Page 19 of Flame's Fight

“I have a feeling I’ll go nuts if I’m stuck in here much longer. The chance to go outside would be nice.” I tell her. “You know how I feel about being stuck inside.”

She nods in understanding and gives me a smile. “I do. The doctor said you should try getting up and moving. Sitting in a chair instead of just lying in bed. I guess a wheelchair counts. Let me see what I can do for you.”

I nod and watch her leave. I’m hoping she follows through, because I want to talk to Deion and his guard about Brooke. Maybe all the guy did was flirt with her, but Ghost seemed genuinely worried about her. Brooke is confident and strong. No way could anyone upset her unless they threatened her. I mean to find out. Because whether or not Brooke wants to admit it, she’s mine, and I protect what is mine.

As I lay in bed, I know I should sleep, but thoughts of Brooke keep my mind busy. These past few weeks without her have been… I can’t think of the word to describe it. Hell? Maybe. More like… empty. That’s it. I’ve felt more today than I have for weeks, not even including the days I was in a coma. Fighting with her is preferable to the fog I was in. It was stupid of me to think I could move on from her. It was weak and cowardly of me to not fight harder for us. I need her. I need to feel her breath on my face, her lips against mine. Fuck, I need to be inside her, lost in each other.

My mind slips back into our first time together. It was also in a hospital bed, after I saved Grimm’s life. While recovering from burns and smoke inhalation, Brooke took great care of me. I remember her hands, soft and cool against my legs and arms as she carefully removed bandages and gently applied ointment. I craved her touch from the beginning. But more than that, I craved our time together. Hearing her talk about her day and her other patients became the highlight of my day. Although I wanted desperately to touch her, I also wanted to know her. Something that had never seemed important with any women before her.

Toward the end of my hospital stay, Brooke spent more and more of her breaks and free time with me. She’d bring me food, like she had tonight. She even brought her laptop so we could watch movies while he munched on pizza or Chinese Food. I fell in love with her during that time and we hadn’t even kissed much less done anything more physical.

But all that changed one night. We were watching a movie curled up in my hospital bed together. Brooke started stroking my leg. Which woke up another appendage that had long been out of action.

Where her fingers touched my inner thigh, an electrical current shoots straight into my dick. Like a heat-seeking missile, he zones in on her, desperate for her heat. I almost leap out of bed when her fingers brush down his length. I don’t, but it’s close. Instead, I let out a low moan as she applies more pressure. Glancing at her profile, I see a small smile playing on her lips. The little minx knows exactly what she is doing to me. Fuck, that is hot.

“Baby, not that I’m complaining, but if you keep that up, I’m going to have a hard time explaining to the night nurse why I need a sponge bath.” I tell her.

She chuckles. “Oh, you don’t want a sponge bath?” She asks, turning from the movie to look at me.

“Only if you’re offering…” I say. What started as a joke turns into pure lust when she slips her hand under the covers to grasp my cock. “Oh, fuck.” I groan out as I push against her hand. With each stroke, she wipes her thumb over the tip to capture my leaking cum. “Oh, fuck, baby, damn, you’re good at that.” I moan as she strokes. When she replaces her hand with her mouth, I lose it. Her mouth is hot, wet, and fucking amazing. She swirls her tongue around the tip before sliding him deep down her throat until I feel her nose brush against my pubes. That’s when she swallows and I lose all control. Shooting streams of cum down her throat, she empties my balls as she uses her fingers to massage every drop.

“Mmmm.” Brooke moans as she licks her lips. I follow the movement and feel my cock twitching back to life. She gives me one of her beautiful smiles before kissing me. I taste myself on her tongue and feel an overwhelming need to claim her. To spread my cum inside and out, marking her as mine. I’ve never felt so possessive of anyone or anything in my life. The feeling rocks me to my core, and I know right then that I can easily fall in love with her.

The door opens, bringing me back to the present. I glance over to see Brooke backing into the room with a wheelchair. Seeing her gorgeous ass encased in scrubs is such a turn on. I glance down at my lap and realizing my dick is already awake and taking notice. Fuck.

I try thinking of something that will calm him down, but having Brooke nearby is all he needs to stay at attention.

Brooke parks the chair near my bed and turns to me. Her eyes shift down and widen. “Well, that’s an excellent sign.” She says, grinning at me.

Fuck. My. Life.

CHAPTER TWELVE: BROOKE

Why did I say that? I ask myself for the tenth time since leaving an obviously aroused Flame back in his hospital room. I can’t start up with him again, I just can’t. Letting him go almost broke me. Hell, who am I kidding? It broke me. I’m no longer whole. Work is all I have. I have nothing to look forward to any longer, only guilt and shame to live through.

As a reminder of my circumstances, Deion’s door opens and his guard steps out. He says nothing, but his eyes lock on mine and he watches me walk by. When I turn the corner into the nurses’ station, my phone buzzes. I know who it is, but I still look.

A text message: 2 PM today.

Fuck. My. Life.

I lose myself in work, knowing that this may be my last day. A few of my coworkers give me odd glances as I keep disappearing into the bathroom to break down. Since I could never hide my emotions from Flame, I avoid his room completely. I know I won’t steal the drugs. Which means my father will soon learn my secret. I’m in a no-win situation, but I won’t compound the problem by supplying drugs to assholes.

When my shift ends at two, I know I should go home and get some sleep. But I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared. By this time tomorrow, I may be in a jail cell, knowing my life is over. Even if they don’t prosecute me, I’ll likely lose my nursing license. I’ll also lose the respect of everyone I care about. My parents. My friends and coworkers. Flame. If I need to pick up the pieces and start over, I need all the strength I can get. Only one person ever gave more than he took. Flame.

Maybe I should have come clean with him before now. But the thought of seeing him looking at me with disgust was too hard to contemplate. He hates thieves, therefore, he’ll hate me. But I inflicted pain on him because I couldn’t face up to seeing that hate. God, I’m a horrible person.

Ghost frowns at me when I smile at him as I push open the door to Flame’s room. He’s asleep. I watch him for several minutes recalling the times I would get off shift to come home and find him in my bed. He’d try hard to stay awake so he could welcome me home, but he worked hard and was always sleeping when I returned. I loved those nights because I could watch him sleep. He’s so beautiful that my heart hurts. This man was mine, and I ruined it. I must let out a sob, because I see his eyes open and fix on me.

He opens his arms, and I can’t stop myself from taking advantage of him one last time. I lay against him, sobbing as he strokes my hair. He doesn’t ask me questions, he just lets me cry. When I finally run out of tears, he takes control.

“Sleep. We can talk in the morning.” He strokes my back and kisses the top of my head.

My crying jag exhausts me, so it doesn’t take long for me to do exactly what he suggests.

When I awaken, I revel in the feeling of once again being in Flame’s arms. I don’t know how I’ll give him up again. Maybe sleeping with him was a mistake. But I don’t regret it. I wouldn’t have slept if I’d gone home. Flame makes me feel safe. He always has. He makes me feel like anything is possible. I slip out of his arms and make my way across the room, glancing back when I reach the door. I study his beautiful face and feel my heart shatter.

Stepping outside, I find Reaper.

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