The captain is exiting the galley as I come down the stairs, taking the last step and making my way into the hall. Bryce is in the room a few doors down from the galley. As I pass it a loud grunt of pain echoes from inside the room followed by the smooth voice of the doc giving gentle direction, “There, there, we are all done. Breathe in slowly and out slowly. That’s it. Deep breath in, now exhale out. One more time. Good. See, all better.” I find myself leaning against the wall just listening to her.
Chapter 4
Mazie
My patient is all fixed and will be as good as new in no time. But now what? The thought of getting back on the helicopter to fly off this boat has my gut twisting into a thousand knots. I’m certainly not going to ask Bryce. I’m sure he thought his little flirtatious comments were all fun and games until a needle of numbing fluid went into his balls. Yep, that shut him up through the rest of the procedure.
In search of how to get off this boat, I open the door to go find someone that can tell me, but as soon as I open it piercing blue eyes meet mine. “Hi,” I say with an unsteady breath.
“Hi.” His tone is low and rumbles through my body.
“Your friend is good to go now. Can you please tell me how I can get back to land?” Praying that the answer is not that I have to fly in that tin can of a deathtrap. The pilot was experienced and did not seem to waver at all. Believe me, I was definitely paying attention to every millisecond that we were flying. It was the mass of amounts of nothing but water that scared the hell out of me.
“We will be porting within the hour.”
“Oh, thank God.”
He chuckles as a smile lifts to the corner of his eyes and sexy dimples grace his cheeks. “Not that fond of flying, are you?”
“I don’t have a problem flying in general. It was just the openness of the helicopter with all that water around that made me a little nervous, that’s all.” I straighten my back to stand tall on my three-inch heels and prove my confidence.
Grant’s head cocks to the side as if he is studying me. “Hmm, right. Well, follow me. Would you like anything to drink while we wait? Wine, liquor, beer?”
“I am working, so water is just fine, thank you.” He turns, and I get the full visual of his broad shoulders and back, tone legs, and firm backside. Shit, it’s hypnotizing me again, and I have to shake my head to get the inappropriate thoughts out of there. But, are they really inappropriate? He’s not the one who is my patient. Making him fair game, right?
We pass the archway leading us into the charming galley. It’s a huge kitchen with an island workstation and a bar extending out on the other side to accommodate two leather chairs. “There’s no need to be scared. Parker airlines are the best of the best. You were safe,” he says as he leans into the refrigerator to pull out two water bottles.
“The pilot, I think he said his name was Sullivan, looked like he was confident, but it was just such a foreign feeling to me. I don’t know. I guess if I did it all the time, it would all be normal to me, but I’m certainly glad I don’t have to again as we are almost to land.”
“Yeah, that’s true. I fly a lot with work and flying on and off the yacht quite a bit, so I never really thought about it.” He’s commanding, yet still has an openness to allow me to learn about him. He intrigues me, and I want to know more.
“Is this boat your home? It looks like you are comfortable here like you live here.”
“This is my summer home. I live in the city during the season.”
“What season is that? Fall, winter, autumn, summer?” His head leans to the side, and he studies me with interest in my amber eyes. Those lips are nice and plump. What would they feel like on my skin, right in those areas that haven’t been touched in so long? Surely I am just missing the contact of someone holding me close and having their body pressed up against mine. Last week I saw an ad somewhere for a cuddle for hire service, maybe I should look into that. Online dating isn’t the answer to finding someone, but I don’t have time to go anywhere or go out with friends to hang out and meet men that could potentially be something. Hell, I don’t really even have friends per se. I have business colleagues and acquaintances, but not friends. I am the leading doctor within my field in the entire world, men are intimidated by me and women fear me. I mean, why shouldn’t they? I literally cut men’s balls off on an almost daily basis.
“Football season. I own the Texas Tornados.”
“Oh, that’s a different type of season.” Our eyes lock once more. It’s hard to look away. The defiance that lives in me to never back down burns with intensity and shines back like a beam of light calling me home deep within his eyes.
“So, will he be seeing you again?” Grant abruptly changes the conversation, and his question causes me to cock my head to the side in confusion. “Does Bryce need a follow-up appointment, and if so, when will that be?”
“I will call him tomorrow, but I’m sorry, I can’t share anything else with you. Patient confidentiality.” His eyes turn a slight blue shade darker as if a moment of anger surged through them. I don’t give a damn; I will always protect my patients first and foremost.
“Right, okay. Well, we are just about to dock. I need to go help the crew. Are you good here for a few minutes more?”
“Yes, thank you,” I reply and watch his long strides take him through the glass double doors to the deck and around the corner out of my sight. The breath I didn’t know I was holding in escapes my lungs, and my shoulders relax. What was that? He’s so intense.
Chapter 5
Grant
“Today’s the day that I get to see that fine-ass doctor lady again. This time my dick can freely do what it wants to.” Bryce’s words are like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard.
“Yeah, whatever. The car service should already be here waiting on us.” I try to shut this topic down.
“I can’t wait for her hands to be on...” He reaches to stroke his junk.
“Enough!” I’m on my feet, busying myself with sliding my wallet and phone into my jeans pockets. “Are you ready to go, or are you going to sit here running your mouth the whole day.”
“Bro, who put a stick up your ass?”
“Just get in the car.”
“I told you, I am perfectly okay to take myself. You don’t have to come with me. I don’t know why you are so insistent on it anyways.” He doesn’t need to know my reasoning behind why I want to go with him to his doctor’s visit. I don’t really understand it myself. All I do know is that I have an uncontrollable desire to see and talk to her again. It’s crazy, I know.
After she left the boat and Bryce woke up, she was all that he talked about. So I Googled her, and what I found was inspiring and sexy as hell. She is a smart, strong, dedicated, and powerful woman. She’s starred in my dreams every night since. My penchant for control in the bedroom wants to break down her walls that I’m certain she has erected to be the successful woman for her business. I long to give her freedom from the demanding force of always having to be in control and allow her to completely succumb to the pleasure I can provide.