13. Cole
13
COLE
I stood over my stove adding salt and spices to the food in the skillet. Rose leaned against my kitchen counter looking a bit apprehensive. I'd opted for a meal at home instead of a restaurant this time to avoid anyone from work spotting us. While I wasn't exactly nervous about that particular thing, I knew she was a bit hesitant. And with the heat on my position at work, it was a good idea to take a play from her book and be cautious, at the very least.
"So you seem in a better mood tonight," she said, and I sighed, pushing some of my negative thoughts away. I'd managed to destress a little since the other day when I asked her to have dinner with me.
"Yeah, it's been a tough week, but it's over and you're here now." I smiled at her warmly and turned back to my work. The stir fry smelled delicious and I couldn't wait to dig in, but I was enjoying the discussion with Rose while I cooked.
"I'm sure it's personal, but I'm here if you want to talk." She shrugged one shoulder, and I glanced up at her. It was kind of her to offer, but I still wondered what she'd say if she knew I was the doctor who messed up and put the entire nursing staff at risk. There were rumors that the administration would start making cuts if the lawsuit went through.
"I'm really okay, but thank you for offering." My hand shook a little as I stirred the dish with the wooden spoon, and some grease splashed up and landed on my arm. I dropped the spoon on the stove and yelped in pain, rushing right to the sink.
Cold water soothed the small burn immediately but did nothing to cool the shame burning in my chest. I plunged my hand under the icy flow and bit down on the inside of my cheek to stifle the grumble of anger I felt rising up.
"Oh, my God, are you okay?" she asked, and she was there, holding my hand, nursing me the way she was trained to do. "Wow, this is second degree. Do you have a first-aid kit?" she asked, and her eyes met mine. I felt so foolish.
"Uh, no," I admitted, and she frowned.
"What happened?" Her eyes went back to looking at the wound, still under the flow of water.
"I'm a klutz," I said, forcing a chuckle. It masked the way I really felt, like a total waste of humanity. I was a surgeon. I was supposed to have steady hands, and here I was, bumbling up my own dinner. How was I supposed to keep this a secret from the nursing staff I worked with if it was getting worse like this?
Rose laughed and pulled my hand out from under the water, pressing a hand towel to it. She reached for the dish soap and rubbed a small amount on it, then rinsed it for me. When she dried it the second time she said, "Bandages, at least?" Her eyebrows rose, and I pointed a thumb over my shoulder.
"Bathroom medicine cabinet. Second door on the left."
She dashed off to get a bandage, and I turned the heat under the pan down on low. I hadn't felt this low in my entire life, and that was saying something following Kate… The idea that I could lose my career over something I had no control over was gutting. I didn't know how to keep myself emotionally stable. I felt torn between crawling into bed and never getting out again and going on a rampage, smashing things because it would at least burn off some of this energy.
I stirred the food in silence, stewing over how I was going to get the treatment I needed. With everything going on at work, I wasn't sure if I should take the time off right now. I would have to have a reason to leave town during work time, but my weekends were busy now too. Rose and I were bonding, and that was when I spent my time with her.
When she came back and pried me away from the stove to put the bandage on my hand, she looked sad. I felt sorry for worrying her like this, but my gut told me that wasn’t the only reason she was feeling down.
"What is it?" I asked her, and I took a chance and pulled her onto my lap. She lazily draped her arms around my shoulders while I reached to shut off the stove. We sat at the small dining table in my eat-in kitchen, and I felt like bad news was coming.
"Cole, I'm just worried. I know you said that we are in different departments so people at work will never suspect us, but I'm worried that our seeing each other might be detrimental to my job. I heard another couple was busted 'shacking up,' as Pam told me. They both got fired." She bit her lip and grimaced, and I sighed. I held her tightly, unwilling to let her go.
She was the first woman since Kate whom I'd even looked at twice, the only one who caught my attention. Yes, she was gorgeous, but it wasn't that. Rose was charming and funny, and when she smiled, it lit up the whole room. Just having her near me made me feel better.
"I feel like the best way to keep things a secret is to do them in secret…" My mind started whirring with ideas. I wanted to be around her, and she wanted to be around me—I thought. Despite her fear, at least. What if she went with me to Kansas City? I could do my treatment and send her for a spa day. No one would know where we went. It was our weekend to plan, and we'd have time together without missing a beat. Plus, it would be completely private, keeping her job safe.
She narrowed her eyes on me. "What do you mean?"
My hand palmed her ass cheek and I grinned at her. "Rose, you have no idea the change you've brought into my life. I want to see where this goes, even if it means we have to take a risk. I can find a new job. They're a dime a dozen for a man like me." That line made bile rise up in the back of my throat because right now, that part wasn't exactly true. I was walking a line here. "But a good woman is so hard to find, one in a million."
She teared up a little. "You think I'm one in a million?" Her voice was so soft, filled with emotion, and I had to pull her down for a kiss.
"Honestly, I don't think that—I know that. Don’t make me have to beg you…" I kissed her again, and she let her hand run up the back of my head into my hair. It was a good feeling having someone in my arms again, and I was thrilled the woman on my lap was as amazing as she was. Everything else I said was true. I really did want to see where this went. Even if we had to do it privately.
"What do you want to do, then?" she asked when she pulled away. I squeezed her ass again and thought about it for a second.
"Well, we can't exactly screw in the broom closet. We'd get caught…" Rose chuckled at me again, and I continued. "So how about we go away for a weekend? I know this great little spa in Kansas City. I think you'll love it."
Rose's face lit up and she grinned at me. "You want to take me away for a weekend?"
"Yeah, why not? I've been looking for an excuse to get away for a weekend. I think we'll have a great time." The idea was settling on me now, feeling like the right choice. I could get my checkup and treatment underway, which would help me at least get the stress of the tremors off my shoulders, and she and I could bond more, hopefully putting all her fears to bed.
Deep down, I knew it was a little selfish, but my heart just craved a little comfort in the middle of this stress. I wanted her to be the one to comfort me. And I knew there was a spark between us that we shouldn’t ignore.
"You want to sneak around with me like we're teenagers avoiding getting into trouble?" The question would have bothered me, except I could tell she was enjoying this by the grin on her face.
"Only because the sex is so incredible," I said, grinning.
"Oh, you like my sex, do you?" The little vixen was pushing every button I had. This sexy hard-to-get act had my dick hard and throbbing, and I wanted to stroke it and watch her touch herself.
"Yeah, enough to bend you over this table right now." I squeezed her ass hard again, and she leaned down to kiss me again. Dinner was getting cold, but I could always reheat it. This idea of going away for a weekend together and my finally getting to see that specialist at the clinic made me happy.
"Oh, go ahead and make me…" The way she challenged me only got me going more. I stood, taking her with me, and started undressing her instantly. Her skin seemed to ignite under my fingertips, and it made my dick throb.
Rose gasped but she didn't fight me. In fact, she got as hot and bothered by it as I was, kissing me while tearing into my clothing.
"You know," I said, my voice deep and husky as I slid her panties down her thighs, "I want to fuck you on this table."
"Yeah?" she said, her voice breathless as I teased her aching clit with my fingers.
“Yeah… And on the counter, and on the couch…” I kissed her again hard, and she managed to shove my pants down. They slid down my legs and I stepped out of them as she pulled my shirt over my head. My cock stood erect, begging for her pussy, and I wondered how long I’d last.
“This is more than just sex, though… Right?” I hated that she felt insecure about that, so I paused and cupped her cheek. My eyes searched her expression. I never wanted her to feel like a toy.
“I’ll stop right now if you want. Rose, I want more than just sex with you. Meeting you was the best thing to happen to me in years.” Her eyes explored mine, and she guided my hand back to her clit. She was soaked. I was so horny.
“Then show me how grateful you are.” Her lips crushed against mine, and I growled low in my chest as I kissed her and bit her lip.
“Oh, I’ll show you grateful,” I whispered against her ear before picking her up and laying her down on the table. I spread her legs apart and lowered to my knees, diving into her folds. She tasted sweet like cream and salty like caramel. I groaned against her, my tongue lapping up every drop of her arousal.
Rose moaned, her nails digging into my shoulders as I continued to tease her mercilessly. I loved how wet she got for me and how she didn't try to hide it.
"Oh, God, I can't…" she whined.
“Yeah, come for me, Rose. Let me taste your sweetness,” I said against her core before sucking hard on her clit. Her back arched off the table and she gasped in pleasure. I slid a few fingers into her and teased her a little before I started thrusting. I loved the way she squirmed and moaned under me, all incoherent words and moans.
Rose's orgasm crashed through her like a tidal wave, and she grunted my name as her juices flooded my mouth. I didn’t stop, even when she was spent, until she pushed me away, gasping for air.
“Oh, God,” she panted, “I love the way you eat me.”
“Mm-hmm," I said, licking my fingers clean. "You taste delicious." I stood up and positioned myself at her entrance. "Now, are you ready for the main course?"
"Oh, fuck yes," Rose purred.
I slid into her wet heat slowly and steadily, savoring every single inch of her tightness. “You feel so good,” I groaned, burying myself deep inside her.
“I love the way you fill me,” she moaned. Her hands clung to my sides, nails digging into my flesh. I slid in and out of her with practiced ease. The rhythm I set was comfortable, and Rose rubbed her clit while I fucked her.
I got lost in her, kissing, groping, kneading her breasts. She panted and whimpered my name, driving herself toward climax again, and when she came undone around my dick, it was all I could do to hold off. No condom meant a risk, and we’d already done that once. The very instant I felt my balls drawing up, I pulled out, shooting wads of stringy white cum onto her stomach. She gripped my dick and stroked me, milking the last few drops out, before sitting up and grinning at me.
"I worked up an appetite, Doctor. Maybe you should feed me before my examination. I'm going to need a full checkup." She winked at me and grabbed the hand towel she'd used to clean my burn and wiped my cum off her stomach. Then she slid off the table, kissed me and licked her juices off my lips, and then picked up her clothing and walked toward the bathroom.
I didn't know what I did to deserve such a wild little minx, but I loved it. The sex, the comfort, the distraction—she was everything I could ever ask for and more. And going into the fight of my life, I needed that. I just had to make sure I helped her feel safe and told her a million times how I couldn’t do this without her.
Because I knew I couldn't. It was going to challenge me to my core.