Cop's Passion (23 page)

He gave her the
faintest of smiles before returning his attention to Rick.

“Now,” Rick
continued, apparently not having noticed the silent exchange,
“According to what the nurses tell me, your headache is gone.
Correct?”

“Yep.” Sitting
on the edge of the bed, Mike pulled on his boots. “I’m fine.”

“You need to
take things easy,” Rick continued. “If the headaches come back, or
you get confused, nauseous or dizzy, you’re to come straight back
to the hospital.” His grin was sudden. “Maddy knows what to look
for.”

Mike arched a
brow at her. “Is that so?”

Oh boy, going
by his expression she just knew that he wasn’t going to be easy to
control at home. “You don’t do as you’re told and I’ll have your
arse back here so fast your head will be spinning.”

His eyes grew
more intense as he slowly straightened. Fully dressed and standing,
he suddenly looked completely in control and his expression was
totally unreadable. Yep, he was trying to intimidate her.

Whatever.
Determined to retain control over the situation, Maddy smiled and
gave him a little wave.

His eyes
narrowed.

“Your boss
tells me you have two weeks sick leave.” Rick handed the
observation chart to Cherry. “So you can go. Maddy made your
appointment for your pre-work check-up already. Any problems, you
can always call me at home.” He glanced at Maddy. “Any problems at
all.”

“Thank
you.”

They both
nodded and left the room.

Maddy stood up
and watched as Mike picked up the two bags and came around the bed.
He stopped directly in front of her to gaze down. The heat from his
body almost seemed to seek her out.

“So you’re in
charge, huh?”

“Right now,
yes.” Her heart skipped a beat when he smiled slightly, and it
certainly wasn’t an easy smile. It was sinful.

“Right now is a
very short time.” Turning suddenly, he started to retrieve his few
things and pack them in the bags.

Maddy helped.
“It’s long enough for you to get better.”

“Trust me,
sweet little Maddy, it’s going to be a very short time.” Sliding
his book into the bag she held, he leaned down and kissed her
slowly, lingeringly. “Two weeks off,” he breathed against her
mouth. “And you looking after me. Let’s see how long you remain in
charge.”

Hoo boy, her
heart was skipping all over the place at his nearness and the hot,
delicious insinuation of his words.

Before she
could even think of a retort, his arm was around her, his big hand
resting in the small of her back. Both bags in one big hand, he
turned her to the door. “Let’s go, Maddy. I can’t wait to get home
and have you take care of me.”

She took a deep
breath to marshal her scattered thoughts and managed to say calmly,
“I think we may have totally different ideas about this care.”

His chuckle was
deep and dark. “Trust me, I think my idea is much better.”

“Yeah, well
trust me, my idea is what we’ll be going with.” She titled her head
back to frown up at him. “You’re still recovering from
concussion.”

His grin was as
dark as his chuckle.

“If you’re not
going to behave-”

“I will.” When
she looked dubiously at him, he added, “For now.”

Knowing that
was the best she was going to get out of him, Maddy shook her head
and remained silent. All she had to do was remain in control. Good
grief, she was an experienced nurse, how hard could it be?

His hand
brushed over her bottom.

Uh-oh
.

Out in the car
park, Mike got into the passenger side of the car without protest
and his big frame and long legs took up almost the whole of the
passenger side space. Maddy slid behind the steering wheel. He was
silent as they buckled up and she was intensely aware of him beside
her as they pulled out of the car park and onto the road. A
sideways glance showed him looking out of the window, some of the
tension in his face eased.

“You really
don’t like hospitals, do you?”

“Hate ‘em. Too
many sick people there.”

“You weren’t
exactly bursting with health when we brought you there,” she
pointed out.

“That brings me
to a little topic.” He turned to face her, resting easily against
the door. “You brought me out in public wearing nothing but my
boxers.”

Maddy pulled up
at the stop lights. “You weren’t exactly parading around in them,
you know.”

“You could have
at least put some pants on me.”

“You had
concussion and you’re worried about being in your boxers?
Seriously?”

“It’s the idea.
And you should keep your eyes on the lights.”

“The lights are
red. Your boxers have more material than budgie smugglers on the
beach.”

“But I wasn’t
on the beach. The light is green.”

“I know the
light is green.” Maddy accelerated. “Besides, only me, Alan and the
paramedics saw you in your boxers.”

“And everyone
in the A & E. Isn’t this our exit?”

“Not when I’m
driving. And don’t exaggerate, not everyone in the A & E saw
you. What, you’re a little sensitive about your yellow ducky
boxers?”

“Wouldn’t you
be?”

“I don’t have
yellow ducky boxers.” She indicated and exited the highway before
she shot him a quick glance to see a slow smile curve his firm, yet
oh-so kissable, lips.

“You have lace
panties.”

Her cheeks
flushed. “So?”

“And cute bras
with little bows right in the middle.”

“Are we really
discussing underwear? Isn’t there anything else you’d rather talk
about?”

“Sure. You do
know this is a sixty kilometre zone, don’t you?”

Shit. Maddy
slowed down a little.

“And my exit
would be a quicker way home.”

“Let’s change
the subject again.” Geez.

“Sure. I can’t
wait to see you without clothes on.”

“Mike!”

“Wow, you
really like to chop and change the conversation, don’t you?” He
laughed.

He was going to
drive her insane. “You know, when I first met you, you were scary,
big, and scowled a lot. Now you’re irritating, big, and scowl a
lot.”

“Really? Want
to know what I thought about you?”

“Are we going
to have a fight? Because I’m warning you, fighting in a moving car
isn’t a good idea.”

His laugh was
low, deep and full of amusement.

Shaking her
head, her lips twitching in spite of herself, Maddy indicated and
turned onto their street. Within minutes she’d pulled into his
driveway.

“You could’ve
parked in your driveway,” he objected.

Unsnapping his
seat belt, Maddy couldn’t resist leaning across and patting his
cheek lightly. “Sweetie, just do as you’re told. I’m in charge,
remember?”

Oh yeah, that
had his eyes narrowing.

“Don’t pout,
honey.” Unsnapping her seatbelt, she got out of the car and leaned
back down to look at him. “If you’re really good and go to bed to
rest, I’ll make you something nice for dinner.” She almost laughed
out loud at his expression.

Swinging out of
the car, he leaned his forearm on the hood and looked across at
her, sweeping his gaze across her face before regarding her
steadily.

Maddy arched
one brow.

“Aren’t you
supposed to be keeping me calm?” he drawled.

“Sure. Aren’t
you calm?”

“What do you
think?”

Moving around
to his side of the car, she stood on the other side of the door and
regarded him with her head angled to one side. “Huh. You look calm
to me, so you must be calm.”

“If you only
knew.” Bending suddenly, he retrieved the two bags from the floor
of the car and shut the door. Taking a step forward, which put him
right in front of her, he bent down to whisper in her ear, “And you
will know. It’s only a matter of time, Nurse.”

Ignoring the
way her heart bumped around in her chest at the delicious threat in
his voice, she smiled up at him, pulled his house keys from her
pocket and waggled them. “Ready for bed?”

Oops, totally
the wrong thing to say. His eyes darkened and his gaze dropped to
her breasts. “Oh yeah.”

“Oh no!” She
cleared her throat. “I mean, you need a rest and-”

“I’ve been
resting for two days.” Those hot eyes travelled up her throat. “In
bed all alone. I’ve had enough rest.”

“I’ll call
Rick.”

“I don’t want
him in my bed.”

“You’re not
getting anyone in your bed until you’ve recovered.” Turning on her
heel, she crossed to her veranda and turned the key in the lock of
the security screen. “Now behave yourself.” Unlocking the doors,
she opened them and stood back.

“After you,”
Mike said, ever the gentleman.

A little
uncomfortable at being the first into his home, Maddy entered but
stood to the side as he came in behind her. She followed him into
the kitchen, immediately aware of how not only his big frame filled
the room, but his very presence was everywhere at once.

“It’s good to
be home.” Mike dropped the bags onto the table, his fingers briefly
brushing the surface.

The surface
where he’d held her down while he’d taken her from behind, where
he’d pushed her up that delicious- Maddy blinked and looked up to
meet his hot eyes.

Uh-oh, he was
remembering, too.

Seeking to
divert his thoughts, she turned hurriedly to the bench and reached
for the small pile of mail. “This is the post that came while you
were in hospital and-” She froze.

He was right
behind her, his ribbed abdomen against the small of her back, his
chest against her shoulders, and his breath stirring the hair at
her ear as he bent and said in a rough velvet voice, “I’ll behave
if you promise to get into my bed soon. Very soon.”

“Mike!” She
tried to step back, but his bigger body didn’t shift and she only
succeeded in pressing back against him, against all that delicious
heat and hardness. “Mike, you can’t be doing this, you’re just out
of hospital and-”

Big hands
cupped her upper arms and ran gently up and down, sending warm
shivers through her. “I missed you.”

“I
visited.”

“You weren’t
there all the time.” He nuzzled her temple.

Maddy closed
her eyes. “I-I’m not here all the time, either.”

“But you’re
just next door, just on the other side of the wall.” He inhaled
deeply. “You smell so good.”

Little tendrils
of heat sparked in her veins but she managed to keep a rein on
them. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“It’s a great
idea.”

“You promised
to behave.”

“You didn’t
give me a promise in return.”

Maddy
swallowed. “At the hospital-”

“That was then.
We’re home and I’m in charge now.”

“What? No.”
Turning her head, she looked up at him. “You have to take it easy.
Don’t you have any idea how serious your injury was?”

Stepping back
only enough so that she could turn around, Mike stretched out his
arms and rested his hands on the bench each side of her. Resting
his weight on one bent leg, he leaned down so that they were
face-to-face. His gaze slowly slid over her face, studying her so
intently that she could swear she felt every sweep of his gaze on
her skin.

Looking
directly into her eyes, he said softly, “I know. I also know that
you probably saved my life. I know that I waited eagerly for you to
walk through that hospital room door every day.”

Warmth swept
through her at the candidness of his words and expression. Her
heart started to slow down and she took a deep, easy breath.

“Every time you
walked through the door, Maddy, the day became brighter. Even when
you made me take the damned pills.”

Meeting his
gaze, she reached to stroke one finger along his jaw. “You needed
them for your headache.”

Bending his
elbows brought him closer, and his deep voice was gentle. “You were
there for me.”

“How could I
not be? You’re there for everyone else.” She smiled slightly.
“You’re always there to tell me off about something.”

“I warn you,”
he corrected.

“You threaten.”
Her fingers trailed down to his neck as she marvelled at the heat
of his skin.

“Different
points of view.”

“You’re so
stubborn.”

“What?” He
laughed softly. “And you’re not?”

“Not at all.”
She smiled up at him.

Mike leaned in
further, closing the small gap between them as his breath feathered
over her lips. “My experience tells me different.”

“Your
experience isn’t enough to go by,” she murmured.

“Just keep
arguing that, Maddy.” His lips brushed across hers, making her
catch her breath. “You’re the only one of the two of us to believe
it.”

“So sure of
yourself.” She moistened her lips.

Heat flashed in
his eyes and immediately he closed the last few inches between
them, capturing her mouth in a hard, quick kiss. Lifting his lips
briefly, he said almost harshly, “Absolutely.” And then he claimed
her mouth again, his hands shifting from the bench to splay across
her bottom, his palms cupping her generous curves as he pressed her
to him.

The heat from
his body, the silky firmness of his lips, his strength, it all
combined in a delicious melding with his clean, male scent.

The fact that
he could actually want her never failed to amaze her, but it was
there in the way he looked at her, the way he held her, and
undeniably in his stiffening shaft against her belly.

His kiss turned
hungrier and her ardour rose to match it. This time it was she who
sought entrance and he opened to her. His taste flooded her, so
male, so clean, so much him that she couldn’t get enough, wanting
more.

Maddy pressed
hard against him, her breasts crushed to his chest as he gathered
her so close she was dimly aware that there was no space between
them, that from thigh to mouth they were almost fused together.