by Jenna Jacob
Left in the wake of his fascinating pull, the desire to strip off my clothes and beg the man to fuck me until the end of time ricocheted through me. Shaking the idiotic notion from my brain, I hurried to pull the paperwork. Along the way I decided I needed sex a hell of a lot more than I needed a psych eval.
Less than ten minutes later, Trevor was prepped and ready to be moved upstairs for surgery.
“We’ll take care of Drake while they fix you up,” Mika assured, as he bent and gingerly kissed Trevor’s cheek. “You just sail through surgery, fast so we won’t have to sedate him too, understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” Trevor nodded and tried to smile as tears filled his eyes.
“And I’ll take care of both of them, sweetheart,” James smiled with calm reassurance.
“Thank you, James,” Trevor sniffed.
Sylvia waited patiently while the men said their goodbyes.
“I’ll be right there when you wake up, my love,” Drake vowed, his voice rough with emotion. “I love you, Trevor. I love you with all my heart.”
“Oh, Daddy,” Trevor whimpered. Reaching up he brushed his palm over Drake’s rugged face. “I love you, too. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in your arms before you know it. I promise.”
“You’re damn right. I’m going to take such good care of you, baby,” Drake vowed as tears dripped down his cheeks.
“You always do, Daddy,” Trevor sobbed.
Drake begrudgingly released Trevor’s hand as Sylvia began pushing the bed down the hall.
“The OR waiting room is up on three,” she explained. “Dr. Phillips, who’s performing Trevor’s surgery, will come out and talk to you when he’s through.”
With one last goodbye, Trevor passed through the double doors. Drake crumpled over, his body wracked with muffled sobs. Both James and Mika crouched next to him.
“Keep the faith, brother,” Mika encouraged. “They brought me back to life. Remember? They’re more than qualified to remove Trevor’s spleen. He’ll come through surgery just fine. You have to believe that.”
“I know,” Drake nodded as he rose and palmed his tears. Sucking in a deep breath he shook his head. “It’s fucking killing me to be this goddamn helpless.”
Mika sighed as he and James stood. “Tell me about it. Our DNA isn’t wired to hand over our reins to someone else.”
Drake snorted then sniffed. Turning toward me, a gentle smile spread over his lips. “I’m sorry I was such an ass when we first met,” he apologized, sheepishly. “Trevor told me how good you’ve been to him. Thank you.”
“No thanks or apology needed,” I assured him. “Panic and fear can turn us into people we don’t recognize. You did fine. Not once did I have to call security to put you in handcuffs.”
Mika snorted. “Yeah, that would never happen.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised how often it does. I’ve encountered some pretty violent family members who’ve had to be hauled away.”
“Not with me here, you wouldn’t,” James muttered under his breath.
I blinked at his comment as Drake took hold of my hands. “Honestly, thank you. For all you’ve done for my boy.” The mask of fear still lined his face.
“You’re welcome. Look, try not to worry. I know in my heart Trevor will come through surgery with flying colors. Dr. Phillips is one hell of a good surgeon, not to mention one of the most kind and compassionate doctors I know.”
“That’s quite a testament. Are you dating him or something?” A look of horror dashed across James’ eyes, as if embarrassed that he’d asked such a personal question. “Ah, I mean, you sure sing his praises, is all.”
“I suppose I do, but with good reason. He really is the best, and no, we’re not dating. First of all he’s married and secondly, he retires in four more months.” I couldn’t help but giggle, then wrinkled my nose. “He’s old enough to be my father.”
An awkward silence followed as Drake and Mika exchanged an unreadable glance. “Well. I guess we’d better go upstairs,” Drake announced with a grim nod.
“When my shift is done, I’ll come up to check on Trevor and see how he’s doing.”
“Thank you, Liz. Thank you for everything,” Drake said as he vacillated for a second, then wrapped me in a thick, bear hug.
I patted him on the back as he squeezed me. “You’re welcome. Try not to worry.”
Releasing me, Drake nodded a little skeptically, before pushing past the double doors. James was the last in line and I couldn’t keep my gaze from lingering on the well-worn denim hugging his sexy ass. My palms burned, itching to feel his naked flesh. As if reading my mind, he stopped and turned, before pinning me with a heart-stopping stare. A hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth—a mouth I still wanted to taste—before he turned once more and walked away.
When the door closed behind him, I exhaled the breath I didn’t even know I was holding and slumped against the wall. I needed a cold shower and a horny heterosexual man, in that order. With an inward snort, the odds of that happening were higher than James being straight.
Oh well, thankfully you have BOB.
Glancing toward the nurses’ station, Cindy stood with her hands on her hips. A shit-eating grin spread over her lips. Her brows were arched high giving me a look that screamed Details. Now.
Shaking my head, I walked up to her and shot her a dejected frown. “Um, James the guy in the hall with me? Yeah, well, he and the buff bald guy, Mika…they’re together.”
Cindy wrinkled her forehead. “Huh?”
“Together…in the biblical sense. You know? Lovers.”
“Oh hell,” she grumbled. “Really? God, what a waste.”
“I know, right?” I commiserated. “Trust me. If there was even the slightest chance of getting horizontal under that fine specimen of beef-cake, I’d be all over James like peanut butter on jelly.”
“That’s just unfair to the whole female race.”
“Tell me about it.”
“That doesn’t make sense. I could have sworn he was just about to kiss you.”
“I-I don’t have a clue what all that was about.” I shrugged.
“Maybe he’s bi. That wouldn’t be a bad thing.” She waggled her brows. “Maybe you could have them both; James and the hunky bald guy with those sexy, amber eyes.”
I had no intention of discussing my fantasies with Cindy. “You’re such a perv,” I laughed.
“And you’re not?” she scoffed. “Bitch, please. I’ve never met a woman who didn’t fantasize about taking on two lovers at once.”
“Well, now you have,” I lied.
“I don’t believe that for a second.” Cindy’s eyes grew wide. “You honestly don’t think that would be like the ultimate orgasm?”
“It probably would be,” I conceded. “But a woman with such loose morals couldn’t possibly expect either guy to hold an ounce of respect for her, when they were done.”
Cindy gasped then choked. “Why is it after all the years we’ve been friends, I’m just now finding out that you’re a prude?”
“I’m not a prude,” I challenged. “I’m one of the most open-minded people on the planet.”
“Except for getting down and dirty with two men,” Cindy replied dryly, rolling her eyes before glancing down the hall. “Oops, I gotta run. Dr. Glendale needs me. This conversation isn’t over.”
I grunted and frowned as she scurried away. Her accusation chafed. Plopping down at the desk, I snagged a chart from the pile and began updating. Obsessing over Cindy’s comment, I sighed. I’d never been called a prude before. I didn’t have a prejudicial bone in my body when it came to race, religion, or sexual preference. So why was I hung up on the idea of a threesome?
Suddenly the voice of my mother droned in my head: ‘A proper young lady always___’— fill in the blank. How many hundreds of times had Mommy Dearest drilled a never-ending litany of sanctimonious tidbits into my brain? Too many. Mentally halting yet another stroll down memory lane, I slammed d
own a mental wall of defense. I’d wiped my hands of my mother years ago; rehashing the past would only serve to piss me off.
Focusing on the charts, I finished my paperwork and waved goodnight to Cindy. Taking the elevator to the third flood, the memory of James’ warm breath, as his mouth hovered over mine, sent a hungry chill skittering through me. Had he really meant to kiss me?
No. Why would he want to? James wasn’t into women.
Then why had it felt as if that’s what he’d intended? I couldn’t come up with a plausible answer. Stepping off the elevator, I nibbled my lip indecisively. If I entered the unit from the waiting room, I’d have to torture myself more by laying eyes on James. Which would only serve to remind me of what I couldn’t have—him. My non-existent sex life was frustrating enough without adding fuel to a fictional fire. Besides, if Mika realized I entertained sexual fantasies about his lover…
Yeah, that was one embarrassment I could happily live without. Pining for a gay man was like crushing on a priest—pointless and absurd.
I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall when James and Mika got busy. Dreaming about all those powerful muscles, bunching and flexing, sweating and thrusting, and hearing their masculine screams of deliverance… Mercy. I could burn through an entire package of batteries just imagining it all.
I wonder how big their cocks are.
With a frustrated groan, I swiped my name badge through the reader at the employee entrance. Chatting up one of the nurses, I was relieved to learn that Dr. Phillips had repaired Trevor’s spleen, rather than remove it. He’d be spending a couple of days in I.C.U. before being moved to a room on another floor.
When the O.R. recovery nurse asked if I’d escort the family to the ICU waiting room, I nearly choked on my tongue. My first reaction was to refuse, but then she explained that she’d sent three employees home with the flu. I couldn’t turn a fellow nurse down.
Sucking in a deep breath, I made my way out the door, determined to stay focused on Drake. Of course the minute I stepped into the waiting room, I felt James’ eyes on me, and like the hopeless idiot I’d become, I looked his way. His gaze slid up and down my body like a slow sensual tongue, stroking my flesh. Men had undressed me with their eyes before, but why in the hell was James doing it?
“Maybe he’s bi?”
It would explain why he didn’t blip my internal gay-dar, a sixth sense of spotting gay men, which my brother taught me. Dayne was forever trying to fix me up with men. Every time we’d go out clubbing, I’d point out one or two who intrigued me. One time in particular, Dayne grinned, stood and sauntered off and approached the handsome man. Ten minutes later he returned with a phone number…for himself. Eventually, I learned how to use my gay-dar, but I was never quite as good as Dayne.
Either I was getting rusty, or James wasn’t gay at all. His quizzical expression pulled me from my memories. Painting on a confident smile, I turned to Drake.
“The doctor came out a little while ago and told us that the surgery went well,” Drake announced, though worry still remained tightly etched over his features.
“I know. I peeked in on him before I came out to see you. He’s still sedated,” I replied with a smile, hoping to lessen his anxiety. “They’re going to move Trevor up to the Intensive Care Unit. I’ll take you up to that waiting room now, if you’d like?”
“Yes, we would. Thanks,” Drake replied.
His indebted tone warmed me. I became a nurse to help patients. But after Dayne’s death, I realized I wanted to comfort their families as much or even a bit more.
Surrounded by the three muscular men inside the elevator, I felt small, which was highly unusual for me. At five foot seven, and cursed with more curves than the average woman, it took a big man to make me feel petite. But flanked by these three big men… I felt like an Oompa Loompa.
Reminding myself that I lacked the proper equipment to trip James’ trigger didn’t curb my ludicrous longings—not when his intoxicating scent filled every inch of the enclosed space we shared. Like a magnet to steel, he drew me to him and it was driving me out of my mind.
“You really don’t have to go to all this trouble,” he stated in a whiskey-smooth drawl.
As usual, my body responded luridly to his voice. Every nerve cell tingled as that incessant throb returned between my legs and beneath my bra, taunting me once more.
“I was in I.C.U. last year. We know where the waiting room is,” Mika added.
“Oh, I don’t mind taking you. I’ll check to make sure Trevor is settled in while I’m there.”
“I’m just glad he’s alive.” The hitch in Drake’s voice tore at my heart. “I can’t imagine what I’d do…”
James reached up and gripped Drake’s shoulder. “Then don’t. He’s out of surgery and he’s going to be fine. The only thing we have to worry about is helping him heal emotionally.”
“I know.” Drake nodded, composing himself quickly.
He was lucky he still had Trevor. The scars never heal when someone you love is ripped from your life; at least mine hadn’t. Dayne abandoned me, but then so had our father. He’d packed up and left when I was eight. Dayne was only six. Mom raised us on a secretary’s salary, making sure we had everything we needed…at least until she discovered her son was gay.
“Do you always take such good care of patients’ families like this?” Mika’s question drew me back before the memories could crush me.
“Not normally.” I shook my head. “But Trevor, he…” Makes me wish for the brother I’d lost? No. That would make me sound buckets full of crazy and slightly stalkerish as well.
“Struck a chord with you, didn’t he?” James asked perceptively. I shyly nodded. “He does that to people. A lot.”
Drake issued a melancholy chuckle. “It’s one of the things I love most about him. He has a magical way…people gravitate toward him.” He sniffed and brushed away a tear.
“He does.” I smiled, reaching out to give Drake’s arm a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry, Trevor has you in his life. He’ll bounce back from this. You wait and see.”
Why couldn’t Dayne have found a loving bond with a man like you?
“We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he recovers from this,” Mika announced with conviction.
“Yes.” Drake turned a grim expression Mika’s way. “We’ve done it before. We’ll damn well do it again.”
“Trevor mentioned this was the second time he’s been attacked. I can’t imagine living through such brutality twice.”
“It’s how we met,” Drake remarked as the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
I wanted to know more about that story. Instead, I bit my tongue and led them into the ICU waiting room. Even though the décor was light and inviting, moroseness hung heavy in the air. Family members of patients sat bleary-eyed, gazing at the television while several others slept in awkwardly bent positions on the chairs and couches. Some had even curled up on the unforgiving industrial carpet.
Drake steered toward the back of the room. James and Mika followed him to a cluster of empty chairs in the corner, and sat to wait yet again.
“I’ll go back and see if they’ve brought Trevor down yet.”
“Much appreciated.” Drake smiled tightly.
I swung around and spied a petite woman with lush red curls and anxious green eyes rush through the doorway. She zeroed in on the three men in the corner and Mika lurched from his chair, then spread his arms open. The woman burst into tears as she ran toward him and burrowed into his chest.
“How is he?” she sobbed. Lifting her head she wildly eyed the room. “Dammit, I never wanted to step foot in this place again. When they told me Trev was up in I.C.U. I freaked out. Oh god, please tell me he’s okay.”
Drake stood, watching the exchange. His face clouded with a look of anguish as tears filled his eyes once more.
“Shhh. Easy, baby.” Mika murmured, holding the woman tight in his arms while smoothing a hand through her wild
ringlets. “He’s going to be fine. They operated on his spleen. We’re waiting to see him now.”
With a nod, she turned a forlorn gaze toward Drake. Prying free of Mika’s arms, she ran to the big man and buried her face against his leather jacket. “Oh, Moses. I’m so scared.”
He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. Clearly, whoever this woman was, Drake loved her a lot. “He’s going to be okay, honey,” he assured.
“Yes, precious. He is.” Mika echoed the sentiment.
Stepping toward the duo, Mika cupped her chin with his palm, raised her face, and kissed her deeply…passionately. Definitely not a chaste, friendly peck of comfort.
Maybe they both were bi. If James leaned more toward women than men, I might have a shot for one night with him. That might be enough to take the edge off. But I had the sneaking suspicion that James would be as addicting as chocolate. One taste would never be enough.
“Where is Tristan, sweetheart?” Mika asked, as he strummed her tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“I called Sanna to tell her what had happened. She, Dylan, and Nick rushed over to stay with him so I could come here to be with you. Then Sanna called Mellie, and her and Mast…” Darting a glance my way, the woman stopped in midsentence, then bit her bottom lip for a second before resuming her explanation. “She and Joshua came over. You have no idea how they kept me sane while I dressed the baby for bed, then nursed him. He was snoring softly when I left.”
“Good girl,” Mika smiled. “Our baby boy’s in very capable hands.”
Baby? They had a baby? Together? No. That couldn’t be right.Could it?
Blown out of the water by the revelation, I tried to wrap my head around the dynamics playing out before me, but couldn’t.
“Excuse me,” I said after clearing my throat. “I’ll go check on Trevor now.”
“Wait.” Mika called to me. “I’d like to introduce you.”
“Julianna, this is Liz. She’s been taking care of Trevor…well, and of us. She’s been a tremendous comfort, too.” The woman sniffed and forced a watery smile. “Liz, this is my wife, Julianna.”
Wife? Did he say wife? What. The. Fuck?