Page 4 of Falling Over You

“Dammit,” Theo said, moving closer and stopping her movements with a firm grip on her arm. “Hold still.”

“You know you keep saying that to me and it’s starting to grate my nerves.”

“If you’d listen, I could stop you from having pain.” He slowly and very methodically began removing the garment.

She inclined her head to look up at him. “Oh really? You’re that good of a doctor that you can stop my pain completely?”

He didn’t look at her but she saw a tinge of pink on his neck and cheeks. She'd embarrassed him. “Pain can be controlled if people would just listen.”

“Well then, control away.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how they sounded. It was too late to take them back so she sat silently while he painstakingly removed her fleece jacket.

Once it was off, he sat back on his heels, giving her a questioning look. “I need to lift your shirt up.”

She nodded. “That’s usually how an exam works.” She didn’t mean for the words to come out sarcastically, but somehow they did, and she inwardly cringed. This man brought out the worst in her and she didn’t even know why.

Oh, wait, yes she did. He was hot and broody. That was definitely her type.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I was trying to be polite.”

“Can we just get this over with so I can go back to my vacation?”

She saw him reach toward her, knew he was going to touch her, and still there was a jolt when his fingers grazed her skin as he lifted her shirt. Her breathing sped up at just the small touch.

“Shit,” he said under his breath.

“Nice bedside manner, Doc.” She tried to conceal the desire that was coursing through her body at just that one touch.

He seemingly ignored her comment. “It’s already bruising.” Using one hand to hold her shirt up, he pressed on and around her ribs, making her wince in pain. “Sorry, I know it has to hurt.” His voice was softer, more sincere than it had been previously.

She tried to ignore the pain and instead focused only on how good it felt to have him touching her. She needed a distraction. “What did Gordon mean when he said you don’t go out in public often? If you’re a doctor, don’t you see patients?”

He flicked his gaze up to hers and for a second, she thought he might not answer her question. He lowered his eyes back to her ribs. “He thinks I don’t have a life outside of my practice.”

“Is he right?” She was starting to like the sound of his voice when it wasn't telling her what to do. Although, if he wanted to use that authoritative tone on her when she was naked and in bed, she probably wouldn't mind.

Damn, her mind was all over the place with sexual thoughts. It might be time to end her sex drought.

“Probably.” His fingers prodded her skin gently and instead of feeling the pain, she was getting more turned on. “After working all day, I have no desire to go out and socialize. Which means I go home and spend that time with my cat while we watch an enormous amount of television.”

“That explains why I’ve never seen you here before. I come here a couple of times a month in the winter. Although, it does explain why you ran into me.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re the one who ran into me. Otherwise, it would have been me plastered on top of you out there.” He lowered her shirt and she already missed his touch. “I think you’re good. Nothing seems broken, but it’s pretty deeply bruised. You’re going to need to ice and rest for a few days.”

She groaned, dropping her head back on the couch. “Just fucking great. How in the world am I supposed to get through this family vacation if I can’t ski?”

Could her life get any worse? She was at the ski lodge for a week and this was only day two. She loved her family, truly she did, but spending a week with them and barely getting a break might kill her. Being able to ski was the only reason she’d agreed to come on this trip.

With that gone, she was going to have to socialize with them.

She was starting to see why Hot Doctor Theo spent every night with his cat.

Chapter 2

––––––––

Theo

His hands were shaking.

---