Page 27 of Bloom: Part 2

“Decent?” I asked him.

“Don’t think I’ve ever been decent.”

I laughed. Laughed. What the hell was wrong with me that I didn’t seem to comprehend that a coworker had caught me having sex with a patient? Well, technically, he already had his discharge paper signed. I just couldn’t summon the energy to care like I would have in the past. There was something freeing about not giving a damn.

The feeling could become addictive.

I removed the chair from behind the door and returned it to the spot next to the bed. An orderly whose name I didn’t remember entered the room, pushing a wheelchair. His gaze skittered around the room, anywhere but directly at us.

“I’m here to take Bloom downstairs.” He fumbled with the brakes on the wheelchair, eyes darting to the door as though eager for escape. “Hospital discharge protocols.”

“But I can walk. I’m perfectly fine,” Bloom said.

“It’s hospital policy, sweetheart. Don’t make things difficult for him.”

His grunt said he still thought the idea was stupid, but at least he sat.

“That’s a good boy.”

“I’ve got him.” I took over the wheelchair. The orderly’s mouth fell open. He twisted his hands and pursed his lips as though holding back what he wanted to say. He was probably worried about not following protocol, but protocol be damned. If I could have sex with Bloom while he was standing outside the door, I could push his wheelchair to the car.

I wheeled the wheelchair down the quiet corridor. The hospital staff we passed nodded and smiled. Hypocrites. They had never treated Bloom well when he was hanging around, stalking me, but as soon as he saved their lives, they couldn’t do enough to please him. They heaped praises on him, sent him fresh flowers and the best meals from the hospital kitchen.

We got into the elevator, and a slim figure darted inside before the door closed. Jamie. I groaned, slapping a hand on my face.

“Well, that’s rude.” He leaned against the elevator wall with his arms crossed over his chest. “I’ll have you know, Logan Collier, that people find me a fucking delight!”

“What?” I shrugged wide-eyed. “I said nothing.”

“I think we all know what that groan meant, Logan.”

“You, hush.” I stroked Bloom’s cheek with a finger in admonishment.

“Anyway, I am here for Bloom, not for you.” He made a show of turning to face Bloom while flashing me the finger.

“Quite classy, Dr. Dehaney. Real mature.”

“Thank you very much. Now, Bloom, don’t forget to follow your doctor’s instructions to the T. It’s not optional—unless he said it was. No letting Logan fold you in half when you fuck. He needs to take it gently for a while.”

Jamie smirked, eyebrow raised, as though challenging me to reprimand him for his blunt words. Warmth rose into my cheeks, but Bloom giggled—the hussy. One I could handle at a time. Both of them? Oh, dear god.

Two can play this game.

“Don’t worry, Dr. Dehaney. I am quite invested in Bloom’s recovery. There will be no more hanky-panky while he’s still healing.”

“What do you mean no more?” Jamie’s mouth fell open. He swept his gaze over me, then Bloom. “Oh my god, you didn’t.”

“I can assure you that they did,” the orderly muttered. “It’s against hospital policy.”

“Not if no one says anything.” Jamie let out a low wolf whistle and playfully punched me in the shoulder. “Why, Dr. Collier, I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“James, can you be proper for a minute?”

“Hah! Nothing proper about what you just did to Bloom.”

The elevator dinged, and I let out a breath of relief.

“James, don’t you have patients to attend to?” I pushed Bloom forward through the small throng gathered to get on after us.

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