by Lisa Eugene
She pressed eagerly against him, pinning him against the exam table. She rocked against the mound of flesh digging into her pelvis. A raging tide lapped in her belly and drenched her sex. She could feel heated moisture sliding from her body and soaking her panties. She moaned as his searching hand yanked her scrub top out from her bottoms and found its way beneath. He trailed a tingly path up her spine then moved around and cupped a large hand around the weight of her breast.
He massaged and kneaded skillfully, applying pressure in all the right places. He drew circles around one taut nipple making it ache and swell, then moved over to the next. She arched into his touch and threw her head back while keeping her fingers gripped in his hair. His lips planted hot kisses down her neck and the prickly feeling of his stubble rubbing her skin sent shocks of electricity shooting through her.
Nina moaned as he lifted her top, exposing her black lace bra. Cool air teased her hot skin, making her shiver. A finger tormented her nipple and she was sure she whispered “please” before he groaned huskily and closed his mouth over her breast. He suctioned her through the lace and she pulled his head against her, savoring the delicious sensations fluttering through her and gathering at her sex. His wet mouth nibbled and teased the tiny rosebud and she had to bite her lip to contain the moans that crowded in her throat.
He moved to the next nipple while his thumb and forefinger continued the dizzying assault. Her knees buckled with the onslaught of feeling exploding inside her like popping firecrackers, and he backed her up against the wooden desk to steady her.
Caught in a cloud that was all sensation and need, she trailed her fingers down to the waistband of his pants and with amazing efficiency undid his belt and button. She quieted the part of her mind that tried to scream a warning of sanity. It had been so long, if ever, that she’d felt like this. It was as though the floodgates had opened and a tidal wave came crashing through. His breath caught in his throat as she trailed a finger over his zipper, outlining the thickness of his cock straining beneath.
The sound of his pleasure inspired her and she reached inside, eagerly separating the teeth of his zipper. Her fingers barely made their way around his thick shaft as she freed him and began stroking a slow steady rhythm. She caught the slick moisture leaking from his tip and twirled it over the smooth bulbous head of his cock, making him groan and buck into her touch.
She felt searing heat beneath her touch and it scored her palm. Her fantasy hadn’t even come close to how amazing he felt. His size was considerable and weighty in her eager grip, and she hungered for him with a desire beyond reason. She couldn’t remember ever being this needy to be filled. Arousal licked wildly inside her, causing an unbearable ache she needed assuaged. She knew he felt it too with every eager thrust he made into her palm and every ragged breath that sawed against her ear as he suckled and nipped her earlobe.
“God…I want you. Where can we go? Is it safe in here?” His husky breath floated against the shell of her ear, sending a hazy buzz along her skin.
The loud jingle of the beeper hanging precariously from her scrub bottoms sliced through the moment like a sledgehammer. Nina jumped back; startled as though she’d been thrown into a frozen lake. Her fingers trembled as she brought them to her swollen lips and it took her a second to quiet her ragged breathing. They both stared at each other, stunned, wide eyed and wanting as the shrill jingle continued.
She took in a long shuddering breath and pulled her scrub top down from where it bunched up over her breast. She reached for the beeper that demanded attention and silenced it, reading the number on the lighted display. She used the phone on the desk to respond to her page, her fingers shaking as she jabbed at the numbers on the keypad. She turned her back to Wade and pushed away the tumultuous emotions rioting inside her.
“Dr. Henley here…yes…yes!” She snapped. “How long ago? Okay. Get him prepped and I’ll be right there. Thanks.”
Nina was relieved when she turned back to Wade and saw that he’d managed to zip and button his pants. She’d tucked her top in and straightened her scrubs while talking on the phone. She shook her head in an attempt to settle her jumbled thoughts, and clearing the gravel from her throat, she somehow found her profession voice.
“I…ume…have to apologize to you. I’m very sorry for what just occurred. It was very…unprofessional.”
“I’m not sorry. I was hoping we could pick up where we left off.” His voice still held the raspy lilt of desire. His intensely blue eyes were fixed on her face.
Her sensible voice, the one that had always kept her on the straight and narrow, the one that always inspired her to do what was reasonable and right, the one that had screamed for attention and had been patently ignored moments before, was echoing in her head like a blow horn. Thoughts of her promising career, her parents, her friends, and the life she’d built all twirled around in her head like a frenzied tornado. She could see them all disappearing into the fuzzy distance. She straightened her back and jutted out her chin.
“I’m very sorry Mr. Connolly,” she said sternly. “That was a big mistake. I assure you that never in my career have I acted so foolishly irrational. I am a medical doctor who esteems the highest tenets of medicine and would never conduct myself so recklessly.” She couldn’t help the choke on her next words. “I’d never do something so stupid and rash to endanger my career.”
Sighing, she took a rallying breath. “I apologize again for my inappropriate behavior and hope that I have not injured you or exacerbated your existing injury in anyway.”
“Injured me?” Wade looked incredulous. He was obviously more than a little annoyed by her clipped tone and haughty dissertation. He raked long fingers through his hair, tousling it in frustration.
“An orderly will take you to radiology for an X-ray of your arm. As far as I can tell I don’t believe any bones are broken, your ribs all seem intact. You do have extensive soft tissue trauma and you may have some tendon or ligament damage. That will just take time to heal. We need an X-ray to confirm that nothing is broken. I’ll leave a prescription for pain medication in your chart and the nurse will further instruct you.”
Nina turned to leave, making it clear that their conversation was over. She was stopped by the sound of his voice.
“I think you’ve forgotten something.”
She turned, expecting to see anger on his face and was surprised to see the wicked twinkle in his assessing eyes.
“What?” Her voice was shriller than intended. She wanted desperately to leave and was in no mood to further discuss what had just occurred between them. She also knew that her nipples were still puckered beneath her scrub top and she needed to distance herself from this unwanted temptation.
“My belt,” he said simply and she followed his gaze to the two unbuckled ends of his belt dangling from the front of his slacks. She also couldn’t help but notice that he was still very aroused.
“Excuse me?” she asked indignantly, already knowing where this was headed.
“I need help. I can’t possibly manage this with an injured arm.” His voice was liquid silk, intentionally sardonic.
“I’m sure you can manage.” She bristled, anger starting to rise. He’d done fine with zipping and buttoning his pants on his own, actions that had required far more dexterity.
“Don’t think so.” He shook his head. “Besides, this would be rather hard to explain to the radiologist—how I came in for a broken arm and ended up with a genital exam.”
For the love of God! Nina felt a hot blush cover her face and she sighed with visible impatience. This man was completely outrageous! She could hear the mockery in his deep baritone. Seeing that he had no intention of letting her escape with what little dignity she had left she took a deep breath and walked over to him.
It took every ounce of control to keep her hands from shaking as she fastened his belt and shoved the excess leather into the two belt hoops on his pants. She kept her gaze averted, but could just imagine the de
vilish grin on his damned handsome face as she performed the task.
“Thanks, I wouldn’t want to jeopardize your career!” The words were flung at her as she hurried from the room.
CHAPTER TWO
Nina closed the door to the exam room and melted against it. She exhaled an unsteady breath as she skimmed a hand over her hair, ignoring the jab of several pens. She quickly checked the state of her scrubs. She couldn’t believe that she’d acted so impetuously—like a sex starved lunatic! Disgust stabbed at her. And with a patient no less! She’d never ever in her career engaged in romantic relations with any of her patients. It went against every medical ethic she was sworn to.
Spontaneous behavior was definitely not part of her genetic makeup. Her friends always accused her of being overly analytical. She was methodical and predictable to the point of abject boredom. She liked to keep every aspect of her life neat and orderly. Her picture should be next to the word ‘nerd’ in the dictionary. Her strict discipline was what had gotten her straight A’s all through college and medical school, and what had given her the stamina to endure her grueling internship and residency.
What had compelled her to such uncharacteristic behavior? How had her body ignited the way it had? Damn, she was still smoldering. Her skin was acutely sensitive and her body was still flooded with passion. She ducked into a bathroom to splash cold water on her face, taking measured breaths to clear her head and the threatening tears of regret and recrimination.
Continuing down the hall her mind grappled for explanations. She knew it had been a long time since she’d been intimate with a man; in fact it had been more than a year. Maybe that was it; maybe her mother and friends were right. Maybe she needed companionship, something to occupy her time other than work. Obviously she had some bottled up desires. Nina pursed her lips defiantly, her resolve returning. The last thing she needed now was to complicate her life. She didn’t need a man telling her what to do and when to do it as Charles Houliton III had attempted to do. Thank God she hadn’t married him. He was a controlling megalomaniac. Insipid as he was rich, he had wanted her home, attending to him instead of at the hospital healing the sick. He’d made it crystal clear that when they got married she’d have to give up her job, immediately start a family, and play social hostess.
Sure she wanted a family, but she also wanted to continue the career she’d struggled to hard to establish. While she dated, she could never find ‘Mr. Right’. Though, the ‘Mr. Wrongs’ and ‘Mr. No Way in Hells were available in abundance.
But she wasn’t the type to engage in casual sex. She had always lauded her strict control and rational thought. Where the hell had they been tonight?
Her career goals were about to be realized. Becoming a senior attending in the emergency room had been her aspiration for more than three years and now it seemed that it would finally become a reality. The board was scheduled to meet in a few weeks to make a decision. Nina braced an arm against a nearby wall and breathed a shaky sigh. She hoped to God that she hadn’t stupidly ruined her hopes and dreams tonight. Was this man angry enough to lodge a complaint? Just the accusation could be devastating to her career. How could she have done something so wrong? For all she knew he could be married. She hadn’t noticed a wedding ring, but the absence of one wasn’t truly significant. Many men didn’t wear one.
A mental image of the stranger she’d left in the exam room floated into her brain before she could stop it. Sparkling blue eyes glazed with passion and just a hint of amusement winked at her. She absently touched her lips as a wave of memories crashed over her, causing a sudden bubbling of heat at the tip of every nerve ending. Discipline! She continued towards the chaos of the ER wondering how something so incredibly wrong could have felt so incredibly right.
The blinding sunlight of August burned Nina’s eyes when she finally emerged from the emergency room on Sunday afternoon. She squinted and groped around in the duffel bag slung over her shoulder for her sunglasses. Adjusting them onto her nose she turned to Sally who was in stride beside her. She too had just finished her shift and it was their afternoon routine to walk the few short blocks together to Nina’s apartment then Sally would continue on to the downtown train station on Fourteenth Street. Sally was squinting quizzically up at her, expecting an answer to the question she’d just posed.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” Nina responded apologetically.
“Okay.” Sally stopped in her tracks, her natty white nursing uniform blowing out behind her. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting very strange all morning!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nina tried to iron her voice flat.
She knew that Sally had the uncanny ability to read her moods. It was the osmosis of working so closely together for the past seven years. She’d met Sally when she was an intern and was grateful to her for showing her the ropes during those days of innocent uncertainty and scared-shitlessness as a young doctor. Sally was three years her senior and in a longtime relationship and always delighted to play the role of matchmaker, something Nina aggressively discouraged. Nina knew Sally would jump with joy at the news of her spontaneous encounter.
But she wasn’t willing to share at this moment. She was still petrified by the potential ramifications. She wanted to go home, shower and jump into bed for a long relaxing sleep. At work she’d managed to stuff thoughts of the stranger somewhere into the crannies of her brain, especially as the ER had become increasingly busy. She’d been able to earnestly focus on her duties, but with the light of day came an awakening. The afternoon air seemed to scrub her head of the cobwebs she’d allow to obscure what had happened in the exam room.
Nina kept her stride, but when she noticed that Sally hadn’t kept up with her she turned back to gently tug her friend along.
“I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Bull!” Sally gave a gentle smile. “I’ve seen you have tougher nights than last night. You’re never tired. You’re usually a disgusting bundle of energy by now. I’m surprised you’re not running off to the gym. I’m telling you….if you had a man in your life you’d find better ways to utilize all of your pent up energies.
“Yes, mom.” Nina chuckled.
Sally shuddered visibly. “Please do not call me that! I love your mom, but she is a few cards shy of a full deck! I’m definitely not as bad as Beth! Besides, I advised her to get the ‘my daughter needs to get laid’ tee shirt. Not the one that read ‘my daughter needs to get married’. That married crap scares men off! You gotta start slow!”
Nina’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t!”
Sally huffed with exasperation. “You’re missing the point!”
“The point is that I don’t need to have my life complicated,” she insisted. The thought of her best friend and her mother conspiring was too much to contemplate.
Sally was usually the one who was on her side, the one who would deflect her mother’s crazy antics. They were both only children and looked to each other for unwavering support and understanding.
“Is something wrong?” Sally asked with genuine concern. “You’re rarely distracted. The last time I saw you like this was a year ago when you and that Houliton the upteenth guy…”
Nina watched Sally’s face contort thoughtfully as an idea seemed to sprout and blossom in her head. Her eyes widened like saucers and she issued a whoop that made a few hospital employees out for a smoke turn to look at them.
“Oh my God! Why didn’t I think of this before? That guy last night…”
Nina’s pace quickened as a heavy horror settled at the pit of her stomach. She was so busted! Deny! Deny! Deny!
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with that hunk that came in last night with the busted arm, would it?” Sally asked, chewing eagerly on her bottom lip. “You know as soon as I saw him I thought of you. He was such a hottie.”
Shit! She wondered if Sally had purposefully assigned her this patient with an agenda. Nina wouldn’t put it pass her
to play matchmaker.
“Who?” Nina hoped her voice was as matter-of-fact as she intended it to be.
Sally shook her head back and forth and clucked her tongue knowingly. “What happened? Did he ask you out? I hope to God you said yes.”
Did I ever!
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” She continued her feigned ignorance, but was so flustered that she didn’t notice who stepped into her path and she walked smack into him.
“Dr. Reynolds, excuse me, I’m sorry, I didn’t notice…” Nina said, taken aback by the awkward situation, but momentarily grateful for the change of subject.
“It’s quite all right,” Dr. Reynolds said flatly.
She gazed up into the glacial gray eyes of her senior attending.
Even with her sunglasses on she caught a glimmer of the midday sun shimmering off his shiny Italian leather shoes and fashionable briefcase. He smiled down at her and Nina shifted uncomfortably. She’d never liked the way his smile never seemed to reach his eyes.
“How was your night last night, Dr. Henley?” He asked the question and continued, not waiting for a response. “I keep telling you that your real calling is private practice. You have too much talent to be wasting it on the types that trickle in here in the middle of the night.”
Nina bristled. “The types that come in here in the middle of the night also deserve good health care, Dr. Reynolds,” she said tersely, and the warning bell in the back of her head started ringing. It warned that it might be politic to dampen her opinion in front of her senior.
“I used to feel as you do when I was young and naïve.” A smile slid to his lips. “I’ll keep trying to get you on my team.” He took a quick side step and continued down the street.
Dr. Reynolds had been trying for the past year to talk her out of working in the emergency room and joining him in his very lucrative private practice. Not that she wouldn’t enjoy the money, but she didn’t see herself as the type to dress in designer suits, push Prozac, and listen to Biffy complain about how she caught the sniffles at the Hamptons last weekend because it was too windy on her yacht.