“I, uh, can’t,” Isaac began to say as he looked back and forth between me and Jett.
“You can go,” Jett bit out. “I’m not going to off myself in the five minutes you’re gone,” he growled.
“Hey,” I snapped when I saw Isaac visibly shrink back.
Jett’s eyes held mine in what I could only classify as a stand-off as he said, “Don’t worry, Isaac. I’m sure I’m in good hands with the doctor.”
The snide remark had my own hackles rising but I managed to keep my expression neutral. I looked at Isaac. “I really don’t need the ice, Isaac,” I said. I’d figured my words would ease Isaac’s tension, but they didn’t. I realized why when he shot Jett another cautious glance.
“On second thought,” I said as I held my arm protectively against my chest, “I should probably get some ice on it sooner rather than later.”
“Okay, I’ll get you some,” Isaac quickly said. “Are you okay to…” He shifted his eyes toward Jett.
I nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on him,” I answered.
Isaac was practically off and running before I even finished the sentence. Once he’d disappeared up the path, I turned my eyes on Jett. “I see your sunny disposition remains intact.”
"Bite me," Jett responded. I opened my mouth to tell him I was more than willing to do just that when I caught myself. It had been over a week since I'd seen the man, but time had done nothing to minimize the lust I felt around him. Having erotically charged dreams about him night after night wasn't helping the situation either. While I'd enjoyed sex early on with Marcus, things had changed dramatically in the final years of our relationship. When I’d first met Marcus, he’d vowed to treat me so well that he’d ruin me for other men.
He’d certainly done that… the ruining part.
But not in a good way.
I did an admirable job of letting my flirt flag fly, but I always made sure it was all in harmless fun.
Jett seemed to be an exception to that rule. From the moment I'd laid eyes on him, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him and I hadn’t even considered skirting danger by trying to flirt with the man. I'd lost count of how many times I'd jacked off in my shower to thoughts of Jett being buried deep inside of me. Or me in him. The dreams I'd been having had often woken me in the middle of the night with a nearly painful hard-on. I'd spent the past week hoping that whatever I'd been feeling had been over exaggerated, but as my eyes drank in the sight of the gorgeous man, I knew I was in trouble. Despite his angry expression, my body was already trembling with anticipation.
I stepped closer to the fence and gingerly rested my arms on the top rail. My eyes automatically searched out the stitches on Jett's temple. I was pleased to see there was no major swelling or redness indicating infection. "You need to have those taken out," I said as I motioned to the injury.
He didn’t answer me right away but when he did, I wished he hadn’t because I could hear the disdain in his voice.
"What do you suppose a real doctor is going to say when he finds out that a hack vet put them there? How fast do you think you'd lose your license?"
I let out a sigh and shook my head. So much for thinking time would curb his bad attitude. I really did know how to pick them. Marcus had been and still was a control freak from hell and now this guy. Apparently, my libido had a built-in asshole magnet.
"Do whatever you need to do," I murmured before turning away from him. I spied Jerry on the opposite side of the paddock. The zebra was huddled in with the other livestock. The animal was clearly still upset. To Jett I said, "I need to finish examining my patient. Think you can sit there and behave yourself for a few minutes?"
I didn't give Jett time to answer, nor did I look over my shoulder at him. I kept my eyes on Jerry as I made my way across the small paddock. Instead of talking to the nervous animal, I began humming my favorite song. Jerry's ears flipped back and forth curiously as I neared him. I was actually surprised when he stayed where he was once I reached him. I'd fully expected him to take off running and force me to chase him around the enclosure. But with the way his eyes were darting around, I knew he wasn't the sadistic, push-you-in-the-water-trough-when-you-weren’t-looking Jerry that we all loved to hate. He was back to being the abused ex-circus performer who was terrified of loud sounds and heavy hands.