His hands stilled as he hovered over my body, face to face. “You’re so fucking beautiful when you have a smile on your face.” His eyes roamed my face as his erection pushed against my leg.

He was hard as a rock.

“Is it me or did the fight that turn you on?” I asked.

I would never admit it, but my body ached for him. God, I was such a hypocrite.

“Your laughter did this to me, not the fight.”

“I highly...”He covered my mouth with his hand, stopping me from finishing.

He placed a kiss on my neck. “No more talking for you.”

Giggling behind his hand, my tongue darted out to taste him. “I thought you loved my voice,” I mumbled behind his fingers.

“Shh,” he whispered, running his nose down my cheek before he licked a path down my neck. The warmth of his tongue sent tiny sparks straight to my core.

My fingers dug into his back as I held him to me, enjoying the feel of his tongue. I wanted more. I craved him.

When his lips met my collarbone, my body flinched as my sex convulsed. I could feel the wetness between my legs. My body was a traitor, but at this point, relieving the throb was all that mattered.

My head fell to the side and I opened my eyes. The clock read six – I would be late to work. I pushed Michael off in a panic.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, frowning.

“I’m going to be late to work. You have to go and I have to get ready.” I jumped from the couch, pulling down my shirt.

“You’re fucking job is getting in the way,” he said, sitting up.

I hushed him with my finger. “We both have a lot of shit to do. I’ll be off tomorrow if you can find the time to squeeze me into your busy schedule.”

He smiled behind my finger. “I’ll make the time. I’ll do everything early so I can spend time with you.”

“Michael, I’d say you’re smitten if I didn’t know you any better. Are you always this easy?”

“Smitten doesn’t even begin to explain what I am at the moment, Doc.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on his cock. “Rock hard is more like it. You’re always leaving me fucking hanging.”

I chuckled as I stared into his eyes.

The man probably never had to wait for sex. Woman probably hung on him and begged for it.

“If you can’t get it to subside, you know where to find me and my needle, handsome.” I kissed his lips before moving out of reach, trying to avoid being pulled down on top of him.

“I’ve always had a fantasy of doing it in a storage closet where we could get caught.” He smiled as he adjusted himself in his pants before standing.

Crossing my arms, I stared at him and shook my head. “I could be fired for that, Michael.”

“Not if we’re quick and quiet. It’s the thrill of getting caught that makes it so fucking great.” He winked as he looked down at me.

I swallowed hard, my mouth feeling dry suddenly. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“You’ll see,” he said, as he brushed his finger across my lip.

I sighed. The man liked to live life on the edge and so did I. I fully expected a visit to the hospital in the coming days.

“Okay. Now scoot. I have to get ready. People’s lives depend on me.” I pushed him toward the door.

He pouted and grabbed his chest, pretending to be wounded. “I’ll show myself out.”

He pulled me into a kiss. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as he held my head in his hand. The velvety texture of his tongue and the hint of mint left me wanting more.

I moaned, my lips following his mouth as he pulled away.

“A little something to remember me.” He released me and made his way to the door.

“Hey, what’s your MMA nickname?” I called out to him.

“Why ya ask?” he asked with one hand on the doorknob.

“Curiosity.”

“Michael ‘The Iceman’ Gallo.” He smiled and left.

I stood there and tried to think of him as ‘The Iceman,’ but he should be called the ‘The Raging Inferno’.

Chapter 18

MICHAEL

Walking through the hospital, I looked over my shoulder paranoid that I’d run into Tammy. I still hadn’t done a damn thing to deal with her the last week. I’d been too fucking busy with the shop, family shit, and Mia.

I pushed open the door to Joe’s room with a smile and found it empty. The bed was neatly made and everything was back in its rightful place, but no Joe. My smile evaporated.

“Can I help you?” a nurse asked behind me.

Walking out of the room, I approached her. “That’s my brother’s room. I was coming to visit.”

“Ah, they released him a couple hours ago. He went home, darlin’.” She smiled.

“Thanks, ma’am,” I said before walking away.

Pulling out my phone to text my ma, I headed to the elevators.

Me: Mom, why didn’t anyone bother to tell me they released Joe?

I loved that my ma finally decided to join this century and learned how to text. It was easier to keep the conversations shorter because she always found something else to say when we actually spoke. If I ignored her texts she’d call anyway, but for the most part it was the best way to communicate with her – at least for me.

Mom: We weren’t there when it happened. We’re not going to see him until tomorrow. Let him rest and enjoy your night.

My night would be spent without Mia. I had plenty to do. The shop needed organized and cleaned and I could use an extra workout. The match would be here before I knew it.

The elevator arrived and I pushed the button for the first floor. I leaned against the wall and thought about what to do first. When the doors opened I saw a sign for the Emergency Room and the decision was made for me.

I sweet-talked the receptionist. I explained that I was Mia’s boyfriend and I was here to see her, but only if she wasn’t busy.

“Let me go see if she is. Take a seat and I’ll be right back.” She smiled as she stood from her desk, smoothing her skirt with her palms. She swiped her badge and disappeared behind the door.

I cracked my neck, rolling it on my shoulders, as I sat in the chair and stared at the door. The people sitting in the chairs around me looked miserable. They were coughing, moaning and grimacing. I knew the people beyond the doors were worse than those sitting here.

The door opened, the receptionist stuck her head out, and motioned for me to come.

“She’s in between patients right now. Come on.” She opened the door and I stepped into the noisy corridor. “She’s grabbing a cup of coffee down the hall on the right, last door.” She pointed, smiled.

I nodded and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Mm hmm,” she said eyeing me up and down, before leaving me to find Mia.

I debated if I should walk in and surprise her or wait in the hallway. I didn’t want to scare the shit out of her. The hall was empty as I approached the door marked ‘Staff Only’.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as I waited patiently for her.

A few people gave me dirty looks as they walked by at the other end of the hall and I smiled and waved. Fuck them. I couldn’t wait any longer. I knocked on the door to get her attention. “Mia, are you in there?”

The door cracked open and she smiled at me. “Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked, stepping out into the hall.

“I’ve come to live out my fantasy.” I smirked, resting my shoulder against the doorframe.

Her hazel eyes grew wide as a smile spread across her face. “Why are you really here?” She crossed her arm and laughed.

“Came to see my brother, but my family forgot to mention that he was released.”

“Good for him.”

“Now I’m the only one in need of attention.” I stepped closer to her. “Can you spare a moment to take a look?” I looked down and back at her.

“Is stamina your problem?” Her eyes twinkled.

She’s a total fucking ball buster.

“Why don’t you tell me, Doc?” I whispered against her lips. Her hair was perfectly slicked back into a tight bun with her lab coat over her scrubs. The scrubs I could’ve done without – not sexy at all.