“Yes, doctor.”
I turn to London one more time and take her face in my hands.
“You are fine!”
Only this time it feels like I’m trying to convince myself more than her.
I’m emotionless.
The adrenalin has run out and taken every other feeling down the drain with it. I’ve been attacked.
I’ve been attacked in the hospital and Zachary Ford was my knight in shining armor. One second I was there, choking in the hands of that maniac and the next he was in front of me. The moment I saw the look in his eyes I knew I’d be fine. Zachary Ford was ready to crush the danger and take me to safety.
He didn’t actually, physically take me, Tati did, but he ordered her to tuck me away in the holy land of the attending’s lounge and take care of me and to be honest, that gave me more shivers than the fitting room orgasm.
All weekend I thought about how today would be. I wondered if he’d be acid again, or look for a repeat - or better, treat me with some dignity for a change. I never would have imagined I’d see him looking murderous for me. And in a very primal way that makes me feel incredible. Powerful. Confident. Horny.
“What should I get you, London? Water? Coffee? I could go down the street to the liquor store and buy you some Vodka.”
“I’m fine, Tati, really.” She is all over me, trying to make things better, but I don’t think she can right now.
I’m scared. I am. Someone just attacked me. And the only thing that could calm my nerves is to feel that protective glare on me again, but unfortunately for me, Dr. Ford is a doctor first and a protector second.
The door opens and inside walks the other two members of Zach’s trifecta, Jessica, and Dr. James Sullivan. They’re laughing and joking about some residents but stop when they see us.
“Girls, is there something you need?” Says Dr. Sullivan with a raised eyebrow, looking like he just caught his kids with their hands in the candy jar. Tatiana jumps up immediately to answer him.
“We’re sorry for intruding, but Dr. Ford told us to stay here until London feels better. There was an incident...”
“An incident?” His eyes shifted from Tati to me. “What kind of incident? Did Zach do anything?”
“No, I...” How do I say this?
“She was attacked in the ER.”
“WHAT?!” James and Jessica shout in unison and she rushes to get to my side.
“Are you ok? Can we do something for you?” She says petting my back.
“Yes, I am, just a little shook.”
Doctor Sullivan hands me a glass of water and puts a hand on my shoulder to comfort me.
“London, were you examined?”
“No, but I’m fine, really, I don’t need a consult.”
“It’s protocol. I could do it, or perhaps, Jessica if you’re more comfortable with her.”
After the threesome bomb last week, I believe I’m at the optimum level of comfort with her. We don’t need to explore that further.
“I... I’ll just wait for Dr. Ford if that’s alright.”
All three inhale sharply like I’d just told them I’m a man underneath the scrubs, but I don’t care. Right now, I need to see him so I can calm down. For him to tell me again I’m all right, and for him to take care of it.
“Sure...” said Doctor Sullivan, but he didn’t sound sure at all. “Why don’t you go to an exam room and I’ll send him up?”
“Oh, I can wait. I think he’s caught up in the ER.”
Jessica bumped her shoulder into mine amused. I don’t need to know what’s in her head right now.
“I’ll rush him for you. Cross my heart he’ll be there in ten minutes. I can be very persuasive, you know.”
Do I want to know? Because it sounds like a threat.
I went down to the exam room and got on the high table waiting for him.
The mirror on the wall tells me I’m a mess: my hair looks like a bird nest and a broom had a baby, my skin is pale and yellow-y and my scrubs are wrinkled as hell. I might be the least desirable woman in a ten-mile radius right now. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to ask for him after all because this girl is years away from the elegant woman in the fairy white dress; the one he made cry in passion the other day.
I’m in the middle of my self-conscious crisis when the door shakes in its frame, and the mighty Doctor Zachary Ford walks in. He is even more gorgeous if that’s possible, with his hair all messy and without the lab coat.
“Hey...” he says, and the word is suspended between us for a while.
“Hey, If you’re busy I can...”
“Jessica cleared my schedule for the next half hour, we’re fine. You asked for me.” It’s not a question, but his tone is inquisitive.
“Yes, I... I don’t know why. Doctor Sullivan insisted I had to be cleared for work and...”
“Jess told me you’re in shock and refuse to let anyone who’s not me touch you.” He looked me over from head to toe, his gaze covering me like thick molasses. “You don’t look like you are in shock.”
That woman is crazy.
“That’s a slight exaggeration. I just said I can wait for you.”
“Well, I’m here now.” He stopps to take the stethoscope from around his neck and put it in his ears. I see his Adam’s apple moving hard, like he just swallowed a whole peach. “Take off your blouse, please.”
This right here? This is work, I am his patient, but I have instant goosebumps.
With shaky hands, I take the rim of the scrub top and drag it over my head, exposing my plain black bra. I didn’t leave the house this morning thinking I’d undress for Dr. Ford today so sexy lingerie was not the obvious choice for a twelve-hour shift.
“Do you have any headaches or dizziness?”
“No.”
“Nausea?”
“No, nothing except the adrenaline rush.”
He nods and carries on. The first contact was with the cold material of the stethoscope followed by the warmth of his hand on my shoulder to keep me steady.
“You know the procedure,” he says with a raspy voice, “take deep, steady breaths.”
I did just so, inhaling a little bit of his manly fragrance with each one, enjoying the presence of his massive body near me. Next, he moves his hands to feel my ribs, check for cracks and bruises on my abdomen. When his eyes move up my body he stopps abruptly, a mute fire burning in his eyes, and slowly touches my neck.
“You have finger marks here.” Did I?
“It’s fine, they don’t hurt.”
He took his other hand to my neck giving me a possessive touch.
“Nothing about this is fine. That idiot touched you, harmed you. And I wanna break his hand for it. The only finger marks on your skin should be from...” But he didn’t finish the sentence. He left me waiting for more. I know I shouldn’t, but before I can think twice, I open my mouth and speak:
“From what?”
Suddenly the air in the room becomes heavy and his breath feels like a lava shower on my exposed chest.
“From my hands grabbing you when I fuck you so hard, I lose control.”
I knew what he was thinking because I recognized the way he was looking at me. It’s the same as that day we met in the clothing store, like he’s ready to eat me whole and smile while doing it, but hearing it...it’s a punch in my gut. The good kind. The kind that makes your breath catch so suddenly you feel it between your thighs.