Chapter 12

Dade shook his head and looked at the phone before putting it back against his ear. “Okay, let me see if I’ve got this. You know that I know and Cora knows too, and she knows I know and its okay for you to know that Cora knows, but Rachel can’t know I know, right?”

Steven laughed. “That’s sounds about right.”

Dade shook his head. “And as soon as I figure out what the hell I said, I’m going to go home and have several beers.”

“I was just calling to say thanks. One for not saying anything to anyone but Cora, and second for setting this up, because I know there isn’t anything going on at your temple tomorrow night.”

Dade grinned. “Busted! And shocked Cora agreed. How does Cora know by the way?”

Steven sat down. “Well she saw us but I think Rachel told her before that.”

Dade whistled. “I’m wishing I saw more, or earlier at that cabin, 'cause, bro, from what I saw, I would have gone and grabbed a chair and a beer.”

Steven shook his head. “You really need a woman, son.”

Dade smirked. “From your mouth to Cora’s brain. She’s staying at my place Saturday night.”

“Really?” Steven paused. “Just make sure her side is healing okay before you drag her to the bedroom.”

Dade groaned. “Fuck! You had to remind me of that, didn’t you? Now I’m afraid to touch her.”

“Sorry, just touch her gently there anyways.”

Dade laughed. “Have you seen Rachel?”

“For a few minutes, she was in with Ricky, but I was paged and by the time I got back, she was gone and he was resting.”

“Well you’ve got tomorrow night, but if you can’t convince her then you’re on your own.”

Steven sighed. “Yeah, well that’s easier said than done.”

“I don’t want to hear about it, I’m still confused here.”

“I gotta go, got rounds to make. I’ll see you at Sunday brunch.”

Dade snorted. “Try to get some sleep so you don’t fall asleep in your coffee.”

“I can hope. Later.”

Walking out of the office he was shaking his head. Cora really needed to help that man soon. Grinning to himself, he was one to talk. He’d pined after Rachel for so many years, he’d almost forgotten what a woman felt like. Not that he’d been chaste in all those years, he was human after all. But no woman he’d been with could measure up to the woman he wanted. Problem was, now that he’d had her there were no other women on the planet that he’d ever want.

“We’ll have our cell phones if you need us,” Cora called out to her.

“Okay,” Rachel called to her from the kitchen.

Rachel rinsed the dishes and tried not to look at the clock again. When did I start feeling this desperate for a man? She wondered. Okay not just a man, I’m feeling this desperate for Steven. She groaned. Just thinking about him made her feel breathless. Tonight, wasn’t a good idea, knowing she wanted to be with him. She’d actually felt lonely since they returned from the gathering, like a piece was missing. The scariest part was it wasn’t just in a sexual way. When the doorbell rang, she had to make herself walk.

She opened the door and looked at him. He brought her orchids. She looked at the flowers in one hand, a bottle of wine in the other. “Hi.” She stepped back and let him in. Closing the door, she leaned against it.

Steven handed her the flowers and moved closer to trail his mouth down her neck, making her knees weak. “The most beautiful flowers I could find for the most beautiful woman I know.”

“Thank you. Wine as well?”

Steven grinned. “I was hoping I’d get you drunk and have my way with you.” He followed her in and set the bottle on the table.

She set the flowers down beside it and turned smiling at him. “Or you could have your way with me first and we’ll drink it later.”

He grinned and gently ran his hand down her bare arm. “We could.” He ran his finger over her lips and her tongue flicked out to lick it slowly. “Miss me, angel?” He spoke softly as he stepped closer to her.

“Steven, I’m vibrating with wanting you.” She whispered as his hand caressed her throat in a feather-light touch.

Steven leaned down until his lips were just hovering over hers. Her sleepy brown eyes watching his, waiting. “That’s not what I asked,” he ran his tongue over her lips, “I asked if you’ve missed me.”

“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly.

He started backing her across the room towards the couch. “How much?” He held her gently by the throat and trailed his mouth over her shoulder. Rachel sighed. “How much did you miss me?”

Her eyes slowly closed as his mouth brushed across her cheekbone. “More than I thought possible,” she whispered.

Kissing her mouth softly, dipping his tongue in gently when she opened hers. He stopped. “Did you think of me?” He licked her lips.

“Yes.” Her breathing was already shallow.

He ran his hand over her bare waist lightly as he kissed her softly again. “Did you remember feeling me inside you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me now, angel?” He whispered it with his lips against her ear.

“Yes.” She leaned into his lips brushing under her ear.

“Even if we said we wouldn’t do this at home?” He pulled back and looked at her waiting for her to answer.

She looked up at him with passion filled eyes. “Yes.”

Steven pulled her close into his body and crushed his mouth to hers. When his tongue brushed against hers, she moaned and kissed him with the same desperate passion he was feeling. Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down with her to the couch.

Just feeling her under him, wrapping her body around his, sent a shudder of need through him. Lifting his head, he grasped her top and pulled it up as he lowered his mouth to the bare flesh under it. He bit her gently. She arched her body up into him. He sucked a hard nipple into his mouth and she moaned.

“Steven, I can’t wait,” she panted out.

Her hands were pulling his shirt over his head and while he lifted to pull it off her mouth attacked his chest. Tossing the shirt quickly to the floor he pulled hers over her head and bit into her neck. She began undoing his pants.

“Now. Now.” She whispered against his chest.

He pushed the skirt up her legs and ran his hand between her thighs. She wore no underwear and was so swollen and wet he groaned.

His phone ringing startled both of them. “Ignore it.” He growled against her throat. “I have to be inside you, angel.” He kissed her hard. “Now.”

Her phone beeped on the table beside them causing both to stop. “Where’s your phone? The others…”

“Fuck!” He looked around to see it had fallen out of his pocket beside the couch. Without letting her get up, he reached down and grabbed it. He dipped his head and bit her nipple gently as he looked at the phone. “Message, for all of us.” He sucked harder on the nipple for a second. “Patrick is joining us for brunch.”

“Kay…” she said with her lips against his throat. “Get rid of the phone.”

He tossed it on the floor and kissed her roughly, stirring her back into the frenzy she’d been in moments earlier. Reaching down, he ran his hand up her thigh kneading before he cupped her with his palm.

She lifted her head and moaned. Rubbing briefly before he slipped two fingers inside her. “I want to be right there,” he groaned against her throat.

“Yes, now,” she gasped.

He pushed her legs open and lowered his body between them. She reached down and stoked her hand over him as he pushed into her.

Arching up she gasped when he did. This wasn’t how he’d planned it. Slow seduction…

He pulled out slowly and then thrust hard again to see her arch up for him again. “You’re so fucking sexy.” He leaned down and bit her bottom lip. Kissing her hard he began to move faster.

She pulled her mouth away and gasped. “I need…” she panted and gripped his hips. “Need you.”

He pulled her leg higher so he could go deeper; he wanted to possess all of her.

“Harder,” she gasped a few times and then whimpered biting her lip as he did what she asked.

Her whimpering was driving him quickly to the edge. Reaching down. he grasped her other leg and pulled it up behind him to allow him to slap harder against her body.

She gasped and arched into him. whining in her throat. When she gripped his arms, and moaned, her muscles tightened against him as he frantically thrust into her until they both cried out together.

Slowly lowering her legs, he kissed her throat. “You really fuck up my control,”

Rachel smiled and almost purred. “I so like you out of control.”

He grinned against her mouth. “Do you?”

She kissed him tenderly. “Mmm, yes.”

Steven lifted his head and looked around. “We didn’t even get undressed, again.”

She laughed. “There wasn’t time, Doctor, it was an emergency.”

He ran his tongue over her throat. “Better now?”

Rachel flicked her ring out a few times. “I’m not sure but I’m thinking that wine and a bath might help it.”

He laughed and got up, pulling her up with him. “Well, at least we’ll be naked then.”

She stood up and pulled her skirt down as he pulled his pants up. “Were we supposed to reply to that message?”

“No clue, I was a little busy at the time.”

Rachel laughed and picked up her phone and the wine from the table on her way by. She had just flipped the phone open when he grabbed her and flipped her up over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” She laughed almost dropping the wine.

“I feel another emergency coming on.” He headed up the stairs. He reached the top step and set her down. “Bath will wait for a few minutes,” he took the wine out of her hand and pushed her up against the wall, “here is looking good.”

She slipped under his arm and started back towards her room. “We have a bed.”

“We would have gotten there eventually.”

“You’re an animal, Doctor O’Reily.” She laughed.

“Are you complaining, angel?” Lowering his voice, he whispered. “Had enough of me yet?”

She shook her head and wiggled out of her skirt as she back into the room. “No.”

Steven pushed his pants off without missing a step. “I want to lick every inch of you.”

She backed onto the bed and lied down stretching in front of him. “Okay.”

Grinning, he stood there looking down at her. His eyes moved slowly over every inch of her. “Angel, you take my breath away.”

Without taking his eyes from hers, he stepped closer and leaned in. Reaching slowly, he grasped her legs and pulled her back towards the end of the bed, not stopping until her legs were hanging off the end. Kneeling on the floor, he grasped one delicate ankle and raised her leg to kiss her calf. He pushed her knee up and set her foot on the bed beside her sexy ass. Her eyes flared as she watched him. He repeated the same movements with her other leg and then leaned back and looked at her. “Hold your knees for me.”

He finally looked away from her eyes as she did what he told her. She was spread wide open for him, her flesh swollen and red from the force he’d used to thrust into her downstairs. Leaning down, he blew onto the sensitive area and a surge of lust hardened him further as he watched her muscles tighten in reaction.

Grasping her ass, he pulled the flesh tight so she was more exposed to him. He heard her intake of breath and knew she anticipated his next move as much as he did. Lowering his head, he moved close enough to run the tip of his tongue over her hot flesh. She sucked in a breath and her feet moved as if she was going to drop her legs. Grabbing her ankles, he held her feet beside her body as he plunged his tongue roughly inside her. She moaned loudly.

When he moved away, he licked across the wet pinkness with just the tip of his tongue again, and then blew on her gently once more. She made a frustrated sound in her throat and he couldn’t help grinning at her reaction. He made sure she felt his breath as he moved closer again, this time he carefully bit the swollen flesh beside her clit making her jerk in response.

“Oh,” she gasped.

He didn’t give her the chance to wait for his next move. He just lowered his lips to her and sucked hard, not slowing until she moaned loudly. Moving his mouth, he looked up her body to see her mouth open as she panted, just on the edge of another orgasm. Straightening, he pulled her legs and flipped them over his shoulders as he moved closer to the bed. Before she could adjust to the position, he slammed inside of her without any warning. She cried out and dropped her hands to grasp the comforter.

Steven pulled out and then slowly entered her again. She groaned and he knew she was just on the edge, waiting. He continued to move slowly into her, stopping just before their bodies connected. She growled and tried to wiggle further onto him. He reached down and held her hips, lifting her higher, making sure he would remain in control. He wanted to watch her as his body filled hers, over and over again.

His slow stroking faltered as she released her hold on the bedding and moved her hands to her breast. Her dark eyes watched him as she cupped a breast in each hand and kneaded them hard enough for her erect nipples to push straight up.

He thrust into her and then stopped with his body buried deep in hers and slid her legs from his shoulders. Reaching down he scooped his hand behind her neck and pulled her upright. As her legs wrapped around him, he leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth. She hissed out a breath and grabbed onto him, lifting her body up and then impaled herself onto him again. He bit that nipple and moved his mouth over to the other as she slammed herself back onto him.

Growling, he lifted his head and grasped her ass to guide her and help her go as fast as she wanted to. She panted and threw her head back, reaching for release. He waited until she was almost there and then grasped her tighter and held her still. She whined in frustration and leaned forward to bite his shoulder. “I’m in control now,” he whispered breathlessly.

She tried again to push her body down on his, he lifted her higher and moved up onto the bed, her legs still wrapped around his waist. Holding his body as far away from her as he could manage, he leaned down and grasped her hands. He lowered her to the bed and moved her hands up over her head as he began to slowly move into her again. She whined and pushed against his hands.

He ran his tongue up her throat until his mouth was beside her ear. “I hope you weren’t planning on resting tonight.” He nipped her earlobe gently with his lips.

“No,” she gasped as she squirmed again trying to free herself. “I want you inside me all night.”

“Good.” He thrust deeply into her again.

Rachel looked into the mirror again when they pulled up in front of Chris and Kasey’s. “Do I look like I’ve had sex in every room of Owen’s home?”

Steven grinned. “We missed the room Cora’s using.”

She laughed. “Shh! She’d never cook in the kitchen again if she knew what we did in there.”

“I plan on kissing that table every time I’m there.”

She smacked him. “Just behave. We have to go in.”

He pulled her hand to his chest and looked at her. “When do I get to be with you again?”

She looked at him and her heart pounded. “I don’t know, there’s so much going on, Steven—I just don’t know.” Inside she was trembling and wanted to tell him every day.

He held her hand for a moment and searched her eyes. “Okay.” He sighed. “Let’s go see what that poorly timed message was all about.”

Rachel barely greeted anyone, spotting Leena sitting at the end of the table. She jogged over and leaned her head down to rest on Leena’s her stomach. “How’s my baby today?”

Owen blinked. “I thought it was our baby?” He grinned when Rachel lifted her head and shook it at him.

“Nope. I’ll be your best babysitter, so you just call Aunt Rach when you’re ready to have sex again after the birth.” She dropped down beside Kasey and grabbed a croissant.

Owen looked at Leena. “She has a point.” He got smacked.

Cora sat up and rubbed her side lightly as she looked at Rachel. “How was your evening?”

Rachel shrugged. “Good and yours?”

Cora shrugged. “It was okay.”

Dade met Steven’s eyes and gave him a sympathetic look. “You need to check Cora’s side, she’s been rubbing it all morning.”

Steven got up and nodded. “I can do that.” He winked at Cora. “Take off your top for me, Coralee.”

Cora’s eyes widened. “It’s on the side of my waist in case you’ve forgotten, Doctor.”

“Right.” He said grinning as he kneeled beside her. “You’ve been keeping it uncovered?” She nodded. He pulled the skin gently. “Well after brunch we’ll remove all those strips.” He winked at her. “The itching is a good thing.”

She grinned. “Good, now maybe Mother Jones will go smother someone else.”

Dade pouted. “I thought I’d been really nice to you, honey.”

Cora patted Dade’s hand as Steven stood. “You have. I’m just more used to your growl, Dade.”

Dade laughed. “Well I’ll try to growl at you later to make you feel better.”

Chris filled up Steven’s cup after his own and winked at Kasey after he did. She laughed.

Steven sat back down. “So, Patrick is coming this morning?”

Chris nodded. “Yes, I spoke to him last night. He has news and judging from his tone it’s not good.”

Rachel grabbed another croissant. “Do you have any ideas?”

Chris shook his head leaning back. “No, he seemed in a rush. He just told me to get everyone together today.”

Rachel sighed. “I really don’t think I can take more bad news right now.”

Steven wished he were sitting beside her. “I’m sure…” His phone rang. Sighing, he stood up as he flipped it open. “O’Reily.” He glanced at Rachel and walked away from the table. “Okay keep me posted of any changes and I’ll swing by this afternoon.” He glanced at his watch. “Yes, thanks.” He closed the phone and looked at it for a moment.

He walked back over in and stood behind Rachel. Leaning down he spoke in his soft doctor’s voice. “That was an update on Ricky; I left instructions to keep me informed.” She turned around and looked up with worried eyes. “He had a really bad night. They’ve given him something to help him sleep, so we’ll go by this afternoon.” She nodded and reached up to touch his cheek. He kissed the top of her head and went and sat back down.

Kasey reached over and squeezed Rachel’s hand. Rachel smiled at her and picked up her coffee.

When the doorbell rang, Kasey looked over at Chris. She hadn’t answered the door since the note arrived. He was already on his feet walking out of the room.

A few moments later he walked back in with Patrick and a dark-haired woman. All jaws dropped when the woman reached up and pulled the wig off. It was Rhonda.

“Oh my gosh!” Kasey was on her feet so fast she skidded to a halt in front of her. She hesitated. “Can I hug you yet?”

Rhonda grinned. “Gently.”

Kasey wrapped her arms around her careful not to squeeze. “You look so good.” She grinned up at Chris. “Get her a chair, Chris.”

“Yes, dear.” He joked as he went and pulled two over from the corner. He placed Rhonda’s in among the women and then carried a chair down to put beside Steven. “Grab a seat, Patrick. You look ready to drop.”

“I am,” Patrick said looking around the table, “and suddenly hungry.”

Steven held up the coffee urn. “Coffee’s good and hot too.”

Patrick grinned as he filled a cup. “Much obliged.” He nodded down towards the women with their heads together. “I’ll just enjoy some of this and give them a chance to settle down.”

Steven glanced down at Rhonda. “You’re almost looking like you’re ready to dance again, Rhonda.”

Rhonda grinned back at him. “Soon, doctor.”

Kasey jumped up. “Oh, be right back,” she ran out of the room.

Chris grinned at Patrick. “You get used to it.”

Patrick took another sip before setting the cup down and leaning on his arms. “We won’t be staying too long, took a chance coming as it is.” He glared down at Rhonda. “Someone got rather stubborn about the whole deal.”

Dade leaned on the table. “What’s up?”

Kasey came sliding back in the room and handed Rhonda a small bag. “All the stones you asked for.”

Patrick raised an eyebrow at her, but looked back to Dade before he spoke. “I received a note, personally at the station from our maniac.” A few of the women covered their mouths. “So, he knows who I am and where I am. This is why Rhonda and I are going on a little holiday.” He glanced at Steven. “The doctors released her into my care with a long list of instructions, but all in all, she just needs to keep up her exercises now.”

Steven nodded. “What did this note say?”

Patrick sighed. “Pretty similar to the one Kasey received only the sick bastard wants me to take her to his home so he can cleanse her.” He said the last part between clenched teeth.

“Fuck!” Dade spat. “I’d hoped after giving him a scare he’d just go off and die somewhere.” He looked at Patrick suddenly. “Does he know Rhonda by name?” Patrick nodded slowly. “So, he could come after Cora too?”

Patrick sat back and rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I don’t know. This is the most bizarre case I’ve ever worked.”

“Will you be able to keep in touch?” Cora asked quietly.

Patrick nodded. “Yes. Of course, Rhonda has been in touch with all of you since I got her that damn phone.”

Rhonda smiled. “I didn’t make any actual calls as per orders, just messages.”

Rachel looked from one woman to another all around the table. She turned her head slowly and looked at Kasey. “Do you have any apple juice, Kase?”

Kasey bit her lip. “Not sure, we can go look.” She got up and rushed out beside Rachel.

Steven followed them with his eyes and then turned back to listen to Patrick.

“I need to go to the ladies’ room.” Cora said quietly and got up.

Rhonda stretched a bit. “I’m so sore after the drive, think I’ll go wander around.” Chris nodded at her as she stood up and then turned back to Patrick.

Leena patted Owen’s hand. “I’m going to see if there’s any tea.”

“Okay, baby.” Owen grinned at her and looked over at Patrick.

Steven’s head came up and he met Dade’s eyes across the table.

“Fuck!” Dade bolted from the table.

Steven clenched his jaw and looked over at Chris.

Chris looked around. “Not again!” He jumped up and left.

Patrick looked from Steven to Owen.

Owen got up shaking his head. “The women, they’re all gone at the same time.”