Harrier's Healer (2 page)

into the hull of the ship. “Sure, just a sec.” He began to remove his shirt

and couldn’t stop the hiss of pain that slipped out from between his

teeth.

Her fingers were there, brushing his out of the way as she

searched. “Hang on, let me look.” A couple of noncommittal murmurs

left her mouth and went straight into his ears, traveling quickly to his

groin. “This needs stitches.” She turned her head and their faces were

inches apart.

The busy room seemed to fade away into silence as their twin

gazes bore into each other. It would take nothing to lean in and taste her

lips, but Alexis pulled her head back abruptly. “Take it off,” she or-

dered in a brisk tone.

One eyebrow, covered with paint, arched as he said, “What?”

“Your shirt. Take it off and I will clean the wound and get

someone to stitch you up,” she elaborated insistently.

Oh, hell no! I am not about to let you weasel your way out of looking at

or touching my body!
“I want you…” That damn hesitation again, “To do

it.”

“Why me? There are plenty of corpsmen who can stitch a

wound just fine. There are other people in here hurt worse than you.”

“I remember how well you took care of Cade on the carrier in

the Caribbean.”

6

Aliyah Burke

He and his men had just rescued his second-in-command and

best friend Tyson Kincade, along with his wife Jayde, from the moun-

tains of Belize. Her previous duty had been on that aircraft carrier; now

she was here in a different ocean and still making him tremble. “Very

well,” she said reluctantly.

Scott quirked an eyebrow. “You’re not scared of touching me are

you, Alexis?” his deep tone purred.

Her eyes flew open wide at his use of her first name. It was as if

her name was made to roll off his tongue. While there had always been

an attraction between them, he’d never before done anything like this. It

was such a breach of protocol. He would be in so much trouble if she

were to report it. “Why would I be scared? Did you pick something up

that I might catch?” she sassed him back as she helped him remove his

shirt.

I can’t believe those words came out of my mouth. At least she is joking

about it.
“I have never picked anything up. Ever.” He was clear of any

and all sexually transmitted diseases.

“I’m sure your wife or girlfriend is very pleased to know that,”

Alexis ventured primly.

He grimaced slightly as she applied the sterilizer to the gash.

“You know I don’t have a wife.”

She didn’t even look at him. “I don’t know anything about you,

Commander,” she said, reminding them of the protocol.

His words were soft. “Don’t lie to me or yourself.”

“Don’t move. And keep your arm where it is,” she said as she

threaded a needle. “Are you sure you don’t want a local?”

“I’m sure. Just keep talking to me and I will be fine.”
You could

amputate my left leg if you talked to me through it. I just want to hear your

seductive voice.

“You’re the boss,” she muttered.

I will be soon.
“Tell me about yourself then, so I can get to know

you,” he ordered as she slid the needle into his flesh.

“What has you so interested in my life, Sc…Commander?” Her

eyes narrowed with concentration as she made tiny, even stitches in his

side.

He heard her slip and smiled as he looked at the top of her head.

“The same thing that has you interested in mine,” he whispered, falling

silent as another person walked into the small area.

“Chief Rogets,” the corpsmen said. “We need your help with

one of the other men.”

Harrier's Healer

7

“Is it an emergency, Corpsman?” she asked, not taking her eyes

off her work.

“No, ma’am, just as soon as you can.” He looked at the bare-

chested man who sat on the bed while the woman sewed up his side.

“Sir, ma’am.” Then he was gone.

Finishing swiftly, Alexis tied off the last suture and cut it. Push-

ing away on her wheeled stool, Alexis rolled to the sink, removed the

gloves from her hands, and washed them as she talked to the man

sitting behind her. “There you go, Commander. Take it easy and you

should be fine in a couple of weeks.” Alexis reached for the towel and

found him holding it out to her.

“Thanks for taking such good care of me,” he murmured. He

started to reach out and caress her until a yell from across the room

snatched their attention.

“Lex! He’s crashing!”

With barely a glance at the handsome SEAL, Alexis “Lex” Ro-

gets dashed away to lend her expertise.

Picking up his discarded and possibly ruined shirt along with

his pack, Scott gazed across the room and watched in amazement as she

worked diligently on the man. Even when blood sprayed up at her she

seemed unfazed. She was a damn good doctor, sexy as hell, and some-

day soon, his. With one final look, he left medical to hit the showers and

check on the rest of his men.

Alexis knew the moment he left. Somehow, the room just felt

emptier. Her hands deep in the chest she’d just cracked open, she

wondered what twist of fate would bring them together next. That

thought was brief and fleeting because her mind returned to the task

before her. And although she was tired, she knew it wouldn’t be an

issue as her mind was still sharp. Residency hours had been much

worse than this.

About an hour later, peeling off the blood-covered gloves and

tossing them in the trash receptacle, Alexis rolled her head around

trying to loosen up her neck muscles. They were done. All the men

were stabilized. Hands washed, she applied lotion trying to preemp-

tively ease the dryness.

“Great job, Lex,” a masculine voice said from behind her.

A smile formed as she answered, “Thanks, Tom. You too.” She

turned and walked with him towards the door. A few corpsmen were

cleaning up bloody gauze and washing down tables, but the room was

8

Aliyah Burke

silent now. “It was good to work with you again. I didn’t know you

were out here.” Tom had served with her before on a carrier in Norfolk.

He flashed a grin, his white teeth standing out vividly against

his dark skin. “Wanna get some chow?”

“Thanks, but no thanks, Tom. I’d just pulled a ten-hour stint on

the
Everett
before they sent me here. I need to unwind before they send

me back.” She patted him on the arm.

“We will have to do something in port together. Grab a meal or

something.”

Lex nodded. “Great, you know how to reach me. I’ll see ya

around. By the way,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked off,

“congrats on being frocked.” He sent her back another sparkling grin as

she moved away from him.

Shutting the hatch behind her, Alexis sighed.
I’ll just give it a few

minutes before I call Touchette for the helo.
Her gaze took in the sun as it

began its evening descent. She loved it out here. This was one of her

favorite spots, the fantail. There weren’t many places on an aircraft

carrier where one could feel alone, but this was one of them.

“Too bad I won’t be here to fully watch the sunset,” she said to

the rushing wind.

“Why not?” a sexy baritone voice asked from behind her.

She jumped, hand pressed to her chest, unwittingly drawing

Scott’s gaze there. “
Jesú
, you scared me!” As her dark eyes landed on

the man who stood before her, Alexis fought for sanity. “Excuse me, sir.

Hello, Commander.”

Scott’s striking eyes glanced around as if making sure they were

alone out there. Finding the answer to be to his satisfaction, he settled

those beautiful blue eyes back on her body, setting it to burn with a heat

that rivaled the late-afternoon sun. “Come on, now, Alexis.” His hard

body moved closer to her. “How long are we going to do this?”

Dear God, this man’s voice is potent.
“Do what, Commander?”

He took a deep breath and leaned on the rail beside her, almost

but not quite touching her. “Why aren’t you going to be around for the

sunset?”

“I’m going back to the
Everett.
I just came out here to relax for a

bit.” Her body turned around and leaned on the rail like he did. “How

are you feeling?”

“Good, you did a wonderful job.” He shifted closer to her.
“How

long are we going to keep this up?” Leighton questioned.

Harrier's Healer

9

I bet you can keep it up for a long, long time.
Alexis cleared her

throat. “I don’t know.”

“Do you remember the day we first met?” he asked, his focus di-

rectly on her.

“Yes. It was in Norfolk,” she said, shifting a bit.

“I almost ran you over and you…well…you wanted to say

something a lot worse than what you did.”

She chuckled lowly. “I remember. And you’re right; I definitely

wanted to say something else.”

“You are—”

“Well, it’s been a pleasure, Commander, but I have to go. Take

care of yourself out there.” Alexis stepped away from the rail and took a

few steps toward the door, not wanting or ready to hear what he was

going to say.

“It will be a pleasure,” he purred in her ear.

How the hell did he move so fast?
She froze. There were two choices

here: file a complaint and get him in trouble
or
flirt back.
Girl, like there

was any choice!
“What will?”

His hand touched her back, leading her towards the hatch. Un-

less she opened the thick door, there was nowhere to go except into him

if she turned around. “Us.”

She turned and looked him directly in the eyes. “Commander,

what exactly are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m talking about.” His words were smooth.

And she did. But for the life of her, she didn’t want to admit it.

“No, I don’t. I have to get going.” She paused with one hand on the

handle. “Goodbye, Commander.”

Scott’s body clenched. He couldn’t be angry; she was doing the

right thing. He was the one breaking protocol. Scott could be sent for a

Captain’s Mass and she could get in trouble as well. Yet suddenly, he

didn’t give a damn. The seven previous times he’d been in her presence,

he hadn’t done what he’d longed so much to do, so now he had to taste

her. Two seconds later, he hauled her up against the solid wall of his

chest and his lips were on hers.

His tongue slid around her full mouth before plunging into hers,

not asking. Oh, no, he was demanding her acceptance. Her taste was

amazing; he couldn’t get enough. Every small sample he got increased

his desire for more one hundredfold.

10

Aliyah Burke

Suddenly the handle for the hatch began to move. They sprang

apart and leaned on the railing, staring out at the ocean by the time the

intruders made it through the opening. Two ensigns looked at him and

nodded before leaving. It was obvious what they were up to—nothing

so different from what Commander Leighton had planned for the

lovely Chief Rogets.

Close on their heels was Alexis. “We aren’t done, Alexis,” Scott

said in his deep tone.

She didn’t even turn to look at him, but he saw her shiver just a

little. “Take care of yourself, Commander.” Then she was gone, leaving

him alone. He stayed there even as an hour later he watched the heli-

copter carry her further away from him against the dusky sky.

C h a p t e r T w o

San Diego, six months later…

The bullet wound in his side seemed to be getting worse.
What

did you expect, Scott, that it would feel better?
He stumbled down the

darkened street knowing he was not of the right persuasion to be down

here, but he didn’t care.

The sudden lights blinded him and he stumbled to a halt, hold-

ing his hand in front of his eyes. As he lowered his hand Scott found

himself surrounded by a group of younger men of a variety of races

who didn’t look at all happy to see him. Their weapons were shoved

into the waistbands of their pants and Scott, although extremely fati-

gued, went into battle mode.

“Well, well, well. What have we here?” one of the men asked his

friends.

“I think you took the wrong street, man,” another said as a third

shoved him to the ground.

Scott showed no emotion as he was forced to the pavement.

Maybe they just want to scare me,
he told himself. The second he felt a

kick in his side he knew he was wrong. His body reacted violently as

the next person kicked him.

Reaching out, he grabbed a leg and twisted it, tossing the body

off balance. As that man hit the ground, the others began to swarm over

him. The loss of blood slowed Scott down considerably. The men were

obviously high and felt no pain, whereas he did. He was holding his

own until he felt a hit into the back of his head and he dropped like a

light, losing what little ground he’d gained.