Chapter 17
Sarah sung along to her background music as she gathered ingredients for dinner. She had plans to keep dinner light but tasty. She went with a salad, homemade creamy cilantro dressing and quinoa-coated chicken breasts on top. Jess would have been proud. To top it off, she had a nice Shiraz. Sarah moved without rushing, knowing that Danny would probably be late. Even though he said 8, Sarah knew from working on his rounds that he was a thorough doctor. He regularly got behind on his shift.
Danny arrived ten minutes earlier than expected, shocking her, but it left just enough time for Sarah to cook, shower and change into something nice. She put on a lace set Eva bought her as a gag Christmas gift that she hadn’t worn before. Previously it stayed in the back of her dresser gathering dust but tonight it was dusted off to put all of Sarah on display. She couldn’t wait to see Danny’s face. It was all black with a fire engine-red ribbon running through it. The bra was similar to a corset, tightening and lifting her breasts, whereas the panties were some sort of lace magic crisscrossing the ribbon to be panties that could be untied. It took Sarah fifteen minutes to figure out how to tie it, but she felt it would be worth the effort. Sarah had a great body and she knew it. Even though there weren’t many chances in life for her to flaunt it, she had the opportunity now and she was playing the hell out of it. She put her favorite jeans on and a loose top over the costume, not hiding all of it. She wanted to drive Danny wild, but not immediately. She plumped her hair up in the mirror of her room just as the intercom bell rang.
She pressed the buzzer to let him in and waited like a dutiful wife at the door until she heard him outside. She opened the door before he could knock. Danny smiled and stepped into her apartment like he lived there. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her tightly. They fit perfectly together. It wasn’t long before his hands slid down lower to grab her ass.
“I missed you,” Danny growled into her ear.
She leaned back and almost lost her words at the lust in his eyes. “I missed you too.”
He leaned forward, taking her lips and sucking on her tongue.
The way he was kissing her made her want to take him right then and there. The oven buzzer rang and Sarah pulled back with reluctance.
“Your food is ready,” she said breathlessly.
“I already have what I want to eat right here,” Danny said, leaning forward to bite the sensitive skin between her neck and shoulder.
Sarah already knew she would be tired tomorrow. There was no way around it, but her heart was cheering and parading forward while her mind was yelling this was all a mistake. Her job had always been important to her and she couldn’t afford to mess this up. But when she was with Danny, she felt alive like she hadn’t before, instead of just existing.
Danny’s hands were already up the back of her shirt, exploring and he growled into her ear, feeling the lace’s material. “Is this what I think it is?” he asked.
She stepped back, putting distance between them, though his hands were still on her. “Down boy. Supper is ready,” she said, waiting for him to extract himself from her shirt. So far, she was happy with the result of her choices.
“Hope you don’t mind if Swollen Members join us for dinner,” he said jokingly.
She turned back to wink and said, “Not at all.”
She caught Danny’s face and giggled. He probably didn’t know if she was good at pretending or actually knew the band Swollen Members. She had no plans to let him know which one it was.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked, following her into the kitchen.
“No,” she said, shooing him away. “Just sit down and let me serve you.”
He walked into the living room and sat down, waiting for her to bring him a plate. She could tell he was impressed as she served him a plate with a full glass of wine.
“You can go ahead and eat,” she said walking back to the kitchen to make her own plate.
“No,” he said, turning around to watch her in the kitchen. “I’ll wait for you.”
When she returned they sat side by side. Sarah felt comfortable even though she didn’t have a dining room for them to eat together. For a moment, the only sounds between them were the sounds of forks on the plates.
“This is really good,” Danny said in between bites of food.
“I am so glad you like it,” Sarah said.
Danny dabbed his mouth with his napkin and turned serious. “We have to talk.”
Sarah already knew the talk was coming. She knew because she signed the same paperwork that Danny signed when they were hired. Danny could lose his job over dating a subordinate. What they were doing was against hospital policy.
“I know,” Sarah sighed.
“This is dangerous,” Danny said, rubbing his hands through his hair. Sarah loved that about him. It ruffled his hair up like they just had mind-blowing sex—but this time they hadn’t.
“It is,” Sarah said, sitting back. “I wasn’t looking for this right now. I became a nurse to learn and to help people. I wasn’t trying to seduce you or anything.”
Danny smirked. “I know. It’s one of the first things I liked about you.”
“I’m being serious, Danny,” she said touching his hand. “I should be focusing on my practicum and studies, not thinking about sneaking away with you and all the ways we could defile the hospital.” She put her head back and closed her eyes.
“I know the feeling,” Danny said, mirroring her body language. “I really don’t know what to do.”
Sarah knew what she should do and she knew what was right, but she knew she didn’t want that. The idea of not being with Danny was like a spoonful of nasty medicine and no amount of sugar would make it easier for her to swallow.
She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself to hear whatever he had to say, because he had the most to lose.
“I don’t want it to be like this,” he said.
She didn’t respond.
“This has to be the last time,” Danny said, sounding as heartbroken as she felt.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to see if it was her imagination that he was feeling the same way she was. His eyes were cloudy and filled with regret.
“Right,” she said, gulping over the lump in her throat. “The last time.”
“So, I guess it would be too much to ask to get together one last time?” Danny said with a weak smile.
“Yeah,” Sarah said, suddenly feeling exhausted. “That would be too hard for me.”
Danny nodded and stood with his empty plates and took them to the kitchen. Sarah followed him with her half-eaten plate and in silence they washed and dried the dishes. Side by side, they worked together making awkward small talk. When the dishes were put away, there was nothing left to keep Danny from leaving.
Danny dragged his feet getting his coat and walking to the door. Sarah felt the same but she couldn’t bear to have him spend the night. They would definitely sleep together, but it wouldn’t end well.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you at work next week,” Sarah said.
“I am so sorry Sarah that it has to be this way. I wish it wasn’t so,” hugging her and taking in this bittersweet moment.
“Yeah, it really sucks but it’s for the best,” said Sarah.