15. Emily
Emily
Something stirs me from sleep. A shift in the air, the weight of a gaze, a presence so intense it presses against my skin like a phantom touch.
I blink slowly, my vision adjusting to the dim glow of the bedside lamp. And then I see him.
Henry.
He’s lying beside me, half-covered by the sheets, his head propped up on one hand, watching me. His dark eyes trace over my face, like he’s memorizing every line, every shadow.
“How long have you been staring at me?” I murmur, my voice thick with sleep.
His lips quirk into a smirk, but there’s something softer beneath it. “Long enough.”
I stretch lazily, the sheets slipping lower, exposing more of my bare skin to the cool air. His gaze flickers downward, darkening as his fingers brush lightly over my collarbone.
“You’re beautiful when you sleep,” he murmurs, dragging his fingertips down the center of my chest. “But I think I like you better awake.”
A shiver runs through me at his touch, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring the feel of me beneath his fingertips. My pulse thrums beneath my skin, heat pooling low in my belly.
“Is that right?” I tease, my lips curving, but my breath hitches when he shifts closer, his body heat wrapping around me like a cocoon.
“Mm-hmm.” His fingers drift lower, grazing my stomach. “Because when you’re awake… I get to hear all those sweet sounds you make.”
I suck in a sharp breath as his palm flattens against my hip, pulling me closer, until my body molds perfectly against his. His bare chest is warm, solid, and so dangerously intoxicating against mine.
His lips find my shoulder, pressing slow, lingering kisses up the slope of my neck, each one hotter, deeper, more possessive than the last.
“Henry,” I whisper, barely able to think when he’s touching me like this.
His hand slides up, cupping my jaw, tilting my head so he can claim my lips. The kiss is slow—achingly slow—his tongue teasing, coaxing, pulling me deeper into him.
I melt. Completely.
My fingers thread through his hair, tugging him closer, needing more, needing everything.
He groans into my mouth, his grip tightening around my waist as he shifts above me, pinning me beneath him. His weight is delicious, pressing me into the mattress, his thigh sliding between mine, his arousal evident, heavy, and hot against my stomach.
“I need you,” he breathes against my lips, his voice raw with hunger, need, worship.
A desperate sound escapes me, and I arch into him, my body already so achingly ready for him.
His lips trail lower, down my throat, over my chest. He takes his time, kissing, teasing, making me squirm as his mouth closes over my nipple. He flicks it with his tongue, then suckles, slow and deep, making my back bow off the bed.
“God,” I gasp, my fingers gripping his hair, pulling him closer, needing more friction, more of him.
He groans, his hands roaming down my sides, slow and reverent, like he’s exploring every inch of me.
I part my legs as he moves lower, his kisses blazing a path over my stomach. My breath catches as his fingers trail between my thighs, spreading me open for him.
“Emily,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my inner thigh, so damn close to where I need him. “You’re already so wet for me.”
I whimper, my hips tilting up in invitation. “Please.”
A dark, satisfied chuckle rumbles from him. “Patience, sweetheart.”
But I have none.
And neither does he.
The second his mouth finally meets my center, I shatter.
He licks, slow and deliberate, savoring me, his tongue swirling in teasing circles before latching onto my clit. I cry out, a wrecked, needy sound, my body trembling beneath him.
I can’t think, can’t breathe, only feel.
His fingers slide inside me, stretching me perfectly, curling just right as he builds me up, again and again, until I’m clenching around him, my orgasm so close I can taste it.
He looks up at me from between my thighs, his lips wet, his pupils blown with lust. “Let go for me, baby.”
And then he sucks, hard and deep, his fingers pressing against that spot inside me that has me arching off the bed, crying out his name as I break.
I spiral, waves of pleasure crashing over me, my whole body pulsing, shaking.
Henry doesn’t stop until I’m fully spent, my limbs loose and boneless against the sheets. Then he moves over me, kissing me, letting me taste myself on his lips, his body hot and hard and so damn perfect against mine.
His cock presses against me, thick and aching for me, and I reach between us, guiding him to my entrance.
His forehead drops to mine, his breathing ragged. “You sure?”
I cup his face, pulling him closer. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
He slides in, slow and deep, stretching me, filling me until there’s nothing but him.
We move together, his thrusts slow, deep, intimate. Every inch of him claiming me, every roll of his hips sending pleasure coiling deep inside me again.
His fingers thread through mine, holding me close, anchoring us together.
His name tumbles from my lips as he thrusts harder, hitting the perfect spot over and over, pushing me to the edge again.
“I doubt I can ever get enough of you,” he rasps against my lips, his voice wrecked, desperate. “You’ve wrecked me Emily.”
Tears prick my eyes, and I squeeze his hand tighter. “You’ve wrecked me too.”
And then I’m falling.
My orgasm crashes over me, blinding, overwhelming, my body gripping him as he groans, his own release following, his body shaking as he pulses deep inside me.
For a long moment, neither of us moves.
We’re tangled together, breathless, boneless, completely undone.
He presses a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead, his hand still laced with mine.
“Stay,” he whispers, his voice low and full of something I can’t name.
I curl into him, my fingers tracing lazy patterns over his chest.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
And with that, I let sleep take me, safe, warm, and completely his.
It’s arrival day for the first set of equipment to Harmony Springs General. The hospital is alive with energy. Nurses and doctors weave through the hallways, voices carrying in the air, a buzz of activity surrounding the arrival of new things to aid their efforts.
It’s exciting to see them—cutting-edge monitors, improved defibrillators, brand-new ventilators. Life-saving tools that have the full attention of most medical people in this building.
Except me. It’s the hardest thing to focus on anything with the mind running a mile a minute.
Nurse Peggy, in her usual resident chatterbox manner, flits beside me, gesturing animatedly at the equipment as she rattles on about how wonderful it is to have these upgrades.
“…And I just knew something great would happen once you came to town! I mean, look at this place—it’s thriving! You’re like a lucky charm.”
I force a polite smile, nodding along. “Right. Lucky.”
Peggy doesn’t notice my lack of enthusiasm as she continues gushing, but my thoughts are elsewhere.
Specifically, on Henry Walker.
And the fact that I still feel the ghost of his touch on my skin, the press of his lips, the heat of his body against mine this morning. My stomach clenches at the memory. It’s dangerous, this thing we’re doing. Because the closer I get to Henry, the more I realize—
I don’t want to leave. I don’t want him to leave either. I don’t want this to be temporary.
And that thought is terrifying.
One quick glance at the clock shows there’s still a few more hours until my shift is over. I wonder if Henry is at home, if he’s thinking about me—
“Emily? Doctor Carter?”
I snap back to reality, blinking as Peggy waves a hand in front of my face.
“Sorry,” I mumble, shaking my head.
Peggy grins. “Thinking about something else, huh?”
I open my mouth to protest, but—the hospital doors swing open.
And in walks Dane Jacobs.
The air in the room shifts the second I see him.
He’s dressed in a dark suit, polished and put-together, exuding the same practiced charm he always has. But I know what’s beneath that smooth veneer. And I hate that he’s here.
I barely have time to register my frustration before Mayor Logan steps in beside him, clapping him on the back.
“There she is!” Logan beams, walking up to me. “Emily, can you show Dane around? I’ve got to take a quick call.”
I grit my teeth. “Of course.”
Because why shouldn’t I be the one stuck playing tour guide to my stalker ex-boyfriend?
Sparing a glance at Dane brings me regrets immediately when I see him smirking like he planned this.
With a forced sigh, I turn on my heel. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
Leading Dane through the hospital, my fingers are pointing out the new equipment as quickly as possible, as my mouth raps on about them, but he barely listens. Instead, he chatters, his voice low and smooth. “So, this is where you ran off to, huh? A tiny town hospital in the middle of nowhere.”
I keep walking. “Yep.”
He chuckles. “Didn’t exactly scream Emily Carter when I first heard about it.”
I stop near the nurses’ station, turning to face him. “Well, I am full of surprises.”
He leans in slightly. “That, you are.”
I fold my arms. “You wanted a tour. You’re getting one. But if you’re just here to throw little digs, I suggest you shut up and let me do my job.”
Dane’s smirk falters for just a second before he recovers.
“Fine,” he says, holding up his hands. “I’m just curious, that's all.”
I start walking again, ignoring him.
But he’s not done.
“So… Henry Walker, huh?” His voice is casual, but there’s an edge beneath it.
I stiffen.
He notices.
“How exactly does a guy like him end up with a woman like you?”
I turn sharply, meeting his gaze head-on. “I met him. I fell in love. I moved here to be with him. That clear enough for you?”
His jaw tightens. “You expect me to believe that?”
My head tilts to the side, while a mocking smile curls my lips. “What, jealous?”
His eyes darken. “I just don’t buy it.”
I take a step closer, lowering my voice. “Well, I don’t care what you buy, Dane. I love Henry. I’m happy here. And I want nothing to do with you.”
There’s the flicker of frustration crossing his face, but he’s so good at deceit that the look disappears into a calm expression. It’s not hard to tell that he hates that he can’t control me anymore.
Good. Before he can respond, a familiar voice cuts in.
“Doctor Carter.”
I turn to see Chief Tom Harrison walking up to us, his usual calm but unreadable expression in place.
I exhale in relief.
“Chief,” I greet, forcing my posture to relax.
Tom nods at me before his sharp gaze lands on Dane. “And you must be Dane Jacobs.”
Dane straightens, extending a hand. “That’s right. Pleased to meet you, Chief.”
Tom shakes his hand, his grip firm. “Heard a lot about you.”
Dane chuckles. “All good things, I hope.”
Tom doesn’t blink. “We’ll see.”
The veiled warning in his tone isn’t lost on Dane.
I cross my arms, fighting a smirk.
“Anyway,” Tom continues, turning back to me, “I stopped by because one of my men got a small injury, but while I’m here, I wanted to personally thank Mr. Jacobs for his generous donation to our hospital.”
Dane shifts slightly. “Oh, well… it’s just part of my work.”
Tom hums, tilting his head. “And we appreciate it. Our officers especially appreciate it.”
I watch as Dane’s confidence wavers just a little.
Chief Tom just smiles.
I could kiss this man.
Dane clears his throat. “I should get going. Mayor Logan is expecting me.”
He turns to me. “We’ll talk later, Emily.”
I don’t answer. And then he’s gone. The second Dane disappears down the hallway, I sag against the counter.
Tom leans beside me, arms crossed. “So. That’s the ex-boyfriend.”
I nod, rubbing my temples. “Yeah.”
Tom exhales, glancing down the hall. “Marcus Grant gave me some details. Figured you’d rather tell me yourself.”
I swallow hard. “He doesn’t know why I left. Just that I left. And now he’s here.”
Tom watches me for a long moment. “You think he’s dangerous?”
I hesitate. “I don’t know.”
Tom nods slowly. “Well, I’ll be keeping an eye on him.”
Relief floods through me. “Thank you.”
Then his expression hardens. “But you need to tell Henry.”
I stiffen. “I will.”
Tom raises a brow. “When?”
I press my lips together. “Soon.”
He sighs, shaking his head. “Emily…”
“I just—” I inhale deeply. “I will, okay? Just… let me handle it.”
Tom studies me for a moment before nodding. “Alright. But don’t wait too long.”
I nod. Because he’s right. I can’t keep this from Henry much longer. And I won’t.
As Tom walks away, I glance toward the door where Dane left.
I don’t know what he wants. But I know one thing— I’m not going to let him ruin what I have with Henry.
Not now. Not ever.