by Claire Adams
Would I give in and talk to Aiden? Maybe if I were honest, he’d be okay with things. And maybe I was having a hard time letting go.
When I saw Dr. Rob later in the break room, the temptation for a man’s point of view got the best of me. I sat at a table alone, looking at Aiden’s last text when he approached.
“There’s the prettiest nurse in the whole hospital.” He always waited until I was the only woman around to say such things, and he earned a look from one of the male orderlies who was having lunch next to me. I gave him a shy smile and shifted in my seat to face the chair the good doctor had chosen.
“Dr. Rob. How’s it going?”
He slid his chair forward and popped a small tomato from his salad into his mouth. “You know you don’t have to call me Dr. Rob. Rob is perfectly fine.”
“But what would the others think about that?” If anyone knew we were talking about more than medicine, we’d be in a whole world of problems.
“I have nothing to hide.” His warm smile lifted the corners of his mouth in a mischievous way.
“No, but you’ll make me the most hated person in the ER. If you only knew how many would give their right eye for a little of your attention, you’d have an ego the size of a blimp.
“So, you’re saying we should sacrifice our happiness in order to protect the feelings of people I have no relationship with? People who are nothing more than strangers to me? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s what’s been bothering you. I know you’ve seemed a bit unlike yourself since I stepped up my game.”
“That was you stepping up your game?” I gave him a nudge, and we shared a laugh.
“I mean, when I finally had the courage to flirt. I don’t want it to be weird or something you’re worried about.” He was so genuine that I couldn’t help but like him, but I didn’t think he was my type at all and knew with every breath in me that I couldn’t love him.
“No, it’s not that. It’s personal stuff.” I turned off my phone and lay it face-down on the table.
“The lawsuit? You know you can talk to me about anything.” He leaned in closer, resting his hand atop mine. “I’m a good listener.”
“I don’t know. There are a few things. I have this friend who’s seeing a guy and hasn’t told him who she really is. Like, that he knows her from somewhere. She’s upset that she lied because now she’s falling for him, but there’s no way out of it. She could end it, of course, but he’s most likely going to find out, anyway. I mean, the possibility is there.” He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. “She’s asked me what she should do, and I don’t know what to tell her. We’ve been friends since we were kids.”
“Well, she has to either keep lying and end it or tell him the truth and hope for the best. But I think you see the answer as plain as I do. It won’t work out. He’s going to resent her if he finds out. I think if it were me, I’d end the relationship and hope he never finds out the truth, especially if there’s a sliver of hope that he won’t.”
“There’s a sliver.”
“Well, it’s like I tell my patients: sometimes a sliver of hope is all we have to cling to, but it beats no hope at all.” His hand left mine. “You’ll figure it out, Lexa.”
“I hope so — for my friend.” He gave me a nod, but somehow I think he knew I meant me. If anything, at least it might slow him down a bit.
As he walked away, my phone vibrated against the table. I peeked to see that Aiden was saying hello again. I decided at that moment to take the sliver of hope and let it go. And though my heart was breaking, I knew it was the right thing to do for the both of us.
Chapter Seventeen
Aiden
It was right after four when I went to the bar to see Glen. I hadn’t heard from Lexa all week and already gone through a few phases of denial, grief, and anger. I’d even trimmed my beard much shorter. I held out hope that she was busy, but deep in my heart, I knew I should face the facts.
I took my usual seat, and Glen was behind the bar getting ready for his five o’clock rush.
“You’ve shown up a different time all week, and now you come in looking so trimmed up and sophisticated, I’m scared I’ll never see you in my little dive again.”
I scrubbed my fingers through my beard and then smoothed it out. It was cropped short with slightly longer goatee around the chin. “Yeah, I thought I’d clean it up a bit, but it’ll take more than that to get rid of me.”
“Now, I didn’t say I wanted to lose you. You’re one of my most loyal customers, with the exception of Smitty, and between the two of us, I’m not sure how much longer his liver’s going to let him hang around.” He spoke loud enough for Smitty to hear, but the old man was nursing his long neck and watching the weather on the TV.
“Well, it seems you’re the only one not trying to lose me. I haven’t heard a damn thing from Lexa for a week. I thought things were heating up, but I guess I was wrong.” Glen passed my beer, and I wasted no time taking a swig.
“Did you try to talk to her after my advice?” He walked to the island behind the bar and began cutting lemons.
“I haven’t had a chance. She’s ignoring me. It sucks, but I’m not going to sit around begging through text.” I hadn’t texted her in days and figured if she wanted to respond, she knew my number.
“Looks like you’re going to need stitches if you ever want to see her again.” He pointed the knife at me, and it sparked an idea.
“Can I borrow your knife?” He looked up and gave me a laugh, but while he wasn’t paying attention, his hands were still in motion, cutting the lemon and his finger.
“Son of a bitch!” His blood gushed onto the cutting board as he closed his hand and pulled it close to his chest.
“Damn, is it deep?” I leaned in over the bar, and he rushed to the sink.
“Got some damned lemon juice in it, too.” He stood at the sink, and I went to join him as he let the water wash it.
“Man, that has to hurt.” I sipped my beer and watched, but he glanced up and gave me a nudge.
“Looks like you’re going to get that wish after all, and since my deductible is so fucking high, you’re going to pay for my stitches.” He studied the cut, but there was so much blood he couldn’t see. “I’m going to need them. It’s to the bone and spread wider than a whore’s legs on payday.”
“Come on; we’ll go in my truck.” I grabbed a clean towel for under the counter, and he put it to use as he asked Lydia, one of his more faithful employees, to keep an eye on the place
I led him out the truck, and we both climbed in. “Keep pressure on it.”
“Don’t worry, man. I’ll try not to bleed all over your pretty truck.” He held it tight to his chest, and the towel and his shirt were ruined.
“I’m not worried about the truck. It can be cleaned, and I’ll pay for that, too.” I started the engine and headed across town to the hospital.
We went straight to the front desk of the emergency room, and I glanced around as Glen told them what his problem was, as if they couldn’t see. Lexa wasn’t around, and despite his bleeding, they sat us in a waiting area right inside the back where there were a few other patients suffering.
I recognized the woman at the front desk and went back to stand in front of her. “How long is this going to take?”
Her eyes widened as she saw me. “I remember you.” She gave me a look that could have killed a dead horse, and I held my hands up when I realized she was the same woman I’d run out of my room the moment before I met Lexa.
“Is Lexa working?” The question seemed to take her by surprise, but she nodded.
A slow smile spread my lips, and I went to join Glen who was already being called to financing. The woman sat at the desk and took her sweet time typing in his information.
“I’m paying. Let me write you a check or something so we can get him some help. Maybe stop his bleeding.” I had just about lost my temper, but the woman behind the counte
r told me with one look that she wasn’t going to take any shit from me.
“It’s all good; it’s starting to slow down. I won’t die before I get some help.” Glen released a breath like he’d rather be anywhere else and I knew how he felt. I had hated my short time in the hospital and thanks to Lexa, I got out hours earlier than planned.
I gave the woman my card, and she swiped it, and then I stepped back to give Glen some room.
“You can just have a seat out there, and we’ll be with you shortly.”
“No idea when?” I hated sounding like a broken record, but the woman shook her head and shrugged.
Perfect. I knew Lexa was around and hoped that when we got called back, she’d be there, working on getting Glen stitched up. She’d have nothing to do but talk to me then. I hated seeing Glen in pain, but he started nodding off until a woman in pink cat scrubs called us to the back.
She settled us in a secluded area behind a curtain, and I wondered why we couldn’t have a closed-in room like I’d had before. Then it dawned on me that they might be reserved for the more seriously injured, like idiots who crash their bikes and have to be rolled in unconscious.
I doubted for a moment that I’d see Lexa, but then I caught a glimpse of her through the parted curtains and told Glen I had a mission to take care of. He wished me luck, and I snuck down still behind the curtain to where she stopped.
She was talking to a man who I remembered as my doctor from the accident. He’d come in to see me and swore I’d get the best care. If he only knew. The man walked away, and I parted the curtains and stepped out in front of her.
She jumped, and I knew I shouldn’t have snuck up on her that way. I held up my hands to show her I wasn’t a threat, so she didn’t dart off like some frightened cat.
“What are you doing here?” Her eyes widened and pulled me down the hall and into a private room, with actual walls and a door. “You can’t just show up here at my work. It’s a hospital, not a mall.” She paused and got a good look of my shirt, which had gotten a bit of Glens’ blood on it. “You’re hurt!” She began inspecting me for injuries, but I took her hands and stilled them.
“I’m fine and here with my friend who had a nasty accident while slicing lemons.” I felt her hands tense in my grasp, but I was too lost in the sight of her to care about anything else. She was gorgeous, even while in her scrubs with her hair cinched back in a tight bun that was more like a naughty librarian than a naughty nurse. But I wasn’t complaining.
“Well, I hope she gets patched up, and you two can be on your way.” She turned to open the door, but I put out a hand over her head to stop it.
“It’s not a she, it’s a he; and he’s my best friend.” Her tense glare relaxed, and she stood back against the door and folded her arms.
“You were looking for me, though?” Her eyes held a hint of hope and a whole lot of regret.
“Yes, I hoped you’d be here. I’ve wanted to talk to you for days, Lexa. You’re all I can think about, and it really sucks that you haven’t called me or at least texted me back. If you don’t like me, that’s fine, I’ll move on, but I want you to tell me that you don’t feel our connection just as strong.” I searched her face, hoping to catch a hint of emotion that would tell me otherwise. Surely wasn’t done with me.
“It’s not that, Aiden. It’s-”
I stepped closer and pinned her against the door. “If it’s too much and you want out, say the word, I’ll fuck off. But I don’t think you can tell me that. You want me just as bad as I want you. Deny it, Lexa.”
She stroked my beard as I pulled her in close enough to kiss.
She fell hard against me, sagging with such eagerness I wasn’t sure how she’d get over it enough to go back to work, but then she pulled away. “I should go.”
“I’m not leaving without a kiss.” I positioned my leg between hers, and she showed me she wasn’t bothered by the idea.
I flattened my palm against her mound, thanking the heavens that her scrubs were so thin. I could feel the warmth there as if she’d been dreaming about having me all day. And, maybe she had been because a moment later, her hand went up behind her to the doorknob and I heard a click.
Now that we were locked in, I knew I had her. I’d hated my last hospital visit, and I was sure I owed Glen a whole lot more than paying his bills, but it was good to see her again.
I brought my mouth down against hers, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. “We’ll have to be quiet, but that will give us a bit of privacy.”
Her hands worked at my jeans, and I lifted her shirt up, revealing a simple cotton bra that was sexier than anything else I’d seen her in. I unhooked the strap as she freed my cock, and her breasts spilled from their cups, hanging heavy and taut, perky. I brought my mouth to one and sucked her nipple, and then I worked down her pants and slipped a finger into her panties.
“Are you sure you want to do this here?” I probed her pussy, and she ground against my hand to give me my answer. As I slipped my hand free and tasted her need for me, I knew I owed Glen big time.
Chapter Eighteen
Lexa
I had done so good letting Aiden go and had been strong enough not to text or call so we’d have a clean break. But here I was in the ER, in a private room with him.
Seeing the blood on him and that moment, that split that second that I’d thought it was his, it brought back all of my feelings for him. It had only been a week, but luckily, work had kept me busy. I had even pulled some overtime.
Aiden’s long fingers slid into my body, and I prayed that Dr. Rob didn’t come looking for me. There was enough staff that no one should miss me for a bit, and I could make up something if I had to. Besides, other than Aiden’s friend, it had been kind of slow compared to most days in the ER.
The look on his face was so sincere that I felt a wave of guilt roll through me, overtaking all of my pleasure, and I fought hard to keep it at bay. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“We can’t keep doing this, Aiden.” Although I protested, my hand worked him steady, tightly gripping his shaft as he pumped his fingers deep to ready me.
“I can tell you want to.” He took my hand, brought me away from the wall, and then lifted me up on the bed. The pesky rail was in the way, so I took a moment to lower it as he readied his cock at my entrance.
“It’s not going to work out. I think we should end it before things are too far gone.” I struggled with the words as he reinserted his broad fingers.
“I’m not letting you go that easily, Lexa. And, I don’t appreciate being ignored. In fact, I think you should be punished for being so cruel.” He stood me up and turned me around. He cupped my sex, pinching my folds with so much pressure that I squealed. I held my mouth and hoped I wouldn’t make more noises. At least, nothing that could give us away.
His cock pressed against my entrance, and then he nudged himself inside. I winced as I settled around him. He worked his hips, bucking against my ass. I moaned out and then bit my hand, hoping to stifle the sounds of my pleasure.
“You seem to be into it. You do know that’s how I like it, though.” His voice was so convincing, he could have talked me into anything at that moment.
“The other times were a mistake, too. We don’t even know each other.” A hard sting lit up my ass cheek, and then he thrust deeper and faster.
“I know all I need to. And, that little, wet slit of yours is betraying you. You want this, too, and you’re like me, Lexa; you can’t get enough. I’ve hungered for you for days, not knowing if I’d hear from you again.” His hand rubbed my tender ass, but he didn’t swat me again. The sting would have been so erotic that I wouldn’t have minded another.
His hips started slapping hard against me, and I worried about the noise level. “Go to the bed.” I nudged him away, and then he climbed up on the bed, his proud erection glistening with my juices.
“Come here, Lexa.” He held out his hand, and I took it knowing I shouldn’t, but
my need was aching so bad that I had to ease it. I climbed on the bed and straddled him, my legs resting on his hips as I sat on his cock and slid my folds against the length of it.
“You’re so wet for me, baby. Climb on it, and show me what you can do.” He hoisted up my bottom and placed me on him, his thick rod impaling me with a delicious slice of pain that brought intense pleasure to my core.
I couldn’t fight the urge to ride him nice and steady as it built like a pressure inside me, and then I released. He rocked me through my first orgasm, and then I climbed off, knowing time was too important to waste. I wanted to make him come, and the quickest way I knew how was to suck him off.
He lay back with an intense look on his face and then smiled wickedly when I took his broad shaft and stroked it. I kissed the tip before spreading my lips wide, taking him into my throat.
“Yeah, baby, that’s so good. Work it good for me.” He held my head and bucked his hips forward, crowding my throat as I swallowed around his cock. The action only pulled him deeper, and I pulled away, tight lipping him from his base to the rim so that I could suckle it.
I massaged his balls as my mouth stayed working, my fingers kneading into his heavy sac, which I knew had a good week’s worth of my reward built up in it. I braced for a nice heavy load.
He gently stroked my hair and then before long, gave me my warning. Instead of pulling away, I pushed down, relaxing my throat to ready myself. His release shot right down my throat, so I pulled back a little to let it fill up my mouth, and I swallowed in gulps as he came. He moaned, and I may have slipped one out, as well.
I pulled off, trying real hard to be angry with him. I’d gotten away from him, out of my life, but now here I was, back in it again.
“Now tell me you want it to stop. I don’t think you can. I’d call you a liar.” He laughed and sat up to kiss me. Our lips met, and I wondered if the taste of himself bothered him. As he deepened the kiss, I realized it didn’t.