His head snaps up, eyes blazing. “Not another word about my past. There’s only you and me from now on. Okay?”
My heart trips over itself, stunned by the conviction in his voice. I search his face, finding nothing but honesty there. My throat tightens with emotions I’m not sure I should feel, not this soon. But I can’t stop the warmth that spreads through me, the dizzying mix of affection and want. I cup his face, pressing my lips to his with a softness that contrasts the heat between us.
“Okay,” I whisper against his mouth.
Teddy lifts his hand, fingertips brushing gently along my cheek. “I’ll miss having you in my care team. But let’s be honest; this was a million times better. You fulfilled my every hot nurse fantasy.”
Normally, that kind of line would make my skin crawl. I’ve heard it on bad dates before. More than one guy has said it with a sleazy grin, reducing my job to some kink or fantasy. But coming from Teddy, it doesn’t land like that. There’s no gross undertone or objectifying gleam. It’s teasing, threaded with admiration. Somehow, it makes my chest tighten instead of my jaw.
“I can’t believe we just did that,” I say. He tenses under me, so I tilt his chin up with my fingers and add, “It was better than what I imagined in every way.”
Relief softens his features and I lean down to claim his lips. He kisses me back with a tenderness only he has ever offered me. When we finally pull apart, his smile is so full of wonder it makes my heart ache.How is this man real?
Teddy’s arms stay around me and I don’t rush to move. There’s no awkwardness or panic. His fingers trace slow circles on mylower back, making me shiver. Time seems suspended, neither of us wanting to be the one to break the spell. But eventually, reality presses back in. With a reluctant sigh, I get up from his lap.
“If anyone knocks, I’d rather not be half-naked in your lap.” I say softly as I pull on my bra and top, smoothing the fabric into place.
“That would make for a hell of a story for the nurses’ station,” he laughs and gets up to grab a clean pair of sweats.
“Ellie would lose her shit if she knew what happened.”
“So…is this still a secret even if you’re no longer caring for me?”
The hint of insecurity in his voice twists my insides. I move to stand in front of him and cup his face in both hands. “I would love nothing more than to tell everyone about us. But while you’re here as a patient, we have to stay quiet.”
“I get it,” he sighs. “But damn, I wish things were simpler.”
My heart aches at the honesty in his tone. I press my forehead to his, breathing him in, trying to memorize every detail of tonight. Kissing him softly at first, then deeper, I pour every unsaid feeling into the physical connection. He responds instantly, hands cradling my waist.
When we finally break apart, my chest feels tight, not from nerves but from the sheer weight of wanting him. I’m falling, fast and reckless, and for once I don’t want to stop myself.
“Easier or not,” I murmur, brushing another kiss over his lips, “I’m not going anywhere.”
His answering smile is nearly my undoing. Once I’m fully dressed, I sit beside him on the edge of the bed. He reaches formy hand, his thumb brushing my knuckles in that soft way he always does. Grabbing the remote with my other hand, I flick on the TV mounted high on the opposite wall. Onscreen, Times Square is packed with people waving signs and blowing kisses as the countdown is about to start.
Ten.
Nine.
He doesn’t let go of my hand.
Seven.
I scoot closer, letting my shoulder brush his. My heart pounds, but it’s not nerves. It’s anticipation.
Four.
“Happy New Year, Theodore.”
He turns toward me, mouth twitching into a shy smile. “Happy New Year, Ivy.”
One.
I lean in and kiss him, and the touch is nothing like what we shared earlier. This one is slower, more deliberate. His lips trace mine with a tenderness that makes my body hum in response. In the background, cheers erupt and fireworks explode across the screen, but the sound is irrelevant. Because here, in this small hospital room, there’s only us.
“You know, I’ve never looked forward to a new year before,” he says.
A rush of warmth spreads through me at his words. To be trusted with this soft side of Teddy feels like being handed the keys to a locked room inside him.
