Chapter Two
Ryker
It’s been two days since Smokey was admitted into this life-sucking building of death. He gets weaker every day, but his pain is moderated now. The catheter they gave him makes it so he doesn’t have to get up to take a piss, and that’s a blessing in itself. Poor fucker would get winded just taking a leak before we came here.
Smokey’s been asleep for about an hour when Nurse Charlotte walks in the room. Fuck me, she’s gorgeous. Her hair is a dark, chocolate brown with hints of red throughout it, which she keeps in a messy bun high up at the back of her head. I would give anything to pull out that elastic and see what it looks like down. I can tell that it’s curlym and maybe even a little wild. She has a round face with rosy cheeks, and a pert little nose that has a patch of freckles fanning across it. Her eyes are a deep brown; large and bright, framed with thick long lashes. She doesn’t appear to wear makeup, but then she doesn’t need it. She’s average height, about five foot five, has great fucking tits a slim waist, and from what I can tell her ass is smoking hot too.
I smirk when I see what she’s wearing tonight. Fucking kittens. All over her scrub top are bunches of little kittens playing with balls of yarn and chasing butterflies. Ridiculous, but cute as hell.
She looks hesitant as she enters, but when she sees it’s just me and Smoke there, she relaxes. She seems almost frightened when the other guys are around and I won’t lie, it gives me some kind of fucked up thrill to know that she’s only relaxed around me.
“Hey.” Her smile is small but it lights up her whole fucking face, and my chest tightens every time I see it. She’s so beautiful. I’ve been with a lot of women. I’m not being cocky when I say that - just stating fact. Women love me and I love women. Not one of those women had a smile like hers though – I’d remember. “How’s Smokey doing tonight?”
God, I’m a dick. Smokey’s lying in bed, dying, and here I am getting a hard on for his sexy as fuck nurse. I shake my head and try to sound cool. “Good. He’s tired but not in any pain.”
Charlotte just nods. “Ok. Well, let me know if he needs anything. I’ll be back in a while to check on him.” She smiles again before leaving the room. It’s quiet in here and I wish she could have stayed, but what the fuck would I talk to her about. She’s a nurse and I’m a criminal – not exactly a whole lot in common. Regardless, I’m drawn to her; I want to know her.
Smokey continues his nap and I continue reading the thriller novel I’ve been reading on my phone. About an hour later, Smokey’s breathing becomes more labored, his breaths coming out in a scary combination of strangled wheezes and gasps.
I jump up and hurry to the bed. “Smoke? Brother? You cool?” His face is turning a strange shade of red and he’s staring at me with panic in his eyes. He shakes his head violently, indicating that no, he is not cool. My heart pounds in my chest. He can’t breathe. He’s gonna fucking die! Like, right now, he is going to fucking die! I’m not ready for this shit.
Reaching over Smokey’s shoulder, I quickly stab at the call button, praying to whatever God will listen that the nurse is an Olympic athlete and will be here in a flash. I’m relieved when Charlotte runs into the room just seconds later.
She takes one look at Smokey and rushes over. Automatically, she pushes the button on his IV, causing more morphine to run into his drip. Then she grabs his hand, leans in real close and starts to whisper to him.
“Shhhhh. Smokey? I need you to settle down, honey.” She grips his huge hand in her tiny one, smoothing his sweaty hair back from his forehead. “Ryker and I are right here with you. I need you to take a deep breath for me, ok?” Her voice has a soothing quality to it, which not only instantly calms Smokey, but works wonders to calm me too. She continues talking in that soft, calming voice as Smokey’s breathing returns to normal. His eyes drift closed, then he’s asleep once again.
Still stroking his head and holding his hand, Charlotte turns her eyes on me. “How about you? You ok, Ryker?”
I’m not, but fuck me if I’m going to admit that to her. I just nod and stare at Smoke, unable to tear my eyes away from the slight rise and fall of his chest.
“It can be really scary watching that.” She nods her head at the man who was like a father to me. “He had a panic attack. Once they lose their breath, even a little, some people tend to panic, and that throws their breathing right off. It’s very scary for them too.” She smiles at me with sympathy in those deep brown eyes of hers.
“Well …” I clear my throat, stalling to think of something to say. My brain is still paused on the scene of my buddy turning fucking red, gasping desperately for breath. “Thanks for calming him down, Charlie. I didn’t know what the fuck to do.” I feel like a god damned pussy.
I hear her quick intake of breath when I call her “Charlie,” and watch her standing there, wide eyes on me before her expression clears and she gives a small shake of her head, as if clearing it. Her cheeks flush a beautiful shade of pink before she smiles again. “Press the button if you need me.” She turns to leave but then stops. “Oh and Ryker?” Her hand lands hesitantly on my shoulder. “You did great.” And with those parting words, she was gone.
I stand by Smokey’s bed, staring at the door she’d just exited from, trying to figure out what this feeling is that I just can’t seem to shake. Jesus. She’s so fucking sweet. She genuinely seemed to care about how I was feeling, and her “you did great” was not something I’d ever heard from anybody but Smoke. Somehow, those words are different coming from a beautiful nurse with deep brown eyes.
I shake my head. I can’t believe I’d called her Charlie. I’d been doing it in my mind, but never before had I said it out loud. I need to pull my head out of my ass. Thinking about her all the time is doing me no favors. Charlie’s a civilian. Getting involved with me and the MC isn’t in her best interest. It’s something that I’ve seen happen before and I’ll be damned if I let it happen to someone like her. Charlie is not for me.
***
Charlotte
Throughout the night, I’ve been in and out of Smokey's room. He’d spent most of that time sleeping and Ryker stayed quiet, letting his friend sleep. I’ve struggled to avoid eye contact with him at all times, but the couple of times I do risk a glance, his eyes are always pinned in my direction, causing my heart to pound erratically in my chest .
He’d called me Charlie. Nobody had ever called me Charlie and gotten away with it. I’ve always hated that name, but when it came from Ryker’s mouth, voice full of such gruff affection, my brain had pretty much turned to mush. It’d taken a great amount of effort to not show him how much I liked hearing him call me that name. To not tackle the poor guy to the ground and screw the ass right off him. Charlie is my new favorite name.
My shift almost over, I’m just finishing up my final rounds and have only one patient left to check. Knocking softly on the door to room 239, I quietly enter the room. Smokey and Ryker are sound asleep. This is the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the man that seems to be consuming my every thought lately.
His leather cut lays on the back of a chair, at the other side of the room. Without it, Ryker looks a lot less menacing. He’s slumped down, right ankle resting casually on his knee, head against the back of the chair. My chest tightens as I take a step closer. He looks so peaceful in sleep, his face relaxed. That lock of dark hair lays across his forehead, my hand itching to reach out and smooth it back. Absolutely gorgeous.
What the hell is it with this guy? I can't remember ever being so affected by anyone before, let alone a stranger – and a biker at that. Shaking my head, I turn towards Smokey. He’s lying there, eyes on me, quietly watching me while I check out his friend. The blush on my face is instant and he lets out a small chuckle. “Don't worry, honey. You’re not the first girl to look at him like that. Likely the first nice girl though, and that may mean somethin' to Ryk.”
I frown, trying to hide my embarrassment and step up to the bed to take his vitals. “You feeling any pain at the moment?”
“No, darlin'. I'm good. Just tired.” He gives me a weary smile. “You scared of my boy over there?”
My eyes widen at his bluntness. “Um ... well ... honestly? A little. I don't have many good experiences with bad boys, if you know what I mean.” My blush deepens and I aim a shy smile in his direction before turning to leave the room.
“Honey.” Turning back to Smokey, I focus on him. I know it’s difficult for him to be saying so much right now. “He ain't nearly as bad as he's gonna want you to think he is.”
Flustered, I just nod, pat his hand and bid him a good night. Risking one last glance at Ryker, I leave the room.