Chapter 11
11
MALLORY
M allory sat in the small office tucked away in the corner of Phoenix Ridge Hospital, staring at the pile of patient files in front of her. It was supposed to be a quiet afternoon. She could feel the unease coiling in her chest, a tight knot that refused to loosen. The source of it, as always, was Kara.
She’d tried to push her thoughts about Kara aside, focusing on work, diving into the routine that helped her feel grounded. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kara—saw the way she commanded attention with every step, the way she was so unflinchingly strong yet tender. Mallory wanted to be with her, more than anything. But the fear… the fear of getting too close, of opening up to someone only to lose them, had kept her from taking that step.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. The screen lit up with Josephine Mars’s name.
Mallory smiled to herself. Josephine had become more than just a colleague—she’d become a mentor, someone Mallory had turned to for guidance in the most uncertain moments. Josephine was a woman who had been through her own battles, who understood the weight of doubt and the struggle of vulnerability. Mallory knew that, even if she was just a voice on the other end of the line, Josephine’s words would always hold weight.
Taking a deep breath, Mallory answered the call.
“Hey, Josephine,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual, though the tension in her chest betrayed her.
“Hey, Mallory. How’s it going?” Josephine’s voice was warm, comforting.
“I’m… okay. I’m just… thinking,” Mallory replied, leaning back in her chair, her fingers idly tapping against the desk.
“Thinking? About what?” Josephine pressed gently. Mallory hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to voice the turmoil that had been churning inside her, but Josephine had a way of making her feel heard without judgment.
“I’m still trying to figure out this thing with Kara,” Mallory admitted, her voice lower now, tinged with frustration. “I want to be with her, but I keep holding myself back. I keep thinking… What if it ends like it did before? What if I get too close and it all falls apart?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Mallory could almost feel Josephine’s understanding radiating through the phone.
“Mallory,” Josephine began, her voice steady but kind, “I know you’re scared. I can hear it in your voice. But the thing is… you can’t live in fear forever. Ember’s told me about your shared history, but you can’t keep yourself locked away because you’re afraid of what might happen. You have to trust that the person you’re with will meet you where you are, and if it doesn’t work out, that’s part of life. But the alternative is living in fear of what could happen, and that’s no way to live.”
“I’m not sure I can just jump into it,” Mallory confessed, her voice small. “It’s so hard to shake the fear of losing someone again.”
“I understand, really. I’m one of the few who could possibly understand your worries. It wasn’t an easy thing to deal with when I first started dating Ember,” Josephine said, her tone sympathetic. “But sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is to trust, even when it feels scary. You don’t have to throw yourself into it headfirst. But you owe it to yourself, and to Kara, to stop hiding from what you want. You deserve happiness, Mallory. You deserve love, even if it means taking a chance.”
Mallory’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew Josephine was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t take away the fear that had been building up inside her for so long. But for the first time, she realized that maybe it wasn’t about waiting for the fear to disappear. Maybe it was about acknowledging it and moving forward anyway. Maybe it was about giving herself permission to be vulnerable.
“Okay,” Mallory said, more to herself than to Josephine. “Okay, I’ll try. I’ll try to let go of the fear.”
Josephine’s voice softened with approval. “That’s all anyone can do, Mallory. Just try. You’ve got this.”
Mallory sat in silence for a moment after the call ended, her mind racing. Josephine’s words had struck something deep inside her, something she hadn’t realized she was missing. The idea that she didn’t have to have everything figured out, that it was okay to take risks, was liberating in a way she hadn’t expected. Maybe it was time to take that leap of faith with Kara.
She glanced at the clock. Her shift was about to begin. With a deep breath, Mallory stood up, feeling a sense of quiet resolve settle over her. She didn’t have all the answers, and she wasn’t sure how it would all work out. But for the first time in a long time, Mallory felt ready to embrace the unknown, ready to move forward—no longer held captive by the fear that had controlled her for so long.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, and there were still doubts swirling in her mind. But with each step she took toward the ER, Mallory felt the weight of her fears begin to lift, just a little. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Enough to give her the courage to face whatever came next.
And maybe, just maybe, that was all she needed.
* * *
Mallory stood behind the counter in the ER, sorting through patient files, her mind drifting back to Josephine’s words. The quiet hum of the hospital around her felt like a contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling inside her. Josephine had told her to take a chance, to stop letting fear dictate her choices, but it was easier said than done. How could she let go of the fear, of the uncertainty? How could she take that leap when the consequences of falling felt so devastating?
Her shift had started quietly—too quietly—and Mallory was grateful for the calm. She’d welcomed the chance to think, to breathe, and to prepare herself for whatever the night would bring. But no matter how much she tried to sort through her feelings, one thought kept creeping in: Kara. It had been days since they last spoke, and though she could still feel the lingering tension between them, Mallory knew she needed to make a choice.
The ER doors suddenly swung open, breaking her reverie. Mallory’s head snapped up, instinctively looking toward the entrance. A group of firefighters filed in, moving with purpose. But it was Kara at the front, still dressed in her firefighting gear, covered in soot, her face streaked with ash. She moved with a quiet, commanding energy that seemed to take over the room. Mallory’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Kara approach, the wild energy of the fire still radiating off her.
Kara was carrying herself like someone who had just returned from the front lines, and the sight of her, strong and unwavering, stirred something deep inside Mallory. She felt the familiar pull between them—intense, undeniable—but this time it was heavier, charged with something more.
Beside Kara, a fellow firefighter was guiding a stretcher with a patient, the man’s body twisted awkwardly as he struggled to breathe. The air in the ER seemed to thicken as Kara moved, her focus sharp as she led the way. The patient was critically injured, his breathing shallow from inhaling smoke, and the urgency in Kara’s movements was unmistakable. She was in her element, calm amidst the chaos, giving orders in that voice of authority Mallory knew so well.
Mallory couldn’t take her eyes off Kara. She watched as Kara quickly handed the patient off to a doctor, her hands steady, her expression intense. There was no hesitation, no panic—just the quiet competence of someone who had seen this all before. But then, for a brief, heart-stopping moment, their eyes locked across the room.
Time seemed to stretch. Mallory’s pulse quickened and her breath caught in her throat. Kara’s gaze was intense, unwavering, as if nothing in the room mattered except for the connection between them. Mallory’s heart skipped a beat, and in that one instant, it was as if everything else—the ER, the patient, the steady hum of activity—faded away.
Kara’s look held for a moment longer than usual, and in the brief silence that followed, Mallory felt something shift. Something powerful. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension, a magnetic force drawing them together despite the distance.
Mallory’s chest tightened. She knew the pull, knew the attraction, but in that moment, with the chaos of the ER all around her, it felt even more undeniable, more impossible to resist. But she could hardly breathe under the weight of it all. The moment passed as quickly as it came, but Mallory couldn’t shake the feeling that it had changed everything.
Kara’s movements were deliberate as she finished up the paperwork, her hands steady despite the lingering exhaustion from the fire. Her face was streaked with soot, her ponytail slightly disheveled, but there was an undeniable rawness to her appearance—an intensity that seemed to pulse from her very being. She moved with purpose, her gaze occasionally flicking over to Mallory as she went about her business, but Mallory couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Mallory felt a flutter of anticipation, a restlessness stirring in her chest. She had tried to push this feeling aside for so long, tried to keep the growing attraction at arm’s length, but the more she watched Kara, the harder it became to deny. Kara wasn’t just a firefighter; she was a force, a presence that commanded attention even in the most chaotic of situations. And right now, that presence was drawing Mallory in like a magnet.
The patient no longer her concern, Kara turned; her eyes locking with Mallory’s. The connection between them sparked, crackling in the air, and Mallory’s breath caught in her throat. Kara walked toward her with purpose, and Mallory instinctively stood a little straighter, her heart racing as Kara closed the distance between them.
When Kara stopped just inches away, Mallory’s pulse quickened. There was no escaping her now. The heat between them was palpable, thick in the air. Kara didn’t say a word at first, but the silent understanding passed between them, making Mallory’s skin flush with a mixture of nervousness and longing.
Then, Kara’s voice, low and commanding, slid through the space between them. “I need you to take me somewhere we can be alone,” she said, her tone filled with a raw, undeniable desire. “No distractions. No one else. Just you and me.”
The words hit Mallory like a rush of adrenaline, the command in Kara’s voice stirring something deep within her. The way Kara looked at her—intense, focused—left no room for argument. It was clear this wasn’t just a casual request; it was a demand. The certainty in Kara’s eyes made Mallory’s breath hitch. It wasn’t just about the physical attraction; it was about the raw intensity of Kara’s presence, the need for privacy that felt urgent, almost desperate.
Mallory’s heart raced, her mind spinning. She glanced around the ER, her training kicking in. She was on duty, in a hospital, surrounded by colleagues. This was reckless. This was unprofessional. But as she stood there, inches from Kara, she couldn’t deny the pull. The intensity of the moment overpowered any logical reasoning, and the words that had been swirling in her head—the ones she had been holding back for so long—finally found their way to her lips.
“Okay,” Mallory whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with more certainty than she had felt in days. The decision was made. She wasn’t going to hold back anymore. “Follow me, but act discreet. There’s enough awkwardness working with my ex’s wife without adding anything else into the mix.”
Kara simply drew her finger across her lips, sealing her mouth shut, her eyes aglow with mirth.
The walk through the corridor to her office seemed to take an eternity; all the while her heart was making a determined attempt to escape the confines of her chest. Her mouth was dry, the squeeze of anticipation settling in her stomach.
God, what was Kara doing to her?
Mallory’s palms were so sweaty from the heady combination of want and worry of being caught that by the time she stopped in front of her office door, her hand almost slipped from the handle.
Beside the two of them, the corridor was deserted. Mallory deftly unlocked the door, pulling Kara in behind her, and re-locking it. The sooner they were behind closed doors the better.
“So what was it—” Mallory was cut off by Kara slamming a palm against the solid wooden door beside her head. Towering over her, she looked simply delectable. Mallory could smell lingering smoke on her, could see the smudges of soot across her face. Beyond the smell of smoke was sweat- the unmistakable scent of Kara. This disheveled look was one Mallory could certainly appreciate more often.
“You know, I’ve been waiting weeks for this appointment, Doctor Storm,” Kara said, a smirk gracing her lips.
“And what seems to be the issue?” Mallory asked, continuing the playful line Kara had chosen.
“Well, I’ve been having some trouble here.” Kara took Mallory’s hand, pressing it into her breast through her T shirt.
Mallory’s breath hitched, her tongue darted out, gliding across her dry lips. She watched as Kara’s gaze tracked the tiny movement eagerly.
“Hmm, so like this?” Mallory asked as she squeezed, excitement filling her as Kara stifled a gasp. “What about this?” she said, bring her other hand up to capture her other breast.
“Fuck, yes. Exactly there, Doctor.”
“Yes, I’ve heard about this before, massage is usually?—”
Mallory found herself unable to speak as Kara swooped forward, claiming her mouth in an aggressive kiss.
“Sorry, we’ll have to do this another time. I can’t wait any longer, I’ve been wanting to do this too long.”
Mallory felt Kara slide her hand down to her pants, unclasping them with practiced ease, and drop both them and her underwear down her legs. Mallory reached up to her white coat, eager to unbutton it.
“No, leave it on.”
Kara’s eyes were gleaming with desire, and Mallory could see her chest heaving. Before she could really comprehend it, Mallory found herself lifted in Kara’s strong arms; carried across the room and set down on her desk. Kara dropped to her knees before her.
Fuck, she wanted this, wanted Kara.
Letting her head drop back, Mallory reveled in the feeling of Kara’s rough calloused fingers traveling up the soft skin of her inner thighs. It felt amazing, so why had she ever denied herself this?
A short gasp escaped her as she felt soft hair tickle her skin, before hot breath ghosted across her wanting pussy.
The warmth of Kara’s mouth engulfed her entirely; it took all of her self control not to thrust up into it. Kara must have felt it too, as she let out a knowing chuckle, and moved her hands to rest atop Mallory’s thighs, holding her in place.
Mallory wound her hands into Kara’s thick hair, relishing in the softness. She sank into the sensations as Kara flicked her tongue back and forth across her clit, before languidly trailing through her folds. Time lost its meaning as Mallory gave in to Kara’s ministrations, waves of pleasure wracking through her body. Kara gave her no relief, content to take her time exploring Mallory’s pussy with her mouth; enjoying the slow pace. A guttural moan sounded from Mallory as Kara once again abandoned her clitoris to push her tongue inside her.
“Fuck, you’re too good at this. We can’t be too loud.”
Kara’s head inched up, fingers taking her tongue’s place as she replied.
Mallory moaned loudly as she felt Kara’s fingers pushing deep inside of her, opening her wide.
“Oh, fuck…”
“Well next time, I’ll just have to carry you back to mine. You can be as loud as you like there. In fact, I’ll make you scream so loudly you’ll be hoarse for days.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll hold you to it. Fuck, don’t stop. Fuck me, please,” Mallory desperately needed to feel Kara’s fingers fucking her.
“But, of course, doctor.”
Kara looked up at her meeting her gaze and grinned and Mallory felt the fingers inside her beginning to thrust, firmly, deeply, deliciously.
She felt the beautiful pressure each time as the pads of Kara’s fingers hit her G spot.
She felt her legs beginning to shake as Kara’s fingers fucked her harder and faster.
“Oh, my god..”
Se felt Kara’s hot mouth envelope her clitoris and begin to suck.
Mallory could feel the tightness building deep inside her. God, she was so close.
With a muffled moan her climax blew through her, and she felt herself gush hot liquid.
As she opened her eyes she saw Kara grinning up at her.
“You are so fucking sexy when you come, Dr. Storm.”
Mallory watched as Kara slowly and carefully withdrew her fingers, cupping her palm carefully.
“Look at the juice from your beautiful orgasm in my hand.” Kara showed her the small pool of liquid in the palm of her hand.
Mallory felt herself blushing at the sight of it.
“It would be a shame to waste something so beautiful,” Kara said, her voice sexy and husky as hell.
Mallory couldn’t take her eyes off Kara as she put her hand to her mouth and reached her tongue out licking every last drop of Mallory’s orgasm from her hand. Her brown eyes were fixed on Mallory as she did it.
It was the most erotic thing Mallory had ever seen.