Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  “You’re falling for her, aren’t you?”

  “No…yes…maybe.”

  “Which is it?”

  “I don’t know. I got so excited after I swam my first lap that I kissed her but…”

  “YOU KISSED HER?”

  “Yes.”

  “So that sounds more like a yes or at the very least a definite maybe to me.”

  “West, I know it’s wrong because she’s my doctor, but I can’t stop thinking about that kiss. It was brief and unexpected, but I felt something I’ve never felt before.”

  “You have a crush on Doc Scott.” Weston laughed.

  “How can I have feelings for someone that I barely know? I haven’t even seen her to know if I am attracted to her or not? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Grady, you’ve been living with her for over a week and you knew her before that, so it is more than barely.”

  “West, what does she look like?”

  “Why don’t you ask Doc Scott?”

  “No, that would be too awkward.”

  Weston laughed. “Yeah, ok, maybe it would be. She’s not like anyone else you’ve ever dated.”

  “I’m not dating her.”

  “She is different from the type of women you typically date is what I meant.”

  “Because she’s short?”

  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  “She has…”

  “MILLS, GET OUT HERE!”

  Weston covered the phone and yelled back. “ON MY WAY!”

  “West, you still there?”

  “Grady, I have to call you back. Coach Harvey is yelling for me.”

  Grady heard the phone go dead before he even got to reply.

  Cassidy paced back and forth trying to figure out how she could stop thinking about Grady and his sexy lips. Her mind was spinning. She went from wanting to run away from Grady as fast as she could to running toward him even faster. What she needed was to talk to Jess. Cassidy called her bestie.

  “How’s hot swimmer boy?”

  “Not even a hello?”

  “Hello! Sooo?”

  “He kissed me.”

  “HE KISSED YOU? OH MY GOD!”

  Cassidy pulled the phone away from her ear as Jess screeched. “Jess!”

  “I’m sorry. I got so excited for you.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “Why not? Does he kiss like a stinky flounder?”

  “No.”

  “Explain then because I know how much…”

  “I’m his doctor.”

  “Cass…”

  “Jess, I need you to come over here. I don’t know how I’m going to get through dinner with him.”

  “Do you think he’s going to force himself on you because if that’s the case, I’m coming over with a bat!”

  “He isn’t like that at all.”

  “Then why do you need me?”

  “It would really mean a lot if you’d come for dinner.”

  “Ok, fine, I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Grady sat on the couch waiting for Cassidy to come out of her room. He wasn’t quite sure if he should pretend like nothing happened or discuss their kiss. Well, his kiss. He had no idea if she wanted it or not…maybe she’d already forgotten about it or even worse…maybe she had a boyfriend.

  Cassidy turned on the living room light and there sat Grady.

  “Doc?”

  “I thought you were out on the terrace.”

  “I was earlier when I spoke to Weston.”

  “How is he?”

  “We didn’t talk long.”

  “Is everything ok?”

  “Oh, yeah, he had to run.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I called to tell him what you did today.”

  “What I did?” Cassidy instantly thought that he was blaming her for the kiss. “Grady…”

  “Helping me swim.”

  “You swam all on your own. I only warned you when the wall was coming up.”

  “You don’t understand how much that meant to me.”

  For a second time now, her heart skipped a beat when she thought about Grady’s kiss but was it only a form of gratitude? “I could see the smile on your face.”

  Grady stood up. “I wish I could see yours.”

  Cassidy placed her hand on her cheek. “One day.”

  “Come here.” Grady extended his hand.

  “Ok.” Cassidy walked toward Grady and the doorbell rang. “Oh, that must be my friend, Jess. I hope you don’t mind I invited her over for dinner. She was…lonely.”

  Grady shoved his hands into his pockets. “No, of course not.”

  Cassidy breathed a sigh of relief as she practically ran to the door.

  “I brought wine!”

  Cassidy grabbed Jess and hugged her. “Oh, thank God!”

  “You’re that desperate for a drink?”

  Cassidy pulled away. “No, you saved me from Grady.”

  Jess grabbed Cassidy’s hand. “He kissed you again?”

  “No, but he said he wished he could see my smile.”

  Jess rolled her eyes. “Cass, you have an amazing smile.”

  “Well, Grady will never see it.”

  “But I thought you said his condition is temporary?”

  “Typically, it is.”

  “So, you’re going to run the minute he gets his sight back?”

  “Jess…”

  “Cass, you need to stop running.”

  “Doc, is everything ok?”

  Cassidy looked toward the stairs. “Yes, we will be up in a minute.”

  “Aww, he cares about you.” Jess smiled.

  “It’s not that, he just doesn’t like to be alone.” Cassidy turned and headed up the stairs.

  Jess shook her head.

  Grady turned his head toward the sound of Cassidy’s footsteps.

  “Grady, I’d like you to meet my best friend, Jess Williams.” Grady stood and extended his hand. “Jess, the infamous, Grady O’Malley.”

  Jess couldn’t help but stare at Grady’s very tall, beautifully chiseled body. That was until Cassidy elbowed her. Jess cleared her throat. “I am honored to meet you, Mr. O’Malley.”

  “Please call me Grady.”

  “Wow, you’re so tall.”

  “That I am.”

  “I brought us wine.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cassidy took the bottle from Jess. “I’ll go open it.”

  Jess looked around before sitting down. “So, Mr. O’Malley, umm, Grady, I feel like I know you already because of Cass?”

  “She discusses me with you?”

  “Not like doctor stuff but before she came to stay here, she would talk about you all the time. She could probably be president of your fan club.” Jess laughed.

  “Really? She never said a word to me. I thought I was unknown to her until she met me at the hospital.”

  “Are you kidding me. She almost died when she saw the footage of the plane…oh God, I’m so sorry.” Jess got up and sat down next to Grady. She placed her hand on his leg. “I’m an idiot. Please forgive me.”

  Grady looked down at the floor. “It’s ok.”

  “Cass really adores you.”

  Grady grinned. “She is amazing. I don’t know how she deals with me to be honest.”

  “She wants to help you.”

  Grady nodded and then raked his fingers through his hair. “Sometimes I feel like I’m beyond help.”

  “That does not sound like a positive attitude.”

  “Now, you sound like Doc.”

  “She is my best friend for a reason.” Jess chuckled.

  “Tell me about her?”

  “Cass is probably the kindest, smartest, most honest and caring person that I’ve ever known.”

  “I believe that. Her boyfriend is a lucky man.”

  “Cass told you she has a boyfriend?”

  “No, I just assumed someone like
her was taken.”

  “Nope, she is very available.” Jess couldn’t help but smile when she saw Grady’s expression change.

  “I see. Actually, that’s the problem…I can’t.”

  “Feeling sorry for yourself won’t help.”

  “No, I suppose not.” Grady looked away.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, you’re right.”

  “Well, I’ll give you a break and go see what’s taking Cass so long to come back with our wine.”

  Cassidy was sitting at the kitchen table staring into space when Jess came walking in. “Cass, are you alright?”

  “I just needed a minute.”

  “Grady is a really nice guy.”

  Cassidy smiled. “He is. That’s why its going to be so hard to leave when…”

  Jess hugged Cassidy. “Oh, Cass.”

  Cassidy pulled away, wiped her eyes, and then walked over to the sink to wash her hands. “Why don’t you uncork the wine and I’ll grab the glasses.”

  “That’s it. You’re just going to…”

  Cassidy picked up the glasses. “Yes.” Then she proceeded to walk back to the living room.

  Cassidy sat there while Jess and Grady talked. It was nice to listen to Grady tell stories about him and Weston on the road.

  Jess finally took a breath and looked over at Cassidy. “Why are you so quiet, Cass?”

  “Yeah, why are you so quiet?”

  “What, are you two ganging up on me?”

  “No silly, of course not.”

  “Maybe I should give you two sometime alone.” Grady stood and tripped over Jess’ huge purse.

  “OH MY GOD, GRADY!” Cassidy practically dove onto the floor.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?” Cassidy helped Grady up.

  Grady hugged Cassidy. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Cassidy looked over and saw Jess smiling at her. “Once you’re back to your old self I bet you will forget all about this awful time in your life.”

  Grady pulled away and looked down at Cassidy. “Maybe but I could never forget you.”

  Jess poured herself some more wine, raised her glass and smiled at Cassidy.

  Cassidy’s eyes teared up. “I’ll be right back.”

  11

  Cassidy knocked on Grady’s door, no reply so she knocked again. She knew he was awake since she had spoken to him just minutes before, so she poked her head inside to check on him just as Grady walked out of the bathroom. “OH MY GOD!”

  “Doc, are you ok?”

  Cassidy couldn’t help but stare at Grady who was standing there naked. “I’m sorry. I was worried when you didn’t answer so I came in.” Cassidy turned around.

  “You’re fine. I should be more mindful with you in the house. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s your room. I’m the one who should apologize.”

  Grady pulled on his shorts. “You can turn around now.”

  “How did you know…”

  “Because you respect me.”

  “To be honest I did see more than I should have.”

  “Don’t hold it against me. I don’t know how people go without shaving. I feel disgusting.”

  “I can have someone come in if you’d like?”

  “I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with a stranger.”

  “I could try but I can’t promise that I won’t draw blood.”

  “You’re a doctor, you can always stitch me up.” Grady laughed.

  “True.”

  Cassidy sat in Grady’s bathroom waiting for him to hang up with Weston and come in for her to shave him. She had no idea whatever possessed her to open her mouth and offer to shave his hot, hard sculpted body.

  “West said to say hi.”

  “Oh. How is he?”

  “Doc, you ok?”

  “Yeah, is it warm in here?”

  “I’m not warm but then again I’m in shorts.”

  Cassidy looked Grady up and down. Warm didn’t even begin to describe the heat she was feeling now. “I brought a chair in for you to sit on.” Cassidy took Grady’s hand and led him over to the chair. “Are you sure about this?”

  “I trust you, Doc.” Grady smiled.

  Cassidy took a scissor and started to trim Grady’s beard, then she shaved his face. He never moved an inch. When she was finished, she wiped the remaining shaving cream from Grady’s face with a hot cloth. “I recognize you now.” Cassidy smiled.

  Grady lifted his hands and ran them up and down his cheeks. When he moved his hands Cassidy could see him grinning from ear to ear. “I feel so much better.”

  “Do you want to take a break?”

  “Not unless you do?”

  Cassidy closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled. “Nope, I’m good.”

  “That kind of tickles.”

  Cassidy stood between Grady’s legs as she continued to rub him down with shaving cream. “Hold still or you’ll end up a bloody mess.”

  “You know there was a time not too long ago that letting you slit my throat would have worked but thanks to you, Doc, I have hope.”

  “Never give up hope, Grady.”

  Grady could hear what sounded like sadness in Cassidy’s voice and it upset him. “Hey, I know that you’re the doctor here but if you need someone to talk to my ears still work.”

  “Oh, I’m ok.” Cassidy of course lied. Only Jess knew her darkest secret. “I’m just trying to figure out how to get all of this excess shaving cream off you.”

  “Why don’t I step into the shower?”

  “Ahh, good idea.” Cassidy turned on the shower.

  Grady stood. “Don’t worry, I’ll leave my shorts on.”

  “I wasn’t worried.” The hell she wasn’t. Cassidy was in a panic that she’d lose her mind if she had to rub Grady down while he was naked and dripping wet.

  Grady stepped into the shower and along with Cassidy washed off the shaving cream. “Oh God, this feels so good.”

  “I missed a few spots.” Cassidy grabbed the razor and went back to work ridding Grady of the remaining hair on his chest and belly.

  Grady reached his hand down and ran his fingers through Cassidy’s hair. Cassidy tensed up. “Your hair feels so soft and silky. What color is it?”

  “Brown.” Cassidy stood up. “You’re all good for now.”

  Grady didn’t give Cassidy a chance to get away he grabbed a hold of her and pulled her up against him. Then he kissed her.

  Cassidy’s first instinct was to pull away but dammit she wanted to kiss Grady.

  Grady ran his hand over Cassidy’s breast stopping to rub his thumb against her erect nipple. When Cassidy didn’t object, he slid his hand inside her sweats and pushed his fingers inside her.

  Cassidy lifted her leg and rested it on the tub allowing Grady to go deeper. Her body was on fire. She reached inside Grady’s shorts and started pumping his cock.

  Grady broke the kiss and grabbed Cassidy’s ass. “Wrap your legs around me, Doc.”

  Cassidy heard the word Doc and it threw her back to reality. She was indeed Grady’s doctor and she knew better. Grady was misinterpreting his feelings of gratitude and for Cassidy to take advantage of that would be wrong on so many levels. Cassidy pulled back. “I can’t do this.” Cassidy climbed out of the shower.

  Cassidy got changed and then she made her way back to Grady’s room. She knocked a few times before he finally answered. “I’m in bed.”

  “Can I come in? I want to talk to you.”

  “Maybe later.” Grady rolled over.

  “Ok.” Cassidy moved away from the door.

  Grady felt so guilty that he took advantage of Cassidy. He should have thanked her and then jerked off in the shower, but no, he had to force himself on her. He reached for his phone and tapped on it until he heard the voice prompt. “Call West.”

  “Well, if it isn’t my old pal, Greedy Grady.”

  “Hey, West.”

  “S
hit, Man, you sound awful.”

  “West, I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.”

  “Want a list?” Weston chuckled.

  “This is no joke. I took advantage of Doc.”

  “More than a kiss?”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t help myself. I know I shouldn’t have started but…”

  “You’re a horn dog, I get it.”

  “No, I honestly think I may have real feelings for her, West.”

  “Ok, back up. You kissed her and she did what?”

  “It went further than that, but she said, ‘I can’t do this’ and then she climbed out of the shower.”

  “Shower? You were nailing her in the shower?”

  “No. She was helping me shave and one thing led to another. I grabbed her and told her to wrap her legs around me and that is when she took off running.”

  “Ok, so maybe you just moved too fast?”

  “What should I do?”

  “Grady, I want you think before you answer me, ok?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you really think you have feelings for Doc Scott, or do you think that maybe you’re lonely and need sex?”

  “I haven’t even thought about sex until today.”

  “What about last time you kissed her?”

  “I was excited and…”

  “And what?”

  “I think I’m falling for her.”

  “So, you don’t want to have sex with her?”

  “Yes, I’d love to have sex with her but it’s more than that.”

  “Maybe you need to tell her how you feel?”

  “Why? Obviously, she doesn’t feel the same way.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “She ran off is how.”

  “Couldn’t it be that you moved too fast?”

  “Maybe she just doesn’t want to be saddled with a loser.”

  “GRADY!”

  “It’s true, I mean the only reason she is here is because Rylan couldn’t stomach me and then you needed to go. I can’t take care of myself.”

  “Pity party is over. Suck it up and go apologize to her. Then tell her how you feel.”

  “What if she leaves?”

  “What if she stays?”

  “Maybe I should just start with an apology and see how that goes?”