“What’s the point? We’re miles apart. This is a one-sided relationship. It’s all about you!”

“No, that’s not true.” He approached, setting the flowers on the counter as he reached for her hand. She jerked it away.

“Don’t touch me!”

Kyle took a deep steadying breath. “We had a fight. Couples do that you know. Why are you making this out to be more than it is?”

“Let me tell you a little story. You know what I was greeted with today, thanks to your intrusion into my life?”

“No but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

“I was assigned to sub for a nurses’ aide who called in sick, despite my seniority. That means instead of one to two patients I had ten. Instead of using my nursing skills to save lives, I changed catheters and bedpans. I changed bedding, I cleaned up vomit. Not that I’m above any of that—it’s an important job, but this was assigned out of spite just because she can!”

“Ella…”

She held up her hand, “I’m not finished! You know what I’ll be doing tomorrow and for the foreseeable future? I’ll be floating, which means I’m being pulled from ICU, and moved to another unit that needs me. Completely new routine, I’ll have to deal with the hierarchy and cliques, I’ll get the crappy assignments and the difficult patients—you know, the whiners and complainers, the ones whose call lights are going off continuously. Floaters aren’t typically treated that well.”

“Ella, I’m sorry, I had no idea…” Kyle trailed off unsure of what to say next.

“No of course you didn’t, because you’re a spoiled self-centered man who always gets his way. You plow over anyone in your path.”

“How could I know my request would lead to all of that?”

“That’s not the point. If you had respected me and listened to the word no from the beginning, none of this would have happened.”

“You know what, I’m going to say something that will get me further in trouble, but what the hell! I’m not sorry.” Her eyes widened. “If I hadn’t insisted you come work for me, I wouldn’t have gotten to know you. I would never have held you in my arms, made love to you, kissed that tiny mole next to your sumptuous breast…so no, I’m not sorry.”

Ella looked away as he continued, “I am sorry that you’re being punished for my actions. I never saw that coming. How could I?”

This time when he reached for her hand, she didn’t pull away. He brought it to his lips and kissed her palm. “Ella, I’ve missed you. I’m lonely without you. I need you in my life. So does Finn. Please forgive me. I promise not to pressure you anymore about moving in with us.”

Tears filled her eyes and she squeezed them shut, causing her tears to spill out and run down her cheeks. Kyle groaned and pulled her to his chest. He kissed the top of her head, “Oh baby, I’m so sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt. I’ll talk to Joe; I’m sure he’s unaware of what a bitch your supervisor is.”

Her hands rested on his hips, sniffling against his chest she said, “No please, it would only make things worse. I’ll get through this. I’m tough. It was just a rude reentry. I love my unit and working in ICU, but I’ll adjust and hopefully I won’t be a floater forever.”

He tilted her chin up and used his thumbs to tenderly wipe the tears from her cheeks. Then he kissed both eyelids, the tip of her nose, finally settling on her lips. He didn’t press, his lips rested there, the sensation of hers full and soft under his, enough for the moment. She parted her mouth, and still his lips remained motionless. His hands burrowed into her thick mane of hair. Her breath quickened. She reached up and wrapped her hands behind his head as she pressed her tongue against his mouth.

That was his undoing. He had to have her.

The inferno within erupted and he began to ravage her mouth. He drank of her with an unquenchable thirst. Separating long enough to pull her scrubs over her head and unclasp her bra, he inhaled sharply when her voluptuous breasts spilled out. Pulling her pants down he kissed her flat belly… her mound… her thighs…she steadied herself, hanging on to his shoulders as she stepped out of her pants. She stood before him in a skimpy lace bikini bottom, and he almost lost it. He roughly pulled them down and tossed them aside.

Still squatting, he ran his hands up her inner thighs and pressed his thumb against her labia, she pressed into him as she braced against the counter behind her. He replaced his thumb with his mouth, his tongue flicking quickly then lapping at her moist center. Ella panted and moaned his name.

Standing, he ripped off his dress shirt and unbuckled his pants. He kicked them aside and turned her around to face the counter. She willingly bent over as his eyes hungrily took in her perfectly rounded ass and long slim back. Reaching for his discarded slacks he pulled a condom from his pocket and ripped it open.

He gripped either side of her hips, entering from behind. She cried out with pleasure as he filled her wet center. Holding her steady he plunged deep inside, slowly at first, then faster and harder, pounding against her buttocks. He used his foot to spread her legs further and pulled her tighter into him as he rode her. His muscular thighs and buttocks contracted with every thrust.

With each push he stimulated her G-spot. When he reached around and pinched her nipple she exploded. She threw her head back and cried out. Grasping the counter-top she rode wave after wave as she spasmed against his cock.

“Oh baby, you feel so good. I love how warm and tight you are.” Ella’s pulsating warmth shattered him. He erupted violently, coming inside of her, pumping wildly into her receptive womb. His chest and brow glistened with sweat as he grunted with each contraction. When the storm calmed, he withdrew and turned Ella to face him, pulling her into his arms.

Ella, still feverish from their passion, didn’t respond. Instead she sucked and nibbled his neck as her breath returned to normal, her palms stroking his chest. She practically purred when he ran his hands down the length of her back, settling only when he reached her buttocks, cupping them.

Ella found her voice. “Kyle, that was…the best makeup sex I’ve ever had.”

He smiled into her hair, squeezing her tightly against him. “Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

She cradled his face between her palms and peered deeply into his blue eyes. “I promise. Kyle I…”