“How many patients have you comforted over the years, Doctor Newman?”
She swiped the back of her hand over her wet eyes and cheeks. God, she was tired all of a sudden.
Dex squeezed her slightly. “Answer me. How many patients have you comforted?”
“I don’t know. It’s part of my job.”
“Then consider this part of mine.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Why is it stupid? You need comfort, and you came to me. I’m here, I’m available, and I’m willing.”
“Fine then. Make me forget what I saw in my house tonight.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she bit her tongue. “Wait. I didn’t mean…”
Dex slid his hand down from her waist, then up again, but this time under her sweatshirt. She sucked in her breath when his warm, slightly roughened palm touched her belly.
“That I can do, Shelly, if that’s what you need. I understand what it is to feel alone and scared. I’m here for you tonight. Call it recourse for the way I treated you these last months.”
She shook her head. “You made up for that already.” Her muscles tightened when he rubbed just his thumb against the sensitive flesh below her breast. “You took me to dinner, and you apologized. You shouldn’t… I can’t… My job…”
“What do you need, Shelly?” he whispered in her ear. “I swear to God what happens here tonight will stay here forever. I’m not your patient right now, and you’re not my doctor.”
After a few moments, he started to move his hand away, but she grabbed it and held it in place. She wanted to be touched right now more than anything. To be held against his warm, solid chest. And it had been so long…
“Your call, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.
She bit her lip while she tried to list all the reasons. Reasons that all led back to forgetting for a little while all of her responsibilities. All of her fears. All of her heartaches.
Closing her eyes, she laced her fingers with his over her belly and raised his hand so it covered her breast. Heat surged through her at that one simple touch, and her breath caught. She shivered and pressed his hand more firmly as her nipple hardened.
He moved slightly behind her, and then she felt his breath on her neck an instant before his lips, warm and soft, touched the tender, sensitive flesh just below her ear.
Tingles raced over her skin, down her side, between her thighs, and she moaned. He licked her neck, teasing the tendon with his tongue and teeth when she tilted her head to give him better access. Her breathing sped a little, and heat infused her body. She kicked at the covers until her legs were free.
His teeth nipped at her earlobe as he lightly pinched and plucked at her nipple. She ground her ass against him and felt his erection long and hard. Another moan pulled from her throat. Thoughts scattered, and all she could think about was getting more, getting satisfaction, getting rid of the aching need building through her entire body just from his warm, sensual caresses.
“How much do you want, Shelly?” he whispered in her ear.
“More. All of it.” She took his hand and pushed it downward, into her sweatpants. “Please, Dex. Just this once. It’s been so long…”
“Shh.” He pulled his fingers from hers and softly petted her mound. “I’m right here.”
She whimpered and pushed at his hand while she spread her legs. She didn’t care if she acted like a wanton. She needed this more than she’d ever needed a man in her life. This was so different from using her vibrator. He was warm, gentle, and he made her tingle all over. Her battery-operated toy never made her tingle behind her knees or her nipples so hard they ached.
A soft chuckle rumbled up from his chest as he slowly inched his fingers downward to her labia. “Impatient, aren’t you?”
She nodded and held his hand down there, bucked her hips when just his fingertips teased between her pussy lips. With her free hand, she tugged at her nipples since he only had one hand to work with. His other arm was beneath her neck, and she liked being held too much to change positions just yet.
His middle finger dipped into her, and she let out a soft yelp at the shocking intrusion of pure pleasure. “Oh, my God…”
When his thumb flicked against her clit, and his finger delved deep into her core, she turned her face into the pillow and bit down to stifle a louder cry as flames of heat and need and lust licked through her.
He nipped the back of her neck. He pumped his fingers. His thumb made tight, hard circles over her clit. She pinched her own nipples and thrust her hips against his hand, against the hard ridge of his cock behind her. He grunted once, hissed, then bit her shoulder.
She screamed as the orgasm tore through her. Bright lights fired off behind her eyelids, and she rode his hand like a hussy.
The room fell deathly silent except for her gasps for air. Dex’s hand was trapped between her thighs, his fingers still embedded in her as her nerve endings fluttered and her muscles clenched in a softening rhythm.
A gentle kiss landed on her neck just behind her ear. “Better now?” he whispered.
She nodded and forced her breathing and heart rate to slow. “So much better,” she muttered, still holding her own breasts in her palms. A soft laugh escaped when she realized what she was doing, and she pulled her hands from beneath her sweatshirt. Then she spread her thighs, and when he slowly slid his fingers from within her, letting them glide over her clit in silky warmth, she shuddered and moaned.
Reaching behind her, she laid her palm over his erection and closed her fingers. He wore only a pair of briefs.
But Dex grabbed her wrist and brought her arm around her front. “Go to sleep, Shelly,” he murmured, tucking her in close to his body but keeping a firm hold on her wrist.
“Don’t you want…?”
“Hush now. Go to sleep.” He kissed her neck again. “It’s late, and you have a lot to do tomorrow.”
She was too tired to argue, and her body too languid. “G’night, Dex,” she murmured.
“’Night, sweetheart.”
It was very easy to fall asleep in Dex’s arms, his soft breathing in her ear, his arms forming a cushion of safety around her.
At nine in the morning, though, reality intruded when Shelly opened her eyes to see the furry wall of a man’s chest, feel the warmth of a body along hers, and she realized she’d had sexual relations with her patient.
Chapter Seven
Shelly tilted her head back to look up into Dex’s face, and almost sighed in relief that he seemed sound asleep. Her heart thudded so hard, she feared it would awaken him, but she was able to scoot backwards, away from his warmth, and ease off of the bed without jostling it enough to wake him up.
What had she done?
He lay there, his eyes closed, his face relaxed in sleep. He had to be the best looking man she’d ever slept with. And sleep she had. So very soundly. But in the light of day, her stomach turned and guilt and fear warred with the fact that she wanted to crawl back into bed with him and kiss those soft, sensual lips.
No!
She turned and fled the bedroom, her feet not making a sound on the thick rug. She made her way upstairs to the room she’d originally chosen and grabbed up her bag, stuffing yesterday’s clothes into it. She’d shower at the hospital before she went to see Babs. Her hands shook as she zipped her suitcase. She’d slept with a patient. She’d begged him to do what he’d done. He’d opened his home to her, and she’d taken advantage.
She went back down the stairs, set her suitcase by the door, then unplugged her laptop and started packing it away in the case.
“Hey.”
She froze. “Hey.”
“You want some breakfast? Coffee? It’ll just take a few minutes to brew.”
“Thank you, no.” She finished stuffing her cords into the laptop case and zipped it closed. “I’ve got to get to the hospital. I promised Babs I’d be there.” She shoved the laptop into her suitcase and reached for her boots
.
When silence reigned until she had her jacket and hat on, she finally turned to see Dex wearing a pair of sweatpants. He sat shirtless in his chair near the sofa. “Thank you.” What else could she say?
“You’re welcome to stay here until you get a security system installed.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Really.” Not after what she’d done last night. “I appreciate the offer more than you know, but I just…can’t.”
He nodded in response, his hands set lightly on the wheels of his armless wheelchair. He had that very open, incredibly vulnerable look in his eyes.
She took the few steps separating them, leaned down and kissed his forehead, then turned away to grab her suitcase. “I’ll see you Monday.”
“Yeah. Of course.”
She rushed out into the breath-stealing cold and blinding sun. At least the snow had stopped, she thought as the brightness made her head hurt. She rushed into the hospital, straight to the physical therapy room, and headed for the shower in the women’s changing room. The hot water felt good against her skin, but it took all her will to block out the residual sensations of Dex’s hands on her. It had been so good. Felt so right in that moment.
Never in her life had she made such a stupid ass mistake! She knew better. She lived by the rules. Sure, she’d had involvement with other doctors, a male nurse, and even a sexy orderly once, but never had she crossed the patient/doctor line. Not ever. And now she needed to figure out what the hell to do about it.
Should she keep working with Dex? He needed her. She could help him. But wouldn’t it be way too uncomfortable for both of them? And if she stopped his care, he’d have to go twenty miles to the nearest physical therapist. How would he get there?
“What have I done?” she whispered into the water. “What the hell have I done?”
Should she tell the chief of staff? Dorothy Bells was a tough administrator who hailed from one of the most prestigious hospitals on the eastern seaboard. If Shelly confessed to her, she’d lose her job.
She turned off the water and stood there dripping a few minutes. Maybe that was what she deserved. Maybe she should resign and search for another job in another town. Something closer to her parents. It would solve two problems, at any rate. Get her away from Dex, and from the stalker who was getting too bold and incredibly terrifying.
She grabbed her towel from the top of the door and stepped out into the chilly bathroom. Her long hair clung to her head and shoulders, but it was her eyes that caught her attention in the full-length mirror.
They sparkled. Shone with something she hadn’t seen in way too long. Satisfaction? There were no dark circles under them, either, which was new. Lately her nearly forty was looking like crawling up on fifty.
Okay, maybe that was pushing it, but she looked good this morning. Hell, other than the turmoil about the stalker and crossing the line with Dex, she felt good.
She swiped the towel over her face and turned away from the mirror. She’d make a decision by the end of the day, she promised herself. Some decision about something.
Her clothes were wrinkled from being crammed into her suitcase, so she slipped her sweat suit back on to go to her office and grab her spare set of scrubs. She stepped out of the bathroom and froze, her foot poised over the ivory envelope sitting just outside the door. Right fucking there! He’d been in the therapy room while she was naked in the shower in an unlocked bathroom!
She stared at the envelope for a long moment, her stomach quivering and the little hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. It was the same handwriting on the front, same ivory recycled paper envelope. She slowly bent to pick it up then went to her office.
She locked the door behind her, dropped the envelope onto her desk, then collapsed in her chair and stared at the damn thing. She refused to open it. She’d had enough. If Paul didn’t still need it for evidence, she’d burn the damn thing.
She almost never came to the hospital on a Saturday, which meant the bastard was following her. Waiting for her, at the very least. He had known she was in that changing room and right where to leave the damn envelope for her to find it.
She needed to talk to Chief Bells on Monday. The therapy room needed to be locked up when she wasn’t there, and she didn’t have a key.
After she’d put on her shoes and socks, she went back to the changing room, gathered up her clothes and suitcase, locked them in her office, then headed off to see Babs with the mp3 player full of new music. Shelly called Paul from her cell and left him a voicemail about the envelope.
Fuck you, stalker asshole. You will not break me!
* * * * *
By six that night, her bravado had died. She’d spent the day with the kids. Four hours in the dialysis clinic while Babs went through her first treatment, and the rest of the time playing games and watching movies with the three of them. Babs was still tired but felt better after her first dialysis. Though she hated the treatment, the girl knew it worked and would eventually make her feel better.
When Shelly stepped out of the hospital carrying her suitcase, fear settled over her. She’d parked under a streetlight as usual, but she still checked the backseat and cargo area before getting into the Bronco and locking herself in.
Paul had come by the hospital and picked up the latest envelope that morning, again telling her if she needed anything to call him or Celeste. What she needed now was another bed to sleep in. She’d called the security company he’d suggested the night before, but they couldn’t install the system until Monday morning.
So she had two more nights before she’d feel safe in her house. If she felt safe in her house even with an alarm hooked up to the police station.
After a stop at the grocery store to pick up a rotisserie chicken and the trimmings, she headed toward Celeste’s house. But when she pulled up outside, all the lights were out except the fluorescent one they always left on over the sink.
Of course. Date night. She could call Celeste’s cell, but now she really didn’t want to intrude on the couple’s time together.
Shit.
She turned her truck in the direction of the SleepyTime Motel. Once again, the parking lot was empty. They hadn’t even bothered to plow it after three days of snowfall. Obviously they weren’t ready for guests. She’d stayed there three nights when she first moved to Cooper Valley. In retrospect, she wondered now just how sound the locks were. Would they stop someone intent on getting to her? The door hadn’t even had a safety chain.
Fuck.
She drove all the way to her place and parked out front. Could she go in there and spend the night knowing that some creep knew how to bust into her house with no consequences?
No. She’d probably be dead—or worse—by morning. She could handle death. It was the or worse that terrified her.
The scent of chicken made her stomach growl. She’d eaten nothing all day but a gallon of coffee and a few bites of salt-free, fat-free, taste-free mystery meatloaf the kids had for lunch.
Then again, would the stalker really hurt her? So far he’d only sent love notes and flowers…
Don’t be stupid! She’d watched enough made-for-TV movies to know better than to be so naïve.
She put the truck into gear and headed toward Dex’s house. Then drove right past it out of town en route to the Hilton in the next town. About four miles later, she turned back. She didn’t want to be alone. She was safe at Dex’s. He had a security system. Hell, he probably had a gun, too.
She parked behind a beat-up pickup truck in front of Dex’s house, grabbed the bag of dinner she’d planned to offer to Celeste and Paul in return for a place to sleep, and headed up the walkway.
The guy who opened the door when she rang the bell wasn’t Dex, though. Nope, this guy was standing, about six-foot-four, and lean in a very athletic looking way from what she could see under his flannel shirt and faded blue jeans.
“Who are you?” she blurted.
The guy grinned, but it didn’t exten
d to his dark, almost menacing eyes. “I could ask you the same thing, gorgeous.”
She frowned and took a step back. She would have fallen right off the porch if he hadn’t reached out and grabbed the front of her coat in his fist.
“Don’t,” she screamed and brought up the bag of food to clock him upside the head, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against his chest.
Terror ripped through her, and she dropped the chicken so she could grab at him with her hand, while she shouted at him to let her go.
“What the hell are you doing?” The angry question came from behind her attacker.
“Help me, Dex!” she cried as she kicked at her captor’s shin, trying to get a shot at his groin with her knee.
The guy twisted, taking her with him, and practically threw her inside the house, where she stumbled and landed against Dex, who sat only a few feet away in his wheelchair. She jumped up fighting, ready to defend Dex, and ran at the guy.
“Shelly. Stop.”
Dex’s command stopped her just short of going for the asshole’s face. She’d gouge his eyes out if he laid a finger on Dex.
“Shelly, this is my very good friend, Agent Kevin Strunk. DEA.”
Her breaths sawed in and out of her lungs as she glared at the tall man who’d grabbed her.
Slowly, Dex’s words sank in. And so did the humiliation. Her chin started trembling, and tears stung her eyes.
“Oh, God,” she said on a soft breath as she turned to look at Dex. “Oh.”
He held out his hand to her. When she didn’t move toward him, he wiggled his fingers in a come-hither motion. “It’s okay.”
She moved closer to him, and he wrapped his arm around her. “Kev, meet my friend, Doctor Shelly Newman. She’s got a stalker and is a little jumpy. She’s staying here a few nights until a security system is installed in her house. Right?” he added, looking up at her.
Slowly she nodded, trying desperately to get her emotions under control. Her whole body shook from the adrenaline rush. “I brought dinner,” she said, her throat tight. “It’s…” She pointed toward the door.
Dangerous Intentions Page 7
