by Jenna Jacob
James brushed his knuckles down my cheek. His tender affection bolstered my confidence, as if he’d placed a safety net beneath me.
“You don’t,” he whispered leaning in close to me. “I’m the one who guides you; one step at a time, and one day at a time. All right?”
From the moment Ian arrived, I felt as if I’d been tossed overboard, splashing to keep my head above water in a sea of rolling whitecaps, afraid that I’d drown before I reached dry land. James’ reassurance was the lifeline I’d been seeking. I felt ready for James to lead me through calmer seas. I might only be the vessel, but James was the captain, and I had complete faith that he would navigate me exactly where I needed to go.
“Okay,” I replied with conviction.
“I may not be able to change who I am, Liz, but I can shift my Dominance down into low gear. The one thing I can’t do is shut off my desire for you.”
James slanted his lips over mine, claiming me in a passionate, powerful kiss. When I parted my lips to greedily suck in his tongue, he pulled away.
“Don’t forget who’s in charge, gorgeous,” he reminded with a playful smile, then jumped out of the truck.
Charmed by the way James enjoyed flexing his Dom muscle, I knew he’d keep me on my toes. Opening the door, he helped me down from his truck, then walked me to the front porch.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at seven.”
Gripping my hair, he took possession of another kiss. There was nothing soft or sensual about this one. It was a clothes-tearing-make-my-pussy-come-to-life kind of kiss that James brought to a screeching halt all too soon.
Backing away, he whispered goodnight. James watched until I was safely inside and locked the door behind me. Peering out the window of the front room, I admired his gloriously broad shoulders, long muscular legs, and sexy fine ass as he swaggered back to his truck. Rubbing my palms together, I could still feel the heat of his naked flesh. I watched him drive away before turning toward my bedroom. Halfway down the hall, my cell phone rang. Racing back to the family room, I pulled it from my purse and dragged it to my ear without checking the caller ID.
“Miss me already?” I chuckled.
“Yes. It’s a fucking zoo here again tonight.” Cindy’s laughed.
Hearing her voice caught me off guard. I’d expected the call to be James.
“Oh honey,” I commiserated. “Do you need me to come in?”
“No. Hell no. That’s not why I called.” Cindy paused and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m on break and oh my god, Liz. You’re never going to believe what happened.”
“What? What is it?” I couldn’t help but grin.
“He asked me out. He fucking asked me out.” The excitement in Cindy’s voice held enough electricity to light up all of Vegas. “Oh my god, I thought I was going to pass out at his feet.”
I knew the ‘he’ Cindy was squealing about was none other than Dr. Samuel Brooks—the same man I suspected of being a member of Genesis. Fearing my bestie was unknowingly about to step off the side of a cliff, my duty to protect Sam’s anonymity chafed with the need to protect my friend. Desperate to warn her, I quickly reminded myself that all I had was supposition. And while I didn’t know a lot about the lifestyle, I knew outing a member of Genesis was a huge no-no.
“Sam finally asked you out?” I choked.
“Yes,” she squealed. “The only other man who makes me this freaking-assed hot is Gerard Butler. But I’d choose Sam over him, any day. Oh my god.”
“Details, woman,” I laughed, shoving my worries away to share in Cindy’s excitement.
“He asked me out five freaking minutes ago,” she gushed. “Oh my god, I can’t believe this. Okay, so he came down to check on a woman with a torn placenta. Evidently Sam didn’t know that Dr. Margolis was on call. Anyway, both of them were here in the ER and… Oh god, Liz.” Her voice quivered. “I can’t stop shaking.”
“Slow down,” I laughed. “Tell me step by step.”
Wearing a cheesy grin, I wandered back to my bedroom and plopped down on the bed.
“Okay, so once Sam saw that Margolis had everything under control, hot Dr. Brooks asked if he could have a word with me, privately. I wanted so bad to tell him the only place private was my bedroom, but then I thought maybe he wanted to make the first move. Or tell me in private to stop drooling every time I saw him. Hell, I didn’t know what he wanted. I was so damn nervous I thought I might throw up all over his shoes. So I followed him back to the supply room… walking on air, I might add, and when we stepped inside, he put big strong hands on my shoulders and stared into my eyes.”
“At which point, you stripped him naked and fucked his brains out, right?” I taunted.
“You have no idea how badly I wanted to do just that,” she laughed. “Oh, Liz, he’s so damn confident and assertive, it makes me tingle. He has this whole: I’m-in-charge thing that pours off him. It’s hot as hell.”
That’s because he’s a fucking Dom. I covered my hand over my mouth to keep the words from rolling off my tongue.
“I swear, I haven’t stopped shaking. After he left, I wanted ten minutes of alone time just to take the edge off… I think my toys are going to get a workout tonight. Hell, I might not even need toys. I could probably get off in five seconds just by replaying all the things he said and did to me.”
“What exactly did he say and do, Cindy?” I barked. Cringing, I prayed she didn’t hear the tone of panic in my voice.
“He stroked his big, soft fingers over my cheek. I swear there had to be electricity arcing off his touch. I was shaking and had goosebumps breaking out all over me. He gazed at me with those sparkling, sapphire eyes, and his voice turned all husky. He told me I was the sexiest, little chocolate kiss he’d ever seen. He said that he constantly dreams of me melting all over his tongue.”
Holy crap.
“I wanted to rip off my scrubs, grab him by the ears and drag him to my pussy so he didn’t have to dream about it a minute longer,” she groaned, then squealed. “He’s taking me out to dinner next Friday night. I’ve already put in for a PTO day, and if they don’t give it to me I’m going to call in sick. There’s no way I’m blowing this opportunity. Help me, Liz. What am I going to wear? Lord, I feel like a damn teenager going to prom.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her she sounded like one, too. We spent the rest of Cindy’s break discussing outfits for her date, giggling like a couple of high school girls.
“Oh, shit. EMT’s just brought another one in. I have to run. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you. Bye.”
“Bye,” I replied, but she’d already hung up.
After changing my clothes, I crawled into bed. My mind raced with thoughts of James, Ian, Cindy and the likely Dominant, Doctor Brooks. I couldn’t help but worry that she and I were racing down a one-way street—in the wrong damn direction. Time would tell.
#
At half past ten, the next morning, I was anxious to check on Trevor as I pulled into the hospital’s parking garage. I scanned my badge at the employee entrance of ICU, bypassing the waiting room once again. When I crossed the threshold into Trevor’s room, I discovered he wasn’t in bed. Behind the closed bathroom door, I heard water running and an indulgent male moan.
What the hell?
Rapping my knuckles on the door, I was ready to tear into Drake. It was much too soon for Trevor to be having sex.
“Drake. It’s Liz. Are you and Trevor in there?” I barked.
“Yes. Come on in,” he invited.
Pausing, I was afraid of what I’d find. Tentatively poking my head into the room, I spotted Trevor bent over the sink. The back of his hospital gown hung open, revealing his lily-white butt cheeks. Drake stood next to him, washing Trevor’s hair.
“Oh. You’re just washing his…um, never mind.”
As I quickly hauled my mind out of the gutter, Drake arched a brow and smirked. By his look alone, I knew he’d read my mind.
“Hey, Listh,” Tre
vor lisped, holding tight to the edge of the sink. “They won’t let me take a bath yet, but…”
“The dried blood on his scalp was driving my boy crazy,” Drake explained as he lightly massaged his thick fingers, covered in pink tinted bubbles, over Trevor’s scalp. “Don’t worry I’m being careful of his stitches. I’ve done this before.”
“We hear you kicked Ian… I mean that you met Ian lass night,” Trevor stated with a giggle as Drake snorted. “What did you think of him?”
“Um, yeah. I met him,” I replied, not bothering to give the gory details, which they obviously had already heard. “He seems like a nice guy.”
If you like pushy, cocky, and sarcastically, droll men.
“That must have been before you kicked him in the balls.” Drake grinned.
I groaned and my cheeks grew hot. “Actually it was after. News sure travels fast in the Genesis inner circle.”
“Only the good stuff,” Trevor replied as Drake rinsed the bubbles from his hair.
“It was all a big misunderstanding,” I explained.
“It serves his ass right for assuming you were someone else,” Drake replied with a wink.
“Well, if I’d have known he was Ian I —”
“Are you guys talking shit on me?” Ian interrupted. Moving in close behind me, he peeked into the bathroom before capturing me with a panty-melting stare. “Good morning, little one.”
A practiced smile settled over his lips, the same one that probably charmed dozens of women out of their clothes. And for a split second, I wanted to be one of those women. I couldn’t stop staring at his Italian suit or the way his sun-kissed skin glowed against the crisp, white cotton shirt. While his intensity scared the crap out of me, the man looked positively scrumptious.
“Morning,” I mumbled. Remembering the way he commanded me to strip the night before, I smoothed a hand through my hair, growing more nervous and self-conscious by the second.
“You were right, Drake. The pancakes in the cafeteria are to die for,” Ian announced, staring into my eyes. “Have you had breakfast yet, little one?”
“Um, no.” I shook my head.
“Come on. I’m buying.”
Without waiting for me to respond, Ian clutched my elbow. Electricity zipped up my arm while desire knotted and pulled at my belly. Ian drew me away from the bathroom door; I warred between wriggling free or burying my face against his neck to breathe in the scent of his sandalwood cologne.
“No, really. I’m fine. I don’t eat—”
“I insist,” he replied with a scowl, seemingly unaccustomed to women not following his command without question. Ian gave me a wink as I pursed my lips. “We’ll be back in a few.”
Drake absently nodded as he slowly twisted a towel around Trevor’s long, wet hair.
“Thank you, Daddy. I feel so much better now,” the young man sighed.
As Ian dragged me out the door, I watched Trevor wrap his thin, bruised arms around Drake’s chest and hug him. Ian began leading me toward the waiting room and I jerked free of his grasp, then shot him with a scowl.
“Are you deaf? I said I wasn’t hungry. I want to visit Trevor, not eat.” My tone was harsh and brittle.
Ian arched a brow, regarding me like a disgruntled parent watching their child throw a fit. While I hadn’t reached tantrum level, I was well on my way.
“I’m flattered you want to take me to breakfast, but for the last time, I’m not hungry.”
“Then I won’t force you to eat.” He smirked. “But you will join me. We need to talk.”
Gripping my arm again, Ian ushered me into the ICU waiting room. He didn’t pause to chat, simply led me past the familiar faces. I caught a quick glimpse of Mika and Julianna, each wore a look of confusion. I knew Ian wouldn’t give me time to explain. Spying Kerr standing behind the couple, undressing me with his eyes, I quickly lowered my gaze toward the floor. A shiver of revulsion quivered through me. When Ian and I reached the main hall, I yanked from his grasp once more.
The storm brewing inside me held all the markings of a hurricane…wild and lethal.
“Stop pushing me,” I hissed.
“Habit,” he replied with a shrug as we reached the elevator.
Ian leaned in behind me and pressed the ‘down’ button. Wrapped in his seductive scent, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. My body responded as he pressed in closer, and I inwardly cursed my infuriating attraction to the bossy, pig-headed jerk. Tensing, I reminded myself I couldn’t possibly give him what he wanted. I’d never allow him and James to share me or let them make me their whore.
Ian’s warm breath wafted over my ear. “You can try and fight me all you want, little one. But you’re not going to win.”
“I didn’t know we were at war,” I scoffed indignantly as the elevator doors opened.
Stepping in with Ian right behind me, I jammed my finger to the button that led to the cafeteria.
“War? No. I don’t fight subs, little one,” Ian growled.
He pinned me with a glare. My nipples throbbed in time with the ache between my legs. Damn it. It chapped my ass to be so damn susceptible to his command. I’d never met a man who oozed Dominance like Ian. Still, I couldn’t deny my fascination with the man and being unable to resist his allure made me feel weak. Growing claustrophobic in the tiny elevator, I needed to put a stop to this insanity, fast and final.
“You wanted to talk? You have my undivided attention, Ian, so talk,” I demanded, lifting my chin defiantly.
He leveled an ambiguous smirk my way. “My balls are doing much better today, girl. Thank you for asking.”
“Ah, so forcing me to have breakfast with you, is what… My penance?”
“If you feel it’s owed, sure. Why not?” He shrugged.
“I already apologized for—”
“And if I neglected to tell you last night; apology accepted. But that has nothing to do with what I need to discuss with you.”
“Let me guess. Lifestyle topics, correct?”
“Among other things.”
I found Ian’s evasive and strangely impassive attitude infuriating and childish. The elevator doors opened. Flashing him an impertinent roll of my eyes, I stormed past him and marched toward the cafeteria. The place was practically deserted.
“Are you going to decline a cup of coffee as well as food?”
“I never turn down caffeine,” I countered with a tight smile.
The corners of Ian’s mouth twitched. His smug expression left no doubt he reveled in toying with me. Like a cocky cat, Ian mistakenly thought I’d be a weak and timid mouse. The man was in for one hell of a surprise. With an inward growl, I readied myself for battle.
Whipping out his wallet, Ian paid for my coffee. The thought of owing him so much as a dime rankled. I gnashed my teeth. He chose a booth in a far empty corner of the room, way beyond earshot of others. Sliding onto the padded seat, I sipped the steaming brew, then arched my brows, anxious for Ian to begin.
He opened his mouth, then paused, as if re-thinking what he’d wanted to say. Snapping his lips together, he simply stared at me.
“What? Spit it out,” I snapped.
“Why are you so edgy? Do I make you nervous?” he asked. Ian’s dark brows slashed as his sinfully, sexy eyes shimmered with concern.
“No.” Not nervous, just intimidated, and horny as hell.
He wore his Dominance as impeccably as his expensive, tailored suit. Authority sizzled off his entire body and slammed into me, causing my legs to shake beneath the table. Gazing at his insanely good looks, my angry armor began to chip and peel. Needing to cling tight to my resolve, I tried to picture him as a toad, with warts and bumpy skin. It didn’t work. I couldn’t temper the urge to lean over the table and slide my tongue over his sensual lips and every inch of exposed flesh.
Focus, damn it.
“I—I’m irritated that I didn’t have time to talk with Trevor before you hauled me off.”
Ian smiled, softly.
“You might have time to visit with him once we’re done here, little one.”
Little one. His phrase sent a rush of heat up my body that coalesced behind my clit, the exact same way as when James called me Good girl.
Sitting with Ian made my skin tight…made me itch. I could easily loathe the man, if he didn’t make me so fucking wet.
“Then get on with it, before I need a walker or a wheelchair,” I sniped. “What exactly did you haul me down here for?”
A flicker of anger darted across his dark eyes, setting off a wild rush of excitement wrapped in a twinge of fear. Ian clasped his hands, squeezing so hard his fingers turned purple.
“Listen, my pretty, little slut,” Ian bit out between clenched teeth.
Slut? Why you son of a bitch. If you were standing up, I’d kick you in the balls again.
Had any man other than Ian called me that name, he’d be wearing the print of my hand across his face. The entire phrase slowly bled through my rage. Pretty little slut? What the hell did that mean? Was his oxymoron some kind of backhanded compliment?
“I’ve had enough of your smart-assed insolence. Knock it off, or I swear to god I’ll yank you across my lap and paddle your sexy ass here and now. Do I make myself clear?” His expression was like granite, stony and unforgiving, but his low, uncompromising growl unraveled something salacious and dirty inside. And fuck if it didn’t turn me on even more.
“Yes, Sir.”
Shit. Why did I address him as Sir?
His nostrils flared as he inhaled a powerful breath. The anger lining his face morphed to a look of approval, and sent a sense of pride to tingle through me.
“Much better.” Pausing, Ian took a sip of his coffee, then slid a hungry gaze over my face and down my breasts. I felt the heat of his desire, all the way to my toes. The man had the power to strip me naked with just one look. “I want to discuss you, me, and James.”
