With Me in Seattle Bundle One (91 page)

“That’s cool, too. We can meet up after the game.” He kisses my forehead and climbs off the bed.

“Are you really cool with me not going to the game?” I ask uncertainly.

“It’s fine. We’re still early in the season. There will be plenty of games for you to see. Have fun with the girls.”

This is so not the arrogant man I thought he was, and the fact that I ever labeled him as an asshole shames me.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re not an asshole.”

His eyebrows climb into his hairline, and he stares down at me. “That’s a bad thing?”

“No, I’m saying I’m sorry for calling you an asshole before. You’re not.”

“Apology accepted.”

“Okay, go, before I pull you back in this bed and give you a workout myself.”

“I’ll be back before you leave for work.”

“I’ll probably just head home and get ready from there. I don’t have scrubs here. Shit!” I cover my face with my hands.

“What?”

“I don’t have a car. You picked me up last night.”

“Take the Rover. Keys are in the mudroom.” He turns and leaves the room before I can argue.

“Have a good day, dear!” I call after him and hear him chuckle as he jogs down the stairs.

I climb out of Will’s monstrous bed and wince at my sore muscles. Will is an attentive and inventive lover. I was in positions, and used muscles, last night that I didn’t know were possible. The fact that he’s so strong and can just move me where he wants me is sexy as hell.

I pull on my dress from last night and head downstairs to gather my purse and shrug and head home.

Will’s house is simply stunning. There are large windows everywhere, letting in an abundance of light and a view of the beautiful water and landscape of the sound. His furnishings are inviting and soft. I haven’t seen the whole house yet, but it’s definitely a home that’s lived in, and is comfortable and welcoming.

Like the man who owns it.

The keys to his SUV are where he said they would be. I grab my purse and the keys and head home, and for the first time since I started my job, I’m already wishing my shift was over.

***

“He’s not doing well, Meg.”

Jill rubs her hand up and down my back consolingly as I read Nick’s chart. I’ve been gone for only a few days, how could he have gotten so sick so quickly?

“What happened?”

“He caught pneumonia. He’s been sleeping a lot, and his family is with him. He won’t take off that jersey that Montgomery gave him. He’s been asking for you, honey.”

Shit. This is the part of my job that I absolutely hate. Nick could get better, but his cancer is aggressive, and to catch pneumonia with all the chemo in his body is not a good thing. I grab his chart and head for his room, schooling my features and straightening my shoulders. Nick doesn’t need to see me sad. He needs me to be professional and upbeat. Reassuring.

I knock lightly on his door and poke my head inside. Nick’s mom is sitting next to his bed, knitting. She looks exhausted.

“Hi, Meg. Come on in.” She offers me a half smile.

“Hey, how’s our guy?” I ask and go into the room.

Nick’s asleep and, just as Jill said, he’s in his jersey. His breathing is labored and he’s a bit sweaty. I take his temp and frown at the high number, then check his chart to see when he last received meds for fever.

“Not good,” she whispers and blinks tears from her eyes.

“Hey, Meg.” Nick’s voice is nothing but a gravelly whisper.

“Hey, buddy.” I take his hand in mine and smile down at him. “I hear you got sick while I was away.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, we’re gonna get you better, okay? You just rest.” I pat his thin shoulder and sigh as he falls back to sleep.  “I’m going to go get him some more medicine for his fever and catch up with his doctor. I just got here and wanted to come see him when I heard the news.”

“Thanks, Meg. I’m glad you’re here today.”

I leave his room and march straight to the nurses’ station with Nick’s chart.

“Who was assigned to Nick this morning?”

“Elena. Why?” Jill asks with a frown.

“He’s
two hours
late in getting fever meds, Jill. He’s burning up. Did she leave for the day?”

“I think so.”

“Well, she’s getting written up for this. If she can’t keep track of her patients’ meds, she shouldn’t be here.” With that, I walk to the charge-nurse office, pull my phone out and text Will.

If you have any time available at any point today, can you come to the hospital?

Will won’t magically cure anything, but it might lift Nick’s spirits to see him, and I’ll try anything to get him better.

I know that we shouldn’t have favorite patients, but Nick is special to me. He’s been here for three months already, and we were hopeful that the treatments were working and we’d be able to send him home by the end of September. Now I’m not so sure.

My phone pings with a response from Will.

What’s wrong?

Nick’s really sick.

I probably shouldn’t impose on him like this. My job isn’t his problem. Just as I start to text him again to say nevermind, he responds:
I’ll bring you dinner and chat with Nick for a bit. 7 ok?

I grin as I respond.

Perfect. Thank you. I owe you.

***

“He doesn’t look good,” Will remarks and takes a bite of his Chinese food.

“He’s not,” I reply. We’re sitting in the charge-nurse office, the door closed and an array of Chinese food choices spread over the desk. Will arrived about thirty minutes ago, and after he kissed me silly by the elevator, I took the bags of food and he said a quick hello to the sick teenager.

“I’m sorry, Meg. He’s a great kid.” His eyes are somber.

“Yeah, he is.” I push my plate away and lean back in the chair, brushing my hands vigorously though my hair. “I hate this part of my job.”

“You look tired.”

“I’m okay.” I shrug and gaze over at him. His eyes are worried, roaming over my face, and I love him for being concerned about me and for just being here. “Thanks for coming. I needed to see you.”

His eyes flare with happiness at my words, and he grins over at me. “All you ever have to do is ask, babe. Come here.”

He pushes his chair back from the desk as I stand and quickly walk around to him. He pulls me down in his lap, and I curl up against him. He tucks my head under his chin and caresses my back soothingly.

God, it feels good to be in his arms.

***

It’s been a long day. Nick is no better when I leave for the night, and I feel guilty because I won’t be there for the next few days. So much can happen in that small amount of time. Maybe I should pick up a shift. I’ll call the day nurse tomorrow to see if they need me over the next few days.

I’d love to go to Will’s, but I ended up working late. It’s almost four a.m., and he has a game tonight, so I decide to just go home and not bother him. I’m still driving the Rover. It’s much fancier than my Toyota sedan and is fun to drive.

My phone suddenly starts ringing, and I frown when I see Football Star flashing across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” He sounds sleepy.

“In your car. I just left work. I got out late.”

“Are you on your way here?” he asks, and I hear the covers rustle as he moves in the bed.

“I think I’ll just go home. You have a game tonight. You should get some sleep.”

“I’m fine, babe. I’ll sleep better if you’re here. I kept waking up every few hours checking to see if you were here anyway.”

I chew my bottom lip. Who am I kidding? I want to see him. Get naked with him. Thank him for earlier.

“I’m on my way,” I murmur.

“Good.” I hear the smile in his voice as he hangs up.

I drive through his gate and park in the garage. He’s left a few lights on in the house for me, so I turn them off as I make my way upstairs. He’s in bed, asleep, naked from the waist up with the white linens wrapped around his waist.

He looks tan and sexy and…
mine.

I strip down to nothing and slide into the bed, over to him, and wrap myself around him. Head on his chest, arms and legs wrapped around him, clinging to him.

He wakes and holds me, kisses my hair, runs those magical hands down my back, and the next thing I know, he’s rolled us so he’s on top of me.

“I missed you,” he whispers against my ear.

“I missed you, too.”

He kisses my dimple and then over to my lips and offers me soft, sweet kisses. He gently nibbles my lips, and then slides his tongue into my mouth, taunting and playing with me. I run my hands up his back and then down to his ass and smile against his mouth when I find him naked.

His ass is really spectacular.

He pushes my legs apart with his and settles himself between my legs, not moving, just resting there, kissing me, brushing my hair rhythmically with his fingertips. I continue caressing his back, his sides, his arms, and we are just content to love each other softly. Be together.

I raise my legs and hitch my thighs around his hips, opening myself to him. I feel my wetness against his sex, and he groans as he slides effortlessly against me.

“So wet,” he whispers.

“Need you,” I whisper in return.

He pulls back and gazes down at me, runs the backs of his fingers down my cheeks and slowly, oh so damned slowly, sinks inside me.

His eyes close as he reaches my cervix and is buried balls-deep inside me. He rests his forehead on mine and starts to gently move, letting me get used to him, allowing my body time to accommodate him.

“Your body is already learning mine,” he murmurs. “It’s easier this time, isn’t it?”

“Mmm…” I moan and circle my hips, inviting him in farther. I clench around him when his pubis rubs the metal against my clit.

“Fuck, that piercing is going to be the death of me,” he mutters, and I giggle. “You have the most beautiful smile.”

He disarms me. With just a few words, or a touch, this man completely disarms me.

His hips begin to move a bit faster, a little harder. His lips circle a nipple, and he sucks greedily, making it harden even more. He pays the other the same attention, and I writhe beneath him as my body becomes just sensation. His beautiful cock is moving deliciously in me, his strong body blanketing me, his hands still running through my hair, his mouth on mine… I am draped in him, and yet I can’t get enough of him.

“I love the way you love me,” I whisper.

He grins against my mouth and pushes his cock all the way inside me, grinds his pubis against me, and holds himself there until I come apart around him. My muscles spasm, and my hands clench on to his ass, pulling him in even tighter.

“Ah hell, honey.” His body tightens, and he’s coming with me, emptying himself inside me.

He kisses me softly and then pulls out of me and lowers his head to my belly. He rests there, his cheek against my navel, arms wrapped around my waist, and falls asleep.

I think I just fell in love with him.

***

“So.” Jules flashes her sweet grin at me, and I tense. Ah hell, she only uses that when she wants something. “What’s going on with you and my brother?”

I take a long drink of my margarita and eye Jules. She’s sitting across from me at the same sports bar where Will brought me on our it-doesn’t-count first date. She, Natalie and I are enjoying late happy hour after having shopped all evening and getting pedicures.

These girls don’t play when it comes to shopping.

“Leave her alone,” Natalie mutters, then eyes me suspiciously. “On second thought, I want to know, too. What’s up? You guys seemed pretty cozy while bowling the other night.”

I shrug and look down. “We’re sleeping together.”

“Duh.” Jules rolls her eyes. “The way you were making the googly eyes at each other screamed sex. And I’m trying to ignore that he’s my brother, because otherwise, that’s just…ew.” She shudders.

“What we want to know is, what
else
is going on?” Natalie asks with a grin.

“I don’t know. We just started sleeping together the other night.”

“Your three-date rule?” Jules asks.

“Yep.” I smile smugly at her.

“Good girl.” Nat fist-bumps me, and I laugh.

“We’re seeing each other, I guess.” I shrug and take another sip of my margarita. “He’s a great guy. Not the asshole I originally thought he was.”

“He’s arrogant as can be sometimes, but definitely not an asshole,” Jules agrees.

“I’m not crazy about his arrogant public persona,” I admit. “But I like how he is with me when we’re alone. He’s been great to the kids at the hospital, and he is fun to be with. I don’t think I could afford to feed him for long. The man can pack away the food.”

“You should have seen him as a teenager. This is nothing. I think Mom and Dad had to take out a second mortgage on the house just for Will’s groceries.”

“I’m not surprised.” I laugh.

“So, you like him.” Natalie grins knowingly.

“I like him,” I agree.

“If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.” Jules’ eyes are narrowed menacingly, and I giggle.

“Aren’t you supposed to be saying that to me? He’s your brother.”

“He’s a man.” She shrugs as if that explains it all.

“Hey! He’s on TV! Turn up the volume!” Natalie yells over to the bartender.

He does as requested in time for them to catch a post-game interview with Will.

He looks fantastic, all sweaty and dirty, panting.

Damn, that jersey does things to me.

“Great game, Montgomery. Congrats on another win.” The shorter man turns the mic to Will, who smiles graciously.

“Thanks, man. We played a good game.”

“Do you think Jennings will be out for the rest of the season with that knee injury in the third quarter?”

“Oh man, I hope not. I don’t know.”

“Did you feel any pressure from the Packers defensive line tonight?”

Will frowns down at the guy like that is the stupidest question he’s ever heard. “I feel pressure from every defensive line.”

“Are you ready for Miami next week?”

“Definitely. We’re training hard, watching a lot of tape. We’ll be as ready as we can be next Sunday.”