****
I walked up to my office after a long day, and quite a few twists and turns in the surgery that morning that I hadn't expected. After almost losing the lady we were working on several times, I was edgy and a little pissy to boot.
"You ready?" I glanced down at Elizabeth's clothes as I moved into my office and grabbed my keys from the drawer in my desk. "That's pretty."
"This?" She lifted the black dress. "I don't know. It's a little too much in my opinion, but Stephanie wouldn't let me out of the house without something that would show me off."
I chuckled. "Did you tell her about us?"
"Us? What about us?" She gave me a cheeky grin as we turned and walked toward the exit door.
"Funny." I wasn't playing her games, though, funnily enough, they brought me out of the angst I was sitting in only moments before. "I assume the answer to my question is no."
"You'd be correct." She moved out into the parking lot and waited for me to take the lead. "Tell me again what this event is all about. Is anyone else from the hospital going?"
I unlocked the Mercedes and moved to open her door. My eyes moved down the length of her body, and I couldn't fathom someone looking so damn good in a pair of scrubs, but she did. Her body was a little curvier than any of the other woman who I'd spent the night with, but I was thrilled. I was tired of holding onto a boney body. Her curves tantalized me and left me thinking about how nice it would feel to press her tightly against the bed, or the shower... the wall.
"Aiden?" She turned to me as I got into the driver's side.
"Hmmm?" I started the car and smiled at her.
"I asked you a question. Are you okay?" She pulled on her seatbelt and leaned back.
"Yeah, I'm great. The surgery was tough, and didn't go as planned, but they never do." I pulled out of the parking lot, expecting her to say something, but she remained quiet. I glanced back over at her to find her watching me with a sexy look on her pretty face. Her eyebrow was lifted like I was in trouble, and I almost enjoyed the idea of her punishing me. "What?"
"I asked you what the event was about tonight and if anyone else was going to be there with us." She pushed at my shoulder as a smile lifted her lips. "Where are you right now?"
"You don't wanna know." I chuckled and turned on the radio. "It's an awards ceremony that we have every year… just a collective group of all the hospitals in the state getting together. I'm being awarded Surgeon of the Year in Neurology."
"Wow. That's impressive." Her voice was soft, as if she wasn't there with me either, but lost somewhere inside her head.
"Thanks. I've gotten it a few times, but Peter loves showing off the hospital, especially the neurology ward. He's a brain doctor as well." I pulled onto the freeway and leaned back, wanting to watch her from the corner of my eye. "And... Peter and Parks will be there tonight. I'm not sure of anyone else."
"Parks? Oh, great." She ran her fingers through her hair, and growled softly as I chuckled.
"He's just a young guy with great taste. Don't hurt him too badly." I reached over and took her hand, pulling it into my lap and resting it on my thigh as I intertwined my fingers with hers. "I know you're struggling with all of this, and I get it. I am too, but I want it. I want you."
She squeezed my hand and nodded as I glanced over at her. "I’m okay. I'm just scared I guess. It's weird, different."
"Yeah, but we'll figure it out together. I have a ton to teach you and you're going to love us spending time together." I tried to reassure her by bringing the hospital aspect of our new relationship back into the mix.
"In the bedroom?" Her cheeks grew pink, and I laughed.
"No. In the operating room." I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. "I'm not sure you don't have a thing or two to teach me in the bedroom. I've spent far too much time at the hospital to say I'm well versed in women. I know what I like, but I'm hoping to learn what you like too."
It was too natural to open up to her. I didn't feel a bit of regret or concern as I let my thoughts pour from my lips. I wanted her, and I had since I'd seen her picture the day before she showed up. The night would be fun, and we could laugh and have a good time with Peter and Parks, but then I was taking her back to my place.
There, our titles could be stripped away, and we could just be two people who needed the warmth of the other. She might not need me as badly as I needed her, but I was going to work to get her addicted, and fast. The darkest parts of me wanted to see her struggle to hide the intensity of her lust for me when we were at work and in front of her peers.
It was uncouth and so far from right, but it made me feel alive. She would crave my touch before it was all said and done - agreement or not.