She stood there, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at me and then at him.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bogart," I said to put a period to her suspicions.
She nodded.
"I'll be nearby if you need me," she said and left.
Moments later. Austin stepped out of the bathroom. We just stared at each other.
"Tired?" he finally asked.
"More like numb."
He smiled.
"Would you like me to help you into bed?"
"Yes," I said even though both of us knew I could do it without him.
He took my hand and guided me up, holding me at the waist. His face was close to mine, his lips practically touching my cheek. His breath felt so warm and sweet, As I moved onto the bed, his hands traveled down my thighs and helped raise my legs. I lay there, looking up at him.
"You're beautiful, Rain," he said. "Even when I'm working with you. I don't think of you as handicapped or injured. That's never happened to me before with a patient. Don't ever, ever again think you're not worth the effort."
He leaned over and kissed me softly, holding my hand as he did so.
He straightened up and backed away, but I held onto him. "Don't leave." I whispered.
His eyes widened and he gazed at the doorway.
"What about Mrs. Bogart?" he asked.
"She'll go to bed soon." I said.
"Yeah, but not until she sees me leave."
"She's not my boss. I'm her boss."
"That's not what I'm afraid of. See you later." he said.
He confused me because he didn't say good night. I heard him go down the hall, say good night to Mrs. Bogart and leave. She came by to check on me and I asked her to put out the light and close the door. She did so and I lay there, confused by my mixed emotions. I was disappointed, yet excited, afraid, yet full of longing.
A few minutes later. I heard a noise at my window. I turned and watched it go up.
Seconds later. Austin was back in my room.
And only moments after that, he was beside me in my bed.
11
Can I Be a Woman?
.
"Don't worry," he whispered after he put his
arm around me. "All I came back to do was hold you until you fall asleep." "That's exactly what worries me." I said and he smiled. In the warm glow of the moonlight that spilled through my open curtains, his face was radiant, his eyes capturing the glitter like two small precious stones.
I nestled my head against his shoulder and chest and he kissed my forehead and stoked my hair.