When I get to the door of the on-call room I stop dead at the sound of her laugh. At first, I think it is just another thing haunting me, but then I realize she’s actually on the other side of the door. And when I hear Shaw’s voice too, I can’t bring myself to turn around and leave.
“Thanks, Dr. Shaw, you’re very nice.”
“Oh, come on London, it’s Emmy. We’re all just one big family here at Chicago General.” And he’s the fucking sleazy uncle who lures young girls into dark rooms. “Don’t tell me that Zach makes you call him doctor.”
She giggles before answering him.
“He does.”
“What a pretentious dick he is.”
“It’s fine, really. He is an amazing doctor and I do respect his work.” I am, thank you, but I’m surprised she’s the one to say it.
“He’s not that cool. I’m way better than him and so are you. I’ve heard how you saved the day when he failed with a diagnosis.”
I’m turning into a juvenile brawler because for the fifth time today I’m thinking about starting a physical fight with someone.
“Well, it wasn’t that big of a deal, really. I believe Doctor Ford would have found the problem himself eventually.”
“Nah, he’s an idiot. Look, London...” He pauses, and I hear steps. She doesn’t say anything either.” You are a very hot woman, you know that? I was thinking maybe...”
Hell, no! I’d rather pour acid in my ears than listen to him making a move on London. Without thinking twice, or at all, I push on the door and it flies open hitting the wall. Whatever was about to happen is over now because they both turn to face me and I tell myself I’m only doing this only because I hate Shaw with a passion and not any other reason.
“What the fuck do you want, Ford?”
“I need London to do something.” He speaks strongly but so do I.
“Give the girl a damn break. She worked the whole day doing her job and yours.” I feel violent thinking about leaving them alone again.
“Go fuck yourself. London, let’s go.” I shift my eyes to find hers and I can see she’s shocked by my encounter with Shaw.
Smart girl, she moves in the next two seconds and I take the lead showing her the way to the back stairway. When we get through the double doors, I grip her elbow and drag her until we’re between floors.
I let her go, but I don’t say anything. I’m having a fucking blockage and I don’t know what to do from here. The fervor this woman has awakened, in me rips me in half and I’m at the point where I wanna see her as miserable as I am. I was a dick to her before. Why stop now?
“What the fuck are you doing? First shitting all over my reputation and now trying to fuck my doctors? What do you think will happen? One of them is gonna magically make you queen of nurses and you don’t have to put up with me anymore?”
The viciousness in my voice slaps her face. For a moment I can read terror in her eyes but three seconds later it transforms into volatile anger.
“Are you kidding...I was not...I don’t have anything to do with your reputation. You are the one who chose to cut me to shreds in front of ten people earlier instead of listening and talk like a civilized human being.”
“You had a lucky guess. Don’t let it go to your head. And stop making me look like an idiot.”
Her hands go to her forehead and she looks up with exasperation.
“Then stop acting like one. I’ve been putting up with your behavior every day and it’s taking a toll on me. I’m more exhausted from being your doormat than from working twenty-four-hour shifts. Just leave me alone!”
I wish I could, princess. I’m working on it, don’t sweat it.
“Leave you alone to fuck your way through the department?”
She slides her palms down over her eyes and takes a moment to inhale and exhale deeply a few times, then her breath becomes broken. My entire core shakes when I see a tear leaving a wet trail on her cheek. I wanna stretch and wipe it away, but I stop myself waiting for her to do something.
“Why do you hate me?”
“What?”
I don’t know why I’m taken by surprise. Maybe because whenever I put people through crap, they just take it and shut up.
“I never did anything to you. In the beginning, I thought maybe you were just another jerk, but I’ve seen you talking with your patients, doctors, families, other nurses. The only one under fire is me. Why? If you think I am so incompetent and I’m here just to have sex with other doctors, then fire me and get it over with.”
“You want me to fire you?”
“Sometimes I think it would be better than treating me like I’m a rare disease and every time I come in contact with something or someone, I’ll infect them. Why do you do this to me?
Because she already infected me and her simple existence is crawling on my skin making me crave every symptom. I don’t say it out loud, but I think she can read the moment of weakness in my eyes because she goes on.
“You couldn’t even let me finish my conversation with Emmy.”
“Dr. Shaw.” I correct her through my teeth
“He wants me to call him Emmy. We were making friends before you burst in like a bull with epilepsy.” This almost makes me laugh but also it boils my blood at a slow fire. Before I know it, I’m touching her, my hands on her upper arms, and I push her body to the wall harder than I intended, but she looks alright. ” Shaw doesn’t wanna be your friend.”
Her slim body is shaking in my hands and I know I shouldn’t take pride in scaring a woman. Fuck! I shouldn’t scare a woman, period, but a twisted part of me feels like I’m taking the reins back for the first time since she set foot in this hospital.
“Some people actually like my company, even though you find it repulsive.” She tries to stay in position but her voice cracks and sells her out.
“Repulsive? You’re wrong here, Hollywood.”
In moments my hands travel down her body, sweeping her scrubs until I reach her thighs and I pull her up, pinning her between me and the wall. The caramel fragrance returns and this time is not only in my nose. I feel it on my lips, on my arms, dripping all over my body.
I’m waiting for her to scream or protest but it doesn’t happen. Instead she clutches my shoulders to stabilize herself. Her vibrant blonde hair is falling on her shoulder and from the angle she holds her head, it creates a lustrous curtain that covers both of us. In her eyes, I find confusion but also expectation, and that’s when I know she wants it, too.
I’m going crazy, that’s for sure but I’m not the only one biting the bullet. Without wasting any more time, I take her lips over with mine, allowing myself to taste the poison she has dangled in my face for the past weeks. And man, it’s sweet. London’s mouth comes to meet mine; I press her body harder into the wall and we let ourselves get lost in the moment.
She tries to keep up with my hunger, responding with effervescence. She tries to be my equal in this, but I can’t let her. For just a second, I need to have London Boudreaux at my mercy, so I take a hand to her hair, gripping a fist full and tugging. My mouth devours hers with no forgiveness, and finally, I can feel her letting go. Her muscles relax and she cries in my mouth.