by Terra Wolf
“Sure…” I said.
I took a deep breath, feeling the various emotions rolling through me. First it had been shock at seeing him at my apartment door, unannounced. Then it had been flattery over the beautiful rose. And then my frustration started to return as I recalled how he hadn’t bothered to tell me he was taking another job offer and leaving the state.
I looked down at the rose in my hand, wondering if it was meant as a feeble peace offering for a silly lovesick girl who needed to be let down gently.
I gripped the rose a little too tightly, accidently pricking my finger on a thorn.
As Zion entered my apartment, I slammed the door a little harder than I meant to. “Be right back,” I said rather harshly as I headed to the kitchen to put the rose in a vase of water.
When I returned to the front of the apartment, Zion still stood by the door. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and he looked somewhat nervous. Apple still danced around him, and he occasionally reached down to pat her head.
“What do you want, Zion?” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I have things to do.”
He raised his eyebrows, perhaps surprised by my angry tone. “Sorry,” he said. “It’s just—when you didn’t show up for work, I was worried something was wrong.”
“What do you care about me not showing up at work for? You didn’t show up yesterday.”
“I did—”
“No, you didn’t. I looked all over for you.”
“I did go to work. I went last night. I returned to the night shift.”
I paused. “Oh,” I said. “Well…Still, what are you doing here? I’m busy. I have to take Apple for her run.”
“Can I come with you?”
I headed to the back of the apartment to retrieve Apple’s leash without answering. Apple raced behind me, unable to hide her excitement about finally going out after asking for hours on end.
“Are you going in your pajamas?” Zion called out.
I swore under my breath. His presence had disoriented me so that I had suddenly forgotten I was barefoot and still in my pajamas. Behind me, I heard Zion chuckle. I turned around, seeing that he had followed Apple and me.
“Zion, I really don’t understand why you’re here. What the hell do you want?”
His laughter quickly stopped and his brow lowered. For a brief instant, I almost felt guilty for hurting his feelings. But then I remembered how much he had hurt my feelings in leaving the hospital without telling me, as if the time we’d spent together meant absolutely nothing to him. And to add insult to the injury, he was here now, attempting to make light of the situation, thinking that he could just give me a rose and all would be forgiven.
“Is it wrong that I just wanted to see you?” he said. “I’m half delirious and desperately need to get some sleep, but I had to see you first.”
“Well, you see me now. I’m still alive and well. So you can go.”
Zion sighed. “Alexis—did something happen?”
“You tell me.”
He raised his eyebrows, confused. “Are you angry with me? Did…did I do something? I thought the other night was incredible, but I’m getting the impression you don’t want to repeat it.”
I pursed my lips into a tight line, knowing that if I didn’t take a moment before responding, the onslaught of words leaving my mouth would be far from ladylike. Hell yes I wanted to repeat the other night, let him screw me senseless again. But not before he told me the truth.
“Wow,” Zion said, running a hand through his hair again and then returning his hands to his pockets. “I thought…I didn’t know…Look, Alexis, if you’re done with me, you could have just told me.”
I leaned my head back, an exasperated laugh leaving my throat. “Unbelievable,” I said, shaking my head.
Zion’s expression suddenly turned angry for the first time. “Yeah, I agree. Unbelievable. I sure as Hell should be sorry I thought you wanted to be with me. Damn. You’re just like all the others. I’m sorry. I’ll be going now. You and Apple enjoy your run. I won’t bother you ladies again. Ever.”
He abruptly turned around and headed back for the door. I watched his retreating form, a sneer that I couldn’t control spreading over my face.
The nerve of him…
“You got a lot of nerve, you know that?!” I yelled. Startled, Apple’s tail stopped wagging and she backed into a corner, watching vigilantly.
Zion stopped and turned around. “How are you turning this on me?” he said. “I came over here just so see you again—”
“For what?! To see me for one last time and have some wild ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am’ sex? What do you even care for? You sure didn’t care to tell me you were leaving!”
“What?” Zion said.
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me! I already heard from the nurses on staff yesterday. I guess you already said goodbye to whoever is important enough in your life. I’m just an afterthought, right?”
Zion closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Who told you that?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know who around that damned hospital is spreading rumors.”
“No one is spreading rumors. It’s just you, hiding secrets. That’s why you returned to the night-shift, right? So that you wouldn’t even have to run into me anymore to give me an explanation. You were trying to make a clean getaway.”
“Alexis, would you listen to yourself? If I was trying to make a clean getaway, why would I be over here right now?”
“I don’t know. To make sure I don’t spiral out of control like some unstable, clingy, lovesick tramp. That’s what you think of me, isn’t it?”
“No! And if you would be quiet for a minute, I could explain.”
I crossed my arms again and narrowed my eyes at him. “Go for it. I’m all ears, Dr. Bradford.”
Zion sighed again and stepped forward. He reached out to me, but I recoiled. He lowered his hand. “Whatever you’ve been told isn’t true,” he said. “I’m not leaving. I was given a really tempting offer from Levitt Memorial in New York City, but I’ve decided to turn it down..”
I shook my head. “So…You’re not leaving Mountain Hospital East? You’re just going back to the night shift?”
“Yes,” Zion said. “All I’ve done is return to the night shift.Every day since Penny was taken away, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. I haven’t been able to stop reliving my own childhood and all the challenges that went along with it. It drives me half crazy, the thought of that little girl going through anything remotely similar to what I had to overcome. That’s why I returned to the night shift. I wasn’t trying to avoid you. I just can’t handle seeing hurt kids. I can’t go through anything like that again…”
“And you know what? Strangely enough, working the night shift doesn’t even feel right anymore. Do you know why? Because you aren’t there. I missed seeing you so much, and it’s only been a day. That’s why I’m here now. If I start working the night shift again, I’m not going to make it if I still can’t see you. And the only way to do that is outside of work. I was hoping you didn’t mind, especially because we get to dodge that stupid policy too. But it looks to me like none of that matters now, fuck Alexis, why don’t you want to try?”
“I do.” I looked down to the floor, embarrassed. “I feel like an idiot. I was just mad because I thought you already had one foot out the door without telling me. I was afraid of not seeing you again. I thought that you didn’t care about me like I care about you. I…I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions. I don’t even know what to say for myself right now.”
Zion smiled. “Say that you’ll let me take Apple for a quick walk while you get in the shower, and still be in there when I get back.” He attached her leash to her collar and she looked at me with semi-sad eyes. I knew she needed the walk, and I needed to feel Zion in my arms.
I smiled. “Deal.”
Zion smiled back at me, and the sight of it was breat
htaking.
Twenty-One
Alexis
I looked at myself in the mirror and turned around again, liking what I saw. I was wearing red lace lingerie that I was sure would drive Zion crazy. I had a longline bra, its sheer fabric revealing more than it covered, and a thong with bows beneath a lace garter belt that was attached to stockings.
So what if I wasn’t in the shower? This would be better than that.
I giggled and lay down on our bed, counting the minutes until Zion arrived.
Soon, I heard the front door opening, and my heart accelerated. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he came in.
I tried to slow my breathing as he went through my apartment.
“Alexis?” he called me from somewhere in the living room, obviously searching around for me. “Alexis? Where are you?”
I heard Apple’s paws on the floor.
I didn’t respond, holding my breath in anticipation. I wanted him to find me here and see me like this—all hot and ready for him. I intended to put on a good show. He deserved it after the way I treated him. Stupid rumors.
“Alexis?” he called me again, this time approaching my bedroom, and my heart beat even faster.
It was show time.
He opened the door and stepped inside, halting mid-step when he noticed me on the bed. His eyes widened, and lips parted when he took me in, his whole body becoming rigid.
I saw Apple poke her head around his knees, but it was clear she knew something was up, she sighed and padded her way back to the living room.
I raised myself up and sat on my knees, bringing my hands to my breasts. I licked my lips and looked at him seductively. His surprise was quickly replaced with arousal, and I could clearly see his erection through his gray scrubs.
“I can’t believe you,” he muttered and smirked as he approached me, not taking his eyes off me even once. “You’re really a naughty girl.”
I smiled and slid my hands over my stomach to my pussy. I brought them back, going slowly to my breasts, and found my hardened nipples. I was playing with them as I moved my hips in circles, drawing his attention to my lower body. “I’m your naughty girl.”
“You are so sexy.” Just as he was about to put his hands on me, already panting hard, I jumped up and moved backward, watching him slyly from above. “No, no. You don’t get to touch me that easily. Take off your clothes,” I ordered him, taking a dominant role this time.
Zion groaned and his eyes became almost black. He loved me being in control, and it really turned me on to see him like this. He took his scrubs off—his eyes always fixed on me— and my pussy throbbed when I saw his perfectly sculpted body. He was all muscles and sheer strength. His cock was huge and thick, and my hands itched to take it. I was so lucky to have him.
“Lie down,” I gave another order and stepped down to the floor, leaving some distance between us.
“Let me touch you...” Zion was begging? Now that was even hotter.
“Lie down and lean against the headboard.” He groaned and did what I’d told him. My pussy throbbed again when I saw his dick twitching.
“Damn. Alexis,” he breathed out, his chest suddenly rising and falling rapidly. “You’re going to kill me.”
“Now I wouldn’t want that, right? Not before we get some real action here,” I replied hoarsely and climbed on top of him, facing away, lowering myself down until my pussy came in contact with his cock.
“Alexis,” he growled. I grinded against him as I looked at him over my shoulder, watching him squirm and clench his jaw hard. “Damn, you gotta stop. You’ll make me cum.”
I giggled and raised myself up. I slid my hands over my body sensually, touching my lower back, ass, and thighs, before I turned around and touched my front—lingering on my boobs and pussy.
I knelt this time and sat directly on his cock. I’d already been soaking wet.
“Alexis,” he growled. “Stop torturing me. Fuck me.”
I grinned widely. “Not yet.” I leaned in and kissed him, pushing my tongue roughly against his. My hands were on his chest, moving around his nipples before they came in contact with them, and the moment they did, he flinched and moaned into my mouth. I lowered myself and placed my lips around one of them. I licked it, carefully watching his reaction. He was so horny that it just made me more aroused, and I was already desperate to have him, but I wanted to play with him first.
I slid even further down his body and grabbed his cock with my hand. “How about I suck your cock before I let you inside of me?”
Without waiting for his answer, I shoved his cock deep into my mouth. “Alexis!” he growled. “Damn, that is...” I moaned and started sucking him hard, taking all of him inside. “Keep doing that. Don’t stop.”
I could already taste his precum, and I moved my mouth around his tip so I could lick it off. “Mmm, you taste so good,” I purred, my eyes locked on his.
I pushed it back into my mouth and started my relentless rhythm as I brought him to his orgasm. “Alexis!” he cried out and his whole body became extremely rigid as I felt the first spurt of his sperm deep in my mouth.
“Now I expect you to return the favor,” I said and raised myself up, pushing my thong to the side.
I stood directly above his head, grabbed it with my hands, and pressed my drenched pussy against his face. “Yes...,” he tried saying, but his words came out muffled. I was moving my pussy up and down wildly, holding his head even tighter as the pleasure rose in me fast.
His five o’clock shadow made everything better, and the moment he darted his tongue out of his mouth and started licking me, I was already so close to orgasming and soaking his face. “Oh Zion, keep going.”
His mouth worked roughly on me—his teeth grazing my sensitive skin and his tongue hitting me punishingly—and I was seconds away from losing control.
“That’s it, Zion...” I moved frantically against his face, leaving my juices all over his mouth, nose, and chin. “I’m coming! Yes!”
I screamed as I fell apart, and my juices gushed out of my pussy. My whole body convulsed as my orgasm kept going. It lasted what seemed like forever—much longer than usual—and now I couldn’t hold myself anymore. My hole was just begging to be filled.
“You have no idea how good you look when you come. And there is nothing more delicious than your pussy. I need to feel you. Take that cock deep inside of you. Now.”
This time I was more than happy to obey him. His dick was already completely hard again, and I was ready for a wild ride. I lowered myself and straddled his waist, grabbing his cock into my hand. I jerked it several times and then I took it all at once.
“Alexis, baby... You are so amazing.”
I smiled and brought my lips to him. I gave him a light kiss at first as I moved my hips slowly on him, still teasing him a little, but then I kissed him rough, which matched the rhythm of my body moving on his.
I broke our heated kiss and placed my hands against his chest to support myself, rocking violently against him. I was riding him hard and fast, his huge cock filling me so deep that I felt like he was going to rip through me. The intensity of my pleasure was unbelievably high, and I didn’t care if I was too aggressive or fast. I just cared about these maddening sensations that were making me crazy for them. I wanted more, and as he began moving his hips to meet me, I was sure this was the most intense sex of my life.
We came at the same time—both hard and long—and our juices mixed together, filling me with slick, warm wetness.
As soon as my orgasm passed, my body felt exhausted and I slumped against his chest. Our erratic breathing matched, and we needed several moments before we could recover.
“You are so amazing,” he muttered and I grinned. “This was a great surprise. It was exactly what I needed after a really long night.”
“Well you are working the night shift again. Jesus when am I going to see you?” With me working days, and him nights, our time was limited. I was glad we were making
the best of it.
He smirked, his eyes gleaming slyly. “We’ll make it work, we’ll have the twilight hours I guess.”
His arms encircled me immediately, bringing me back against him.
“I guess we do.”
“And I’m not going anywhere Alexis, not to New York City, not even out of your bed. Not until you tell me to.”
I sighed, inhaling his scent, I didn’t think that would ever happen.
Twenty-Two
Six Months Later
Zion
“Yes, white roses will be fine, right honey?” I yelled to Alexis as she made breakfast.
“Sure,” she said as I heard another pancake being flipped.
“White roses are great Uncle Murray. Even Alexis agrees.”
“Have you spoken to your brothers? I don't think Aiden went to get his tux fitted.”
“That's probably because he already owns one, he doesn't need to rent one for our wedding, but I'll call Luke and make sure that he has one already too.”
“And the guest list? Have you finalized it?”
“You know that you're so much worse than the wedding planner. There are only thirty-five guests, and that includes the whole clan on my side and Alexis’s family plus a couple friends. You know we want it small.”
“Oh I wanted to tell you I looked into that girl you asked about, Penny, she’s doing well. Her mother kicked the boyfriend out and she’s going to counseling. Trying to get the kid back.”
“Good for her, I hope it works out for them.” And truly I did, her mother just seemed overwhelmed, not a terrible parent.
“How has your bear been? Since you popped the question?”
I lowered my voice, “Better, so much better. I can focus again. I don't have to worry about Changing in the living room. Or in bed, I was so afraid I was going to hurt her. But it's like as soon as I asked her everything fell into place. And I'm glad that she agreed to a short engagement. A month is perfect.”
“You did get lucky with that one. Now we just have one left.”
