Prince Charming, M.D.

by Susan Mallery

  “Guess you were wrong,” he said lightly. “How far apart are the contractions now?”

  “About two minutes and they really—” She inhaled sharply, then bit down on her knuckles. A moan escaped her.

  ana moved to her side. “Screaming is not such a bad thing, if you feel it will help. I don’t think you have the lung power to do any serious damage to the windows.”

  Shelly nodded, but didn’t speak. It was several more seconds until the contraction ended. She gasped, trying to catch her breath.

  “Nearly a minute long,” Trevor said. “Looks like you’re going to have your baby. Give us a second, Shelly. We’ll come up with a game plan.”

  He took Dana’s hand and led her to the bathroom. Once there, he closed the door. “I want you to get her out of her clothes. She didn’t expect to spend the night, so she doesn’t have a nightgown or robe. Cover her with a sheet Then I’ll check to see what’s going on. The supplies you asked for should be here shortly and that will help.”

  Dana stared at him. Something wasn’t right “Trevor, what’s going on? You’re sweating.”

  “Tell me about it” His usually smiling mouth was a straight line.

  “Is there something wrong? Something with the baby?”

  “As far as I can tell, mother and child are both healthy. It’s just...” He shook his head. “Do you know how long it’s been since I delivered a baby?”

  “Oh, is that it? Don’t worry. I spent a couple of years as a maternity nurse. If necessary, I’ll talk you through it.”

  His gaze narrowed. “You don’t understand. I’m not rusty—I’m terrified. A delivery was the first procedure I ever observed. It was awful. The woman’s pain, the blood, which I wasn’t used to yet I’d been up studying all night, I hadn’t had anything to eat for about a day and, well, I passed out. Ever since then, the thought of someone giving birth makes me nervous.”

  She bit back her laughter. “You’re a surgeon. This is a snap compared with some of the things you do.”

  “It doesn’t feel like a snap.”

  So now she knew why he’d been so quiet on the way up to Shelly’s room. Somehow his confession of inadequacy made her like him more. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think anyone can tell you’re apprehensive.”

  “That’s something.” He looked at Dana. “I’ll do the best I can, but don’t worry about hurting my feelings on this one. If you know what to do and I don’t jump in. The most important thing here is keeping Shelly and her baby healthy until the ambulance arrives.”

  “You realize they might not get here in time.”

  Some of the color faded from his face. “That thought has crossed my mind.”

  He reached for the door handle. She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Trevor, you’re so good with TJ. Just pretend the baby is your egg and you’ll be fine.”

  He gave her a quick smile. “But with the egg I don’t have to worry about the chicken, do I?”

  They returned to the bedroom. Bill and his helpers arrived with the supplies, and within a few minutes Shelly was wrapped in a sheet and resting between contractions.

  “I can’t do this much longer,” she murmured. “I’m hot, then cold. My legs hurt—hell, my whole body hurts. Dana, help me.”

  Dana knelt on the floor and took her hands. “It’s all right You don’t have much longer to go now.”

  She glanced at Trevor, who had rolled up his sleeves and was currently organizing their supplies. He’d already performed a quick exam and his concerned expression warned Dana that the ambulance wouldn’t arrive in time.

  Another contraction began. ‘‘Trevor,” Dana called.

  Shelly abandoned restraint and yelled out as her stomach jumped visibly with the power of the movement.

  He hurried over and offered Shelly a quick smile. “So let me guess. You were trying to avoid having to pay your doctor, right? All this is a carefully constructed plan. You’re thinking that because I’ve been in the seminar for a week, I won’t bill you.”

  Sweat broke out on Shelly’s pale face and her expression was grim. “You...caught...me,” she gasped. ’That was it all along. Plus my husband wasn’t really excited about being a coach.”

  “Now you’ve got two professionals and no one competing for their time. Pretty clever.”

  The contraction ended. Shelly sagged back on the bed. “Tell me it’s going to be all right,” she pleaded. “Is my baby okay?”

  Dana saw the faint flicker of concern on Trevor’s face, but she knew Shelly wouldn’t pick it up. He patted her hand. “The two of you are doing great We’ll get through this in no time.’’

  He pulled over the low stool someone had brought from housekeeping and settled down. “How strong was the urge to push?”

  “It’s about killing me.”

  “I figured. Next time, I want you to go with it Push hard. Deep breaths and really work it.”

  Dana stayed with Shelly, offering comfort while monitoring her vital signs. Trevor delivered the baby, giving a few instructions as the head crowned and then appeared. She watched his sure movements. Nothing in his demeanor indicated he was the least bit nervous. No doubt he was too caught up in what was happening to remember the first time he’d watched a delivery.

  “Color’s good,” he said, turning the baby onto its side. “Shoulders are next and—”

  A lusty cry filled the room.

  Tears filled Shelly’s eyes. “Thank God,” she said, her voice reverent.

  “As I was about to say,” Trevor said. “Healthy lungs. Okay, one more little push. There, that’s it. Shoulders are coming out now. Easy. What do you know? Shelly, you’ve got a son.”

  He leaned forward and placed the squirming, screaming newborn on his mother’s belly. Shelly’s tears flowed faster and Dana found she had to wipe her own cheeks dry.

  She looked at Trevor. “You did it.”

  His hand found hers and he squeezed. “We did. Thanks.”

  He glanced back at the baby, then rested his free hand against the infant’s cheek. Dana felt something flicker to life inside her. It wasn’t just participating in an event as miraculous as a birth. It was more than that—something about sharing the moment with Trevor. No matter what, they would always have this in their past.

  Her heart seemed to shift just a little and she knew what she’d just experienced was a whole lot more dangerous than simply wanting him.

  Chapter Nine

  Dana waited while Trevor unlocked his door, then she followed him inside the room. Their wineglasses were still on the coffee table, as was the ice bucket, although most of the ice had melted.

  A large cart stood just to the left of the door. She wrinkled her nose. “I have a bad feeling that everything is going to be cold...or warm, depending on what you ordered.”

  “Nothing complicated,” Trevor said as he raised silver covers and studied the contents of the plates. “Salad, steak, potatoes. It doesn’t look very appetizing now.”

  She crossed to the sofa and pulled out the wine bottle. “That’s okay with me. I’m way too excited to be hungry.” After emptying both their glasses, she poured them each cold wine, then handed him his. “I can’t believe how smoothly that went. You were great.”

  “Thanks.” His smile was rueful. “You were a big help. I know I wouldn’t have fallen apart, but it was a lot easier with you there.” He squinted at the window. Outside it was dark, but the rain had let up. “I wonder if they’re at the hospital yet” The ambulance had left a half hour ago.

  She glanced at the clock. It was already after ten. Funny, she wasn’t the least bit tired. It was adrenaline, she told herself. The situation had been unexpected and she hadn’t had time to do more than react Now she was sailing on those chemicals flowing through her body. In a little while she would crash and get tired and maybe a little shaky.

  Trevor took the bottle from her and set it down. He raised his glass to her. “Here’s to Shelly and her new son.”

/>   “To them both. They have an exciting start to a wonderful relationship.” She touched her glass to his, then took a sip. The wine was cool and crisp. “How are you feeling?”

  “Relieved,” he said. “You?”

  “A little wired. It takes me a while to wind down from things like that.” She shrugged. “It’s been a while since I was directly involved in patient care. At times I miss it. Now that I know everything is fine, I can say it was fun.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “That’s not the word I would choose.”

  She placed her free hand on his chest. “Come on, Trevor. It wasn’t so bad. Admit it You got a real kick out of helping her.”

  “I’m willing to admit that the thought of assisting in another birth isn’t going to make me break out in a cold sweat, but I refuse to believe it was fun. Give me surgery any day.”

  She laughed. He joined in, then suddenly they weren’t laughing anymore. When he took the wineglass from her hand and set it on the table next to his, she thought about protesting. She was enjoying her drink. Then he cupped her face in his hands and she couldn’t think about anything except the fact that he was going to kiss her and she was going to let him.

  His mouth was sure and firm as it caressed hers. Sweet kisses, sensual, demanding, arousing. Her entire body absorbed the sensation of being so close to him. She inhaled his scent, reveled in his heat, his masculinity. She leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his chest Her arms wrapped around his neck and she felt the short hairs tickling the back of her hands.

  He didn’t have to urge her to open for him. She parted her lips to admit him, then met him with a warm brush of her tongue against his. He responded in kind and they began an ancient ritual of pleasuring each other.

  The kiss went on forever. He rubbed his palms against her back before sliding them lower to her rear. When he cupped her there, she arched against him, wanting to be closer, nearer, a part of him. She moved her belly against him, feeling the strength of his desire. A shiver ran through her, starting low in her stomach and moving up her chest He wanted her. There was physical proof. This wasn’t a dream or a moment of boredom. He wanted her.

  “Dana,” he murmured as he broke the kiss long enough to suck on her earlobe. Tiny lightning bolts jolted through her. She felt her breasts swell.

  “Trevor, I...” Words failed her as he claimed her mouth again. He explored all of her, tasting and touching. She followed him back and did the same, reveling in the contrast of his smooth teeth, the soft skin on the inside of his lower lip, the sharp rush of his breath when she lightly nipped him there.

  He moved his hands back up her spine, then brought them around to her rib cage. She moved away enough to allow him to slip higher until he cradled her breasts in the palms of his hands. He took their slight weight, rubbing them gently, moving in tiny circles, his fingers inching closer and closer to her nipples until they at last touched the taut peaks.

  She swallowed a moan of pure pleasure. He tweaked the tips between thumbs and forefingers, teasing until they nearly vibrated. Each flick of his touch sent a ribbon of fire down her belly to the place between her thighs. Already she felt the heat and dampness as she readied for him. The combination of sensations was so intense she thought she might faint

  Just as passion overwhelmed her last chance at rational thought, he pulled away. Not so he could touch her somewhere else, but so he could look at her.

  He tucked her hair behind her ears, then stroked her cheek. Desire tightened the muscles in his face, making him even more beautiful.

  She wanted him. She’d wanted him from the moment he arrived in town. In that respect, she was no different from the rest of her nursing staff. Perhaps some of her passion came from the past, from what she remembered about the last time they’d been together. He’d been her first and he’d made the experience wonderful. Whatever had happened later, she’d clung to that fact. With Trevor, lovemaking had felt right. Not too awkward, not too strange, but perfect.

  No doubt she was making a huge mistake that she would regret for a long time. But no way could she walk away from him. She had to know if it was how she remembered. Her body was on fire and he was the only one with the ability to control the flames.

  His mouth twisted slightly. Panic flared in her belly. What was wrong? Why had he stopped? “Having second thoughts?” she asked, pleased that her voice sounded so normal. He wouldn’t be able to guess that she was suddenly terrified he didn’t want her.

  “Hardly. Just wondering.”

  “About what?” When he didn’t answer, the panic grew. Great. She’d just made a complete fool out of herself. What had she been thinking?

  She took a step back. “Okay, no problem. I understand you don’t want to...well, you know.”

  “Dana, don’t.” He grabbed her arm and held her in place. “It’s not what you think. I do want you.” Need darkened his eyes. If that hadn’t been enough to convince her, he took her hand and pressed it against his arousal.

  He jumped when she rubbed her palm against him. “Enough,” he said with a faint gasp. “You can’t touch me like that. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself.”

  Fine. He was aroused and he wanted her, but still, something was wrong. She could feel it. “Trevor, I’m confused. What’s going on?”

  He led her to the bed and sat down, then pulled her next to him. He pressed her onto the mattress and settled beside her, supporting his head on his hand.

  “I want you,” he said, resting one hand on her stomach. His smile turned wry. “More than you know. Worse, more than is safe. I need to be careful so I don’t, um, finish too early.” When she frowned, he added, “It’s been a long time.”

  According to Angie it hadn’t been long at all. She didn’t like that thought, so she pushed it away. Obviously this was a mistake, she told herself. “How long?” she asked.

  “I haven’t made love since I left my wife. That would make it nearly two years.”

  His words hung in the silence. Dana stared at him, searching his face for a hint that he was lying. “Two years?” she asked, her voice incredulous.

  He winced. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “But I thought—”

  He cut her off with a kiss. “You thought wrong. I don’t know what they’ve been saying and I don’t want to know. The truth is, I haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”

  She believed him. Her heart surged and she knew she was in even more trouble than before. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. There were more urgent matters.

  She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. “Then we have some catching up to do.”

  His slow, sexy grin made her insides melt.

  “I’m glad you feel that way.” He brushed his mouth against hers. “I have good news and bad news. The good news is I have protection. Not that I was hoping we’d do anything and brought condoms, but I do have the ones Shelly had delivered.”

  Dana giggled. “Good, because I’m not prepared to deal with birth control. It’s been a while for me, too.”

  “Thank you,” he murmured, and kissed her.

  Her mouth parted and he entered her. She got lost in the passion for a while before remembering he’d wanted to tell her something else. “What’s the bad news?”

  Trevor cleared his throat More nerves, she thought in surprise.

  “Despite what everyone says,” he told her, “there haven’t been a lot of women in my life. So don’t expect Don Juan. I want to make you happy, Dana, but I need your cooperation. I want you to tell me if I’m doing something you like or don’t like. All right?”

  He looked so damn sweet at that moment. Obviously nervous about the confession and her reaction, but determined to be honest. How was she supposed to resist him?

  “So far you’re doing great,” she said.

  “You, too.”

  He dropped his mouth to hers and at the same time reached for the top button on her blouse. She couldn’t decide what to concen
trate on...the feel of his lips moving against her, the sweeping strokes of his tongue or the way his knuckles gently bumped against her breasts. Every part of her was throbbing with desire. She wanted to touch him, to be touched by him, to be under him, with him inside her, claiming her. She wanted this to never, ever stop.

  When he reached the last button, he pulled her shirt free of the waistband of her jeans and pushed it open. Still kissing her, he moved his right hand behind her back and reached for her bra. She felt his fingers fumble with the hook. The elastic stretched as he wrestled with the small fasteners. She was torn between letting him try to get it open and offering to help.

  He drew back. “Just so you know I wasn’t lying about being out of practice.”

  There was something almost vulnerable in his eyes. Something that drew her in as no practiced, smooth move would have done. Without thinking, she unzipped her jeans, then took his hand and placed it on her belly. She urged him to move deeper, then gasped as his fingers touched her curls and her damp center.

  “Just so you know I really want you.”

  His gaze locked with hers. Something powerful and electric crackled between them. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Dana,” he said, his voice thick with passion.

  He rolled onto his back, drawing her up on top of him. From that position it was easy for him to undo the hooks. Together they pulled off her shirt and bra. He put his hands on her waist and urged her to slide along him until her breasts were directly over his mouth.

  She was about to protest the awkward position, when his mouth closed over her already taut nipple. Liquid heat raced through her as her whole body focused on the single point of perfect pleasure. She braced herself with her hands, pushing against the mattress so that she could stay there for always. She wanted him to keep touching her like that, his tongue circling the sensitive peaks, his lips drawing her in and sucking. When he switched to her other breast, she had to bite back a cry of pure enjoyment. She moved her hands so she could stroke his head, all the while murmuring his name.

  He shifted, rolling them onto their sides. Once there, he traced a line from her forehead, down her nose, ending at her mouth. Then he outlined her lips with the tip of his finger. The tender gesture nearly brought tears to her eyes.