Page 34 of Storm Bound
“You don’t have to—”
“But I’m gonna,” he insisted.
“But I’m the doctor. I have to be there. You don’t,” I said, regretting it straight away. “That came out wrong.”
Ava raised an eyebrow, biting her bottom lip, but it was Charlie who got my attention.
“I know what you meant,Doctor, and if you think I’m only here to do my job while you’re here to answer your calling, then you don’t know me very well,” he said.
Well, you didn’t exactly let me know you better, did you?
“Fine. But you’ll take me there and then get home ASAP. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” I told him, and Charlie’s gaze deepened.
Crap. Had that come out way too wrong?
“Both of you,” I added, glancing at Ava for a moment.
“Yeah, okay, Doc. Let’s get going before the woman has to cut her own umbilical cord,” he said and walked off.
“Oh, God. I forgot how terrified of blood Mr. Bates is,” Ava shuddered.
I followed Charlie out, and he stood by his car. The wind was picking up speed, and there were countless leaves, dirt, and trash beginning to fly about.
“I think my car’s better,” I said, raising my voice as I looked at my pickup and then Charlie’s hatchback.
He raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, this was my uncle’s, so it’s got to be more used to getting to remote locations. Right?” I asked.
“Fine,” he sighed and approached the driver’s side of my pickup.
“I-I can drive,” I said.
I wasn’t precious about the car. It wasn’t even mine. I just didn’t want him to feel obligated to drive.
“I’m good, tiger. Don’t worry about me,” he said and grabbed my keys, winked at me, and got into my car.
He turned the engine on and that jerked me into action, so I took shotgun, and we drove off.
The bursts of rain falling sideways and the wind whistling through the streets made visibility a crapshoot, so it was no wonder I was gripping my seat belt with both hands, making my knuckles white, and shaking my leg as if that would help clear the road for us.
Charlie turned a corner.
“She’s twenty minutes away. They’re on the outskirts of the town, so hopefully once we’re clear of the main town, I can step on it and buy us some time,” Charlie said, navigating through the roads as if he hadn’t lived away from home for years.
“O-okay,” I said.
He cocked his head and glanced at me. His gaze darkened and his lips pursed.
“I know we said we’re just friends... colleagues... whatever, but do you need me to be your dom right now? Would that calm your nerves?” he asked, taking me completely by surprise.
My leg stopped shaking and my grip around the seat belt loosened.
“I-I’m okay,” I mumbled.
Charlie attempted a smile, but it looked a little bit like pity.
“Look, I know it’s unorthodox to ask, but you look terrified, and you’ve got a baby to deliver, so if it helps you, I’m happy to take control until we’re done,” he said, and his words felt heavy on my heart.
