“You’re fucking with me.” Her dark eyebrow hikes up her face. Eyebrows aren’t supposed to be lovely, but I do admit hers are quite eye-catching.
“Perhaps.” I smile at her with my friendliest one I give my patients.
This seems to infuriate her more.
“Oh, fuck no. You can’t act all agreeable but have that evil gleam in your eyes. I see you, Doc. You’re a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, aren’t you? I bet you’re a sadist who secretly loves seeing his patients in pain.”
I stalk over to her, gripping her delicate jaw with my gloved hand. Gently, I squeeze her flesh and tilt her nog up. Her breath hitches and her nostrils flare.
“I only want my patients healed and healthy. Don’t ever presume you know how I feel, stormy one.”
She glowers at me, trying to push me away to no avail. I’m stronger than her. I’m in charge now. She’ll soon learn.
“However,” I say lowly so the patient on the bed doesn’t overhear. “I won’t think twice about dealing with your unruliness like my father once did me.”
Her gray eyes burn with intensity. She tries to growl out some words, but my grip tightens, effectively shushing her.
“I’m not sure how things were done on your wretched Earth II, but here, we pull the naughty one over our knee and take a firm hand to their rump.” I flash her my polite, doctor smile. “I won’t think twice about doing the same for you.”
I release her and start backing away.
“You motherfucker,” she hisses. “You ever touch me again and I’ll cut your balls off!”
“Put it on the list,” I tell her in a bored tone. “We have more pressing issues.”
“Everything okay in here?” Hadrian asks from behind me.
“No!” Zoe snaps as I say, “Perfectly fine.”
Hadrian’s retreating footsteps can be heard as he leaves me to face off with the woman with electric fire in her eyes.
“Where were we?” I ask. “Oh, that’s right. You were to get a tablet and start taking notes, female. Time is of the essence.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
I drag my gaze over her tiny form. Nice, bouncy breasts. Slightly flared hips. Slender legs. Everything about her is so lovely. Besides her vicious tongue, she’s seemingly harmless.
“Hmm,” I say, not convinced. “I’d rather you not. I have work to do. Work I’ll need your assistance with.”
She marches up to me and pokes me right in the gut. “We’re co-workers. I’m not your nurse or your assistant or your fucking pee-on. Your equal and you’re lucky I’m giving you that. You want things done then you can run it through me first. I’ll be damned if you come in here and take over like the arrogant douchebag you are!” She pokes me again. “And you will never spank me. Got it, Doc? Never.”
“Hmm.” I walk past her and start rifling through a drawer to see what sort of supplies are in this room.
“Hmm? Is that what you say when you’re done talking?” She huffs. “I’m not done, asshole.”
“I don’t have time to argue with you, woman. I need a workspace. I need supplies. I need a system. I need rekking lists.”
The patient on the table starts coughing. I watch Zoe transform from violent storm to delicate breeze as she rushes over to the table, fussing over the patient with care. Her smile is genuine as she tells the woman it’s going to be okay. That the doctor has come to save her.
She’s talking about me.
Zoe may hate me with every fiber of her being, but she can’t hide hope. I hear it in those few words. Latch onto them. Use them to fuel me forward and give me strength.
I walk over to Zoe and gently place my gloved palm on her back as I greet the patient.
“I’m Avrell,” I tell her. “We’re going to heal you. Together.”
Zoe stiffens under my touch, but she doesn’t move away. I like that my fingertips seem to buzz with a current of power that pulses from this small woman, linking her to me. It’s unusual and fascinating. It makes me want to ponder this connection for hours, trying to understand every facet of it.
If only there were more time.
“Hang in there, Fawna,” Zoe says, her voice gentle and soothing.
“Try and rest,” I say to Fawna and then guide Zoe away from the table.
She steps away from me, crossing her arms over her chest. Her cheeks are slightly pink and she won’t look at me.
Did she like my touch?
I think I might make a list so I can understand her like I’m trying to understand the disease and how to cure it. I’m ticking off all the things that make up Zoe in my nog. All the things I know she is.
Violent.
Strong in spirit.
Breathtaking to look at.
Intelligent.
Unruly.
Supple lips.
Angry.
Flashes of vulnerability beneath her hard exterior.