The Surgeon's Cinderella

She looked at the rug beneath their feet. “Truthfully, not much.”

Her few times had been short and sweet. Steve had left her bed saying, “There’s not enough room here for me to sleep well.”

“May I show you how much I want you?” Tanner nibbled at her neck.

She turned, giving in to the divine pleasure. The mere idea of Tanner wanting her pushed every thought of self-preservation out of her mind. Just being desired by him was more than she’d ever dreamed of. “I guess so.”

“‘I guess so’?” he mumbled against her skin as he continued to leave little kisses across it. “I’ve had more encouraging invites.”

“Then you might want to go and find them.” She made an effort to leave his hold but he held her in place. “Or Charlotte.”

He pulled back. There was a look of disbelief on his face. “I don’t want them or Charlotte. I want you.”

Tanner’s gave her a gentle and chaste kiss on the lips. Then another. Another. He was testing and teaching at the same time. His lips brushed across hers until she couldn’t help but rise on her toes, asking for more. When his mouth left hers she whimpered in disappointment. Eyes as dark as coffee studied her. There was a flare of light in them before both his arms circled her waist and jerked her against him. Tanner’s mouth crushed hers.

Whitney’s hands found a life of their own and pushed up his arms to circle his neck.

He didn’t ask for entrance, his tongue took it. At first he teased until she joined him in the excitement of tasting, tempting and tantalizing. Whitney’s heart thumped as her blood rushed to become a throbbing between her legs. She squirmed against him, unable to get close enough. Her fingers weaved through his silky hair, wanting to feel all of him. This was what she’d been wanting for days.

She had become someone she didn’t recognize. Tanner made her feel special. Sensual. Confident. Wild.

Tanner’s lips left hers and moved to the pulse point beneath her ear. His tongue flicked across it. She shuddered. He was jumbling her thoughts. They centered only on him. He held her mind and body in his control.

His hands moved up her sides to cup her breasts, gently fondling them. His fingers found a button of her shirt and opened it. He kissed the curve of a breast. She clung to his shoulders as her legs almost failed to hold her.

Tanner released another button, pushing her top away so that most of her bra was revealed. Fear drummed in her chest. She couldn’t let him see more. Know. Her hands stopped his when they moved to the next button. “Close the curtains.”

His head jerked up. “Why?”

“Tanner, I’m sorry. I don’t think this is going to work.” She didn’t miss the flash of anger that entered his eyes before concern covered it.

He backed away and, taking her hand, he led her to the edge of the bed. Sitting, he pulled her down beside him. “Tell me.”

Whitney looked down at his large feet and her smaller ones beside them. They were so different. She the blend-into-the-crowd person, and he the shining star. How could he comprehend the pain she’d known? “You wouldn’t understand.”

His thumb rubbed the back of her hand. “Try me.”

She’d seen him with Mr. Wilcox. His compassion, empathy. Could he?

“Please tell me. I know you like me as much as I like you. We’re friends, right?”

He was right. They had at least become that. “I was heavy. Fat.”

Tanner waited, as if there was more.

“That’s part of the reason you didn’t see me when we were in college. I wasn’t one of those thin pretty girls you hung out with. You might not be interested in me now if I hadn’t lost weight.”

He shifted away. “You really don’t have a very high opinion of me or yourself, do you? Has it occurred to you that I might have grown up? Can see beyond a woman’s looks? Appreciate her intelligence? And you, can’t you see what you have accomplished, not only in losing weight but starting your own business? You have a heart for people. Mr. Wilcox saw that. Marie as well. Is there some reason you think me incapable of doing so too?”

Whitney’s heart swelled. She couldn’t believe it. Tanner sounded hurt. “I didn’t mean—”

“If I wanted anyone in my bed I could have Charlotte. You’re my choice.”

“You have no idea what it means to me to have you say that. But, you know, I have stretch marks. I still sag in places.”

He gave her an incredulous look. Taking both her hands in his, he leaned toward her. “I don’t care about that stuff. I want you. Just the way you are. I’m not going to close the curtains. I’m not going to let you do it either. You trust me or you don’t.”

“I don’t know...”

He brushed her hair back from her face and cupped a cheek. His gaze never left her face. “Honey, I don’t care about who you were. All I care about is the desirable woman you are right now. You’re not running me off. I’m staying right here.” He stood and kicked off his shoes. Pulling his shirt over his head, he let it drop to the floor. On the bed again he lay back on the pillows and crossed his feet. He patted the space beside him. “When you decide you want me, I have a spot for you. I’d be glad to share my nap with you anytime you’re ready.”

Could she trust him? Expose her vulnerability? What would she miss if she didn’t? Minutes later Whitney watched as the dark fans of his eyelashes rested against his cheeks. She was tired too. They’d had an early morning. Maybe if she just lay down for a minute next to him she could accept what he offered.

If she did trust Tanner, act on her need, would she regret it?

* * *

Tanner woke to a warm body curled against him. Whitney lay spooned along him. At least that was a step forward. Except for the time she’d remarked about his facial hair and the moment in the balloon, had she shown him any real attention? Her kisses told him otherwise but she fenced him off when she wasn’t in his arms.

It had been her choice to lie next to him. Progress. Good progress.

He brought his free arm over her waist and shifted toward her. Even now his libido was stirring, just being this close to her.

Whitney let out a small sigh as she wiggled her behind. He was in real trouble now. With a resolve he hadn’t known he had, Tanner closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

The movement of the bed brought him awake again. Whitney had rolled to face him. She slowly opened her eyes.

His gaze met her green, unsure one and saw the second she registered where she was. “Whitney, if you don’t want me to take you here and now in broad daylight, I w

ould get off this bed,” he said in a soft but firm voice.

She blinked then her look returned to his clear and confident. Her hand came up to rest on his chest. “What if I do?”

Her touch almost scorched his skin. “I want to see all of you. Appreciate everything about you.” She waited so long to respond he was afraid all his desires would be dashed.

“Okay,” she said softly.

Tanner reached to undo the button he’d undone earlier. His fingers moved to the next one then the next until he could push the shirt away from her shoulders. Sitting up, she let him remove it. He held her gaze as he reached around her and flipped the hook to her no-frills bra open.

She slowly let the bra drop to the floor.

“Now lie back so I can take in your beauty.”

Tanner held her uncertain look as Whitney slowly lowered her head to the pillow. His gaze left hers to take in the view of her plump and perfect breasts. He touched the tip of one and heard the intake of her breath. His eyes lifted to her face. With her mouth forming an O and her eyes wide in wonder, he was sure Whitney was the most astonishing creature he’d ever known. “I don’t know what you were worried about. You’re beautiful.”

“Don’t look too close.”

“Aw, honey, too late for that.” His hand cupped a globe and lifted it so that he could take the nipple into his mouth. As he sucked and swirled his tongue, hissing sounds came from Whitney.

He raised his head. Her eyes were closed and she bit part of her bottom lip.

“Whitney.”

Her eyes gradually opened. “Yes?”

“Please don’t abuse that beautiful lip of yours. I wish to kiss it.” He claimed her mouth as he continued enjoying the feel of her breast. She returned his kisses. Her hands traveled over his back and shoulders as if she were hungry for him. He sure hoped so because he was starting to hurt for her. “I need to see all of you.”

The worried look returned to her eyes and she started to turn away from him. Tanner kissed her, stopping the move.

“You must think I’m some prima donna who is so uptight she can’t let go enough to let a man see her.”