Chapter Five
His blood felt like a spill of gasoline someone had dropped a match on. Her tiny, pathetic,pleadingwords lit him up. This was what he was built for.
Eric wished he could see her cornflower blue eyes but the cool cloth across her eyes and forehead was hopefully easing her pain so he’d put his selfish desires aside for now.
“Good, that makes me very happy. And if you’re my special little patient, you don't have to call me Doctor Southerland. You can just call me Eric or D—”
Daddy. Call me Daddy, sweet little girl.
But even pushing as hard as he was, Eric wouldn’t push that far. Not yet. He didn’t want her to balk, didn’t want her to freak and run. Partly because he was serious about her not being in any condition to drive but also because he wanted, desperately, for her to stay. He could see this going somewhere if she didn’t entirely lose the neediness when she was feeling better.
So he cut himself off, and course corrected to “Doctor Eric.” That is, after all, what his little patients called him. And he liked it.
“Okay…Eric.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up as Devy tested out his name on her tongue. It sounded nice coming out of her mouth, although he was sure “Daddy” would sound better. Well, they’d get there. Hopefully.
“That’s a good girl. Devy and Eric. Now we’re going to get you someplace more comfortable than this exam table.”
He’d unlocked the doors in the breezeway to the house on his way back here, and even left them slightly ajar in hopes that he’d be able to convince her to stay. He was glad now that he had so he could take her in his arms and bring her over. First things first, though, because he’d been so intent on touching her he’d forgotten to check on something important.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve asked before. Do you have touch sensitivity with your migraines?”
He didn’t think so because she’d seemed to like it when he petted her instead of flinching or crying out, but she also seemed to be a people pleaser. Yes, sometimes he wanted to hurt his littles, but always on purpose. He didn’t want what was meant to be soothing to feel like torture.
“No,” she said softly.
That confirmed, he didn’t hesitate, but scooped her up in his arms. Devaney gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder, the cloth from her forehead falling to the floor. Henry would deal with it when he arrived.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you.”
He carried her through the clinic and let himself into the breezeway to the house and strode through the first floor and up to the second. He did hesitate at the top of the stairs, wondering which room to put her in. The inpatient room? The actual guest room?
Nah, the guest room was a no go. She wasn’t his guest. She washis.
He enjoyed her warm, sultry breath through his shirt and the way she held onto him. Not like she thought he was going to drop her, but like she needed him.
Taking a deep breath, he nudged the door to the inpatient room open with his toe and carried her over to the standard hospital bed that was set in a reclining position. Then pulled the covers back before he settled her on the mattress and took off her shoes. He’d have to get her out of those constricting jeans and her sweater but he’d give her a few minutes to adjust and ask questions. Surely she’d have some.
For the most part it looked like a hospital room—granted a nice one, like the private rooms celebrities and moneyed people could afford, but still. Plus there was a big rocking chair in one corner, and cabinets where he stored medical supplies, some items for use with his littles, and toys for sex and kink—those were at least closed so she couldn’t see the contents. He wouldn’t keep them from her, but he wasn’t going to spring them on her when she wasn’t well.
Indeed, she did seem curious. She ran her fingers along the rail that was up on the other side of the bed. Her delicate brows creased.
“What…”
“I have a room set up in my home where I can take care of my special little patients.”
He located the push button and handed it to her.
“If you need me at any time, you push this button and I’ll be here as soon as I can.”
He held up the transponder that would go off when the button was pushed and Devaney watched as he clipped it to his belt. “See? When you press that, this little thing buzzes against my hip like a little bee saying, ‘Devy needs you!’”
Devaney blinked at him, seeming both amused and perplexed before rolling her lips between her teeth.
“Um, okay, thanks. I’ll rest for a little while and then I’m sure I’ll feel good enough to go home.”
Eric clicked his tongue at her. “Oh no you don’t. You’re my patient now and you look like you’re going to faint or be sick to your stomach again. Not on my watch, Devy baby.”