Chapter Twelve

Just after eight on Tuesday night, I pull up outside of the hospital where Scarlett is waiting. She slides into my car, her black skirt riding up her thighs, giving me an eyeful of her smooth thighs. I breathe in and force myself to focus on her face. She smiles.

“How is he?” I ask, sliding the gearstick into drive.

“Good. He’s already made friends with the little boy in the next bed. The doctor is running a series of tests to see if he qualifies for the trial.”

“Good,” I murmur. I hope he does, because I hate the thought of bringing them all this way for nothing. I smile because I can’t believe I’m putting someone before me. “Are you hungry?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. I know her well enough to suspect that she probably hasn’t eaten all day.

“Famished,” she smiles. She leans her head against the back of the seat and sighs. “But I am so exhausted.”

“Are you sure you want to go out? The hotel does a pretty good room service if you don’t feel up to it.”

“Would you mind?” she asks, wrinkling her forehead. “I kind of like the idea of relaxing.”

“Of course not,” I say, but I’m lying.

I am disappointed, but I’m not about to admit that I’d been waiting for this all day. She’s obviously wrecked, and still recovering from the flight. There is always tomorrow.

I pull into the parking space directly outside of the hotel entrance.

She looks at me, surprised. “You’re not coming up?”

“I thought you wanted an early night.” Now I’m confused.

“No,” she smiles. “I want a relaxing night. There’s a difference.”

“Right,” I say, a smile slowly spreading across my face.

Suddenly the night doesn’t seem so lost after all. I drive around to the valet and hand my keys to the attendant. He’s too busy checking out Scarlett as she exits the car. I give him a hard stare and his face reddens. He mutters an apology and disappears inside my car.

I chuckle, because I don’t blame him. If I were him, I’d be staring too.

**

I follow her into the hotel room and place her arm around my waist, pulling her into my embrace. She breathes in and I laugh because she was holding her breath. She’s so damn cute. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

“Okay,” she smiles.

“Okay,” I agree.

I raise my eyebrows and she laughs. Before I can react, she moves in and kisses me. It’s just a peck on the lips, and I chuckle as she pulls away. Her green eyes are twinkling as she bites her lip.

“Why did you do that?” I ask.

“Because I wanted to get it over with,” she says, her cheeks glowing red.

“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes.

She laughs, reaching over to swat my arm playfully. “That’s not what I meant. I’m nervous. I haven’t kissed anyone in a long time, Ryder.” She covers her face with her hands as I chuckle. “Don’t laugh.”

“That wasn’t a kiss, Scarlett,” I tease, pulling her arms down.

I wrap them around my waist again and crush her mouth against mine, my tongue massaging hers as I gently suck on her bottom lip. I feel her relax against me as I caress her face, stealing every little kiss I can.

“That was a kiss.”

I pull away and my heart melts as I take in her beauty. I pull her toward me again, this time with more urgency. I taste her lips, my tongue massaging hers.

She giggles and pushes me onto the couch. I sigh as she climbs into my lap, curling her arms around my neck. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” she whispers.

I shake my head and press my lips to hers again. It hurts like hell, but I’m willing to put up with it for the sake of having her so close to me.

“I thought you were hungry?” I ask.

She smiles playfully. “I am, but not for food.”

One by one, I undo each button on her silky teal-coloured shirt, kissing my way down the middle of her chest. She laughs as I bury my face between her breasts, my hand cupping at her white lacy bra. I reach behind the shirt and unclasp her bra, working the straps down her arms.

“Why don’t you just take the shirt off,” she giggles.

I don’t answer. Instead, I squeeze her breasts and place my mouth over her nipple. She closes her eyes and groans as I gently suck. I smile as it hardens.

My mouth finds hers again as I kiss her roughly. There are so many things I want to do to her right now, but I know I’m not ready. I laugh. I never thought I’d ever be saying those words.

“What’s so funny?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.

“I lied. My arse really fucking hurts,” I chuckle.

She gasps and jumps off me, sticking her arms out to help me stand up. I can’t help but stare at her gorgeous breasts as they bounce around at her movement.

“Stop checking me out and get up, you idiot,” she smirks.

I get to my feet, the relief instantaneous. She takes my hand and leads me into the bedroom.

“I don’t think I’m recovered enough for sex yet,” I murmur.

She carefully sits me down on the bed and grins. I swallow as I watch her unzip her skirt, letting it slide down her hips.

“I can think of plenty of things we can do,” she says, crawling onto the bed. I’m lying down and she’s straddling me. She arches her eyebrow as my erection presses eagerly against her soft, wet panties.

“I think someone should inform your cock that you’re not ready for sex,” she giggles.

I smile as I run my hands up her bare thighs. There is nothing I want more right now than to plunge my cock deep into her pussy, but—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—I’m nervous. My stomach tightens, just the thought making me cringe, because this is not who I am. But I can’t deny that I feel something for her, and it’s enough for me not to want to rush this.

“Why are you still wearing these?” My eyes narrow as I tug at her panties.

She breathes in as I slowly work them down her thighs.

“Take them off.”

She—almost comically—struggles out of them, and resumes her position over me. I move my hands around the inside of her thighs and thrust her forward. She gasps, reaching for the headboard in front of her, as she lands just shy of my face.

“That’s better,” I grin. She’s blushing. I have no idea why, because she has a beautiful pussy, one I’m hanging to play with.

Her knees press against my shoulders as I slowly run my mouth along her bare opening. She groans as my tongue dips inside. I’m teasing her, and I know it’s working. She wants more. I thrust in and out of her as my hands roam up over her smooth skin, settling on her breasts. I play with her nipples as my tongue lashes at her clit.

“Oh God,” she cries out. My mouth is all over her pussy as she grinds her hips into my face. Her back arches, her hands gripping my hair. She forces my head forward as she rides my face. I can’t breathe, but I don’t care, because I know she’s close.

“Ahhhhh, fuck yes,” she groans. Her legs are trembling as her rhythm slows. She pushes my face away, but doesn’t move off me as my tongue continues to work her. “Oh my God, oh my God,” she chants. Finally, she’s off me, curled up into a ball beside me.

I laugh and wrap my arms around her. “I think you enjoyed that,” I tease, kissing her neck.

She giggles, her body still shaking as she snuggles closer against me. “Holy…wow…I can’t even…” she sighs and I laugh, my mouth closing over her earlobe.

I love how content she is right now. I wonder how long it’s been since she’s experienced that, but I don’t want to embarrass her by asking.

“I’m so,” she sighs again. She can’t even finish a sentence.

I smile and reach down for the covers, pulling them up over us. Pleasuring her has left me hard as fuck, but I can see how tired she is, and I’m more than happy to let her fall asleep. There will be plenty of other times.

I grin, because I don’t think I’ve ever thought those words after being with someone.

**

Scarlett has gone when I wake up the next morning. A note sits on the table.

Over at the hospital with Jake. Can I see you later? x

I shower and throw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, and then pour myself a coffee. I wonder what time she got up, because I didn’t hear her leave. Checking my phone, I see I have a voice message from Matt. I dial my answering service.

“Ryder, just checking in on you. I hope you’re keeping out of trouble. Give me a call so we can talk about a few things, okay?”

I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket because I’m not ready to deal with that just yet. Tennis has been part of my life for eighteen years. I’m still young; I know I can recover from this injury and be the best again—only I’m not convinced I want to.

**

“Ryder!”

I smile and walk over to the bed. Jake looks pleased to see me. I was expecting to see Scarlett with him, but she’s not there. Before I can question that, Jake turns to the boy in the bed next to him.

“See? I told you so,” he says triumphantly.

The other boy is staring at me through wide eyes. I laugh and sit down, and just as I do, Scarlett walks into the room. Surprise registers on her face when she sees me.

“Hey.” She slips the phone she’s holding into her pocket. There is something odd about her behaviour, but I can’t put my finger on it so I push it out of my mind.

“I thought I’d drop by and see how he is doing. And bring him this.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small box.

Jake takes it from me and shakes it, as if he’s trying to figure out what it is.

“You can open it,” I laugh.

He does. He lets out a squeal when he sees I’ve gotten him a portable PlayStation and a handful of games. “Oh yeah, this is freaking awesome,” he grins.

Scarlett sits down next to me. She’s smiling now, and back to her old self.

“A bit better than the bike?” I ask her.

She glowers at me. “Anything is better than that damn bike,” she mutters.

I laugh and turn my attention back to Jake. “How are you feeling?” I ask.

“I’m good. I miss my friends and Terry.”

“Terry?” I repeat.

Scarlett giggles next to me. “His pet rabbit,” she explains.

“You have a rabbit? That’s pretty awesome. I wasn’t allowed any pets when I was a kid,” I explain.

“How come?” he asks, his brow furrowing. “Terry sleeps in my bed, doesn’t he, Mom?”

“Only when you sneak him inside,” she retorts, grinning. “He’s pretty domesticated for a rabbit. Sometimes I think he thinks he’s a dog.”

“You’ll be home and back with Terry in no time,” I assure him. “Are they looking after you in here?”

He nods. “I’ve been in the hospital lots, Ryder.”

He rolls his eyes and I laugh. I thought being alone in here would be scary for the kid, but he’s obviously a pro when it comes to being brave. I shoot a glance at Scarlett. She’s gazing at Jake, teary-eyed. She’s done such a great job bringing him up.

God, I hope this works.

Without this trial, the chances of him surviving past his teens without a transplant are pretty slim. He’s her whole world. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been for her, raising Jake alone, and losing her mum. Everything she does, she does for that little boy.

She can’t lose him too.