CHAPTER 12
Madeline
I felt like I was in a dreamlike state all day at work. Is this how sex affected everyone? I moved through the shift smiling as much as possible to reassure the patients, and it helped that there were no traumatic cases. That was rare in a Chicago ER and I felt lucky when I looked down at my Fitbit to see that I was off in a few hours.
I went to get some coffee when there was a slow moment, looking around to see if I could find Declan anywhere. I was still in disbelief over last night. I gave myself so easily to him after all that we’d done together, and it felt right. It felt amazing and I shivered as I walked into the break room for a quick sip of my drink, looking through the window at the hustle and bustle of the hospital. I found it mesmerizing since I was a little girl visiting my mom at work and to this day, it still got to me.
My eyes focused on Declan far away as he spoke to a nurse, leaning closer in as he laughed. When she placed her hand on his arm, I felt the prick of jealousy wash over me as I reminded myself that we were keeping this quiet. I didn’t even know if we were exclusive at this point, though I hoped so with the new step that we’d taken. I blinked as my pager went off and looked down to see that something was coming into the ER. I downed the coffee and tossed the paper cup into the trash before rushing back out there to save the world.
By the time I was ready to leave, I was happy again. I was going to go to the gym and then home for a proper night’s sleep. I deserved it after last night and I walked out with another cup of coffee as one of the nurses asked what my smile was for. I laughed and said something about the calm night before walking into the cool night air to my car.
I headed home and changed into gym clothes before going out there, pleased to find it empty. I didn’t come here alone as much anymore even though Declan and I made it seem like we just ran into each other here. I put on headphones and threw myself into the music as I ran a few miles on the treadmill, shutting out the world.
I left after an hour and headed home to shower before collapsing to my couch. I felt like a different person tonight as I sipped my wine and watched a movie. My mom called a few minutes into it and we chatted about our lives for a while as I settled against my cushions. I took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in my throat. “So, I’m seeing that doctor, Mom.”
“Are you?” She asked curiously as I blushed. “I hope that nobody knows in that building or else you’ll be the talk of the entire hospital. Is it serious?” I could hear the worry in her voice.
“I don’t know. It is still new, but I like him a lot. I just know that he didn’t lose his wife too long ago. He doesn’t seem to be caught in grief but who knows?” I asked her as she sighed.
“Men are strange creatures that way. He might function better not thinking about it and working his days way. You just be careful, Maddie. I don’t want to see your heart broken after working so hard for this.” Mom told me as I finished the glass of wine. “I also don’t want you to live in fear. They’re not all like your father.”
“I know, Mom. I’m just trying to be careful,” I assured her as I closed my eyes. I wasn’t ready to tell her everything and we planned for her to visit on an upcoming weekend, which was when I would tell her everything. I ended the call and dropped the phone to the couch before reaching for my blanket to cover myself. The last twenty-four hours were catching up to me and I wasn’t going to make it to bed tonight.
I woke up in the morning curled up on the couch and covered with the blanket. I blinked as I pulled it over my head, thankful to have the day off. I might sleep all day since I got a workout in last night and in was still tired.
I was also sore, and I squeezed my thighs together with a smile. That was one hell of a first time and I was glad that it was with Declan, despite liking him more than intended. He was mature, sexy, and made me feel like a beautiful woman. I closed my eyes again and fell back to sleep for a few hours, waking up hungry and hearing my phone ringing. I groaned and reached for it blindly and answered it softly, still hiding from the sun coming through the windows. “Hello?”
“Madeline? Are you alive?” Declan asked me as I frowned.
“Yeah, just sleeping my day away. What are you up to?” I had no idea what time it was, but I did hope that he got some good sleep.
“I don’t work until tomorrow morning, so I thought we might take off this afternoon. Go back to the diner for some food and maybe just take a drive?” Declan offered as I smiled in the darkness of my shroud.
“We could get some food at the diner and go back to your place too. I’m open to ideas.” I heard him chuckle before he told me to be at his house at four, making me look at my phone as I ended the call. That gave me two hours to get ready and I pushed myself from the couch and went to make coffee. I needed it to wake up.
I drank it before and after my shower while I got ready. I knew that the diner was casual, so I wore some fitted jeans and a button up shirt over a sexy lace camisole for later with no bra underneath. I slipped some boots over the skinny jeans and added some dark plum lip gloss and a hint of shimmer on my cheeks.
I got into my car and headed to his house after pulling my hair into a low ponytail, smiling as I parked in his driveway. I parked and got out, walking to the door nervously as I walked with my stuff in my hands.
Declan opened the door and grinned at me, dressed in jeans and a soft flannel shirt. He was dressed as casually as I was, but I found myself searching his face instead of even noting the color of his shirt. His eyes were bright, but I could see something darker pass through them before he smiled and invited me in. I wasn’t sure what to do but he kissed my cheek and pulled me in for a hug. “Are you hungry?”
“I didn’t eat at all because I was being a sloth on my couch,” I admitted as he leaned down to press a kiss to my lips as he closed the door.
“We’ll get some food first. I’ll get a snack for you for the drive.” I watched as he walked away, and my eyes fell to his ass as I remembered the feeling of it in my hands in the past. He had a few protein bars in his hands as well as a large bottle of water. We took some of the items, so he could lock the door once we left and walked to his car.
I was quiet as we drove to the freeway, not knowing what to say. This post sex thing was weird, and I bit my lip for a moment as he told me to eat a bar if I needed to. I selected a chocolate chip one and tore it open before taking a small bite. It was obviously healthy but not too bad and I leaned back and looked at the road in front of me.
“How was your shift?” I asked after a few moments, remembering the nurse that was touching him.
“It was pretty typical. I didn’t have anything too heavy going on. How about yours?” He asked me as I tried to read into his answer.
“There were no gun victims last night so that is a plus. It was calm for the ER as well.” I admitted as I smiled over at him, wondering if I should mention the night that we spent together.
“I hope that you don’t have any regrets about our night together,” he said it first and I let out a breath.
“Not at all. I just didn’t know what to say about it.” I laughed softly as I turned my head to look at him. “Do you?”
“No way. You were hot on top of me like that.” I blushed as he spoke and took another bite of the bar. “I enjoy spending time with you, Madeline. I enjoy things like this as well as you in my bed.”
“Are you…exclusive when you are sleeping with a woman?” I asked softly as he frowned and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
“I was with the last woman I was with on a regular basis. I am sure that I don’t want to have a harem going on, Madeline. I just want to take things day by day and have some fun. You know that neither of us have time for multiple partners.” He smiled, and I thought about the nurse again.
“You have a point.” I agreed as we got on the freeway and headed away from town. We talked about work along the way and discussed the holidays that were coming up in a few months. He planned to go visit his parents and I already had a ticket to visit my own family for the short three days that I managed to get off. I missed my mom so much and nearly begged for the chance to spend Christmas with them if I worked every other holiday.
They agreed, and I was ready to go. That was before I was sleeping with Declan and I realized that I’d miss him. I wondered if he wanted to spend the holidays with any other woman after losing his wife and when that might happen. I was young and working hard but I didn’t want to be single forever. It was probably good that I was going home and having a break from all of this, because it might be even more complicated in two more months.
We got to the diner and walked in, where Margie hugged both of us and told us to sit wherever we wanted. She gave Declan a long look and he smiled at her as he told me to pick a booth. I walked to the one in the back and looked over to see Margie bringing us two large mugs of coffee. I glanced at the menu and quickly decided on the same thing as last time and Declan did the same thing as she chuckled, reminding us that there was a lot of other selections to choose from.
We ate our meals and he read the local paper as we chatted, leaving to use the bathroom as Margie came to refill our cups. “It’s nice to see him with someone. He never came in with the wife he mentioned a few times and I couldn’t understand why. Declan is such a good guy.”
“Oh, we’re not serious by any means.” I assured her as she smiled down at me with weary blue eyes. I knew that Margie had lived a life. “We just work together.”
“Honorable profession,” she complimented me, and I told her that I was a nurse just like my mother had been. She glanced up as Declan headed back to the table, asking if we wanted some of the fresh apple pie before he went back home. He said yes and asked for it with ice cream as I told her that we’d share a piece. I laughed and shook my head, knowing that he cleaned his plate and shouldn’t have room for it. I looked him over, knowing how perfect his body was underneath the clothes thanks to all his exercise and normal good eating. This was the one place where he let that go.
We finished and paid the bill with a generous tip, hugging Margie before we walked out of the door. Declan led me to the car, unlocking the door before he pressed me to the car in a heated kiss. “I haven’t stopped thinking about that night with you,” he murmured in between kisses as I felt my knees weaken. “I want to take you home and have you in my bed again, Madeline. I want to feel you wrapped around me.”
“Let’s go.” I replied as I slipped my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. I was going to get so addicted to this man, but I couldn’t tell him no.
Not tonight.
Chapter 13
Declan
I drove to my house as safely as I could, wanting her. I wanted her naked the second we were in my house and her mouth on me and I sighed as I felt her hand over my flaccid cock. “Madeline, you’re going to be the death of me.” Everything with Laura was always so functioning with the heat. Our lives worked out the way that we wanted them to, the way that I once wanted. With Madeline, I felt like I was going over the edge. I felt like I was willing to shake things up.
It hadn’t been that long. I couldn’t just jump in and replace my wife like this, not this quickly. There had to me some code to follow.
I pressed down on the gas pedal a bit harder and she tightened her hand as I hardened under her. Once we were at the house, I pulled her to the door and unlocked it before pushing Madeline inside. She gasped as I shoved her against the wall and kissed her, unbuttoning her shirt as our tongues danced together. Madeline returned the passion, slipping her clothing from her shoulders as my hands caressed the lace underneath. “Jesus. You knew that you were going to be coming here,” I whispered before I kissed her neck under her ear.
“I hoped so. If not, I was going to home and take care of myself all night long,” she told me as I let out a long groan.
“You won’t have to do that,” I promised her as I kissed her again and pulled her to the bedroom. I knew that the door was locked, and the house secured, and I needed to be inside of her. We hurried to my room and both ripped off our clothes before moving together for another kiss. I was glad that she liked the sex as much as I did, and all doubt was washing away with this desire. I pushed her back to the bed and we fell together, bodies entangled.
I kissed her senseless and then started moving down her body with my mouth. Her nipples were hard and ready for me and I sucked one into my mouth before I told her to touch herself. Madeline’s hand darted between her legs and I moved to watch her as I kept sucking at her, hearing her whimpers and moans as she found her clit. I’d never forget this sound. I watched until she was making herself come before I rolled onto my back and told her to get on my face and put my cock in her mouth. Madeline moved quickly, and I was soon tasting her sweet juices on my mouth. She claimed me with her mouth, taking me deep inside of her throat as I jerked against her.
I licked her folds, getting all of her before I found her clit and sucked it into my mouth. Madeline moaned around me and the vibrations made me harder as I forced myself to remain still. I wanted nothing more than to fuck her face as I made her come with my tongue and teeth but held back. I’d do that later. We moved together, and I shot deep down her throat just after I made her come with my teeth on her clit.
I reached for a condom and rolled her to her back, spreading her legs wide. “I am going to fuck you now.”
“Please,” Madeline begged me, her body reddened from my ministrations. I rolled the latex over me and moved between her legs, positioning myself in front of her. I took her with one slow thrust as we both cried out, feeling the way that I filled and stretched her. Madeline rocked with me as she wrapped her legs around me, both of us seeking a release again.
It was raw and careless as we moved, my cock buried inside of her. She felt amazing and I kept moving, pressing my face into her neck to inhale her sweet citrus scent. I felt like a younger man that could fuck her all night as I rocked inside of her, hearing her cry out as she tightened further around me. Madeline came with my name on her lips and I followed a few thrusts later. I slowly rolled away from her to get my weight off and pulled her close against me as my emotions struggled. I knew that there was more than sex with this woman, but I didn’t want to go in too deep, even as my body tingled now.
I got up to get us some water as well as an open bottle of wine and dropped back into bed. Madeline looked a little dazed and I offered her a bottle of water. She took a long sip and moved up to the pile of pillows as she gazed at me. “Do you want to spend the night? I can wake you up in time for your shift.”
“I’d like that,” she replied as I smiled and offered her the wine. Madeline took a long sip of that, laughing as I moved back to her to draw a nipple into my mouth. She arched her back and I slipped my hand between her legs to find her wet and warm for me. We worked ourselves back to her on top of me, riding my cock like her life depended on it. I gripped her hip and slowly joined her, raising my hips to drive myself inside of her just as she slid down. Madeline started to moan as her head dropped back and I took her hander before she trembled above me. I came again and marveled at the feeling as she dropped over me, her damp skin pressed against mine as she kissed my neck. We slowly made our way to our sides and sipped some more cold liquid before I set the alarm and watched her fall asleep.
I watched her for a while, seeing the peace in her relaxed smile. I knew that she was happy and possibly getting more emotionally involved with me, but I didn’t know what to personally feel. I was still conflicted, so I curled up under the covers and closed my eyes. I barely woke up when the alarm went off and she slipped out of bed to dress and go home. Madeline could lock the door on her way out, so I kissed her softly before she left to get ready for work, looking forward to sleeping in for a while.
I dreamed about in the early morning hours, waking up with a start. It wasn’t that she seemed angry in the dream but there was a sense of loss in my heart as I blinked and looked around the empty room. I knew that I was up for the day and pulled on some shorts to walk downstairs to make coffee. I glanced across the living room at the mantel where all the pictures of my wife sat, reminding me of another time that was gone. I sipped my coffee as I walked to the small table by the window to look outside at the expansive backyard. I should decide what to do by the summer since this was a paradise with the pool and room to entertain. I worked too much to do that and looking back, we’d only managed a couple of parties in the years that we lived here.
I read the paper as I ate some toast and enjoyed another cup of coffee. It was going to be an easy day and all I wanted to do was go for a run or maybe hit the gym later. I’d eaten a lot last night and could stand to work it off even with the sex last night.
I ended up getting called into the hospital due to some sick staff and showered and dressed quickly. The fact that I was a general surgeon made this a common occurrence and I dressed quickly before driving in. I walked in quickly, bumping into Madeline near the room where we kept our stuff and had the break room, looking down at her as she gave me a surprised gaze. “You’re here.”
“I got called in,” I told her as I walked through the door to my locker, needing to be away from her heat. I hung up my jacket and got ready to hit the floor, looking over to see her gone as a wave of regret hit me.
Had I been cooler than necessary since we were here at the hospital?
I went to the board and went over what surgeries I was going to take over for the missing doctors, working along with the ones that were there or covering. I ended up with five long but easy ones to get me through the day, along with anything that might come up and we all went to talk to the patients.
I completed the first two and went to sip some coffee before my pager went off. I saw that it was from the ER and took one last sip before walking over to find out what was going on. Madeline was in the room with the patient with the bust appendicitis and I shuffled around my surgeries to fit them in immediately.
Holly was one of the nurses in the ER that I was familiar with over the years and she was also a flirt. I could feel Madeline watching us as we talked to the ER doctor and kept my face neutral. I couldn’t fall into the drama at work when there was nothing going on.
I left to book an OR and didn’t look back. I’d explain myself later even though I tried to tell myself that there was no reason. I already explained that I didn’t sleep around and that I’d been faithful in the past. We weren’t together like that to begin with, were we?
I finished my shift and reached for my phone after I slipped my jacket on. I only had a few hours to sleep but I sent a text to Madeline asking if she was off and wanted to come over. I felt like I needed to clear things up with her and I was in my driveway when she sent back a message that she was just finishing until the morning. She offered to pick up some dinner and we agreed on Thai before I went in the house to shower. I dressed in shorts and a t-shirt before going downstairs and waiting for the knock at the door with a fresh bottle of wine.
I answered it, seeing her still in her scrubs as she held a large bag of food in her hands. There was a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and I knew that what she saw earlier was still bothering her.
“Do you work tomorrow morning?” Madeline asked me as she followed me to the kitchen, watching me nod. “Shouldn’t you sleep? You worked a long time on your day off.”
“I’ll be fine. We both need to eat, and I wanted to talk with you.” She frowned as I took out plates and she poured the wine, moving to the table.
“What is it?”
“I am just friends with Holly. She is just a flirt like a lot of the staff but that means nothing to me. I didn’t give in to it before and I won’t now.” I surprised myself with the words as she gave me a wide-eyed stare. “I could tell that it bothered you.”
“I can’t touch you at work and we’re sleeping together. Maybe I should start flirting with you,” Madeline murmured before sipping her wine.
“There’s no need. There is already plenty of heat when I’m in the room with you. I am almost surprised that nobody has noticed it first.” I was honest, and she looked at me again before moving her eyes to the window. “This is new to both of us. I’ve never dated at the hospital, just watched couples crumble around me. I don’t want things to ever be uncomfortable with us.”
“We’re adults. They won’t be.” Madeline smiled before reaching for a container. “I’m starving.”
We ate and silently hurried to the bedroom where I stripped her of her scrubs and pushed her back to the bed to taste her. Even after working a long shift, Madeline tasted sweet as honey and I teased her before focusing on her clit and making her come for me.
After that, she moved to her knees and took me in her mouth until I told her to get in front of me. Madeline was shaking as she moved, raising her ass in the air for me as I massaged her skin gently, making my way to her glistening pussy. I slipped a finger inside as she pushed back against me, gripping me as I reached for the drawer.
We fucked hard as she learned to rock with me, bringing me even deeper inside. I told her to finger her clit and Madeline screamed when she came, her juices dripping down her legs once I pulled out of her. She collapsed to the bad and sucked in air as she recovered, looking spent in front of me.
“That was so different,” Madeline gasped as I leaned down to kiss her damp back.
“It’s my personal favorite.” I assured her before going to get us some water. I sat back down beside her, still on her stomach and took on her sexy body, toned from our trips to the gym. She was already beautiful, but her curves were looking great now, and her ass was amazing.
She rolled over, moving to the pillows to sit up and drink the bottle nearly in one sip. Madeline laughed and wiped her face as drops slid down her chin. “I am a mess today.”
“A hot mess. Stay there and we can do it again,” I told her as she looked down at my cock, starting to stiffen again.
I ended up on top of her, kissing her deeply until I was sheathed and inside of Madeline again. We rocked together slowly, enjoying every moment as our skin slapped together. We came together, and I closed my eyes as her warmth washed over my body as I jerked inside of her.
I never did that with Laura and I dropped over Madeline as I struggled with the reality that I was facing.