Page 16 of Desperate Desires

That way led to disaster, and I’d had enough of that in my life.

Still, it had been a very long time since I went on a date or said yes to a simple booty call. Had a little friends-with-benefits, no-strings sex.

Maybe that was why I couldn’t stop thinking about Ono’s brilliant blue eyes when he looked at me, or how stunningly soft his lips were when he’d kissed me.

Shit.

Daydreaming about my patient was not a good idea. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, a little meditation might help clear my head of those ridiculous thoughts.

“What’s got you frowning over there, Bellezza?”

Ono’s rich voice filtered through the room, hitting me right in the gut like a sucker punch.

I blinked my eyes open, donning a professional mien as I walked to his side and lifted my stethoscope to listen to his chest and heartbeat.

Yes, I pointedly ignored his muscles, kept my gaze from wandering to the tattoos covering his torso I was dying to ask about and touch.

He had more on his back that started high on his shoulders and wrapped around his chest and stomach, going all the way down to where, I had no idea.

The ink disappeared beneath the elastic band of his boxer briefs only to reappear further below where each leg ended. I spied some more body art on his thick thighs and calves, but I didn’t get a good look.

He wasn’t wounded there. It would be weird if I were to suddenly start checking out his legs.

I mean, that would be considered taking advantage of a patient who was in no fit state to stop me. And there were lines I wouldn’t cross, even if curiosity burned inside of me like a blazing inferno.

“Your airway is clear. Heart sounds good. How do you feel?” I asked, ignoring his question.

“I feel like I just got shot,” he replied, but there was a teasing grin on his face.

“You sure did, Tough Guy. Three times.”

“Three? Shit. No wonder I feel like crap.”

“Surprised you even noticed,” I answered his teasing grin.

“So, how’s it looking, Doc?” Ono asked and carefully stretched, making the sheet I had pulled up to his waist slide down past his hips.

My eyes dropped, and I practically drooled on him. The tight boxers he wore seemed to get even tighter beneath my stare.

I cleared my throat, pulling my stethoscope off my neck and folding it before replacing it on the side table.

I turned back to his face, trying to ignore his knowing smirk.

Still, I had to swallow before I answered.

After all, it would probably not be a good idea for me to say something like it looks big and totally capable to me.

Yeah, that was probably not a good idea.

“Uh, well, you’re a little pale, but that’s to be expected. If you let me call an ambulance, I can have some blood brought or better yet, get you moved to a facility where you can be thoroughly examined Mister?—”

“Call me Ono, Doc. And no. No ambulance. But if you give me my phone, I can make a call and get you whatever you need to fix me delivered. You can treat me here, right? I’ll pay for your time?—”

“It’s not the money, but why would you want to stay here?” I asked.

“You’re in no danger, Doc. I swear. Look, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m a friend of Sammy’s.”

“Sammy Ramirez?” I asked, and he nodded.

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