Page 61 of Extended Bridge

“Fuck the doctor.”

My hand flies in front of my mouth but it doesn’t prevent my giggle from escaping. “I’d rather not.”

“Good thing, for his health.” He covers my lips with his and our kiss escalates to off the charts in no time flat. Before I know it, I’m naked and his mouth has trailed between my legs. “I now have only one goal, and it’s to hear you scream my name.”

He slides two fingers into my body and pumps while his tongue encircles my clit. “Oh, Bennett. Right there.” My hand clamps down on the top of his head.

“Got you, Sweetheart.”

Boy, does he. Tingling begins at my toes and races throughout my body until I’m clenched around him. With one more flick of his tongue, I spiral into the stratosphere, shouting, “Bennett!”

When I return to earth, I loll my head to see him smirking. Guess he earned it.

“You’re so responsive, Jenna. It’s like you were created for me. You challenge me not for whatyoucan get out of it, but to makemylife better. You make me do PT so I’ll heal faster, not letting me go off script and reinjure myself. You encourage me to be a better man.” He brushes the hair away from my face. “How could I not fall in love with you?”

“You can’t.” The words escape my mouth without direction. My heart pounds.

Chapter Fifteen

He settles himself over me. “I do love you, Jenna Westfield. I’ve told you before at Secluded Rest, and I’m repeating it now. You make me feel things no one else has ever made me feel. You’re here not because I’m the lead singer of UC, but because of your desire to help me.”

“Anyone could’ve gotten you to this point.” Even as I say this, I know it’s not true. So many others would’ve joined the tour for the excitement and access to either the band or fans, none of which hold any allure for me.

Still in his jeans, he leans against the headboard, pulling me like a naked ragdoll next to him. “Tell me, what if one of Michelle’s referrals had gotten their hands on me?”

I flinch at her name. “She refers patients to my crosstown rival who has multiple therapists working for him in six locations.”

“All right. Do you think he would’ve agreed to take me on as his patient?”

“In a heartbeat. He does anything for publicity.”

“Tell me, how have you capitalized on my status to improve your business?”

His question stumps me. “I haven’t.”

“Exactly. How have you leveraged our relationship”—his fingertips cover my now open lips—“however you define what’s going on between us, for your own gain?”

“I’d never do that.”

“See? This is how you stole my heart. What else could it be? All you do is make me want to be better, do better.”

“We haven’t even had sex yet.”

He chuckles. “You think sex is my deciding factor?”

I tuck the blankets around my naked chest. “It always has been for me.”

His finger taps my chin. “Are you saying you won’t know if you reciprocate my feelings until we do the deed?”

My heart screams to admit how it’s feeling. That sex plays no role in defining how deeply he’s crawled under my skin. How I consider him before questioning my own feelings. Yet, my brain overshadows. While he’s not as over-the-top as Darren was, he’s the definition of chaos. I need time to sort through it all. Don’t I?

“Sex surely will play into my equation.”

“This orgasm didn’t sway you?” His finger runs down my cheek. “Or the others I’ve given you?”

I know I’m being ridiculous, but I can’t form the words to tell him how I feel. Darren and his death almost destroyed me—how can I allow myself to get into this same position again? “Bennett, you mean a lot to me, to everyone. You are so worthy of love despite the fact your father passed away, leaving you with a mother who isn’t capable of showing her heart.”

“This right here is how I know you’re the woman for me.” He hugs me against his body, his heart beating like one of Río’s drum solos. “I can wait for you, Jenna. For the next couple of days until we meet the doctor’s random threshold to have sex. For weeks afterward, if that’s what you need. I want you to know I’ll always be here for you. Protecting you from the media, smoothing things over with UC,and allowing your dreams of owning multiple physical therapy clinics to soar.”

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