Cop's Passion

by Angela Verdenius

  What an arsehole. He ought to ream Tim a new one. Like when he got out of this damned hospital.

  Switching his gaze from the doorway to Maddy, he found her watching him closely. He smiled. “Kiss?”

  “You’re really something, aren’t you?” She rolled her eyes but he could see the concern in them when she moved up to him and bent to brush her lips across his forehead.

  Just the feel of those silken lips on his brow made his heart beat faster. Mike sighed. “I really want to kiss you properly, but…”

  “The bottom of the cocky’s cage?”

  He nodded. “Pretty considerate of me, huh?”

  Maddy rolled her eyes again and retrieved the bag from the bed. Delving into it, she pulled out articles and put them away as she did so. “Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, clean boxers, and by the way, you don’t have any pyjamas at your place.”

  “Don’t need any.” He grinned. “I run hot.” He’d have waggled his eyebrows except for the stiches pulling.

  “You don’t say,” she returned dryly. “Here’s a book I found half read by your bed, and a couple of motorcycle magazines I picked up at the local newsagent.”

  “Wow. You’re really organised, aren’t you?” He watched her moving around the room, enjoying the feeling of being looked after by Maddy. Having her handling his things and choosing what she thought he needed made it so much more comfortably intimate.

  “Nurse, remember?” She arranged the little pot of flowers on the ledge opposite the bed. “I know how stir-crazy cranky patients can get without something to amuse them.”

  “I’m not cranky.”

  “You think?”

  Mike frowned. “Ouch.”

  “Stop scowling and your stitches won’t hurt.”

  “Aren’t nurses supposed to be all warm and sympathetic and stuff?”

  “I’m not all nurses.”

  He couldn’t help but grin again, his gaze running over her curves. “Nope. You’re my nurse. All mine.”

  She arched a brow at him, amusement in her eyes even as she tried to look stern. “You’re too sick to flirt.”

  “My head may hurt, but my boner is working just fine.”

  Involuntarily she glanced down at his lap, blushing when he laughed.

  Laughing made his head ache so he frowned again. And that made his stitches pull.

  “You look so petulant right now.” Smiling, Maddy took up the glass of water and sat down on the bed beside his hip. Resting her hand on the ribbed muscles of his belly, she patted him like a colicky baby. “Better?”

  Oh yeah, much better. In fact, if she didn’t stop it he might just get that boner after all. “Yes.”

  “Here.” She held the glass for him and he took a little sip of the water.

  Yep, even the water tasted better when she held it.

  The time passed much more pleasantly with Maddy beside him. She helped steady him and push the IV stand when he first got up to go to the toilet, though he refused to allow her to stand by his side in the bathroom.

  “Jesus,” he said. “My pecker isn’t for show and tell, you know.”

  “I’m not going to be looking at your pecker,” she returned bluntly.

  “You’re not watching me on the ‘loo.”

  “I’m a nurse, Mike, for crying out loud.”

  “No nurse is watching me whiz away. You’re not watching me whiz away. I draw a line.”

  “Fine time to draw one now. What if you fall on your arse?”

  “That’s my problem. And I won’t.”

  “I’m not kissing it better if you do.”

  His grin was wolfish. “I’d kiss yours better.”

  Her blush filled her cheeks. “That’s because you’re a pervert.”

  “I’ll drag you down into the depths of depravity with me.”

  “You must be better if you can say big words like that.”

  He halted in the doorway to the bathroom. “Stop right here. I’m going the rest of the way alone.”

  “Fine. Whatever.” She threw up her hands.

  When Mike finished washing his hands and brushing his teeth, he staggered back out to find his bed neatly re-made and the nurse and Maddy both waiting for him.

  “Reinforcements,” Maddy said when he looked inquiringly at the nurse. “In case you fell on your arse.”

  The nurse couldn’t stop the wide grin from crossing her face.

  Mike scowled. “Ouch.”

  “Come on, precious.” Maddy took his arm and patted the bed. “Lie down.”

  The nurse left as soon as Mike was back in the bed. He patted the mattress beside his hip and crooked his finger at her. “I’m lonely.”

  Sitting beside him, he saw the amusement leave her eyes as she looked gravely down at him. “Tim told me that you didn’t want your mother called unless something dire happened.”

  Mike shrugged. “My mother and I don’t get on too well. She remarried and, well, there’s no point having her here, crying and carrying on about how if I hadn’t become a cop I wouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed.” He shrugged again. “Not very restful when you are lying in a hospital bed.”

  “Huh.” She regarded him steadily and he mentally girded himself for some personal questions which he didn’t feel like answering right now, but she simply nodded. “Understood.”

  And damned if she really did seem to understand.

  Man, that was his Maddy.

  She left not long after, but not without first making him take the pain pill he argued with the nurse about, because he didn’t want any damned pill. The nurse was a little nervous when he looked so intimidating, but Maddy simply grabbed the pill cup and told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t take the damned thing, she’d hold his nose shut like a little kid and then he’d feel a right fool. So he took it. And scowled. And his stitches pulled. She started to laugh, kissed him on the brow and told him sternly to get some rest, and then she left. Without her the room was duller, the atmosphere just plain boring.

  Feeling tired, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

  Two hours later he was woken to have a penlight shone into his eyes and more stupidly obvious questions to answer.

  He hated hospitals.

  Chapter Seven

  Maddy was seeing a new side of Mike. The big, tough cop didn’t like hospitals. In fact, he almost had a phobia about them. And he was one of the worst patients.

  It wasn’t that he meant to be, he just didn’t want anyone fussing over him unless, it had to be truthfully acknowledged, it was Maddy. He also didn’t like taking medication for his headache, so the nurses simply waited until Maddy came and she made him take it. It helped that she could tell him exactly what she thought, whereas the nurses had to stay within their professional boundaries. It also helped that she wasn’t intimidated by his dangerous looks and forbidding manner.

  It was obvious that the only people who weren’t intimidated by him were Rick, Tim, Maddy, Cherry, Alan and a couple of other cop friends who visited and left him with dubious gifts to keep him amused.

  Maddy wasn’t so sure the Playboy magazine was a good choice, not when they featured slim girls in skimpy bikinis and a lot less. To be truthful, when she first caught a glimpse of one on Mike’s bedside she felt immediately lacking. Until she saw Mike’s eyes light up at the sight of her, and realised that Tim had been reading the magazine earlier because Mike wasn’t interested. And when Mike kissed her hello, well, it was so deep and hot and damp that she came up gasping for air and yes, he was definitely happy to see her, as evidenced by the stiffening of his shaft against her soft belly. Which she wouldn’t have felt if he hadn’t just dragged her down on top of him for the kiss.

  But the man was definitely bored, grumpy and fidgety. Lying in a hospital bed was driving him nuts.

  “Cripes,” Maddy said on the third day. “It’s like looking after a cranky baby.”

  Mike scowled. “Ouch.”

  Cherry was tr
ying not to laugh. “Don’t scowl and your stitches won’t hurt.”

  “It’s a con job,” Maddy said firmly from the chair in which she sat by his bedside. “Those stitches shouldn’t hurt much now.”

  Mike slid a glance her way. “I want to go home.”

  Maddy smiled. “Actually, Rick and I have been talking.”

  “You’re calling my doctor by his first name? When did you get so friendly?”

  “When we all started to suffer from your crankiness and I found out during one of our mutual crying sessions that the poor man was also your friend.”

  “Huh. And I’m not cranky. I’m bored. I want to go home.”

  “Then you’ll be happy to know that you’re being given your freedom.” Rick entered the room.

  Maddy watched in amusement as Mike’s face lit up. Well, as lit up as his dangerous countenance could light up. “About time.” Flinging the covers back, he stood up. “Let’s go, Maddy.”

  “Hang on.” Rick held up one hand. “There are a few things you need to do when you leave here.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?” Mike peered into the cupboard. “Where’re my clothes?”

  Maddy nudged the bags at her feet. “Here.”

  “How come you didn’t put them in the cupboard earlier?”

  “Because I thought you might do a runner.” She handed him the bags.

  Pulling out a t-shirt, long pants and socks, Mike eyed her closely. “You’ve got a suspicious streak in you.”

  “I call it intuition.” Leaning back in the chair, Maddy listened to Rick instructing Mike on his post-hospital care. She’d already gone through it with Rick, so she could sit back and just watch Mike get dressed.

  That was an experience in itself, watching his muscles flex and bunch, his strong body bend and straighten as he dressed. She wished she could see those muscles bunch and flex when he made love to her. Just the thought made her squirm in the chair and she quickly focussed on Rick’s words to bring her suddenly quickened heart rate under control.

  Geez, if anyone knew what she’d just been thinking…

  Glancing up, she caught Mike watching her, his expression unreadable, and she couldn’t stop the flush that filled her cheeks.

  He smiled slow and easy before returning his gaze to Rick.

  Uh-oh, had he guessed even a little of what she’d been thinking? How embarrassing when she was supposed to be taking him home and caring for him!

  “So,” Rick was saying. “You can’t stay home alone all the time, not for another couple of days at least, so Maddy has kindly offered to keep an eye on you.”

  “Okay.” Mike’s gaze slid over to her, a dangerous glint in them. “No worries.”

  Good grief, she could almost see the lust and challenge combined in that glint. She suddenly realised she might have her hands full. What on earth had ever made her think differently? She’d just have to make him behave himself and not give in to his advances. Somehow. Damn it, she was a professional, she could do it. All she had to do was see him as her patient. Maddy narrowed her eyes at him warningly.

  He gave her the faintest of smiles before returning his attention to Rick.

  “Now,” Rick continued, apparently not having noticed the silent exchange, “According to what the nurses tell me, your headache is gone. Correct?”

  “Yep.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Mike pulled on his boots. “I’m fine.”

  “You need to take things easy,” Rick continued. “If the headaches come back, or you get confused, nauseous or dizzy, you’re to come straight back to the hospital.” His grin was sudden. “Maddy knows what to look for.”

  Mike arched a brow at her. “Is that so?”

  Oh boy, going by his expression she just knew that he wasn’t going to be easy to control at home. “You don’t do as you’re told and I’ll have your arse back here so fast your head will be spinning.”

  His eyes grew more intense as he slowly straightened. Fully dressed and standing, he suddenly looked completely in control and his expression was totally unreadable. Yep, he was trying to intimidate her.

  Whatever. Determined to retain control over the situation, Maddy smiled and gave him a little wave.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Your boss tells me you have two weeks sick leave.” Rick handed the observation chart to Cherry. “So you can go. Maddy made your appointment for your pre-work check-up already. Any problems, you can always call me at home.” He glanced at Maddy. “Any problems at all.”

  “Thank you.”

  They both nodded and left the room.

  Maddy stood up and watched as Mike picked up the two bags and came around the bed. He stopped directly in front of her to gaze down. The heat from his body almost seemed to seek her out.

  “So you’re in charge, huh?”

  “Right now, yes.” Her heart skipped a beat when he smiled slightly, and it certainly wasn’t an easy smile. It was sinful.

  “Right now is a very short time.” Turning suddenly, he started to retrieve his few things and pack them in the bags.

  Maddy helped. “It’s long enough for you to get better.”

  “Trust me, sweet little Maddy, it’s going to be a very short time.” Sliding his book into the bag she held, he leaned down and kissed her slowly, lingeringly. “Two weeks off,” he breathed against her mouth. “And you looking after me. Let’s see how long you remain in charge.”

  Hoo boy, her heart was skipping all over the place at his nearness and the hot, delicious insinuation of his words.

  Before she could even think of a retort, his arm was around her, his big hand resting in the small of her back. Both bags in one big hand, he turned her to the door. “Let’s go, Maddy. I can’t wait to get home and have you take care of me.”

  She took a deep breath to marshal her scattered thoughts and managed to say calmly, “I think we may have totally different ideas about this care.”

  His chuckle was deep and dark. “Trust me, I think my idea is much better.”

  “Yeah, well trust me, my idea is what we’ll be going with.” She titled her head back to frown up at him. “You’re still recovering from concussion.”

  His grin was as dark as his chuckle.

  “If you’re not going to behave-”

  “I will.” When she looked dubiously at him, he added, “For now.”

  Knowing that was the best she was going to get out of him, Maddy shook her head and remained silent. All she had to do was remain in control. Good grief, she was an experienced nurse, how hard could it be?

  His hand brushed over her bottom.

  Uh-oh.

  Out in the car park, Mike got into the passenger side of the car without protest and his big frame and long legs took up almost the whole of the passenger side space. Maddy slid behind the steering wheel. He was silent as they buckled up and she was intensely aware of him beside her as they pulled out of the car park and onto the road. A sideways glance showed him looking out of the window, some of the tension in his face eased.

  “You really don’t like hospitals, do you?”

  “Hate ‘em. Too many sick people there.”

  “You weren’t exactly bursting with health when we brought you there,” she pointed out.

  “That brings me to a little topic.” He turned to face her, resting easily against the door. “You brought me out in public wearing nothing but my boxers.”

  Maddy pulled up at the stop lights. “You weren’t exactly parading around in them, you know.”

  “You could have at least put some pants on me.”

  “You had concussion and you’re worried about being in your boxers? Seriously?”

  “It’s the idea. And you should keep your eyes on the lights.”

  “The lights are red. Your boxers have more material than budgie smugglers on the beach.”

  “But I wasn’t on the beach. The light is green.”

  “I know the light is green.” Maddy accelerated. “Besides, only me, Alan and the par
amedics saw you in your boxers.”

  “And everyone in the A & E. Isn’t this our exit?”

  “Not when I’m driving. And don’t exaggerate, not everyone in the A & E saw you. What, you’re a little sensitive about your yellow ducky boxers?”

  “Wouldn’t you be?”

  “I don’t have yellow ducky boxers.” She indicated and exited the highway before she shot him a quick glance to see a slow smile curve his firm, yet oh-so kissable, lips.

  “You have lace panties.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “So?”

  “And cute bras with little bows right in the middle.”

  “Are we really discussing underwear? Isn’t there anything else you’d rather talk about?”

  “Sure. You do know this is a sixty kilometre zone, don’t you?”

  Shit. Maddy slowed down a little.

  “And my exit would be a quicker way home.”

  “Let’s change the subject again.” Geez.

  “Sure. I can’t wait to see you without clothes on.”

  “Mike!”

  “Wow, you really like to chop and change the conversation, don’t you?” He laughed.

  He was going to drive her insane. “You know, when I first met you, you were scary, big, and scowled a lot. Now you’re irritating, big, and scowl a lot.”

  “Really? Want to know what I thought about you?”

  “Are we going to have a fight? Because I’m warning you, fighting in a moving car isn’t a good idea.”

  His laugh was low, deep and full of amusement.

  Shaking her head, her lips twitching in spite of herself, Maddy indicated and turned onto their street. Within minutes she’d pulled into his driveway.

  “You could’ve parked in your driveway,” he objected.

  Unsnapping his seat belt, Maddy couldn’t resist leaning across and patting his cheek lightly. “Sweetie, just do as you’re told. I’m in charge, remember?”

  Oh yeah, that had his eyes narrowing.

  “Don’t pout, honey.” Unsnapping her seatbelt, she got out of the car and leaned back down to look at him. “If you’re really good and go to bed to rest, I’ll make you something nice for dinner.” She almost laughed out loud at his expression.