“Reed… What I said…” She tries again as my hand snakes around the back of her neck and my lips move lower, over her collarbone.
“Unless the next words out of your mouth are going to be ‘I’m letting you take me home with you, where I belong’, then I don’t want to hear them.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Harls. When we get to the hospital, I’m calling Suze to bring your things over. End of discussion.”
I suck and nip a path back to her lips. I’d give anything to yank her blouse down and suck one of her tight rosy nipples into my mouth, feel it roll around on my tongue. But I don’t trust kid-face behind me not to peek. And there’s no way in hell any man is ever seeing Harley like that.
Except me.
Only ever me.
I kiss her again, losing myself in her until the clunk of the doors echoes in the air and the ambulance comes to a halt.
“Another hundred and I can close them again. If that’s your kink.” The young medic winks at me as he hops out of his seat and opens the rear doors.
“Nice try,” I say, straightening my shirt and jacket as he jumps down, returning a moment later with a wheelchair.
He climbs back in and advances toward Harley. “Do you think you can manage on one foot with my help? Or you can stay on the stretcher, and I’ll take you out on that?”
“There’s no need for that. I can manage. I feel terrible for wasting your time.” She glances down at the blood-stained dressing on her foot.
“Hey, it’s never a waste. That’s what we’re here for.” The young medic grins as Harley outstretches her arms toward him. “Okay then.” He steps forward.
“I’vegot her.” I step in between them, bending over and wrapping my good arm around Harley’s waist and pulling her to her feet.
“Reed, you’re hurt, let…” Harley looks to the medic.
“Jack,” he pipes up.
“Let Jack help me.”
“No.”
Pain explodes through my other shoulder as liquid fire lances through it, making my stomach churn and sweat bead along my hairline. I clench my jaw tight as I help her out of the ambulance and into the wheelchair.
“You’re good. Michael will take care of you now.” Jack pats the male nurse on the shoulder, who has come to take us inside.
Despite my shoulder throbbing like a bitch and stealing my breath, I curl my lips as Harley calls out thank you to him as she’s wheeled off.
“First baby?” I ask him.
“Huh?” He looks at me, his grin growing brighter as he realizes what I’m talking about. “Yeah, yeah it is.” Joy lights up his face as he talks. “Only a couple more weeks to go.”
I nod at him, rolling my lips, before checking Harley hasn’t gotten too far ahead.
“Listen, thanks for patching her up back there and getting her here safely. I appreciate how hard you all work.” I shake his hand. “Take your wife out before the baby comes. Have some time together.”
His fingers curl around the extra bills as I draw my hand back. “Thank you.”
I nod at him, then turn and follow Harley. We’re shown to a waiting cubicle, and I help Harley up onto the bed.
“We’ll sort that foot in no time and have you both on your way.” Nurse Michael smiles kindly.
“Reed’s hurt his shoulder,” Harley blurts. I shake my head at her to stop, but she ignores me… again. “I think it could be broken.”
I tip my head back and exhale heavily with a groan as Michael looks my way.