“Shh,” Jack whispered, mischief dancing across his features. He peeked over my shoulder and walked me backward until I found myself in our supply closet.
“Jack, are you crazy?” My heart raced as the panic and lust pumping through my veins strangled the words in my throat.
“Do you have the key?” He nodded to the large ring of a dozen keys around my hand.
“Yes, it locks from both the inside and outside. What the hell do you think you’re—”
In less than five seconds, he shut and locked the door behind us, pinning me against the shelves with a passionate kiss. This was much different than what we’d shared on the bench outside. This was a kiss filled with hunger—insistent, all consuming, and mind-erasing starvation. My head spun, and my panties were soaked. All coherent thoughts left my head with the click of the lock.
“Jack,” I panted when he tore his lips from mine to drag them down my throat. “We can’t do this here.” My actions disagreed with my words, as in betweenJackandwe can’t, I’d threaded my fingers into his hair and let my head fall back. The scrape of his stubble chafed my skin, and I wanted more. I wanted my body raw from Jack’s mouth and hands, and for a few brief moments, I let myself think we had a chance. That we could have a life together full of all this passion and need.
Why was I talking myself out of this? Why couldn’t we? This felt too good—he felt too good—for all of this to be wrong.
“The way you kiss …” Jack hissed. His hooded eyes met mine when he pulled the rubber band holding my ponytail from my hair and weaved his fingers through my tangled strands, grabbing a fistful before he pulled me closer. “It’s all I think about. I know I’m almost out of here, but I don’t want this to end. Tell me it won’t.” Need dripped off every word, and the only reply I could muster was a shake of my head.
His smile widened before he brushed my lips again. I relaxed into his arms before I flung my arms around his neck, giving more to this kiss than I had before, than I had in years. I couldn’t identify the burn in my belly as our lips kept moving. It was a spark of something. Hope? Excitement? Both were foreign feelings to me, but the wonder of it all washed over me. Jack’s breathless kiss brought the air back into my lungs.
“Who keeps stealing the frigging tape—oh my God!” Leanne bellowed behind us before we jerked apart.
“I am so sorry, I thought I was the only one left. You … can just …” She shielded her eyes as a blush filled her cheeks. I groaned after her quick departure.
“What are you doing to me, Taylor?” I met his cheeky grin with a glare. “All my judgment goes out the window with you.”
He choked out a laugh as he ran his hands up and down my arms. “You’re beautiful when you let go, Dani.” Jack cupped my chin, and goose bumps covered my entire body. Tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I registered the longing in his gaze. Jack looked at me as if I was everything he’d ever wanted. I tried to remember the last time a man regarded me with such yearning and reverence.
Not since … never. Even when things were good with Cliff, or when I thought they were good, he never gazed at me with such pure want, as if his eyes didn’t need to seek anything else but me. My breathing faltered as my knees melted into jelly.
“I can’t wait to see more. Maybe skip the cafeteria tonight.” Jack’s hands slid down my back, grazing my ass enough to make me jump in his arms. “What we had in here was sweeter than candy, anyway.” His eyebrows jumped, and I swatted his chest.
“Lay off the lines, Taylor.” I grabbed his hand and opened the door, scanning the hallway before pulling him out.
“See you tomorrow.” I pressed a close-mouthed, long kiss on his lips, shocking the shit out of both of us.
“You know it, boss.” He kissed me again, biting my bottom lip before turning to walk down the hallway. As my heartbeat quieted in my chest, I noticed the absence of his crutch as he made his way down the hall. I let out a long sigh at the realization. If he walked that well unassisted, it was time to start the discharge process.
I wandered back to my office in a daze. Confused, embarrassed, and totally without a fucking clue what to do next. Settling on damage control, I knocked on Leanne’s office door, wincing when she told me to come in.
I settled into a chair in front of her desk and scrambled for an explanation. Since I was caught kissing my patient in a closet, I didn’t have one.
“I’m … sorry you saw that.” I dragged my hand down my face, unable to make eye contact. Leanne and I were friends, as much as I allowed myself to have a friend these days. Since Cliff, I never let anyone in—friendsorfamily. This was why this thing with Jack had confused the shit out of me. All I’d wanted was to be alone, but I couldn’t stay away from him. As much as I’d denied it for so long, I wanted him. I wantedus, even though I had no clue how it could ever work once he was discharged.
God, I was so screwed.
Leanne leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk as her warm gaze met mine.
“Do you think you’re the first one to make out in that closet? Please, you aren’t the only one here who stays late at times.”
I let out a nervous laugh, still unnerved from being caught but relieved that there were no consequences—for now.
“I won’t say a word,” she whispered with an easy and sincere smile.
“I knew Jack … before. He was my brother’s friend before we moved. But this is beyond unethical.” I cupped my forehead as my eyes squeezed shut for a moment. My lips burned from our kiss, and I could still taste Jack, still feel him against me.
Leanne shrugged. “I was actually glad to see that. I mean, sure groping patients is frowned upon, but, you keep yourself so closed off. It’s nice to see you happy.”
“Happy?” I scoffed. “I’m a mess. An unprofessional mess.”
“Maybe.” She chuckled when I was able to finally meet her gaze. “But you haven’t stopped smiling since you sat down. Your secret is safe with me.”
