Chapter Seventeen
WHEN THEY SNEAKED through the back door, Pup and Casey ignored them. Or, at least, Julie hoped they were ignoring them and not just pretending. Somehow, though, she doubted that anything went unnoticed by the agent and his pup.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as they entered his room and quietly locked the door behind them. She was going to do this. Julie didn’t care whether he was a patient or not. She wanted him with every fiber of her being and wasn’t planning to hold back.
She tingled under his intense gaze as if his hands followed his eyes, touching and caressing every inch of her clothed body.
As if she were a fragile doll, Rodney removed her sweater slowly. When he pulled it over her head, she saw him looking at her bra-covered breasts. Why hadn’t she worn something sexier? Because I planned to have sex with him tonight. She knew it would eventually happen because her resolve had been slipping, but she hadn’t planned that night.
Reaching around her body, he unclasped and slipped her bra from her shoulders, exposing her breasts.
Rodney moved closer and rested his forehead against hers. “God, you’re beautiful.” He reached up and rubbed his thumb over her taut nipple, making her catch her breath. “I can’t wait to explore every inch of your sexy body.” He raised his eyebrows in a sultry manner. “From the top of your head to the tips of your toes.”
Julie reached out and wrapped her hand around the prominent bulge in his black cargo pants. “No. I’ll explore, especially here.” She squeezed him and was rewarded with a deep groan.
Breaking their connection, she lifted his black long-sleeved T-shirt with HIS logo over his head. Her gaze wandered over his chest, noting the nipple piercings, and her heart raced.
“I think it’s time we get rid of the rest of our clothes.” His deep, gravelly voice brought a smile to her face.
She reached down and slid her jeans off, then her panties, again wishing she’d worn something sexy instead of practical. When he stood after removing his garments, her breath caught at the size of him. Trembling with need, she reached out to his chest to feel his taut muscles.
Rodney remained still as she explored his chest, his nipple piercing, and the healed wounds she found. She knew each had its story, but now wasn’t the time for them—maybe between sessions.
Her face flushed at the thought of several sessions with this large man. Sure, she’d fantasized about it, but now it was reality. She didn’t want to mess it up and say something stupid like “patie—.”
As she explored his chest, shoulders, and arms, Rodney groaned but showed remarkable restraint by remaining still and refraining from grabbing her and tossing her onto the bed to assert control. Of course, she wouldn’t stop him if he did.
Gazing into his passionate eyes, warmth surged through her, and she smiled. “You’re perfect.”
“My turn?” he asked, raising his brows.
Julie smiled enticingly. “I’m not finished.”
He laughed softly. “Oh, absolutely you are, or else we’ll rush through everything because I can’t last much longer.” He grasped her waist, making her giggle as he walked her backward until the backs of her knees brushed against the bed.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to have you in my bed. I’ve dreamed about it every night.”
She wasn’t ready to tell him that she’d pleasured herself at the thought of them together. Not yet, anyway. “Oh, yeah?” she teased as her hand slid down his chest to his cock. Encircling him, he let out a deep, guttural groan. She loved the effect she had on him.
“You’re killing me,” he said, pulling her hand back. “I go first.”
Before she could voice an objection, he pulled her close, capturing her mouth and devouring her lips with a ferocity she hadn’t expected—but loved.
As his mouth moved over hers, he gently lowered her onto the bed, her knees bent over the edge. She reached down to push herself up, but he stopped her.
“Nope. I want to explore and taste you first.”
With a playful smile, she let her hands drop and opened her arms wide. She was more than okay with it because she craved it with every fiber of her being. “Go on, then.”
Rodney stood over her, raking his gaze across her body, igniting a deep-seated hunger within her. She had never desired a man as much as she wanted to be with him. Yet, it wasn’t solely physical. She cherished his company. Her heart swelled with emotion during the days they spent with their heads close together at the hospital while she shared her concerns about her students or patients. Could it be love? She certainly hoped so, considering she was taking this leap at the risk of her career.
No, she wouldn’t think about that now. They were taking advantage of that moonlight exception. She’d handle any consequences as they came. Rodney was worth whatever a review board could throw at her.
“Where did you go?” he asked, his brows drawn together in a V.
Julie smiled and shook her head. “Nowhere.” She squirmed. “I thought you were going to explore.”
He smiled widely. “Oh, I am.”
“Then stop talking and just do it before I flip you over and figure it out myself.”
He stood up straight between her legs. “You wouldn’t,” he challenged.
She could easily lock her legs around his and flip them in bed, but that wasn’t what she wanted. No, she did want that, but she wanted him to be in charge the first time. There would be plenty of other opportunities for her to take charge.
Woah. That meant more than just this exception, and she was okay with that, too.
Rodney leaned closer to her lips. “I thought so,” he said before capturing them in a kiss so intense that she whimpered with pleasure.
His hand slid to her breast, moving over it, playing with it until it ached with the desire that inhabited the rest of her body. Breaking the kiss, he slid his lips down her neck to her breast, pulling the taut nipple into his mouth. While his mouth worked her right breast, his hand explored her left one, teasing it.
Her head sank into the pillow as her hands roamed through his short hair. The blend of softness and stubble from his closely cropped beard wreaked havoc on her body—a sensation she wouldn’t trade for anything.
As Rodney’s hand slipped down between her legs, she moaned in pleasure and anticipation of him tasting her, lapping his tongue around her, driving her over the edge.
Julie gasped at the abrupt pounding on the door.
“Doc,” Pup said, “sorry to interrupt, but there’s a phone call for you.”
Rodney rested his head against her chest and groaned. “Tell them I’m busy.”
“I don’t think you want to do that.”
Footsteps faded as Pup descended the stairs.
Rodney looked up at her with pleading eyes. “Please wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
Once again, feeling embarrassed by the men in the house, Julie shook her head. “No, I’ll go back to my room.”
“Julie—” he murmured.
“Come to me when you’re finished.”
With a stern gaze, he smiled. “Don’t lock me out. I know exactly where the key is.” He winked, got to his feet, and dressed in what had to be record time.
After he left the room, Julie dressed, 86ing her underclothes since she wouldn’t have anything on when he returned.
Then, it dawned on her. Someone might be bringing news about her. She nibbled her lower lip. Should she eavesdrop again or rely on Rodney to tell her what happened?
She jumped when her phone rang. Who could be calling this late in the evening? Glancing at the clock, she realized it wasn’t even eight o’clock. Wow.
She glanced at her screen and answered the call. “Hey, Laura.”
The background music made it nearly impossible for her to hear. “It’s Laura and Stacy. We’re out and want you to join us.”
She sighed, reflecting on all the nights they had enjoyed drinks after work to unwind and sometimes meet a man. Not Laura, though. She had some secret man she talked about. She and Stacy believed it wasn’t true, but who cared as long as her friend was happy?
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Bring the hunky guys with you,” Stacy said. “Laura’s even on the lookout tonight.”
Surprised, Julie inquired, “Laura?”
“Just a lover’s quarrel. But I’m ready for something different tonight. Bring those guys and come on out.”
Julie knew the men wouldn’t let her go to a bar at that hour when it would be crowded, and they couldn’t maintain control. Besides, she had her review board hearing in the morning. She hadn’t expected it to come up so soon but had received the message before dinner. She hadn’t told Rodney yet and thought it was best to inform him before he made other plans for them.
“I have my review board hearing tomorrow morning,” she informed them.
“What?” Stacy asked. “Already?”
Yeah, that’s what Julie thought. They convened too quickly. She only hoped they wouldn’t decide just as quickly unless it was in her favor. She couldn’t imagine how it could be otherwise because she hadn’t made a mistake on that order.
“How about we come to see you?” Stacy asked, and Laura chimed in.
She hoped they could, so she would ask Rodney if she could tell her friends where she was staying so they could visit her. They weren’t a threat to her.
“You know you can’t.” She sighed. “But I’ll ask. Now, have fun tonight. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow.”
After hanging up the phone, she set it down and stood to get dressed completely—including her undergarments. Once she was presentable, she went to the stairwell and heard, “Devon found what you were looking for.”
Rodney said, “Let him know I’m on my way.”
Her heart sank when he encountered her in the stairwell.
“I need to step out for a little while,” he said, his voice filled with pain. “It shouldn’t be long.”
Wounded by his decision to leave and his failure to share the reasons, it was more than she could bear. She shrugged. “It’s fine. I need my sleep. My review board is at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”
Rodney raised his eyebrows. “When were you going to tell me this?”
Julie headed back upstairs, not wanting him to see her pain. “I just did.”