“There, done,” Aleix said a moment later, withdrawing the needle and capping it. Unwrapping the tourniquet with one hand, he placed it along with the syringe in the bag he’d carried in. “Now, if you don’t mind,” he said with exquisite courtesy. “I’ll take two fluid samples, if you’ll lie down on the edge of the bed. Right here, please.” He patted the bed and smiled. “No need to disrobe.”
As she moved into position, he slipped an elastic cuff supporting a small flexible light around his left wrist and snapped on latex gloves. Then without meeting her gaze, he drew her legs up, placed her feet flat on the bed, and eased her hips forward. “This will feel a little cool.” Having taken a disposable speculum from its sterile packaging, he deftly slid the instrument inside Nicole.
She did more than flinch that time, she gasped.
“I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
“No.”
Alarmed, his gaze flew up.
She grinned. “I’m fine. I just never had a chance to say that before.”
It took a moment to calm his racing heart. Rafe’s instructions had been explicit; don’t upset her. “Be sure to tell me if anything else hurts.”
Ignoring the familiar platitude, she nodded and took a breath.
Forewarned, Aleix proceeded with caution and very gently took the two swabs he needed, placed them in a container, carefully eased the speculum out, pulled off the latex gloves, and held out his hand to help Nicole sit up.
“Thank you very much, Miss—er… Nicole.” Pulling the light from his wrist, he placed it in the bag with the rest of the equipment. “I apologize for any pain or inconvenience.”
“It was relatively painless.” Nicole smiled. “And I expect you’re going to be more inconvenienced. Rafe wants this yesterday doesn’t he?”
The doctor’s lashes drifted downward fractionally. “Rafe’s in a capricious mood. I’m just glad he didn’t neglect this altogether.”
“Oh, he tried. I said no. One of us had to be rational.”
Shaken by her disclosure, Aleix kept his voice steady with effort. “Then please accept my appreciation. I’m afraid Rafe never hears the word no.”
“That’s why we get along,” Nicole said with a grin. “I dislike the word as well.”
A brisk knock suddenly echoed in the room, the door opened, and Rafe walked in and stopped just inside the threshold. “You must be done by now.” He really meant, You are done now.
Nicole grinned. “You have no patience.”
“I don’t. Thank you, Aleix. We’ll hear from you soon?” It was an order and dismissal, no matter the soft diffidence in his voice.
“Yes, of course.” The doctor shut his bag and picked it up. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Parrish.” With a smile for Nicole, he walked toward the door.
Rafe stepped aside, quietly said, “With all due speed, please,” as Aleix moved past him, then shut the door on the doctor, turned, and leaned back against the painted wood. “Count down, baby.” He glanced at his watch, then smiled. “If I start shaking, smack me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” She grinned. “You of all people need a smack down.”
“Ha! Miss Mouthy giving me shit.” He slowly inhaled, then exhaled even more slowly before he spoke. “Seriously though, we’re going to have to find something to do while we’re waiting for Aleix to call. Otherwise I might just say, ‘The hell with it’ and jump you.” He held up his thumb and forefinger, only a sliver of space dividing them. “I’m this fucking close.”
“We could play cards,” she said with a smile.
He gave her a look from under his lashes that signaled his disdain.
“Watch TV?”
“If only I was twelve,” he drawled. “We need people around. I’m undependable right now. Correction, my dick is undependable. Let’s go have supper. Do you mind eating in the kitchen? That’s not really a question. I can’t be alone with you.”
“Got it. Do I have to dress?”
Another of those are-you-kidding looks.
As she jumped off the bed, he took his phone from his pocket like a gunslinger checking his six-gun to see that it was working, slid it back in his pocket, and held out his hand. “I’ll give Aleix an hour. After that, there are no guarantees.”
Coming up to Rafe, Nicole slid her fingers through his, rose on tiptoe, and waited for him to dip his head so she could kiss him. A few moments later, when she dropped back on her heels, they were both breathing hard.
“No more kissing,” he muttered, gently pushing her away and opening the door. He flashed her a hard, heated look. “I mean it. Or we’re going to be defying the odds. And I don’t think you want that.”