Page 69 of The Fall

“Well, if you can’t get that stick out of your ass, please allow me to inspect.” He flew from the bed and captured me as I yelped. He tossed my still-damp body over his shoulder and onto the soft mattress as I cursed his good name while he pinned me down. Burying his head between my thighs, I pulled his hair hard.

“Mmmhmm, mmmhmm,” he said, pretending to inspect my derriere.

“How do you do that?” I asked as he looked up at me with a grin.

“Do what?”

“You know, stare at those all damn day.” He nuzzled my skin and placed a small kiss on my thigh. “First of all, I don’t stare. That’s just rude. And second, I do more than pap smears. I deliver babies and help parents who can’t have babies make them. I was specializing in IVF before I left New York.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to bag on your specialty, vag man.”

“Nice,” he said, rolling his eyes and positioning himself on top of me. He kissed me deeply, then pulled away, searching my face.

“I’m going to help Paul and Hilary.” I jerked my head back in question as he explained. “They are having a hard time conceiving. Paul came to me at the engagement party.”

“I had no idea. Oh no! I joked about their failure to produce an heir. God, I feel terrible.”

“Dally, this isn’t something couples openly discuss at the dinner table. It’s painful, but I’m sure they didn’t take offense. They came to me for help, and it’s a good first step. I had my first consultation with them last Monday. I’m pretty confident about it.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m…happy they came to you.”

I lay beneath him as he scanned my face with a worried look.

“I’m fine,” I said forcefully.

“No, you aren’t. You don’t trust me not to hurt you, and you’re doing your damndest to make sure I don’t. Dallas, I’m not leaving.” He kissed me deeply as I sighed into him.

I nodded once. He shook his head with slight irritation, then took my lower lip between his teeth.

“I didn’t break up with him for you,” I said adamantly.

“Okay,” he mumbled as he kissed my throat.

“We have to take things slow. I’ve got a lot going on,” I warned, nudging his head with my shoulder so he looked at me.

“Too late for that. What else,” he said, moving down my body with his kiss.

“I—oh God!” I gasped as his tongue flattened between my legs. He laid his hand on my stomach to hold me down while he devoured me with long slow licks. I writhed in gratitude as he slid his tongue down my aching slit, finding purchase in the sensitive tissues.

“Tastes like home,” he said, sliding his fingers inside me as he sucked on my bundled nerves. I came in a brutal rush, praising him and God simultaneously loud enough to wake my entire condo complex.

He finished his praise by sucking my folds leisurely as the last of my shudders subsided.

“I’m going to take you hard. Hold on to me,” he warned before moving up my body, rolling me onto my stomach, and gripping my shoulders. In one breath-stealing thrust, he was buried inside me to the root. He began to roll his hips, his movements sending me spiraling toward the edge. He took me deep as he whispered into my ear before sinking his teeth into my shoulder. I came again instantly, bucking underneath him. Turning me back over and pulling me to the edge of the bed, he molded my body to his touch, praising me as he gave himself to me. “I’m the last man that will ever have you,” he promised with every thrust before giving in and burying his head in my chest.

Sleeping with Dean was inevitable. How amazing it was made me even more terrified, but at the same time, I was elated that he still wanted me that way and no other. He’d said all the things I wanted to hear. And though my head gave me warning with every word I recalled, my heart resumed its loyal place, filled with all things Dean Martin.

I could’ve stayed in bed and pressed repeat, but I wanted to think about him and crave him before we went any further. I thought I’d be elated with having him back in my life in a more intimate way. I was beyond that. I felt new.

I felt like I was breathing again.

I had to at least try to enjoy the moment, even if deep down, some part of me would always believe our happiness wouldn’t last. I didn’t want to be the pathetic case that had clung to him crying last night. I’d come a hell of a long way from that girl, and I owed it to myself to show him who I was now.

I was hesitant to think about a possible future with him. For the first time in a very long time, I just wanted to let myself feel the way I used to with him. Last night was a great start. He’d exhausted me until I fell into a deep sleep. I’d only woken up when he pulled me to him and murmured “Dallas,” in his slumber.

I dressed quickly the next morning, leaving a sleeping Dean with a note. I had lab results waiting, and honestly thought there was nothing worse than being the person who was waiting on them. I wanted how I treated my new patients to go above and beyond what was expected instead of just a simple diagnosis and course of action. I wanted to be heavily involved in their treatment and aftercare. I wanted to take a step further away from the gray area.

My confidence and smile were short-lived when I received Mrs. Tanner’s biopsy results. I consulted with two other oncologists before letting her know we had a long road ahead and the well-rehearsed speech of getting her affairs in order.

---