Page 58 of Doctor Second Chance

Shep's lips are on mine, like electricity coursing through my body. All the anger and hurt I've been holding onto melt away, replaced by an overwhelming desire. His kiss is urgent and passionate—making up for lost time and misunderstandings.

My hand finds its way to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer. I need to feel more of him. My skin tingles everywhere we touch. My heart races, pounding so loudly I'm sure he can hear it.

The world fades away until there's nothing but Shep and me in this moment. I drink him in, savoring the familiar taste and scent I've missed for so long. My body responds instinctively, arching towards him despite my injuries.

A low moan escapes me as his hand gently cups my face. The tenderness of the gesture contrasts with the intensity of our kiss, making my head spin. I feel dizzy with want, overcome by the raw passion between us.

Every nerve ending is on fire. I'm hyper-aware of every point of contact—his lips on mine, his hand on my cheek, my fingers in his hair. It's not enough. I need more.

We break apart, both breathing heavily. Shep rests his forehead against mine, his eyes dark with desire. I see my hunger reflected there. The air between us is charged, crackling with sexual tension and unspoken promises.

I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as Shep's gaze holds mine. A hunger in his eyes matches the ache deep within me. The hospital room, usually so sterile and uninviting, seems to shrink around us... Until it's just the two of us suspended in a moment that feels both dangerous and inevitable.

With a tenderness that belies the urgency of our desire, Shep's hands trace the contours of my body, careful to avoid my injured hand. His touch ignites a trail of fire wherever it lingers, stoking the live wires of my own need into a roaring blaze.

I reach for him with my good hand, my fingers fumbling to untie his scrubs at the waist. The fabric parts under my insistent tugging, revealing the toned planes of the area between his belly button and his sex. My hand slides over his skin, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat under my palm.

He breaks away long enough to slip off his pants and boxers in one fluid motion. His erection stands proudly between us, a testament to the desire raging through both of us. My eyes linger on his length before meeting his gaze again. There's no turning back now.

With one hand on my thigh and another cradling my headboard-restrained hand, Shep positions himself at my entrance. He looks at me questioningly, silently asking for permission despite the hunger blazing in his eyes. I nod mutely and bite down on my bottom lip in anticipation of what's to come.

He enters me slowly, filling me completely. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. The rhythm we establish is deliberate and intense. Each thrust pushes us closer to the edge.

My body shudders as Shep's hard length slides into mine, filling me completely. The burn of his entry is sharp but exquisite, and I welcome it, needing the pain to remind me I'm still alive. I clutch at the sheets beneath us, my nails digging into the fabric as he pushes deeper, deeper still.

His hips meet my thrusts, our bodies moving together in a rhythm that feels both familiar and foreign.

Shep's lips find mine again, his kiss deepening as our bodies seek to merge into one. The narrow hospital bed creaks beneath us, but neither of us cares. Our world has narrowed to the space between our bodies and our hearts’ frantic rhythm.

His mouth explores the sensitive skin of my neck, his teeth grazing my collarbone as his hands caress my breasts. I gasp at the sensation, my back arching off the bed, urging him on.

I'm aware of every inch of him, of the way our bodies move together in this delicate dance of reconciliation and rediscovery. The pleasure builds within me, a crescendo threatening to shatter me into a thousand pieces.

Shep's movements become more frenzied, his control slipping as he chases his release. I cling to him, my fingers digging into his back, my climax cresting and then crashing over me in waves of exquisite sensation.

With a final, powerful thrust, Shep finds his release, burying his face in the crook of my neck as he groans out his pleasure. We lie there, entwined and breathless, the aftershocks of our lovemaking rippling through us.

As our hearts slowly return to their normal rhythm, the reality of where we are and what we've just done begins to sink in. Shep lifts his head, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

"Elle," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "I?—”

But I silence him with a finger to his lips. There are no words necessary in this moment. We've said everything we needed to say with our bodies, with the passion that still hums in the air around us.

For now, that's more than enough.

Friday, July 19

3:26 am

I wake with a start, disoriented for a moment, in the diffusely lit room. As my eyes adjust, I remember I'm not alone. Shep is curled beside me on the narrow bed, his warm body pressed against mine. My heart swells with affection as I watch his peaceful, sleeping face.

I inhale deeply, savoring his familiar scent—cologne, soap, and antiseptic. It wraps around me like a comforting blanket, filling me with a sense of safety and contentment. The snugness of his body heat seeps into mine, chasing away the chill of the sterile hospital air.

I almost laugh to myself, grateful I'm in my own room now. If I were still in the ICU, nurses would have been in and out constantly, busting us during our unorthodox hospital quickie. Here in the step-down unit, we have a rare bubble of privacy and quiet. I probably won't see anyone unless I call for them until morning rounds.

And then it occurs to me—has he done this with other women here? He seemed quite adept.

Stop it. If he has, good for him. He doesn't owe me anything except doing what he says he will do now. We both have pasts. And we may not have a future, but we can live in this moment and enjoy the present.

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