenging me? Of course I could play Super Smash, and I would bet that I could beat him with my hands tied behind my back. I would consider letting him win though. Especially if he played with his shirt off.

  “I’m going to take you down,” I declared, soaping off my body, the warm, jet-like water crashing down on my loose shoulders.

  “We’ll see about that.” His hands ran through his thick black hair, soapy with the shampoo. It was just calling for a sappy movie moment. I stuck my hands out and shaped a quick mohawk. He looked up and rocked his head forward, jamming out to what seemed like a great rock concert. The mohawk only survived for a few moments after that, sagging back down to almost cover those stunning blue eyes.

  “You were pretty jumpy in your sleep last night,” he commented, his hands running through the mop of hair. “I think you even woke up at one point and said something, something about getting out.” He didn’t say it like he was freaked out, but I couldn’t help but feel a little mortified inside.

  That must have been so damn creepy.

  “Wow, I am so sorry. I promise I’m not that creepy.” I could feel my cheeks start blushing red. “I guess I just went to sleep scared last night.”

  I regretted saying it as soon as I heard myself say it.

  “Scared of sleeping over?”

  “No! Oh, no, no, no. My brother, he’s sort of being stalked by some crazy drug dealer, and well, they kind of threw a rock through my window the other day.” I had to spill the beans. I couldn’t have him thinking I was traumatized of his touch or something like that. If anything, it was the complete opposite, I was becoming addicted to his touch.

  “Damn, yeah that does sound scary. Do you think they’re after you?” He asked point blank, not even giving me some time to think about that possibility, to digest the chance that I may have been on someone’s hit list. Just for something my brother had done in the past.

  I loved him to death, but damn he was stupid sometimes.

  “I’ve been wondering that lately.” And then I remembered the strange knock on my door. The realization must have been apparent because Alexander picked up on something, turning his full attention on me. He cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward a little, inviting me to spill my thoughts.

  “A couple of days ago, me and my friend Rachel were just hanging out when there’s a random knock on my door, I check outside and no one’s around.”

  “So maybe they backed out.” Alexander so kindly added.

  “Well, yeah. That’s what I’m beginning to think too. But why me?”

  “Depends on what they want your brother for.” He poured a coral shaped swirl of soap onto his loofa and scrubbed, running it over every inch of his muscular figure. “If he did something bad enough, then maybe collateral?”

  “Jeez, you’re really knowledgeable on this, huh?” I half-joked. His smirk made things seem much more playful though, as if he knew the ending to this story and that ending consisted of me being safe and sound.

  “I watch a lot of the Discovery channel investigations.”

  “Ah, that explains it.” I stretched my neck, letting the warm water fall over me.

  It didn’t really explain it, but I didn’t need an explanation. A smile from Alexander was enough. He would be able to get away with murder, one of those horrible villains you see go free after clearly committing a heinous crime. Just because of that damned, dangerous charm.

  “You’re going to be fine. If you want, you can stay here with me for a little. Just go grab your stuff and crash here.” His invitation sounded innocent enough, but I saw something behind his words. The way he shrugged a shoulder, shot a side smirk, cocked an eyebrow.

  Even if my life wasn’t in danger, there was no way I would be able to turn down an invitation like that. Especially not because he was naked. He was naked and he was perfect.

  “Thanks, that sounds like a really good idea,” I said, my inner nerd taking over and talking as if I just had a science experiment proposed to me. He seemed to think it was charming though, even if I thought it was more along the lines of terrifying.

  He reached around me and turned the knob, shutting off the water as he handed me a very soft, teal towel. I wrapped myself as modestly as I cared about, which wasn’t too much at this point, and scampered out, leaving wet footprints behind on the white tiled floor.

  Normally, it took me some time to feel completely comfortable being naked in front of a man. Hell, it took me some time getting used to having sex with the lights on. But Alexander’s pure, raw confidence. His dripping sexuality and allure that was still able to maintain such a tender center. It was all enough to make me feel at ease, as if I were a lizard just wanting to bask in his warmth. I wanted his heat to touch every part of my uncovered skin. I no longer cared about the stretch marks on the side of my butt, or the scar shaped like a wishbone I have on my thigh from being impaled on a fence.

  Which was weird. I would have previously thought that such a beautiful man would have drawn out every single insecurity I had. But shockingly, he had the complete opposite effect. It was like his charisma trumped all and helped me lower each of my walls at an extraordinary pace.

  “I’m having lunch with my brother today, then I’ll get my stuff and come over?’

  “That sounds
good to me,” he called from behind the opaque glass shower door. I saw him towel off through the glass. I saw him lift his sturdy thigh and run the towel underneath, lifting himself up with the fabric.

  He was perfect in every sense of the word. He started humming a song, one of his, I could tell in the passion that emitted even through his closed lips. I slipped back into my dress and mentally prepared myself for the walk-of-shame back to my car. I said another goodbye to a toweled off Alexander and left, my heels clicking on the steps that led down from his second-floor apartment.

  I walked past a particularly good looking girl, dressed in what looked like nursing scrubs. I smiled politely at her just as I picked up on her intense stare, which she quickly dropped when she realized I had seen her. She smiled back weakly and turned, scurrying down the hall, back to wherever her apartment was.

  I didn’t think twice about her as I left to Saddle Ranch, the restaurant Con and I had decided would be our lunch spot.

  I should have thought twice.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  I WALKED UP TO OUR table and hugged Con, noticing that he was thankfully pretty far from a frat boy today. He wore a cute button-down shirt that made his hazel-green eyes glow in the Los Angeles sun. We sat outside, shaded by a brown umbrella as the waitress, in her short jean shorts, delivered us the menu for bottomless mimosas even though neither of us could have any alcohol.

  “You look happy today,” Con said, “almost glowing.”

  “Thanks.” I dropped my purse onto the empty chair next to me and readjusted my sunglasses. I smiled, not enough to give away that I had the most mind blowing sex ever, but just enough to show that there was a difference. I was happy. I wasn’t scared anymore.

  “Did you end up talking to Dr. Baby Daddy.”

  “Con, stop.” I hated it when he called him that, but I also didn’t want him to use Blake’s name too carelessly, so I tried to let the whole baby daddy slide for now. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Well, you should.” He slid his phone towards me, the case bumping over the wooden table.

  My jaw dropped open. His phone screen was displaying one of those tacky gossip blogs, with big pink letters and cheap photoshop manipulations, and on the homepage was a picture of yours truly angled in a way that made me look like I was about to punch the lights out of an enraged looking Sadie. Whoever got the shot managed to get it at just the right moment, I have got to admit.

  “Oh no.”

  “I’m sorry, sis. But this might get bigger than we thought.”

  “Maybe it’ll blow over?” I tried to stay hopeful.The Evans weren’t exactly iconic film stars or reputable TV actors so they wouldn’t draw as much attention in that regard, but they sure were tabloid fodder.

  “Hopefully. Fuck, what a shithead.” Con slammed his fist down on the table, causing the menus to jump up a bit. I knew he cared about me, it must have hurt him seeing me in this situation. Just like it hurt me seeing him in his.

  “How about you?” I asked, wondering if he had put in any more thought into telling mom and dad about his news. “Have you figured out what you were going to do since we talked?”

  “I decided that I don’t want to take away from your spotlight,” he joked. He always resorted to deflecting the question with a quick joke. Distract the invaders with laughs and send them on their way. “I don’t think I’m ready to tell them just yet. I want to find a nice guy first.” He smiled, I could tell the words still seemed foreign to him, but they sounded more natural to me.

  “What about that one guy. The one from Tinder?” The waitress came back with my glass of orange juice and a bowl of cornbread muffins. I tried my hardest to not devour the whole basket before she even set it down.

  “We’re still talking.” He drank his mango smoothie, suddenly averting my gaze. “I don’t know, he was just acting weird lately.”

  “How so?” I asked, not used to seeing my brother so bashful. He always seemed like the alpha-dog, the guy that was first to be picked for flag football and the prom all in the same day. This other guy must have been making some sort of impression to do this.

  “I just don’t think he’s comfortable coming out now.” He took another sip, er gulp, of his smoothie. “So everything between us is pretty much in secret.”

  I knew how much secrets sucked. I reached out a hand and placed it on Con’s forearm. “Listen. If he’s worth it, talk to him about it. Maybe you can help him come to terms with everything. And if he’s not ready, then you’ll have to decide whether you want to continue with a relationship like that.” I shrugged a bit. “It’ll be hard, but Con, you’ve always been that sappy romantic under all that beefy frat-head exterior. Maybe this’ll make you fall in love with him even harder. A Romeo and Juliet type thing."

  “I guess,” Con said, not sounding too convinced. “It’s just weird, you know? Being so open about everything. I don’t know. Maybe I should just stay single and turn into that lone uncle that’s always eating the chips at the family Christmas party.

  “Stop it. That is not who you are. You’re made for relationships, screw what everyone else thinks.” I cocked my head and smiled. “Besides, didn’t we always say we were going to find someone at the same time? It was like in our DNA?”

  “I’m thinking that was bullshit, Sky.”

  “Well let’s hope not, because then you should find someone very soon.”

  Connor tilted his head, brows coming together and wrinkling his forehead. “Wait, are you talking about you know who?”

  “No… I’m talking about his assistant.” My eyes opened a bit at the crazy way that sounded coming out of my mouth. “We just clicked on a freaking incredible level. Con, I’ve never experience this with anyone.” I was unable to hold back a beaming smile. My brother leaned back a bit, trying to digest the news I had just dropped. Talking to my brother did make me realize that this could turn into something much larger than I had previously thought. Now, if I was labeled as the home-wrecker that destroyed a celebrity marriage, how was it going to seem when everyone found out I was going out with his employee.

  How the fuck did I find myself in this mess?

  Never had I once thought that there was a possibility of me being publicly recognized because of a scandal. Not once did I think I was going to be a knock-off Monica Lewinsky. My life would be destroyed if I didn’t get this in check.

  How would anyone go out with me if the truth had leaked? Right now it was all just speculation. Just one photo that looked highly incriminating but still wasn’t enough to prove an outright war.

  So at least I had that going for me.

  “Should I hold like a press conference?”

  “No, Sky, you aren’t some C.E.O. apologizing for having sex on your desk and stealing from the company’s account.”

  He had a point. “How about a youtube video?”

  “And then it goes viral and everyone thinks it’s staged and things get even worse when people pry and realize that you’re with child.” Con did that sometimes. He liked using old sounding phrases for some reason that he never could really pinpoint. “No, I think the best bet now is to keep a low-profile and let everything blow over.”

  He was making complete and total sense. I saw all the drawbacks to speaking out and none to staying quiet. Especially if Blake stayed quiet too, which I figured he would most likely do since he was just as terrified of this blowing up as I was.

  All I had to worry about was Sadie.

  Well… I thought all I had to worry about was Sadie.

  “Wait. Is that the girl from the Fast and Furious movies?” Con suddenly whispered, trying to be as discreet as possible while still staring at the girl who was walking down the aisle behind me. “Oh shit, it is! Jason would flip the fuck out.” His voice was still hushed, but it got louder as the actress kept walking. I managed to sneak a glance and saw a bombshell of a figure practically strutting out towards the exit, jet black hair falling just under her shoulders.

  “You
should have asked for an autograph,” I said, turning back to Connor who was still looking over at her, he wasn’t even trying to be sneaky anymore.

  “Isn’t that weird? We live in a place where we have lunch with people that almost everyone only sees on screen.”

  “It’s a blessing,” I said, my sarcasm coming off a little stronger than I had intended. Con got it though, smiling at me. “Give it a few months and people are going to be whispering behind my back down a supermarket aisle.”

  “Sky. Listen to me, this is going to be ok. I promise. Just happen, ok?”

  I wasn’t sure if just happen was going to cut it this time, but I managed a smile regardless. I realized my hand had been resting on my stomach this whole time. It was a weird feeling, now suddenly being conscious of where my hand was placed.

  “Just happen.” I bit into a cornbread muffin, the crumbs falling down and getting blown onto the pavement and almost right into the gaping mouth of a strolling pigeon, waddling around and looking for things to peck off the floor.

  “Are you going to help me when I get all cravey for stuff.”

  “Isn’t that your new personal assistant’s job?” And then Con looked up from swirling the melting remains of his smoothy. “Are you going to tell him?”

  I knew that question was coming and I still wasn’t prepared.

  “I mean, yeah, it’s not like I’m going to be able to hide it.” The loud engine of a Lamborghini or Maserati or some other ridiculously expensive car roared passed the restaurant. “I don’t know. I mean I like him, I really, really do. Be warned, he is the complete opposite of the guys I used to date. He isn’t allergic to steak and doesn’t know how to solve a Rubik cube in under three minutes, but he can play the guitar and sing like a freaking rock star. I’m just scared of chasing him off so soon.”

  Con crossed his arms. “He sounds like trouble.”