Page 46 of Prognosis Incompatible

She smiled and stepped under the spray, gasping and flinching at the unexpected temperature, her body facing his. She shut her eyes and ducked her head under the water, allowing it to run all over her naked body enjoying the cold after the initial shock.

Enjoying the feel of Marcus’s eyes on her body. Enjoying the thrill of sexual power.

Marcus swallowed hard as he watched the water run over her breasts, the cold scrunching her nipples instantly, down her flat stomach and cling to the red curls at the juncture of her thighs. She opened her eyes and caught him staring and he didn’t care. She gave him a flirty, knowing smile and he shook his head.

‘Tease.’

She grinned. ‘This water is freezing.’

‘I know. I needed it.’ He reached past her to add some hot.

‘You didn’t wake me,’ she chided.

‘No,’ he said, electricity thrumming through his veins, at the sight of her wet and naked and patently wanting more. ‘But it wasn’t easy.’

‘Well, for that, I’m going to have to punish you,’ she teased, her voice light and flirty.

He chuckled. ‘Oh? What did you have in mind?’

Madeline smiled at him, turned on by the mere thought of what she was about to do. She pushed him back against the shower wall and stood as far away as his erection allowed. She looked at him, holding his gaze for as long as she could bear it, and then knelt before him.

Marcus shut his eyes and groaned loudly as her warm lips and hot mouth closed over him. If this was a punishment, he was going to be bad for ever.

‘Oh...my...God,’ he groaned, and gave himself up to the pleasure.

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Madeline made it towork just in time for her first appointment. Marcus had dropped her home so she could change her clothes and she had waved him goodbye reluctantly.

Plonking her bag on her desk, she sat in her chair, absently swinging herself round and round feeling exhilarated despite her two hours’ sleep.

She couldn’t remember feeling this alive in a long time.

It was as if she’d been in limbo all these years, starting with her parents’ death and perpetuated by her guilt and grief over Abby. She’d stayed in an insane holding pattern with Simon for so long, and when he’d said goodbye two months ago, it had been one more person who had left her. Today she felt like she was actually moving forward with her life – thanks to Marcus.

And she would thank him. The very first chance she got.

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Mrs Wust, her lastpatient before lunch, sat at the desk and Madeline was pleased she’d soon be able to take a break. Her concentration had been completely shot and more than one patient had commented on how tired she looked.

‘Jet lag?’ Mrs Wust enquired after the usual pleasantries.

‘Er, yes, must be,’ Madeline said. An image of Marcus living up to his apartment number came to mind and heat suffused her cheeks. ‘Now, let’s look at your ultrasound results, shall we?’

Maddeline found the report on her computer. It identified a gall bladder full of stones which were clearly seen on the accompanying images.

‘Well, it is as I suspected, Gail. Your epigastric pain is due to gallstones. I’m afraid you’re going to need an operation.’ Madeline opened her drawer and retrieved her stationery. ‘I’ll give you a referral to a surgeon and he can discuss your options.’

Gail’s face fell. ‘Oh, no. Isn’t there another way?’

‘Well, it’s done laparoscopically so the scarring and recovery time are minimised. It’s really only day surgery nowadays.’

‘No, I mean naturally. A friend of mine was telling me that her brother’s wife’s sister-in-law used an old-fashioned oil and lemon juice recipe to cure hers.’

Madeline looked at Gail, her pen poised. She was the typical cholecystitis patient — fair, overweight and in her forties. Not that long ago Madeline wouldn’t have even entertained a natural remedy but a lot had changed in a week.

She tore off the page she had been writing. ‘I’ll refer you to Dr Hunt. He’s a GP who specialises in natural therapies who’s just moved in next door. I’m sure he’ll be able to guide you.’

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