Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 18063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
“I’m doing this because I want to spend time with you, and I was going to ask if I could see you again when you dropped me off, but our evening got a bit strange.”
“A bit strange?”
His grin was good because it did incredible things to his face. He lit up, and the weight that I saw that he carried seemed to fall away.
“So is that a yes?” he asked me, and one eyebrow lifted, daring me to say no.
“Yeah, that’s a yes,” I blurted out, and it was too fast, almost frantic, but I didn’t want him to have that moment of realization where he thought that maybe taking home something broken might not be good for him.
“Good,” he whispered before he leaned in and kissed me.
I thought I had an idea of who Dr. Kurt Butler was. Like he’d be gentle and I’d need to heat him up to the degree of lust and manhandling that I required in someone whose bed I was going to be in for any reason. Turned out… I was wrong.
Good God, the man could kiss.
He took my mouth, and it was mauling, and his tongue was rubbing over mine as he tipped my head back and tasted and feasted until I had to break the connection for air.
“How long has it been?” I husked as he licked over my bottom lip, his hands on the sides of my neck no longer gentle but tight to keep me still, hold me there.
“Much like you,” he whispered hoarsely, “there are always people but nothing important. Nothing real.”
“I’m up for real,” I managed to get out before his mouth settled back over mine.
It was better the second time, the slow build of heat, the ache in my chest, the electricity that crackled between us that might have combusted if the nurse hadn’t shown up.
“No screwing in the ER,” he informed us.
“Yes, sir,” I panted.
Kurt shrugged. “Other people might get jealous.”
“That’s right,” the man agreed, turning back to me, gesturing at Kurt. “You got a hot guy for me too?”
“I only have the one,” I told him.
“Well then, if you don’t want to have to share, wait until you’re out of here.”
“I don’t share,” I replied flatly.
“Then keep it in your pants.”
“Understood,” I said, scowling at Kurt, who lost it.
Between the evening we’d just had and the absurdity of the situation—we were grownups, for God’s sake—the release, in the form of wheezing laughter, made sense.
“Is he okay?” the nurse asked me.
“Oh yeah, this is totally normal.”
The exchange only made Kurt laugh that much harder.
* * *
At the burger place, he was horrified.
“Please don’t eat that,” he pleaded with me, the cheese and bacon, mustard, ketchup, and jalapenos more than he could handle. I’d skipped the onions I normally piled on because, as I told him, I wanted to kiss him more than I wanted them. “And I’m touched, but that’s going to make you sick,” he assured me.
“It’s actually gonna do the opposite,” I said, cackling as I dug in.
“Look at the grease coming off that thing,” he said, shaking his head. “And you needed chili cheese fries too?”
I nodded because I didn’t want to talk with my mouth full.
“Double cheeseburger,” he commented, leaning his chin on the back of his hand as he turned his head sideways, staring at me. “At one in the morning. Holy crap.”
I bumped his knee with mine since we were sitting together, outside, at one of the wooden picnic tables. Instantly his hand was on my thigh.
“How did you know that I sleep with a lot of people?” I asked as he wiped the corner of my mouth with a napkin.
“Well,” he began, smiling, “you’re gorgeous, so I’m sure lots of folks follow you home, but you’re gone a lot, and I don’t see you wanting any long-term anything, so I can only imagine a whole parade of people have been in your bed.”
“A parade?” I grumbled between bites.
“Conga line?” he offered.
“Listen, I––”
“I would like to be in your bed one night soon when we’re sure you don’t have a concussion.”
“I don’t have a concussion,” I groused at him. “You should stay with me and get in my bed now.”
He cupped my face in his hand, and how he was looking at me, like I was his and adorable, normally scared the shit out of me and had me gasping for air, but everything about him settled all the rabbit in me. Running didn’t even enter my mind. I liked him near me. I wanted him closer, all over me, and most of all, I wanted to be buried inside of him.
“Shit,” I growled, and he chuckled as I put down my burger, wiped my hands, and then turned on the bench so I was facing him. “What if you take me home and decide I’m too much trouble?”