The Match

Sloan bends down to whisper into my ear. “I forgot to mention that your dad doesn’t like me. Oops!”

I laugh at his words and almost lean back and into his chest, before realizing I cannot show any form of affection for him in front of our peers. “That’s because you challenge him.” I turn to face him and lower my voice. “You have no idea how much that turned me on. I love that you don’t give a shit what people think about you. It’s sexy.”

“What’s sexy is you in this fucking dress. I can’t wait to take it off you.”

I cover my mouth and laugh, the blush from my cheeks creeping down to my chest. “Now that you mention it, I read in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Dolce has super fancy bathrooms. Wanna go see if they were right?”

He shakes his head, a smile on his lips. “How about I introduce you to some of the men who can help you throughout your career. Then, I’d be more than happy to bend you over the sink and fuck your tight pussy.”

Afraid someone can hear us, I glance over each shoulder, relieved when I find there’s enough distance between the people moving past us throughout the room and us.

I brush my fingers against his, even though I want to give his hand a squeeze. At least for now, just feeling his warmth is enough for me. “Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, Dr. Hart.”

He extends his arm, telling me to go ahead of him. “After you, Dr. Roberts.”

Best. Night. Ever.

Chapter Eighteen

SLOAN

I have no idea what I am doing right now. Ever since I choked that bastard in the on-call room last month, my relationship with Ava has progressed into something more. I have no idea how to classify what we are doing together. This is all new for me. The last time I took a woman on an actual date was back in medical school. Now, I’m sitting in the parking garage with Ava, wondering if this is a good idea. Somehow, I am at ease when Ava is around, a level of comfort I have not felt in years.

I reach across the center console to touch her face and brush a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Ava is so gorgeous and innocent. Too bad I have ruined her, turned her into my little whore. But she’s become so much more to me. The sex is only a perk of our relationship.

She turns to look at me, nervous and biting down on her bottom lip.

I lean in closer and breathe against her lips. “What are you doing to me, woman? I never thought much of relationships until I met you.”

“It’s been close to two months since we met. I never thought you would be anything to me other than a one-night stand. This terrifies me. I thought surgery would, but I was wrong because you scare me to death.”

“You have no reason to be afraid.” I flash a wicked smile, rubbing her chin with my thumb. “I will take care of you.”

She covers my hand with hers and kisses my skin, sending chills down my spine. “I want you, Sloan, but what if we get caught and lose our jobs?”

“You leave the worrying to me, okay?”

She slides her hand onto my thigh and gives it a squeeze. “It’s hard not to worry. I love working at the hospital. We have both busted our asses to get to where we are in our careers. I don’t want to see you lose your job and me get thrown out of the residency program. My dad would kill me. Everything I have worked so hard to achieve would all have been for nothing.”

“We can make this work,” I say to reassure her, even though I am not convinced this won’t end badly for both of us. “I want you in my life as more than just a girl I meet in the on-call room. This is not just about sex for me. Not anymore. It hasn’t been for a while now.”

“Me either,” she whispers against my hand. “I really like you, Sloan. Hell, I more than like you. This was supposed to be a one-night stand, but our relationship has become so much more to me. I don’t want to lose you over something as stupid as hospital rules.”

“And you won’t,” I say against her lips.

She shudders from my breath and leans in

to give me a quick kiss. “I am starting to care about you, Sloan. You’re more than just my boss and my lover.”

“I only have one more month as the residency director and your teacher. It will all work itself out. Give it time. No one knows about us but Dr. Carlyle, right?”

She nods. “Just Stacey. She would never tell anyone.” Ava sinks into the leather and bites her cheek. “What if this doesn’t work out between us? Aren’t you afraid of what will happen?”

“I have no idea what will happen next week, let alone a month from now. Let’s take this one day at a time. I’d like to start with dinners, maybe a movie, if you want.”

She takes my hand in hers and squeezes. “I’ve seen doctors and nurses lose their jobs over what we are doing. The on-call room is supposed to be for breaks and sleeping—not for sex.”

“We’ll have to stop having sex at the hospital and save it for when we’re at my place.”