by Evie Knight
“Jasmine,” he said, stepping in front of her.
Fluttering her eyelids as if returning from wherever her mind had been, she lifted her gaze to him. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked, studying her. Her mouth opened, but her words were soundless. He reached for her hands, her icy fingers melting in the warmth of his, and he gave her a gentle squeeze. Ethan wounded his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him, until her face touched his chest. “My place is a few blocks away. I’ll bring you back when you’re ready to drive home.”
Having been in similar situations before, Ethan understood her state of mind right now, and it wasn’t a pleasant one. Becoming attached to their patients came with their profession. Trying not to would be a futile attempt, let alone heartless. After helping her climb into his car, he drove them out of the hospital’s parking lot, and straight to his place.
Holding Jasmine’s delicate hand in his, he guided her from the elevator to his condo. Ethan wouldn’t deny he’d slept around his fair share, but bringing a woman to his place wasn’t something he did. Yet it felt different with Jasmine. Maybe it was because she wasn’t here to sleep with him. She’d be here for an hour or two tops. Until she’s in a better disposition to drive herself home.
“Here, let me help you,” Ethan said, as they walked into his bachelor pad, and helped her shrug out of her coat. After he placed it on a chair, he removed his. “Would you like some coffee?”
“I’d prefer hot cocoa, if you have any.”
Ethan stood there for a moment, taking in Jasmine as she paced back and forth in his living room. A minute later, he turned for his kitchen and busied himself making two cups of hot cocoa. How he’d make it through the next hour, he had no clue. Not when all he could think about was crushing her body to his. He wanted to kiss her until she forgot the ice-cold numbness he knew from experience had settled in her chest at her hopelessness in Roxie’s case.
* * * *
Shades of silver and white decorated Ethan’s bachelor pad. A patterned rug and stone fireplace made his place cozier than Jasmine imagined it’d be. After Roxie’s episode earlier today, Jasmine hadn’t been in the right frame of mind when she’d left the hospital. If it hadn’t been for Ethan, she would’ve either taken a long drive or sat in her car until she felt ready to go home. Jasmine took a seat and stared at the fireplace as it dawned on her those two other options sounded better than being here with him.
Now that her thoughts were where they should’ve always been when it came to him, all she could think of was his proposition to give him one night. Drawing out a slow breath, she glanced up in time to meet his hypnotic gray-green gaze. He was temptation personified.
“Here,” he said.
His fingers brushed hers when she accepted the cup of hot cocoa from him, and a shiver crawled up her arm. “Thank you.”
“How’s Roxie?” Ethan sat next to her and placed an arm on the couch’s backrest, then drew a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers.
The heat of his body enveloped her, warming her outside in. “She’s stable now,” she said, then took a sip from her cup. “I talked to her mom. She’ll continue her chemo treatment, but things aren’t—” Her voice broke and she squeezed her eyes shut. “It pains me to see Roxie like this. She’s got so much life but so little time.” Opening her eyes, she glanced at Ethan. “Do you ever feel hopeless?” Placing her cup on the side table, Jasmine pushed to her feet and paced around his living room. “It’s not fair, you know.”
Ethan crossed her path and grabbed her hands, then closed the space between. “It’s not fair, I’ll give you that.”
“Don’t you sometimes wish you could make it all go away?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I do.” Ethan returned her stare. “All we can do is make their lives easier the best way we can.”
Aware of his close proximity and his strong hands holding hers, her body tingled. Stepping back and out of his grasp seemed like the more sensible option, only her feet were glued to his hardwood floors. “Ethan….”
He swooped down to capture her mouth. She balled her hands into fists in response to the unexpected kiss. She couldn’t decide whether to push him away and leave his place, or to give in and let him take her where he would. Ethan swiped the tip of his tongue over her lips, coaxing them open. His hot tongue thrust in her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around his neck for support as her knees weakened.
Jasmine swallowed his growl and laced her fingers in his hair. His arm encircled her waist, and with his free hand, he cupped the back of her neck. His lips moved over hers, demanding more and more with each swipe and glide, bringing down every last wall of resistance within her, successfully erasing from her mind every reason she should walk away now. Jasmine did the only thing she could and kissed him back with reckless abandon.
“Jas.” He brushed his lips over hers as he spoke. “I can take you back to your car now if you’d like.”
He was giving her an out? No. Not after she’d made up her mind. “But?” she asked in a low voice.
Nipping at her lip, he said, “But I hope you stay the night.”
“You’re very persuasive.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Ethan claimed her mouth with an unrestrained intensity that stole her breath away. He tightened his arms around her waist, and lifted her off her feet. Out of breath and drowning by the second in Ethan’s seductive warmth and irresistible strength, Jasmine allowed herself to get lost in his kiss.
When they reached his bedroom, he gently eased her onto her feet. Not once losing contact with her lips, he slid his hands down her spine. His fingers made lazy circles as he went. The caress both relaxed her and turned her on, making her yearn for more. Jasmine almost wished this moment lasted longer than the few hours it was meant to be. That it was longer than the one night he’d promised.
Jasmine slipped her hands to his chest and unbuttoned his dress shirt. She gave his shirt a few tugs when she reached his waist and parted it open in half. Determined not to miss a moment of their night together, she fluttered her eyes open and broke the kiss. His scorching skin burned her palms. Unable to tear her gaze away from his smooth chest, Jasmine drew a line down his middle, outlining his six-pack. Working her way back, she licked her dry lips as she grazed the tip of his nipple with her nail.
His groan made her look up at him.
“You like this?”
“I do.” His hands gripped her ass, bringing her closer to him.
Jasmine leaned forward and traced the tip of her tongue on his taut nipple, then sucked him into her mouth. The wall of his chest hot on her cheek, along with his shallow breathing, aroused her further. She shifted her attention to his other nipple, clamping her teeth on the tiny tip as she dropped her hands to his waist and undid his pants.
With a brush of her lips against his skin, she made her way down until she knelt before him. Her mouth watered and her sex clenched in anticipation. Jasmine pulled his pants down, along with his boxers. His thick erection greeted her, standing proudly in front of her face. She stole a glance at Ethan. His red-hot gaze turned darker, filled with lust.
Jasmine curled her hand around his base and licked the tip of his cock, once, twice, three times, before she drew him into her mouth. Her lips stretched as she took him in, swirling her tongue around his length, sucking him in, farther and farther. Her thighs became sticky, her panties drenched in her own arousal. Ethan twined his fingers in her hair, guiding her pace, then without warning, pulled her to her feet.
“Enough,” he said, ridding her of her blouse, then her pants, letting them pool at her feet. His eyes drank her in, increasing the ache in her sex. “I dreamed of you like this for so long, I’m afraid I’ll lose control.”
He’d lose control? What about her? Jasmine was going out of her mind, wishing he stopped devouring her with his blazing gaze and make love to her instead. “I want you to lose control.”
Currents of desire ran through her as he teased her nipple until the tip swelled to its full extent. Ethan cupped her other breast and took her in his mouth once more, grazing her tip with his tongue, sucking her hardened nipple. Every caress, every lick, every bite tormented her, flooding her with uncontrollable passion.
Ethan pushed her back on the bed, then stripped out of the rest of his clothes. His gaze raked over her body as she lay in there and he stood at her feet. “You’re beautiful,” he said, grabbing her knees.
Jasmine crumpled the sheets between her fingers as he pulled her to the edge of the bed. He rid her of her dampened panties, then spread her legs, baring her to him. Jasmine looked down. “Don’t hold back.”
Holding her gaze, he slid his tongue along her sex, then said, “I don’t intend to.” He clamped his teeth on her clit, then swiped his tongue, easing the sting.
Jasmine closed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek, feeling him stroke her sex, teasing her folds, lunging in and out of her entrance, then lapping at her aching clit. She writhed beneath his mouth, thrashing her head from side to side, letting him take her higher and higher. Her skin tingled and so did her insides, surrendering completely to his masterful strokes. Ecstasy swirled through her as a scream left her mouth. Her body vibrated with the fire consuming her inside out and breathing didn’t feel possible or at all necessary.
Jasmine couldn’t recall having such an intense and long orgasm. Ever. It went on and on the more he sucked her clit. Just when she thought it’d end, she clenched her sex and on it went. Lost in her orgasmic thoughts and sensations, she barely recalled hearing the sound of foil.
Ethan pushed her up in the bed and settled between her thighs. The hardness of his body electrified her. She forced her eyes open and stared directly into his. He sealed her mouth with his as he gripped her hips and drove his thick cock into her. Their tongues tangled, and her body welcomed him, meeting each of his hard thrusts.
Lost in a battle of wills and uninhibited passion, she dug her fingers on his back. Jasmine ran her nails down to his ass as the tremors of a new orgasm broke through her. Her sex clenched and she dragged her nails up his back, scratching him as her body exploded in a million glowing stars.
He growled against her neck, pounding harder into her, extending her orgasm with every powerful lunge until his body shook uncontrollably atop hers.
After a moment, when they caught their breath, he looked her in the eye and said, “Just so we’re clear, this isn’t a one-night thing.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his words and she drew her brows together. “You only asked for one night.”
“I lied.” He teased the tip of her nose with his, then continued. “I asked for one night so you could see me the way I see you.” He rolled his hips, his cock still hard inside her. “To show you how good we could be together.” Ethan licked her lips. “One night to love you and make you want more.”
“Do you want more?” she asked, arching her hips against his.
“I’ll never have enough of you, Jas.”
Chapter Eight
I must be crazy, Jasmine thought as she stole a glance in Ethan’s direction, having a hard time believing how much her life had changed in the past few weeks. Since she’d spent the night at Ethan’s place, he hadn’t left her side. Who would’ve thought she’d end up with him, of all men? His dating record wasn’t promising of long-term relationships.
Then again, it worked well for her. Jasmine couldn’t have anything permanent, with her fears of having a family and losing it all remaining as fresh as the day she lost her parents and brother. Yet, it didn’t mean she wasn’t enjoying spending time with Ethan. Only, she’d have to be careful and mentally prepare herself when he called it quits. After all, they still had to work together. So when the time came and he ended their relationship, she planned to part ways in the most amicable terms. Though it’d hurt—just thinking about it now left a bitter taste in her mouth—she’d respect their professional relationship.
At the practice, they’d been careful not to be seen coming or leaving together. But their attempts at keeping their secret from Laurie were failing miserably. Laurie believed not a word. Regardless, neither Jasmine nor Ethan confirmed anything, and it drove Laurie crazy.
Jasmine took in the scene around her, tuning out the loud chatter, kids’ laughter, snack stands, and the thunderous sound of the rollercoaster rides. Being at Disney World on Christmas Eve wasn’t how she’d imagined she’d spend the holiday this year. Memories of her family were ever present and the pain of irreplaceable loss remained. Yet, somehow being here today with her patients and Ethan made her feel good, as if everything would be okay.
It’d been so long since she’d enjoyed this holiday, Jasmine didn’t remember how much she missed it until now. Her patients and their parents seemed to be having a good time, making new memories. The excited smile on Roxie’s face and her mom’s loving one squeezed Jasmine’s heart. Roxie didn’t have long, but the new treatment would give her a little bit of more time with her mom. Though Jasmine hadn’t appreciated Ethan’s promise to the kids a month ago, she was glad he did it. Roxie deserved so much that Jasmine would’ve never forgiven herself if she had denied her of this.
“What do we have here?” Ethan asked, grabbing her hand and bringing her to a halt in front of the infamous Cinderella Wishing Well.
“Nuh-uh.” Jasmine tugged her hand from his, only he gave her fingers a squeeze.
Lifting a brow, his lips spread into a grin as he stared at her. “I dare you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. What do you got to lose?” He shrugged.
“Then why don’t you do it?”
He leaned forward and said at her ear, “How do you know I haven’t?”
“You’re lying.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I don’t lie,” Ethan said, humor in his voice. “Come on, enlighten me.”
Jasmine scanned her surroundings, drinking in the jolly Christmas spirit, people’s laughter, the holiday music in the background. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. What am I going to wish for?”
Ethan stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His breath hot on her ear, he said, “True love.”
“I don’t want true love.”
He turned her around and pressed her body to his, closing every last gap between them. “How do you know if you don’t give it a chance?”
True love. Two words with the power to turn her life upside down, if only she believed. She tore her gaze away from Ethan and glanced back at the Well.
If you’re as magical as everyone believes, then show me what it’s like to love and live again.
Epilogue
One year later….
Jasmine wished away the fluttery feeling in her stomach and the cold sweat invading her hands. It’d been too long since she gifted anyone something for Christmas. Would this count as a present? But what could she give someone who had everything? She’d made a list of possible things to give Ethan, and crossed out every single one of them. None of the presents on her list were personal enough or had a meaning. And Jasmine wanted it to be special.
During the past year, little by little, Ethan helped her move on, and she overcame her fears at having and losing things she cared about. As hard as it was to accept, life was life, and there would always be situations within and out of her control. In being with Ethan, she learned to enjoy everything for what it was.
And so here she
was, a bundle of nerves, her mind swirling with all of Ethan’s possible reactions at the present she had for him. Would he think it cheesy? Hopefully not.
Ethan handed her a flute filled with champagne. “My parents said hi. They asked that we do everything we can to visit them in New York next year,” he said, sitting next to her.
Family. Yet again another thing she hadn’t counted on until Ethan. They’d welcomed her as if she’d always been part of their family. “I’d love that.”
“Is there something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No.” Then, reached for the medium-size box next to her on the couch. “I got you this. If you don’t like it, it’s okay. I promise you won’t hurt my feelings.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” Ethan removed the gift wrap and pulled the box opened. “How did you get this?”
Excitement filled her chest at his surprised expression. “Roxie’s mom shot that picture when we weren’t looking apparently.” Jasmine recalled being held by Ethan and looking into his eyes that day as they stood next to the Cinderella Wishing Well. “She e-mailed it to me soon after our trip a year ago. I thought it’d make a good Christmas present.”
“She captured our moment just perfect,” he said, setting the picture frame on the coffee table, and faced her. “Thank you.” Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over hers. “What did you wish for that day?” Ethan pulled her onto his lap until she straddled him.
“If I tell you, my wish won’t come true.”
He grabbed her left hand. “How do you know it hasn’t already come true?”
“I don’t, but I don’t want to jinx it.” She paused. “You know, in case that Wishing Well does have magic. Not that I’m superstitious or anything. What about you?”
“I’ll tell you later tonight.” Ethan brought up her left hand between them and held a diamond ring with the other. Her mouth grew dry and she swallowed, having trouble breathing as her gaze darted back and forth between Ethan’s eyes and his hands. “Jas, I love you more than I ever imagined it was possible to love someone,” he said, looking intently at her. “And nothing would make me happier than you being my wife.”