“Well.” Vanessa sat in the chair in front of the desk. “You see, doctor, I’ve been feeling kind of light-headed. And absentminded. I forget what I’m doing in the middle of doing it and catch myself staring off into space.”
“Hmmm.”
“Then there have been these aches. Here,” she said, and put a hand on her heart.
“Ah.”
“Like palpitations. And at night…” She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I’ve had these dreams.”
“Really?” He came around to sit on the corner of the desk. There was her scent, whispery light, to flirt with him. “What kind of dreams?”
“They’re personal,” she said primly.
“I’m a doctor.”
“So you say.” She grinned at him. “You haven’t even asked me to take off my clothes.”
“Good point.” Rising, he took her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Your case warrants a full examination.”
“Brady—”
“That’s Dr. Brady to you.” He hit the lights in examining room 1. “Now about that ache.”
She gave him a slow, measured look. “Obviously you’ve been dipping into the rubbing alcohol.”
He merely took her by the hips and boosted her onto the examining table. “Relax, sweetie. They don’t call me Dr. Feelgood for nothing.” He took out his ophthalmoscope and directed the light into her eyes. “Yes, they’re definitely green.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“You’re telling me.” He set the instrument aside. “Okay, lose the blouse and I’ll test your reflexes.”
“Well…” She ran her tongue over her teeth. “As long as I’m here.” She let her fingers wander down the buttons, unfastening slowly. Under it she wore sheer blue silk. “I’m not going to have to wear one of those paper things, am I?”
He had to catch his breath as she peeled off the blouse. “I think we can dispense with that. You look to be in excellent health. In fact, I can say without reservation that you look absolutely perfect.”
“But I have this ache.” She took his hand and pressed it to her breast. “Right now my heart’s racing. Feel it?”
“Yeah.” Gently he absorbed the feeling of silk and flesh. Her flesh. “I think it’s catching.”
“My skin’s hot,” she murmured. “And my legs are weak.”
“Definitely catching.” With a fingertip he slid a thin silk strap from her shoulder. “You may just have to be quarantined.”
“With you, I hope.”
He unhooked her slacks. “That’s the idea.”
When she toed off her sandals, the other strap slithered down her shoulders. Her voice was husky now, and growing breathless. “Do you have a diagnosis?”
He eased the slacks down her hips. “Sounds like the rocking pneumonia and the boogie-woogie flu.”
She’d arched up to help him remove her slacks, and now she just stared. “What?”
“Too much Mozart.”
“Oh.” She twined her arms around his shoulders. It seemed like years since she’d been able to hold him against her. When his lips found the little hollow near her collarbone, she smiled. “Can you help me, Doctor?”
“I’m about to do my damnedest.”
His mouth slid over hers. It was like coming home. Her little sigh merged with his as she leaned into him. Dreamily she changed the angle of the kiss and let his taste pour into her. Whatever illness she had, he was exactly the right medicine.
“I feel better already.” She nibbled on his lip. “More.”
“Van?”
Her heavy eyes opened. While her fingers combed through his hair, she smiled. The light glowed in her eyes. Again he could see himself there, trapped in the misty green. Not lost this time. Found.
Everything he’d ever wanted, ever needed, ever dreamed of, was right here. He felt the teasing pleasure turn to grinding ache in the flash of an instant. With an oath, he dragged her mouth back to his and feasted.
No patience this time. Though the change surprised her, it didn’t frighten her. He was her friend, her lover. Her only. There was a desperation and a fervency that thrilled, that demanded, that possessed. As the twin of his emotions rose in her, she pulled him closer.
More, she thought again, but frantically now. She could never get enough of being wanted this wildly. She dragged at his lab coat, even as her teeth scraped over his lip. Desire pumped through her like a drug and had her yanking at his T-shirt before the coat hit the floor. She wanted the feel of his flesh, the heat of it, under her hands. She wanted the taste of that flesh, the succulence of it, under her lips.