“Did you fall?” I shake my head, but it moves too quickly, and a dizzying rush causes me to sway. Luckily, I’m sitting in the bed. Maybe it’s from the man in front of me and not the blood loss.
“Whoa, take it slow.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. His other hand touches mine.
Unable to resist, I bring my other hand to his face. “You’re so handsome.”
“Thank you, Princess.” We stare at each other in silence longer than is polite, neither of us moving.
Needing to stop blushing like a goofy schoolgirl, I sigh and answer his earlier question, “My stepsister shoved me into the glass.”
His body tenses, and my heart clenches in time with my pussy. Holy hell. I’m a mess: a bloody, horny mess. “Do you want to press charges?” he growls.
“No. I just want to sleep.” And dream about him and a life completely different than the one I have.
He smiles and turns his head, kissing my palm. “Fine, Princess. Rest. I’ll check on you in a little bit.” God, my heart upticks when he calls me that. I’ve never felt the longing the sexy doctor is bringing out of me.
“Fabulous bedside manner,” I moan, sucking my bottom lip under my teeth.
“Only for you, Princess.” He winks and walks away from my bed. Before he leaves the room, he stops, and it looks like he’s adjusting himself. He steals one more glance, and I smile and then lay my head on the pillow, letting my body relax like it should until I’m sleeping.
Chapter 2
Edward
My heart hasn’t been the same since Ella fell into my world. Holding her bleeding form shouldn’t have been romantic, but my heart and soul had different ideas. She’s the one for me.
I was in the middle of pulling a double and due to leave in a couple of hours when she came in. They stitched her up and gave her something for the pain. I came in during a short break to check on her before making my last set of rounds, just in time to see her wake up. Her beautiful honey-colored eyes shone up at me with a softness that melted my frozen soul. In my entire life, I’ve never felt so captivated, intrigued, and horny.
I have to keep her protected, and I will. That stepsister of hers is going to pay for hurting my woman. I almost lost my mind seeing her covered in blood in her “Princess” robe. How perfect.
Leaving the room had been more challenging than I expected, especially knowing that I’m not alone in the attraction. It’s wrong, but I want to take her into my arms again like I did outside the entrance of the ED. I’ve officially lost it.
“Dr. Prince, may I have a word with you?” I meet the stern gaze of the head nurse who I’m sure is going to rip me a new one for going to check on a patient that isn’t one of mine.
“Yes, Nurse Merriweather.” Following her to the nurses’ station with Ella’s chart, I read as much as I can about my future wife.
“Did you learn anything about the young lady?” That’s not the first question I’d thought she’d ask.
“Yes, she claims that she was pushed into the glass.” I’m seething at that knowledge. At first I thought maybe a bathroom accident happened, but now that I know the truth, I’m seeing red. It’s insane how angry I am at some woman who hurt my woman. Ella’s a stranger, but the second I held her in my arms, it changed everything. I want her. No, I need her.
She sighs, shaking her head. “Okay. We’re going to need to call the cops. Was it a boyfriend?”
There better not be a boyfriend coming to tend to her. I hadn’t thought of another man getting in my way. “No. Her stepsister, but she doesn’t want it reported.”
“I know seeing this girl has knocked out your common sense, but I can’t look past the incident. I’ll need to contact them even if she doesn’t press charges.”
“I know, I know.” I cringe thinking about how my princess is going to take the news. She’s going to be pissed at me. Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. Although I want them to pay for putting their hands on her and since I wouldn’t hit a woman, calling the cops is the next best option.
“Those wicked stepsisters.” She rolls her eyes and grabs the phone. She’s right, regardless; this is a violent incident, and we have a duty to report it.
“I’m going to make my rounds and then check on her again,” I tell her, waiting for the scolding to come and she doesn’t disappoint.
She holds her hand over the mouthpiece and then says, “You know you’re not her attending physician.”
“I’m on duty for another two hours. By the time I’m done, I can check on her.”