As he stood up, he had to resist the urge to kiss her, and he hurried out to make sure he didn’t. It took no time at all to find the Dell in question and get signed in with the help of a rather attractive blond nurse who introduced herself as Elena. Ten minutes later, he came back to Payne’s room and paused in the doorway.
She was fixing her hair, her hands trembling as she smoothed the crown of her head and felt down the length of her braid as if searching for defects.
“You don’t have to do that,” he murmured. “You look perfect to me.”
Instead of replying, she blushed and grew flustered—which was just about the best thing she couldn’t say. “Verily, you tie my tongue.”
Well, now, didn’t that take his mind into places it shouldn’t be going.
Staring across at her, he forced his head to change gears. “Payne, I’m your doctor, right?”
“Yes, healer.”
“And that means that I’m going to tell you the truth. No sandbagging, no hiding anything. I’m going to tell you exactly what I think and I’ll let you make up your own mind—and I need you to hear me on that, okay? The truth is all I’ve got, nothing more, nothing less.”
“Then you need not utter a thing, for I know too well where I sit.”
He glanced around the room. “Have you been out of here since you came back from the operation.”
“No.”
“So you’ve been staring at these four empty walls for a week, trapped on a bed, having other people feed you, bathe you, and deal with your bodily functions.”
“I do not need the reminder,” she said drily. “Thank you kindly—”
“How do you know where you’re at, then.”
Her fro
wn was deep and dark . . . and sexy as hell. “That’s ridiculous. I am here.” She pointed to the mattress under her. “I have been here.”
“Exactly.” As she glared up at him, he closed the distance between them. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you, if you don’t mind?”
Now her brows popped. “Wherever to?”
“Out of this godforsaken cage.”
“But . . . I can’t. I have a—”
“I know.” Of course she would be worried about her catheter, and to save any embarrassment, he snagged a clean white towel off the bedside table. “I’ll be careful with it and you.”
After he made sure her equipment was secure, he untucked the top sheet that covered her and scooped her up. Her weight was solid against his upper body, and he took a moment just to hold her, her head on his shoulder, her long, long legs draped over his arm. Her perfume or soap or whatever it was reminded him of sandalwood and something else.
Oh, right . . . orgasms.
The ones he’d had when he’d dreamed about her.
Great, now he was pulling the blush-and-flush.
Payne cleared her throat. “Do I weigh too much? I am large for a female.”
“You are perfect for a female.”
“Not where I come from,” she muttered.
“Then they’re using the wrong standard.”
Manny carried his precious load through the door into the exam room. The place was empty, at his request—he’d asked the nurse—Elina? Elaina?—to give them some privacy.