Chapter 21
LEXI
Work was trash. We were busy again and had several people call out, which meant that what should have been a cush assignment was doubled.
Un-fucking-believable. I spent the morning changing out IV lines, updating family members, dealing with a code brown, and titrating drips.
All normal ICU stuff, but when you’ve got two vented patients who need your attention equally, it can be a lot.
It also meant breaks were short and hard to come by.
‘Tis the season, I guess. By the time we got some relief, it was midafternoon, and I was desperate for a caffeine boost. I made my way to the cafeteria to grab myself a soda—certainly not to catch a glimpse of a certain sexy Santa. Did I want to see Brandon? Yes. Did I have time for a quickie? No, but for some reason, the thought of seeing him excited me anyway. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Brandon had me all sorts of fucked up.
Entering the cafeteria, I spotted him immediately, sitting in the North Pole setup with a little kid on his lap. Oof, my ovaries! I didn’t even want kids, but damn.
I eyed him as I crossed the room toward the vending machines.
He was laughing and smiling, completely oblivious that I was staring at him.
While focused on him, I smacked right into someone, causing them to drop their tray of food.
A crash rang out throughout the room. Heads turned, and a few assholes even clapped.
But what absolutely sent me was the fact that Brandon had looked up and smirked at me before I could even turn my head to assess the damage I’d caused. Motherfucker caught me ogling his ass.
I quickly crouched down to help the poor guy whose lunch I’d ruined. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I apologized as I picked up a rogue apple.
“Lacey?”
I looked up to see someone who looked somewhat familiar. I squinted my eyes. He sort of resembled what’s-his-name that I hooked up with last month. “Oh, hey. It’s Lexi, actually,” I said as he crouched down to my level.
What’s-his-name and I put the rest of the mess onto his tray and then stood up as a janitor approached with a mop. “Thank you so much. Sorry for the mess,” I said to him, and then turned back to what’s-his-name.
“I’m so sorry about that. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Let me buy you a new lunch,” I offered.
“No, really. It’s okay. But you could let me take you out to dinner, though. To make it up to you for blowing you off last month,” he chuckled nervously and grabbed the back of his neck.
“You blew me off? Sorry to say, but the feeling was mutual,” I laughed. Just then, I clocked Brandon in my peripheral vision. I wasn’t sure how to play this. I could use good old what’s-his-name again and make Brando jealous, or I could be a normal, well-adjusted-grown-up.
“I’d never done anything like that before.
” He leaned in closer and said in a hushed voice, “You know, had a one-night stand. I was sort of going through something, and I feel like I kind of used you. I feel terrible about it, and I’m really sorry.
” He seemed genuine, and a strange feeling came over me.
Was that guilt? Did I actually feel bad for using him?
I reached out and touched his arm as Brandon reached us. “Everything okay here, Lexi?” I dropped my hand from the guy’s arm like it was lava. Brandon towered over us, and he appeared to puff himself up so that he was somehow even larger than usual. Fucking men. Insert dramatic eye roll here.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine.” I directed my attention back to the guy. “I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry again—” I trailed off, still unsure of the guy’s name.
“Mark,” he smiled. “So how about dinner?”
Brandon’s eyes flashed with something akin to anger before he grabbed my arm to pull me away. “She’s already got plans tonight, Matt,” he shot over his shoulder.
“What the fuck, Brandon?” I barked, keeping my voice low. Moments later, I was being pushed into an on-call room. “What is your fucking problem?” I whisper yelled.
The door slammed, and Brandon was on me. With his hand on my throat, he pushed me against the wall. He was rough yet gentle, clearly not trying to hurt me, but definitely staking his claim. My pussy clenched at nothing. Traitorous whore.
“Who was that guy? You know him.” It wasn’t a question.
“He’s no one.” I tried to push him away, but it was like trying to push an elephant. “And what business is it of yours, anyway?”
“Who is he?”
“Jesus, you’re such a Neanderthal. He’s just a guy I fucked once, okay? Can I go back to work now?” I huffed.
“When?” Brandon’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned in close. Fuck, I was so turned on.
“Before you,” I breathed. “There’s been no one since we started seeing each other.” Seeing each other? What the fuck, Lexi? And why was I telling him any of this? It wasn’t his fucking business what I did or with whom.
“Good girl,” he hissed. “You’re mine, Sweetheart.” His other hand moved between my legs. “This is mine.”
Yep, that did it. I was soaked. Despite really having to get back to work, I ground myself into his touch.
“Tell me.” Brandon’s breath danced along my neck, sending a shiver down my body. “Whose pussy is this, Lexi?”
“Yours,” I replied breathlessly.
“And the rest of you?”
“Yours.” Never have I ever, in all of my years of fucking dudes, said that to anyone.
Not for fun.
Not in the heat of the moment.
Not for anything.
Yet there I was, giving myself to this man, and I think I may have actually believed what I was saying.
“Good girl.” He released me and backed away. “Now get back to work. I’ll be seeing you later.” And then he was gone, and I was left standing there completely dumbfounded and sopping wet. What the fuck just happened? A frustrated growl escaped me. I didn’t even have time to grab a soda.