Page 131 of Aftershock
Another chart opens. Another signature added. The cursor blinks, waiting.
And then I see it.
Her name on my screen.
I’ve never picked up a call as fast as I just did now.
“Oh my God.” Lilith’s sultry voice comes through the speaker as soon as the call connects. “Oh my God, Alaric. What is this?”
“Gifts.” My brow furrows as I try to make sense of her tone. For all I know, she might be happy, or she might be about to slap me with a restraining order. “For you.”
“Gifts…” She sounds bewildered, her voice barely audible over the noise in the background. Cardboard rustling, items shifting, as if she can’t stop going through everything. “That’s an understatement.”
“Holy shit, is that…” Hope starts, then gasps. “And this…”
“Yes, there’s this, and there’s that.” The way Lilith’s voice shivers, I’m willing to bet her cheeks are flushed red. Thank fuck, she loves it. “I’m taking the call in my room. Alaric, I—you crazy man. Wait, aren’t you working?”
“I took a break. Wanted to be available in case you called.” The half-lie sits wrong with me, since I’m not goingback to treat patients. After we hang up, I’m heading to the storage unit. I rationalize it by reminding myself she’s not ready to hear that yet. “Figured I’d let you enjoy the gifts on your own.”
“That’s…thank you.” I hear the smile in her voice, and my chest warms. “Hold on.”
“Okay.”
More shuffling. A small huff.
“Let me help,” Hope whispers.
“No.” Lilith’s voice is closer, like she’s holding the phone between her shoulder and ear. She must be flustered. Fucking adorable. “I’m sorry. Some things are kind of personal. I’ve got it.”
“Can I at least put the food he sent in the fridge?”
“Yes.” Then, to me, she repeats, “Oh my God.”
The longer her sultry voice seeps through the phone, the harder I get. The filthier my needs become. Like picking out a black set from the new lingerie I bought her, sliding the panties up her legs, and clasping the lace bra around her, only so I can tear it all off again before I bite, suck, and devour her.
But as much as I want that, I don’t regret staying at the hospital.
Because she sounds like she feels special. Like she’s having her moment.
And that’s the whole goddamn point of this surprise.
“Alaric…”
“Alaric, what?” Thankfully, other than me and the computers, I’m alone here. No one sees me adjusting myhard-on. No one witnesses the other side of me, the softer one that likes to tease her by adding, “If it’s not enough, I can have more sent.”
“What?” A door slams shut. A muted, nearly inaudible thump tells me she’s dropped everything onto the bed. “No. No. This is already…wow. A lot. I love it. All of it. But I don’t need more.”
The urge to go to her intensifies the longer I have her on the phone.
Fraser, justice, or my trials don’t interest me half as much as they should.
Of course I’m going to handle him. For what he did to Steven, and because I’m always looking to improve my suturing time.
But right now, all I can think of is getting to Lilith.
The warmth of her cheeks in my palms.
That adorable bump on her nose.
