21. Permission to Misbehave
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Brooke
Permission to Misbehave
“Y es, Max, Dalton will be there tomorrow and he’s very sorry he had to miss practice today. It really wasn’t something he could control,” Brooke assured Max again at bedtime as she tucked him into bed.
His room was decorated in various shades of blue and green, with floating shelves on one wall holding dozens of building block sets he’d put together. There were also several baskets of robots, cars, and stuffed animals he’d collected so far. His bed was elevated high so he had to use a ladder to get in it, which left room below for a fort. There was also a strategically placed bookshelf in there, where they would cuddle before bed and read.
“But Mom, I wanted to hear his trick on catching fly balls. I wanted to see if I’ve been doing it right. Couldn’t we just call him?”
She wiped his damp curls back off his forehead and kissed his rosy cheek.
“No. For one I don’t have Coach Dalton’s phone number, and for two it’s bedtime. You’ll see him in less than eighteen hours and have your chance to ask him all your questions. And he said he’d make it up to you all so maybe he’ll do an extra training session.”
“Mom, it’s not work. It’s baseball. It’s not training, it’s coaching,” Max whined as he turned over onto his side and his eyes started to flutter closed.
Her cheeks hurt from smiling at her darling boy. She knew he would be asleep within another moment. After a day of school and hours on the baseball field he wasn’t going to be able to fight his body’s need for sleep.
After just a few more swipes of his brow, his breathing grew heavy and turned into a steady, soft rhythm. She turned off the light machine, leaving just the simple night-light in the shape of a baseball on his small desk on, and closed his door. Out in the kitchen she finished cleaning up their simple dinner plates and wondered how Dalton was doing at the hospital. Then her phone chimed from where it was plugged in to charge on the kitchen counter.
How are you doing resisting your new coworker? the text read from May.
She sighed. Truthfully, not very well but she wasn’t about to announce it. If she and Dalton were going to keep things secret, it was best if no one knew.
Easy peasy.
Liar! Who was it that said resistance is futile?
Sounds like a quitter.
Well embrace that, but I wouldn’t call it quitting, more like accepting your true destiny.
That’s a bit dramatic, are you reading romantasy again?
Maybe, but I’m not suggesting you adopt a dragon or go on a quest to discover which magic power you have.
Brooke scoffed.
I just want you to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and do what you want. Especially if that means doing Dalton. Then I’d like you to tell me all the tawdry details, please.
Shameful. I’m going to tell Mom you’re encouraging me to have a relationship out of wedlock.
Go for it. Mom will agree with me.
Brooke laughed again—her sister might be right at this point. It felt like she’d tried to do everything the “right” way and it totally crashed and burned.
Another text rolled in but this time from an unknown number.
Hi, this is Dalton. I just thought you’d probably be wondering how I’m doing and we haven’t exchanged numbers yet, which also seems crazy.
She could feel her face beaming with a smile and in the privacy of her own home she didn’t have to hide it. There was no one there to judge her or wonder what she was thinking.
How is your patient?
Still sleeping. Was Max upset that I couldn’t make it today?
He was disappointed but he understands. She hesitated, unsure if she should be more honest. He was hoping to get your guidance on how to manage a fly ball. He wants to make sure he’s handling that correctly.
He actually is, but I’ll practice with him so he feels really confident about it. I hope we don’t have any serious cases tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to spending time with you.
Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart started pounding.
Me too. She had to admit it. She not only wanted this time with Dalton, she needed it. She craved his attention more than she thought she should, but that was her secret to keep.
Good. So the only question is, do you want me to pick you up or are you okay with meeting me out at Levi’s place?
I guess it would be good if you picked me up at my house. Is that okay?
Yup perfect, and then I won’t have to worry about you leaving too early.
What is too early?
Before the last minute. If I’m only going to get your undivided attention on Wednesday nights then I’m going to take advantage of every single second.
That sounds interesting.
I promise it will be in every way possible.
Her heart was racing and her body felt hot. He wasn’t even in the room and he was driving her need for him to the next level.
Alright, I’m going to go take a cold shower. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. But save this number and please reach out if you need anything. Ever.
That was quite an offer, and she wanted to say that she needed him now, but that was not an option. Max was asleep at home and Dalton had a patient. So she would have to bide her time until tomorrow.
See you tomorrow.
The next morning the energy of expectation drove her to get out of bed early. Some mornings felt like she was walking through quicksand trying to get herself and Max ready and to work on time. But today her hyperfocus on her plans for tonight drove her to get everything done and them out the door.
“Mom, are we early?” Max asked as they pulled into the drop-off lane.
“No, we’re just first today.”
“Wow, we’ve never been first. It feels early. I like it.”
“Well, we can try to be first again next week, no need to get carried away.”
Max laughed, unbuckled his seat belt, then leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“Call me after school and remember Pops and Mimi are picking you up today to get you to baseball and then guys’ night.”
“Yes, I love Wednesdays.”
Brooke pretended to be offended.
“Oh, Mom, you know what I mean.”
“I know that ice cream influences your opinion on your favorite night of the week.” She hopped out of the car to help him with his backpack and gave him a big hug.
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you, Mom,” Max whispered. “Have a great boring night.”
She decided not to stop at May’s for coffee and instead went right to the hospital, where she saw Dalton’s truck parked outside. But inside she didn’t see him at the desk with Nora, his patient was gone, and she didn’t find him in his office. Dr. Jones was also not there since he’d put himself on early retirement leave. She set her bags down on her own desk and sighed. All morning she’d been working herself up to this moment when she’d get to see him, which was silly, because she wasn’t going to be able to do anything. She couldn’t act on her need for him at work.
“Good morning.” His deep, unmistakable voice sounded scratchy, still, from the early morning.
Her head popped up to find him in her doorway in fresh scrubs, hair damp, and the scent of soap wafting off of him. Her body instantly responded.
“Hi, I was wondering where you were when I didn’t see you out in the bay.”
He took one more step, placing him just an inch away from touching her and forcing her head to tilt back to look up at him.
“I needed another shower after I had the most realistic dream last night.”
“Oh, who was in your dream?” she asked, and held her breath.
His hand reached out and he stroked his thumb up along her jaw, making her mouth go dry.
“You.”
Then she pushed up on her tiptoes and gripped his shirt to pull his mouth down on hers. They were a collision of needs; one hand gripped her hip pulling her into him and the other held her face as he brought his mouth down over hers. His lips were full and demanding, and she wanted to taste more of him.
“Brooke,” he breathed her name against her open mouth before he sucked on her lower lip.
A groan escaped as she hiked one leg up his thigh. He caught it, and in one swift movement, he picked her up by her bottom and had her legs wrapped around his waist, kicking her small office door closed before pushing her against the wall.
“I told myself not to touch you before tonight, but it’s like you’re a magnet.”
“We need to set some ground rules,” she said as she rocked her hips over him and felt the thick bulge waiting for her.
“Maybe Wednesdays are the one day we have no boundaries—maybe it’s the forbidden part that is driving this need,” he suggested as his hand swooped under her shirt and his thumb rubbed over the thin fabric of her bralette across her hard nipple that seemed to tighten more.
“Okay, but we can’t get caught at work.”
“No, we won’t get caught. I’ll make sure of that.” With her propped against the wall, he took his one free hand and slid it between them to cup between her legs, where she was throbbing for his touch.
She tightened her legs that were wrapped around his back.
“Please, don’t stop,” she begged.
“You’re the boss.” His mouth was on her neck and he pulled his hand back just enough to slip it down her loose scrub pants, tracing the top line of her panties before pushing his hand beneath them. When his rough thumb found her clit, she bucked.
“Is that what you want?”
She nodded and gripped him closer. “Yes, I want you.”
“I’m going to take my time with you later, but until then…” He shifted his hand so his thumb still pressed and flicked her swollen bud, but now his index finger sank inside her wet folds.
“Look how wet you are for me. You want me as much as I need you.” He pressed his hips up so his thick need for her pushed against her bottom where she was balanced on top of him.
“I want you more.” The words felt strained as she spoke them. Her need was mounting as his finger stroked just outside her entrance, teasing her. She bucked closer, taking him in just a little and groaning for more.
“I see that, but don’t mistake my discipline to wait for not being desperate to be inside you.” And with that he pushed his finger inside all the way.
She gasped and ground down, meeting his finger thrust and losing her breath. Sparks shattered behind her eyes as the first wave of pleasure broke over her.
“Dalton, more,” she begged.
His thumb circled and pressed her clit as his finger began to slowly pull out before plunging back inside her in a steady rhythm.
“I will give you more, and everything you need,” he promised. His mouth lingered on her throat before kissing her and capturing her scream of release as he made her come in record time while he held her.
Her breathing was fast as she slowly returned from her orgasm and heat flooded her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, you didn’t get to…”
His smile was wicked. “First rule: never be sorry when I get to give you pleasure. If you think I won’t get pleasure from reliving this moment over and over in my mind, you’re crazy.” He kissed her and slid his hand along her swollen, slick lips, causing her to buck again. “Mmm, and I will spend the rest of the day thinking about exactly how good you feel when you’re wet and ready for me.”
Next he squeezed her bottom with both hands and pressed her up against the wall. His hard length was ready.
“Maybe we should break that rule about work,” she said, still wanting more of him.
He smiled. “No, I need to take my time with you, and I don’t want any interruptions.”
His blue eyes were dark again like the sky before a storm. His desire for her was on full display as he slowly set her back on her feet.
“You’re going to ruin my ability to focus today,” she said as she tried to smooth down her wrinkled scrubs. Then she looked at them both.
“Oh, we look frumpled.”
Dalton looked them both over. “Yeah, we look like I just made you scream my name.”
She swatted at him, but then there was a buzz on her desk phone and she hit the speaker button.
“Brooke, can you find Dr. Hart? We have our first patient. He might be in the gym—I haven’t seen him yet,” Nora said.
“I think he was napping in the supply closet. I’ll find him,” she lied.
He leaned forward and took her chin in his hand. “Good save.” His mouth captured hers and she leaned into the kiss, knowing she wouldn’t get another one until tonight.
“Go, so I can try to fix my face before I’m needed.”
“Your face is perfect,” he replied, and gave her one more kiss then opened the office door.
“The coast is clear,” he said, teasing, then went and grabbed his stethoscope from his office right across from hers before heading out to the hospital.
Brooke let out a deep breath. Holy crap, she just let her schoolgirl crush make her come again without giving him any pleasure. She had taken recklessness to an entirely new level, but looked down at her watch to see that it read 7:59. At least they hadn’t been on the clock. Even if that could never happen again at work, it had felt like exactly where she needed to be in the moment. She had everything to lose but didn’t care, which meant Dalton was dangerous. The sooner he left was probably for the best, but she was going to enjoy him as long as he was in town.