Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

She shrugged. “It’s true, isn’t it? Shouldn’t matter as long as I like it too, right?”

The girl had a point. I thought I was too exhausted and maybe a little too satisfied, but she had my dick hard again, and I wasn’t going to be able to sleep like that.

“Get on the bed,” I ordered, pulling my T-shirt over my head.

She started to unbutton her costume again. “No, leave it on.” I looked at the lacy garters running from her ass down her thighs. “I’ve never fucked a nurse.” I bit on my lip.

She climbed toward me.

“I want you on all fours.”

She did as I asked. I ran my hand over her bottom, shoving the edge of the uniform out of the way. I snapped the garter, making it pop against her ass.

“Ow,” she moaned, but she stayed in position.

“You sure?” I asked again.

She nodded. “Oh yeah, I said I like dirty.”

I grinned, knowing this little nurse had no idea what she was in for.

2

Lennon

I looked up at the glass building. Ten floors of sickness, life, death, research, and wellness loomed in front of me. I had only been in San Antonio a month, but this wasn’t the first time I questioned why I had moved here.

The hospital had everything I said I wanted in a program. I could practice medicine, I could oversee long-term patient care, and I could be involved in the research that had always been my passion. But every time I walked through those doors, I felt lonely.

I was the new kid. The rookie doctor who finally had the training wheels off. The one who didn’t know her way around San Antonio, and still didn’t know if she was ready to move out of temporary housing into a permanent apartment.

I liked the city, but it wasn’t home yet. I still felt like a tourist who marveled at the Alamo, or thought about going to Sea World on a free day off. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that my life was here now, not D.C.

When I moved, I wanted to leave behind my failed relationship and all the memories that came with it. But the harder I tried to forget Ben, the more he was a part of what I was doing here. I questioned everything, and that simply wasn’t me.

There was more uncertainty in my life now than there had ever been.

I entered through the sliding doors, carrying my thermos, and nodded at the security officers as if they knew me and I knew them. I couldn’t have told you a single name in this place, other than the doctors who worked on my floor.

I took the elevator to the fourth floor and headed to the doctor’s lounge where I could change for the day. I had a twelve-hour shift ahead of me.

“Good morning, Dr. Ashworth.”

“Good morning, Dr…” I could never remember her name. I tried to play the game in my head where I made something about her physical features trigger an association. Oh yeah, she had pointy elf ears. “Peers.” I smiled, glad I had only mildly stumbled.

“Are you headed home?” I asked

She slammed her locker. “Yes, just ended my twelve, really it was thirteen. But who’s counting?”

“Right.” I laughed. “Have a good day.” I knew she was going home to sleep off what was a long night.

I was glad this week I was on days. Night shifts were always the hardest to bounce back from.

I grabbed my stethoscope from my locker and looped it around my neck. I clipped my hospital ID badge to my pocket. It wasn’t my best picture. I had pulled my blond hair back in a ponytail that day, and my eyes looked glazed over from lack of sleep.

I locked my small cabinet to see my first patient of the day. I liked to check in with my existing patients before taking on anyone new. Arriving as early as I did, I had plenty of time to peek in on everyone and say hello.

The nurses were swapping muffins and bagels as I walked past the station. One of the pharmacy reps had dropped off breakfast this morning.