My heart raced as he slid his arms around me, meeting at the small of my back as he pressed me toward him. Our bodies went right for the familiar. This was exactly how he liked to hold me best. His lips were warm as he feathered them against mine. He hesitated, waiting for me to be bold. I was. I couldn't help it. God help me for being weak. But when Cal said someone had been stabbed outside club property, and in that split second when I saw Dex covered in blood, I thought I might have lost him again.
So this was wrong. This wasn't rational. This was bad for me. But for now, I just didn't give a damn. Dex was solid, strong and he felt so good. His lips were soft and wet; I could taste the hint of beer and drank in the scent of him. The feel of his well-muscled chest underneath the soft leather of his cut. I'd missed this so much. My body cried out for his so badly it scared me. It was like I forgot the last thirteen years. Forgot where I was and everything that had happened. I only wanted to keep on feeling Dex as he kissed me and held me close. When he groaned a little, it nearly undid me. Somehow, I managed to get a hold of myself again and he set me down. I took a step back.
I was breathless. Dizzy.
Then Sly stood at Dex's shoulder. His face was grim but his eyes were kind. He more than anyone knew how hard this was for me.
"What about the kid?" Sly said. My eyes flicked to Dex's. He looked about how I felt. His lips were swollen from kissing me, his chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath. But I had to remember myself. Remember where I was. I had a job to do.
I nodded and tucked a hair behind my ear. I did the best I could to collect myself and get my heart to start beating inside my chest again.
"He's got a chance," I said. "They're taking him up for emergency surgery. We've got him stabilized as best we can. His heart's strong. They stabbed him in the spleen, that's why there was so much blood loss. And that's the most serious thing that's going on with him right now. He's lost more than half of his blood volume."
"He'll make it," Dex said. "He's stubborn."
I nodded. "It seems so. Do you know what the hell happened?" The minute I asked the question I regretted it. They'd never tell me anyway and it was better I didn't know. This was another thing that scared me. How easily I could fall back into the rules of club life.
"Well, anyway," I said before either of them could answer, "I need to get back to work. Does the kid have any family you can call?"
Sly nodded. "He's got a sister in Philly. I'll have Tiny take care of notifying her."
"Great. In the meantime, if you're going to wait for him, head up to the second floor surgical waiting room. The receptionist right off the elevators can show you."
I turned to go. I thought maybe I could pretend I hadn't just jumped Dex. I hoped they were both too concerned about the kid to stop me.
I was wrong. Sly stepped around me, shooting a look to Tiny and Billy and they headed toward the elevators. I turned to go and Dex grabbed my elbow, spinning me back toward him. My heart started racing all over again and heat shot through my core.
"Ava." His voice was smooth as silk, with that husky quality that made gooseflesh rise up my spine. "We're not done."
Letting out a shaky breath I looked up at him. "I know. But I really do have to get back to work."
"When do you get off?"
I looked at the clock. It was midnight and my shift wasn't even half over. Plenty of time for me to collect myself and come to my senses. The narrowing of Dex's eyes told me he was thinking the same thing and didn't like it one bit. It was no good. I could pretend all I wanted that the last five minutes hadn't happened. But there needed to be a reckoning between me and Declan McLain sooner or later.
"Seven," I answered. "I'm done at seven."
Dex gave me a terse nod. "I'm going to go upstairs to be with the guys. I don't know if we're going to wait here all night or what. But either way I'm coming back for you."
His commanding tone when he said those last five words sent a shudder through me, reminding me of what he used to do to me and how my body responded. I ached for that again. So much so that I felt myself grow wet just from the sound of his voice.
Damn my soul, but I nodded. He leaned in and kissed my forehead. Every nerve ending in my body seemed tuned to him, just like it used to be all those years ago.
"You're incredible," he said. He brought his hand up and smoothed his thumb over my brow. His eyes shone and he smiled. "You saved that kid's life, didn't you?"
I tilted my head back to look at him. With his thick silvery-black stubble framing his face, he looked positively wolfish. "It's my job, Dex. And I'm guessing you had more than a little to do with it. If you hadn't put pressure on that wound before the ambulance got there, he'd be dead already. Cal said you kept him talking, kept him with you on the way over too. That's important. He was scared out of his mind. Who wouldn't be?"
Dex gave me a quick nod.
"Ava?" Misty yelled to me from the nurse's station. "We've got an MVA en route."
I pulled away from Dex and this time he let me. "You'd better get up there to be with the guys," I said. "And I need to get my head back in the game here."
"I'll be back for you when your shift ends."
"Okay." Dex stepped back, turned on his heel and headed for the elevators. I stood frozen for a second as I watched him go. Then I looked back toward Misty. She held the phone to her ear but her eyes were on Dex and me. As soon as he was clear of her, she dropped her mouth open and started fanning herself.
I couldn't help but smile and laugh. Better I did that now. I knew once my shift ended and Dex made good on his promise, I'd be in serious trouble.
Chapter Ten
The one mercy I had that night was a busy shift. It was the weekend and my E.R. was slammed. After the Great Wolves followed their boy up to surgery, we had two more motor vehicle accidents, a run on intoxicated vagrants, and a family of four convinced they'd contracted Ebola. I got puked on twice, spit on once, and called a string of vile names before I was done. But all of it kept my mind occupied as the hours ticked by.
I called up to surgical reception once to check on the Franco kid. He'd made it through surgery. He would live, thank God. Ortho had been called in for his mangled right hand. They could work miracles but I wouldn't be surprised if his fighting days were over. But he would live to figure something else out for himself and that was all that mattered.
I peeled off my scrubs in the nurses' locker room. Joleen came to join me. She'd missed the excitement since she'd rotated up to pediatrics for the week. But I knew gossip traveled fast in this place and she'd already been well informed about what happened with Dex.
"Are you coming home tonight?" She sang it against my ear as I pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I still smelled like blood and a few other vile things. I needed a shower and badly.
"Dex is picking me up," I said. "I honestly don't know what's going to happen after that. But we owe each other a conversation so let's leave it at that."
Joleen put her arm around me and wrinkled her nose. "Eau de E.R," she said. "That'll turn him on. Go take a shower." She tossed her backpack at me. You can borrow my spare clothes. I'm not letting you out of this place smelling like that."
I smiled and did as I was told. I took a quick shower in the nurses' locker room and changed into Jo's clean set of jeans and t-shirt.
"I love ya, Ava," Joleen said when I emerged. She gave my shoulders a squeeze before letting me go. "Just be careful. Whatever you do, I've got your back, okay? I just don't want to see you get hurt again."
I nodded. "I don't want to see me get hurt again either. Thanks."
Then Misty poked her head through a crack in the door and wagged her eyebrows at me. "Mr. Tall, Dark and Dangerous is waiting right outside in the ambulance bay. He's gonna scare the patients."
I took a steeling breath, grabbed my purse and headed out to meet him.
Dex cleaned up delicious. He waited for me, leaning against his Harley, looking just as dangerous as the first time I laid eyes on him. He wore his cut, a white t-shirt, faded jeans and motorcycle boots. He held a helmet against his hip and when I got a little closer, he tossed it to me. I caught it two-handed and smiled. My pulse raced.
"He came out of surgery like a champ," Dex said. I knew it already but was happy for the look of relief that settled into Dex's eyes.
"I had high hopes," I said, standing in front of him. I held the helmet up, ready to toss it back to him. "I've got my car."
Dex shook his head. "You've been on your feet for twelve hours. And I don't want to give you the chance to change your mind and give me the slip. Get on."
Again, the command in his voice thrilled me to my core. He was going to lead me into trouble. The rational part of my brain knew it, my body screamed out not to care. This was Dex. This was me and Dex. I'd known from the minute he walked back into the Wolf Den this couldn't end any other way no matter how much I tried to talk myself out of it.
He turned and got on his bike, pulling another helmet off his handlebars. I climbed on behind him. I had to practically swallow my heartbeat. So many times I'd dreamt of what it felt like to ride with him. He kick started the bike and the engine roared to life between my legs. I hesitated for just a moment, then I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. The smell of his leather jacket brought back a flood of memories, bringing me both comfort and pain. As he pulled out, I tightened my grip and rested my head between his shoulder blades where it had always fit so well. Whatever else happened tonight, it was too late for me to turn back.