No wonder, the man is like your own personal 007, but even hotter. And I saw the way his hand rested on your spine! What are you waiting for?
This 007 has the willpower of steel, unfortunately.
He’s mad in the head. I’d ride you if I had the equipment.
It’s getting so bad, I might have to buy some equipment of my own.
Bring him to Ann Summers. Let him see what he’s missing.
That, my friend, is a wickedly cruel idea. I LOVE it!
I breezethrough the living area. It’s overflowing with a huge array of sweet-smelling bouquets, plus get well wishes from Sasha, Libby, Melanie, Harrison, and even Doctor Dickson. I’m not due back on the ward for another five days, and for the first time since I started in A&E, I’m glad of the break. Instinctively, I rub the spot on my neck where the prisoner gripped me.
‘Are we going somewhere?’ Archie asks, eyeing my running tights and sports bra. He sits at the dining table, a thick slice of buttery toast pinched between his finger and thumb.
A palpable tension hangs in the air between us.
‘I was going to go for a run.’ It comes out sharper than I intended. Like I’m daring him to stop me.
‘What about that?’ His gaze travels to my bandage. ‘You might set it bleeding again.’
I hate to admit he’s right, but I’m going stir crazy trapped in here for days on end. There’s only so much studying a person can do.
‘We could go for a walk?’ he suggests.
I shrug, imagining a million more satisfying ways of burning off the restless energy plaguing me, but I already know from his stance that it’s not going to happen.
‘How about a drive to Portobello?’ he offers. ‘We could walk the beach and grab a coffee? The fresh air might be good for you.’
‘Fine. Just as long as you don’t plan on spending the entire trip avoiding looking at me, because it makes me feel like utter shit.’ I seem to have no filter around this man. I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.
Genuine anguish crumples his face. The corner of his eyes crinkle in a wince. ‘I’m so sorry, Victoria.’
‘So am I. Sorry we couldn’t finish what we started.’ Could I be any more desperate?
‘Victoria, I told you, it’s highly unprofessional. I’d lose my job, my cabin at the castle, my place with Ryan and Sasha, and the kids. My whole life as I know it, and worst of all, I risk losing you, too. What if something happened to you because instead of focusing on danger, I’m focusing on the perfect swell of your hips and ass? I can’t protect you if I’m perving on you.’
‘So, you didn’t leap off me because you were horrified by my touch?’ He’s so much older. I’m sure he’s had women with much more experience than me. Women who are way more sexually sophisticated than my clumsy hands clawing his shirt off. Dry-humping him like a horny teenager. Shame flushes up my neck and heat colours my cheeks.
Thick neat eyebrows furrow into a frown. He throws his toast onto the plate on the table, shoves back the chair with his powerful thighs and strides towards me.
‘I’m going to say it one more time, Victoria.’ He cups my chin with his fingers, forcing my face upwards to meet his. ‘You are fucking stunning. I want you more than is healthy. But what I want and what I can have are two totally different things. We can’t go there. But for the love of fucking God, don’t think it’s because I don’t want to. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.’
His words are a cool, soothing balm to my battered ego, but they do nothing to soothe the throbbing in my underwear.
Frustrated isn’t the word for it.
‘I don’t need to tell you the feeling is mutual. I’m pretty sure you got that memo while I was dry-humping your leg. Classy, right?’
‘Victoria.’ That one word is weighted with warning.
His hand falls from my face and he takes a step backwards. Clearly, if I want him to crack, I’m going to have to play the long game.
‘I hate this atmosphere between us. This huge wall you insist on driving between us. Your rejection hurts. Can we at least try to be friends?’ I reach out to touch his bicep and the familiar surge of electricity circuits between us, buzzing and vibrating with desire.
‘It’s self-preservation, not rejection.’ He rubs a palm over the stubble dotting his chiselled jawline.
‘It amounts to the same thing.’ I retract my hand.
