Zoey

I sat there in disbelief of the hatred that had just come from his mouth. My first response should have been to tell him what a mean and horrible person he was. But I didn’t. I kept my mouth shut. He may not have believed in God or Heaven, but he sure did believe in Hell because that was where his soul was held captive. He glanced over at me, waiting for me to respond, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Juan pulled up to the curb of Carter’s apartment building and we both climbed out. Following behind him, we stepped onto the elevator and took it up to his penthouse. As soon as the doors opened, he stormed out, went into his office, and slammed the door shut.

I was hungry, so I went into the kitchen and pulled an apple out of the refrigerator. Taking a small bowl down from the cupboard, I set it on the counter and began cutting the apple into thin slices.

“Why?” I asked as I looked up at the ceiling. “Why did you have to put him in my path?”

I sighed as I sliced another piece, but instead of cutting the apple, I cut my finger.

“Shit!” I screamed as I threw down the knife.

Grabbing a napkin that was sitting next to me, I tightly wrapped it around my finger. The stinging, throbbing, and overall pain was a little too much. I took in a long, deep breath.

“What happened?” I heard Carter ask as he stepped into the kitchen.

“I cut my finger. It’s no big deal.”

“It looks like a big deal to me since that napkin is soaked in blood.”

“I said it’s no big deal, Mr. Grayson,” I spoke as I tried to walk past him.

He reached out and lightly grabbed my arm.

“Please sit down so I can take a look at it. You may need stitches.”

“I don’t need stitches. I’m a nurse. I would know if I need stitches.”

“Just sit so I can take a look.”

I sighed as I sat down on the stool at the island. Carter took the seat next to me and carefully unwrapped the napkin from my finger.

“Wow. You really did a number on this. I think you need stitches,” his calm voice spoke.

“All I need is a butterfly bandage. Do you have any?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to go check. Don’t move from this spot. I’ll be right back.”

He reached for another napkin and wrapped it around my finger. Something happened when he touched my hand. Something I couldn’t explain. It was like lightning flowed through me. The same lightning I’d only experienced one other time in my life. I stayed seated on the stool and waited for him to come back. A few moments later, he returned with a first aid kit.

“I found this kit in the bathroom. Maybe there’s a butterfly bandage in here,” he spoke as he opened it.

Rummaging through the kit, he pulled out a butterfly bandage.

“Found one.” He held it up. “But first we need to clean the wound out.”

He wrapped his hand around my wrist and led me to the sink. I didn’t say a word. I just let him take control, which he was good at. He unwrapped the napkin and stuck my finger under the slow stream of water. I bit down on my bottom lip at the sharp pain that radiated through me.

“I know it hurts, but we have to clean it,” he spoke.

He pulled a piece of paper towel off the roll, carefully dried my finger, and then wrapped a piece of gauze around it.

“Hold this gauze on it while I open up the packet of ointment and the bandage.”

I did as he asked and watched while he opened the small packet of antibiotic ointment.

“Remove the gauze.”

After finishing up with the ointment, he placed the butterfly bandage around my finger.

“There.” The corners of his mouth slightly, and I mean very slightly, curved upwards.

I nearly fell to the ground because that was the first time I’d ever seen somewhat of a smile cross his lips. I didn’t think he could get any sexier than he already was, but at that moment, his sexy level went up one hundred percent.

“Thank you,” I softly spoke.

“You’re welcome. I know I don’t need to tell you that you should take some Motrin for the pain, right?”

“No, you don’t have to tell me. I know.”

“Good. It’s late. You should get some rest,” he spoke as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

I gave him a small smile and went to my bedroom. His attentiveness was a little overwhelming since he hadn’t shown that side of himself from the day I met him. Maybe there was something or someone beneath all the darkness that enshrouded him.

I awoke around one a.m. and my finger was throbbing, so I climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen for some more Motrin and a glass of water. As I stumbled down the hall in a sleepy daze, I stopped outside Carter’s office where I heard the same song as the other night play.

****

Carter

I sat behind my desk and stared at the picture of Angelique while her favorite song played and I sipped my scotch. I tormented myself with this nightly ritual believing that somehow, she’d come back to me. I missed her and I couldn’t let go. I had everything. I had it all. A multi-billion-dollar company, a woman I loved, and a baby on the way. I was going to have my own family. One I could protect and keep safe from the harm and damage of the world. But I failed. I failed with my parents, Angelique, my son, and now with Nora. Even with all the money in the world, I couldn’t save any of them.

When the song ended, I tucked the picture safely away in my desk and poured another glass of scotch. As I sat there, I thought about Zoey. Not only about her cutting her finger, but about what happened at the hospital. That old woman was a total mess until Zoey walked in and talked to her.  She reminded me of—I quickly got the thought out of my head, set my glass down, and walked out of my office.

“Jesus, Zoey. You scared me. What are you doing up?” I asked as I practically ran into her.

“I needed some more Motrin. Why are you still up?”

“I just finished doing some work. I’m heading up to bed now. Sleep well.”

“Thanks. You too.”

As I headed up the stairs, I looked down at my semi-hard cock. Seeing her in that nightshirt put all kinds of ideas in my head. Ideas that shouldn’t have been there. I climbed into bed and exhaustion overtook me. Laying my head on the pillow, I couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling that emerged inside me when I touched Zoey, and it posed a great problem for me.