Nick stood up so she could get past him and felt his heart squeeze out a couple of extra beats when her arm brushed his chest. He must have made some sort of sound because she suddenly looked up and it was like being struck by lightning when their eyes met. He wasn’t even aware of moving as he took hold of Katie’s hand and led her back to the dance floor. Maybe they floated there on air but all of a sudden they were standing in the middle of the throng and it felt the most natural thing in the world to take her in his arms. He drew her towards him and was overcome by pleasure when he realised how perfectly her body fit with his, as though they were two interlocking pieces of the same jigsaw. His eyes misted with sudden tears and he had to blink hard because it felt as though he’d suddenly found a part of him that had been missing.
He drew her even closer, too overcome by the wonder of it all to speak. He couldn’t hear the music playing now because of the pounding of his heart but it didn’t really matter. They were dancing to their own beat, their own rhythm, and that was more important than anything else. They circled the floor a couple of times before the music ended but Nick couldn’t bear to let her go and stood there with his arms around her while he waited for another track to begin. Katie didn’t say a word the whole while and her silence was the sweetest thing he’d ever heard because it just seemed to prove how in tune they were with each other.
The DJ put another record on the deck, a slow number this time that brought more couples onto the floor, but he and Katie had their own little space and nobody invaded it. Nick let his hands rest lightly on the back of her waist as they danced together—one step, two—and suddenly each step was pure torture when every time they moved he could feel her body pressing so invitingly against his. Heat flooded through him because there was no way he could hide what was happening to him and he wasn’t sure how Katie would feel about his obvious desire for her…And then he felt the hard points of her nipples pressing against his chest and realised that she was every bit as aroused as he was.
‘If I don’t get you somewhere private soon then I’m going to pass out!’ he gritted out from between tightly clenched teeth.
‘And we wouldn’t want that to happen, would we?’ She smiled up at him, her grey eyes shimmering with laughter and passion so that Nick groaned out loud in despair.
‘Don’t look at me like that! Can’t you tell that I’m a man in extremis?’
‘Then we’d better do something about it, hadn’t we?’ She took his hand and led him through the crowd. Nick saw several people glance at them but he didn’t care what anyone thought. He loved Katie and wanted to be with her and that was all that mattered.
They hurried across the hotel’s lobby, stopping only long enough to collect Katie’s coat before leaving the hotel. As luck would have it there was a taxi pulling up outside so Nick opened the door and Katie got in while he told the driver where to take them. The drive back to the hospital was even quicker than the journey there but to Nick it felt as though a whole year had passed by the time they drew up in front of the hospital. He paid the driver then, hand in hand, they walked back to the staff wing where he let them in. He stopped and turned Katie to face him, wanting her to be completely sure about what they were doing. ‘If this isn’t what you want, Katie, then just say so.’
‘But it is. I don’t have any doubts, Nick, but how about you? Are you sure this is the right thing for you?’
‘Yes. I’m sure. I want this, Katie. I want it more than I’ve wanted anything ever before,’ he admitted with soul-searing honesty.
‘Good.’
She smiled as she reached up and kissed him gently on the mouth and it felt as though every scrap of emotion he’d held in check suddenly exploded from him. When she led him to the stairs, he didn’t hesitate and certainly didn’t have any more second thoughts because it was what they both wanted. Katie wanted him as much as he wanted her and it felt as though he’d been offered a glimpse of heaven to know it.
They went straight to her room because it was nearest. Katie unlocked the door then held out her hand. Nick took it, feeling the tremor that ran through her as she led him inside and switched on the lamp. He turned her around and kissed her, glorying in the way she immediately responded as soon as his mouth touched hers. The kiss ran on and on, as though they were both so hungry for the taste of each other that they couldn’t bear it to end. Then, slowly, he drew back, holding her gaze as he unbuttoned her coat and slid it off her shoulders.
‘You look really beautiful tonight, Katie.’
‘Thank you. So do you.’ She smiled as she reached up and unfastened his tie. She slid it out from under his collar and dropped it on the floor beside the bed then looked at him. ‘You next.’
‘Turn and turn about, eh?’ Nick chuckled as he turned her round and deftly slid the zipper down the back of her dress. He peeled the two edges apart then had to stop for a moment while he allowed himself the delight of scattering kisses down the length of her spine, and felt the shudder of pleasure that ran through her.
She turned to face him again, her eyes cloudy with passion as she helped him out of his jacket then it was his turn again so he dispensed with her dress. All she had on now was her underwear and his blood pressure rocketed up another couple of degrees as he took stock of the creamy mounds of her breasts beneath the black lace bra, and the matching triangle of lace at her hips.
‘I thought you looked beautiful wearing that dress but you look even more lovely without it,’ he forced out because his breathing was causing him no end of problems all of a sudden.
‘Thank you—again,’ she whispered, her voice sounding thready and strained as she began unbuttoning his shirt. She managed to work one button free, then two, but her hands were shaking so hard now that the next one defeated her. Nick solved the problem by dragging the shirt over his head and tossing it aside but the look on her face as she studied his bare chest made him wonder if he’d been a little too hasty.
‘Katie, I…’
‘You’re so beautiful, Nick.’ Her hands fluttered against his chest for a moment before she laid them flat against his skin and he could hear the awe and wonderment in her voice. ‘I never realised before that a man’s body could be so beautiful.’
Nick closed his eyes, hoping it would help him keep control if he didn’t look at her. That confession had touched him so deeply that he felt raw, as though every nerve ending was suddenly exposed and aching. When her hands began gently caressing his skin, he gasped aloud because it wasn’t like anything he’d ever experienced before. When he’d made love with a woman in the past it had been out of physical need and this was so different that he couldn’t begin to compare the two. This time his emotions as well as his senses were engaged and the thought finally tipped him over the edge.
He swept her into his arms and kissed her, hearing the soft murmur she made and knowing instinctively that it was pleasure that had prompted it. Katie wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her and the proof of that was the way she clung to him and kissed him back, her mouth opening so that his tongue could slide into her mouth. His body was pulsing with desire now but he wasn’t ashamed of letting her feel how much he needed her. He certainly didn’t want to hide his feelings because he wanted Katie to know how much this meant to him. When he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that they were doing the right thing.
He laid her down then bent and kissed her: her mouth, her nose, her eyelids; anywhere and everywhere he could place a kiss he did. Then he unclipped her bra and kissed her breasts, drawing her nipples into his mouth and suckling her until she moaned out her need, but there were still more pleasures to come for them both.
Nick knelt beside the bed and slowly pulled off the tiny scrap of lace that covered her hips then kissed her there, gentle kisses that soon made the passion burning inside them build to unbearable proportions. Katie was just as desperate as he was when he shed the rest of his clothes and lay down beside her, just as e
ager to feel him inside her as he was to be there.
He kissed her on the mouth as he entered her, trying to be gentle so he wouldn’t hurt her, but their desire was simply too fierce to hold back. They made love with a fervour that verged on desperation and when it was over and Katie was lying in his arms, her body relaxed and at ease, Nick knew that he’d just touched heaven. Maybe he didn’t deserve such happiness but nothing—nothing—could ever take away the beauty of this night from him!
CHAPTER TEN
GREY winter light was filtering into the room when Katie awoke. Just for a second she couldn’t understand why she felt so happy before everything came rushing back and she felt her heart swell with tenderness when she turned and saw Nick lying beside her. There wasn’t much room in the narrow single bed so knowing that he’d opted for the discomfort of staying with her instead of going back to his own room filled her with happiness all of a sudden. She leant over and kissed him, laughing when his arms immediately went around her as he gathered her close.
‘I thought you were asleep!’
‘That was what I wanted you to think.’ His smile was smug. ‘I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist taking advantage of me.’
‘Oh, did you, now?’ She pretended to glare at him. ‘Very sure of yourself, aren’t you, Dr Lawson? Do I take it that most women find you irresistible?’
‘But of course! They’re just putty in my hands.’ He flexed his fingers and leered at her. Katie laughed.
‘Hmm, I’ll take your word for it.’
‘You mean that you don’t feel the same?’ He drew her closer and smiled into her eyes in a way that made her insides begin to melt. ‘I must be slipping. Maybe I’d better have another go at convincing you about my prowess as a lover…’
Katie sighed when his lips found hers. She most certainly wasn’t going to tell him that she didn’t need convincing! She twined her arms around his neck and gave herself up to the sheer pleasure of making love with the man of her dreams. Maybe Nick didn’t feel as strongly about her as she did about him, but he must feel something, surely? It was scary suddenly to be beset by doubts so she chased them from her head because she didn’t want anything to spoil this moment, and it was every bit as wonderful as she could have wished. Nick cradled her in his arms afterwards as they slowly came back to earth.
‘You blow my mind, Katie Denning.’ He buzzed her cheek with his lips then sighed. ‘I never understood that saying about not being able to think straight but now I know exactly what it means. It feels as though all my thoughts are floating about inside my head and I can’t seem to drag them together and put them back into order.’
‘So you haven’t felt this way with anyone else?’ she asked quietly, wanting to settle her fears once and for all. Would Nick tell her that he cared for her if she prompted him? She hoped so because then she could tell him how she felt, but she was afraid to rush things.
‘No. Oh, I’m not trying to claim that I’ve lived the life of a monk because it wouldn’t be true. But I can honestly say that I’ve never felt this way about anyone before,’ he admitted, dropping another kiss onto her nose.
‘That’s good to hear,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘So what’s made the difference this time?’
‘You.’
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, and Katie knew that she had to be content with that even though it wasn’t as much as she’d hoped for. Maybe Nick needed a bit more time to come to terms with his feelings so she mustn’t try and question him again. She had a feeling that his reticence was all tied up with what had happened in the past so she would have to be patient and let him tell her in his own good time how he felt.
They were both off duty that day so when Nick suggested that they make the most of their time off and drive out to the country, she eagerly agreed. They had a quick breakfast then set off, taking the road that wound its way across Dalverston moor. There was very little traffic about so they parked the car at the side of the road and followed the footpath to Dalverston Falls, a local beauty spot. Even though it was freezing cold, the view from the top of the waterfall was spectacular and they stayed there until their feet felt as though they were in danger of freezing to the rocks then went back to the car and found a country pub that served meals.
‘This is delicious,’ Katie declared, forking up a hearty mouthful of steaming hot lasagne.
‘Good. It might make up for missing the buffet last night,’ Nick said, grinning at her. Like her, he was wearing jeans and a heavy sweater under his jacket and he looked so gorgeous that Katie couldn’t resist leaning across the table and kissing him.
‘Mmm, nice. I like the taste of garlic,’ he joked, licking his lips. ‘It added a definite something to the kiss that had been lacking before.’
‘Cheek!’ She glared at him. ‘I’d advise you to be very careful what you say or you won’t get any more kisses.’
‘And that would never do, would it?’ He lifted her hand off the table and turned it over so he could press his mouth to her palm.
Katie shivered when she felt the tip of his tongue licking her skin. Even though it had been only a few hours since they’d made love, she could feel passion stirring again. When Nick suggested that they go back to the hospital after they’d finished their lunch, she didn’t object.
They drove straight back and without uttering a word went to her room. This time their love-making was more gentle and less fevered but it was no less arousing because of that. Katie longed to tell Nick how much she loved him but once again she held back because she sensed he wasn’t ready to hear it. She could only hope the time would come when he would be ready but she’d gone into this with her eyes open and she knew there was a chance it might never happen. All she could do was pray that Nick would come to love her as much as she loved him.
Katie was back on duty the next day, working the middle shift from eleven in the morning until eight in the evening. She and Nick had spent the whole of the previous day together in the end. He’d only left her at midnight, in fact, because he’d been due in work at six and had needed to get some sleep. Katie smiled to herself as she made her way to the office for the handover because sleep would have been the last thing on their minds if he’d stayed! Now she was looking forward to seeing him again so much that her heart leapt when she opened the office door and found him in there.
‘Nick!’ she began happily, then stopped when she saw the grim expression on his face. ‘What’s wrong now?’ she demanded, hurrying towards him.
‘A and E just phoned to say that they have Abbey down there. They think she may have been drug-raped.’
‘No! Oh, how awful,’ Katie exclaimed in horror. ‘When did it happen? Do they know?’
‘Probably on New Year’s Eve but Abbey can’t remember what happened. Apparently, she woke up in her flat yesterday evening and had no recollection of what had gone on the night before. She phoned her parents and they drove down from Cumbria and insisted on bringing her to hospital.’
‘Is she badly hurt?’
‘I’ve no idea. I’ve just spoken to Sean Fitzgerald but he wouldn’t tell me very much.’ He shrugged. ‘Patient confidentiality and all that, so I can’t really blame him. Jean’s gone to see her so maybe she’ll be able to tell us a bit more when she gets back.’
‘Poor Abbey. It’s such a terrible thing to happen to any woman but when it’s someone you know…’ She shuddered and Nick put his arms round her and hugged her.
‘I know, sweetheart. It’s horrible. She’s going to need a lot of support from her friends to get through this. I’d really like to get my hands on the scumbag who did this to her!’
‘I wonder who it was.’ Katie frowned. ‘If it happened on New Year’s Eve, does that mean it was someone from the hospital? Abbey was at the ball and I don’t imagine that she went anywhere else after it ended.’
‘I expect the police will want to question everyone who was there,’ Nick said flatly. ‘Every single man present on the night
is a possible suspect.’
‘Apart from you,’ Katie pointed out. ‘You spent the night with me, remember?’
‘How could I forget?’ he murmured, his eyes holding hers in a look that made her heartbeat quicken. All of a sudden, Katie knew that she had to tell him how she felt. Maybe it was too soon and Nick wasn’t ready to hear it, but she couldn’t hold back any longer. She needed to tell him that she loved him because it was too important not to say the words.
‘Nick,’ she began, then stopped when the door opened. There was just time for Nick to release her before Jean came bustling into the room. Katie breathed a sigh that was compounded of relief for not having been caught out and impatience at being interrupted. However, she soon forgot about her own concerns when Jean started to tell them about Abbey.
‘She’s in a really bad way,’ the older woman said sadly. ‘There’s some really nasty bruises on her cheek and shoulders, plus some internal damage—vaginal tearing and bruising, things like that. She asked me to check her notes because she wanted to know how much damage had been done,’ Jean added by way of explanation in case they were wondering how she came to know all the intimate details.
‘Let’s keep that between ourselves,’ Katie suggested hurriedly. ‘Abbey might not want people knowing what’s happened.’
‘It’s not going to be possible to keep it quiet,’ Jean pointed out. ‘The police arrived as I was leaving and I imagine they are going to want to interview everyone who was at the ball on New Year’s Eve.’
‘Can Abbey remember anything at all about what happened?’ Nick put in. ‘I’ve read that some victims of drug-rape have flashbacks.’
The Midwife's New Year Wish Page 13
