Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
G raham
With my scotch, I sat beside her. I didn’t plan on inviting her over, but when I saw her standing in line for coffee on the rooftop, I couldn’t help myself. Besides, I was a total dick yesterday for not calling or texting her like I promised I would. After seeing my old house, I didn’t want to talk to anyone or do anything. The demons inside me were in full force, and it was best I was alone.
The doorbell rang, so I got up and opened the door. Pulling some cash from my pocket, I handed it to the delivery guy and took the pizza from him.
“Thanks, man. Have a good night,” I said.
“You too.”
“Pizza has arrived.” I smiled, holding up the box before setting it on the island.
“Thank God. I’m starving,” Ella spoke, jumping up from the couch.
I took down two plates and placed two slices of pizza on each.
“Here you go.” I handed Ella a plate.
“Thanks.”
Taking our plates and drinks over to the table, we sat down and talked.
“How was your day today?” she asked.
“It was good. Dr. Ashley and I had three surgeries. One was a six-year-old little girl with a bad gallbladder.”
“Wow. At six?” Her brows furrowed.
“Yeah. Poor kid.”
“That guy with the gunshot wound was a little more difficult than I anticipated,” she said. “It was wedged in?—”
“You know what? Let’s not talk about work.” I cut her off. “We’ve both put in a full day, and I don’t think talking about our surgeries is very relaxing.”
“Sure. Okay.”
My phone rang, and when I pulled it from my pocket, I saw that my Aunt Dorinda was calling. I declined the call.
“You’re not going to answer that?”
“Nah. It’s just my Aunt Dorinda. I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“Tell me about her.” Ella’s lips formed a smile. “You said she was your dad’s sister?”
“Yeah. She’s an attorney. She and my uncle own a large law firm in Manhattan. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. “He was a good man and a good attorney. So is my aunt. She’s highly respected and a powerful woman.”
“I’d love to meet her sometime.” Ella smiled.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
We finished our pizza and took our plates to the sink. Suddenly, a loud boom startled me, and my heart started racing.
“Graham, are you okay?” Ella placed her hand on my arm.
“That sounded like a gunshot.” I could feel the air constricting my lungs.
Ella walked over to the window. “It’s just fireworks.”
Again, another loud boom startled me.
“Who the fuck is setting off fireworks in the middle of May, for fuck’s sake?” I shouted. “Jesus Christ!”
“Graham, it’s okay.”
“No, Ella, it’s not!” I shouted. “It’s illegal!” I gripped the island's edge to try and calm down, focusing on my breathing. Once my heart rate slowed, I slightly turned my head and looked at Ella, who stood there staring at me. “I’m sorry.” I walked over and wrapped my arms around her. “I hate fireworks.”
“It’s okay,” she said, softly rubbing my back.
“No. I shouldn’t have shouted at you like I did. It’s just—” I broke our embrace and stared into her beautiful eyes.
“Graham, it’s okay.”
I needed her, and now. Smashing my mouth into hers, I swooped down, picked her up, and carried her to my bedroom. Our clothes were off in a flash while our lips synced. All I could think about was being buried inside her, feeling the warmth that I needed. Without any thought about putting on a condom, I hovered over her and pushed my cock inside, kissing her lips while I thrust in and out.
“I’m sorry. I forgot about a condom,” I breathlessly spoke.
“I’m on birth control,” she softly moaned.
Lifting myself up, I stared into her eyes as I moved inside her, taking in the wetness and pleasure I craved. Leaning down, I took her hardened peak between my teeth, lightly biting and licking to soothe the sting. She orgasmed while pleasurable moans escaped her lips. Her sounds soothed me in ways I’d never been soothed before. My cock spasmed and was ready to explode. Halting, I pushed deep inside her, grunting, and let go of the intense pressure that gripped me.
“Oh, God. Oh, God.” My body dropped on hers.
Her hands gripped my ass while her nails softly dug into my flesh. Rolling off her, I lay on my back. She rolled on her side and smiled, placing her hand on my chest.
“That was great,” I said.
“It sure was. I need to use the bathroom.” She climbed out of bed.
I lay there with my hand over my heart, watching her beautiful naked body walk into the bathroom.
“Are you a druggie?” she playfully asked, shaking the bottle of pills as she climbed back into bed.
“No.” I chuckled. “Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping and need to take one.” I took the bottle from her and set it on the nightstand. Shit. I’d forgotten I’d left them on the bathroom sink.
“Stay the night,” I said.
“I would love to, but I have to be at the hospital by five-thirty a.m. I have surgery first thing.” She leaned over and kissed my lips.
“Okay.” I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She climbed off the bed and got dressed. Pulling on a pair of sweatpants, I walked her to the door.
“Thanks for coming over tonight.” I gripped her hips.
“Thanks for inviting me and for the pizza.”
“Is that all?” I softly kissed her lips.
“And the sex.” A beautiful grin crossed her face. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely.”
“I will.”
She walked out, and I shut the door, leaning against it and letting out a breath. Grabbing my phone, I called my Aunt Dorinda back. I knew it was late in New York, but she’d be up.
“Hello, Graham.”
“You called earlier?”
“Were you at the hospital?” she asked.
“No. I was on a date.”
“A date? With whom?”
“A doctor from the hospital.”
“How close are the two of you?”
“Aunt Dorinda, she’s just a girl I met.”
“I hope you remember the rules, darling.”
“I do.” I sighed. “Is there a reason you called?”
“I’m having a charity fundraiser next month and would like you to be there.”
“I can’t. My work schedule is crazy.”
“I’m giving you enough notice to take off, Graham.”
“I’m new to the program, Aunt Dorinda. How would it look if I asked for time off already?”
“Very well.”
“Listen. I’m really tired, and I know it’s very late in New York. You should get some sleep.”
“I will once I’m done reviewing my notes for court tomorrow. Sleep well, darling.”
“You too.”
A loud boom rattled me. Once again, my heart raced faster than the speed of light, and I broke into sweat. I turned the shower on, stepped in, and let the hot water beat down me, trying to drown out the sounds. I wasn’t feeling well, so I sat on the floor in the corner and hugged my knees, burying my head between my legs. I sat there for what seemed like an eternity. Climbing out, I grabbed the bottle of pills from my nightstand and shook one in my hand. Taking it to the living room, I poured another scotch and chased the pill down the back of my throat. Finishing my drink in one gulp, I set the glass down and climbed into bed. I thought about Ella. Soon, more questions about my childhood would surface, and I’d have to lie to her, which was the last thing I wanted to do. I was already lying to her, and it needed to stop. But the only way it would was if I stopped seeing her. The problem was the connection I felt. She quickly became special to me, which was something I hadn’t planned when I moved here. Two years. Work. Work. Work. All I had to do was focus on my job and training and get on with my life back in New York. Coming here was a mistake. I thought I could handle it. I was dead wrong.