Page 17 of Night Shift

“Samantha—”

“Please, Atticus.” There was a finality in her tone, a plea for me to drop the subject.

“Okay,” the word tasted like ash on my tongue. “But if you ever do want to talk or need anything…”

“I know where to find you,” she finished for me, a faint smile touching her lips but failing to reach her eyes.

“See you at work, Samantha,” I said, watching her turn away and unlock the door.

“See you later, Dr. Thorin.” She slipped inside and closed the door without looking back.

As she disappeared into the relative safety of her apartment, an unfamiliar knot tightened in my gut. Who was this woman who compelled me to violence, who stirred in me the need to protect? And what would I do about it?

The chill of the autumn morning bit at my skin as I trudged down the creaking steps. The sound of her door locking behind me reverberated like a judge’s gavel—final, resolute.

A siren wailed in the distance. It was a familiar sound that usually spurred me into action, but now it only deepened the furrow between my brows. Why did I even care about her? Samantha Sheridan was nothing more than a nurse I worked with—a particularly snarky one at that.

“Dammit,” I hissed as I kicked at an abandoned can, sending it clattering across the parking lot. This was ridiculous. I shouldn’t be worrying about a woman who was so damaged by other men that she wouldn’t even consider giving me a chance to come in for a cup of coffee. I paused for a moment, leaning against the cool metal of my car. My hands found their way to my pockets while I stared up at the dilapidated building she called home.

“Get your head out of your ass, Thorin,” I scolded myself. “You’re not some knight in shining armor; you’re a doctor—a man who’s never cared enough to be caught up in this kind of mess.”

Finally, I got in and slammed the door shut, then turned the key in the ignition. The engine’s growl filled the silence around me. I knew I should drive away and never look back, leave her to deal with her demons on her own. It was what I was good at—detachment, disinterest. But the image of her shivering, the defiance in her voice as she’d rejected my help, gnawed at me.

“Focus, Atticus,” I muttered, using the commanding tone that had always brought order to my chaotic thoughts. The car vibrated beneath me, eager to move away, but my thoughts raced. What was I doing? Why was I considering getting involved in her world?

The flash of fear on her face when he’d grabbed her had been unmistakable, and it had done something to me. And despite everything, despite my better judgment, I wanted to erase that fear and replace it with…what? Security? Comfort?

“Shit,” I groaned, resting my forehead against the steering wheel. This was not about being the hero—it was about a connection that threatened to unravel the very fabric of my carefully constructed existence.

The drive home was a blur—my thoughts a maelstrom. My usual certainty had abandoned me, replaced by unfamiliar indecision. Part of me wanted to delve deeper, to solve the mystery that was Samantha Sheridan, to understand the shadows that danced behind those vivid blue eyes. Another part, the rational side that had governed my life thus far, urged caution. Involvement meant complication, and Sam’s emotional baggage might end up being more than I bargained for.

By the time I reached my townhouse, the sky had brightened. A new day was dawning. I sat there in the silence of my garage, the engine idling, wrestling with emotions that were both alien and intoxicating. With a sigh, I killed the ignition and stepped out of the car.

“Damn it, Atticus!” I shouted, raking a hand through my hair. “What are you doing?”

I slammed the door and headed inside, unable to shake the disquieting sense that my life was no longer entirely my own.

Lazily, I removed my scrubs and collapsed onto my bed. The sunlight crept through the blinds, casting bars of gold across the room.

But I couldn’t sleep. As I turned over for the umpteenth time, I wondered what the next shift would bring. Would Sam be there, her gaze meeting mine with the same defiance as before? Or would she fade away, just another nurse in the corridors of the ED?

Only time would tell. But one thing was certain—I was inexplicably, irrevocably drawn to the flame that was Samantha Sheridan, and whether I’d get burned remained to be seen.

I lay in bed, restless, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the thoughts of Sam from my mind. Goddammit, I couldn’t understand what it was about her that had me so wound up. My hand slid down to my cock, which was already half-hard as I thought about her. I started stroking myself slowly, hoping to relieve some of the tension that had been building within me.

It had been a long and exhausting night at the hospital, and then I’d had to deal with Sam’s brute of a father. As I drifted off to sleep, my mind began to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. In the haze of my dream, I saw Samantha standing before me, completely nude. Her thick, curly red hair cascaded down over her breasts. Her creamy pale skin was dotted with freckles, and soft reddish-golden curls teased the edges of her pussy. The sight of her made my breath hitch. Her piercing blue eyes stared right at me. She reached for my dick, and suddenly, it was her hand wrapped around me instead of my own.

My pulse quickened, and the dream shifted. I found myself tied to a straight-backed chair, hands behind my back, sharp bindings biting into my ankles, wrists, and shoulders. Panic set in when I realized I’d lost all control, something I never allowed with any woman. It went against my every instinct to relinquish control. Samantha stood over me, a wicked grin on her face as she continued to stroke my now throbbing cock.

“Watch me,” she commanded, her voice sultry and dominant. I tried not to show my unease, but it was hard to deny the thrill of being at her mercy. As my dick swelled under her touch, something inside me gave way. Perhaps it was exhaustion, but I allowed myself to submit to her fully. When she saw that I was surrendering, she whispered, “Good boy.” The words made my cock twitch and grow even harder.

I relinquished every last shred of control. I was hers—body, mind, and soul. She had broken through my defenses and found a part of me that I’d never even known existed. And no matter how much it scared me, I realized there was no turning back. What the fuck was happening to me? Why had I given up control so easily to this woman who had invaded my thoughts? But the intensity of the moment compelled me to focus on her touch.

My chest tightened as I watched Samantha’s talented hands work their magic on my dick. She cupped and teased my balls, sending shivers up my spine. The way she looked at me with those naughty blue eyes made her movements even more provocative.

“Like what you see?” she asked, her voice dripping with seduction.

I wanted nothing more than to touch her, but the restraints kept me in check. It was maddening. I was at her mercy, and yet I didn’t want it any other way.

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