After Hours (InterMix)(32)

“You seem like you should have a tattoo,” I told him. “A massive one.”

His eyes opened. “What? And let some * draw on my skin, and have to live with it the rest of my life if he f*cks it up?”

“Just saying. It’d go with the motif.” I leaned close, skimmed my palm over his bristly hair, traced his ear, drew my thumbnail down the scar that ran the length of his throat. It felt thrilling and dangerous, like stroking a lounging panther. “Where did you get this? On the ward?”

“No, when I worked in the pen.”

“Oh good. I mean, not good, but . . . You know.”

Kelly yawned and shut his eyes.

“Don’t you dare fall asleep on my bed. It’s barely big enough for one reasonable-sized person.”

And he was on his feet a moment later, gathering his clothes, nearly making me regret the quip.

I tucked my legs beneath the covers, watching. What on earth had I just done? With a coworker, aided by exactly no alcohol? But a girl doesn’t need a drink with a body like that fogging her senses, I thought, fascinated by the flex of his shoulders as he hiked up his pants.

“Find whatever you needed when you decided to turn up and bother me again?” I asked.

“My needs are simple. Same as any man.”

Liar. You came here because of whatever happened with Don. He’d come here for sex, but not for sex’s sake. For something else, something I’d likely never know. You’re not as simple as you wish you were, Kelly Robak.

He zipped his jeans. “A man needs meat, sleep, and *, to keep from going insane. Not always in that order.”

My jaw dropped. I yanked the covers up to my neck and glared at him.

“You spoiled my view.”

I glared harder, and Kelly sighed. “Don’t give me that look, like we ever said this was anything more than exactly what it was.”

“Don’t you flatter yourself into believing that’s why I’m annoyed. But you’re just going to lump me in with a steak and a nap and expect me not to be insulted?”

“I don’t mind being the same to you.” He tugged his shirt down his chest, then stooped to get his socks and shoes on. “Never said women didn’t have the same kinds of needs. Color me flattered you deemed my cock worthy of the job.” He straightened.

I rolled my eyes, so hard I nearly pulled something. “Get out of my room, Kelly. I’ll see you at work.”

“See you right here,” he said, tapping his temple, “when I retire all alone to my cold, empty bed in a half hour.”

I gave him a mightily peeved look to remember me by. Kelly just smiled, then turned and closed the door behind him.

Fuckity f*ck f*ck.





Chapter Five


Morning came way too soon. I overslept, having been too distracted by my colossal mistake to remember to set my alarm, but it was a blessing. I had barely any time to lament what had happened between scrambling to the shower, scrambling into my clothes, and scrambling across the road and through the grounds to Starling, in dire need of coffee.

I didn’t run into Kelly until the hand-off meeting. Ignoring him was a tempting idea, but too cowardly. Ignoring what had happened was better, so I did my best to act like this was any old meeting, that he was any old coworker. Not one who’d made me come twice, then pretty much told me I’d merely been the most convenient * on hand to satisfy his caveman appetites.

Nope, that guy across the circle was just Kelly, an orderly who happened to work on the same ward as me.

The previous evening his gash had been the worst of it, but overnight a nasty greenish-purple bruise had bloomed around the cut. I was trying my level best not to study it and get caught staring, when Dr. Morris, the senior psychiatrist on duty, gave a curt, doleful sigh, and said, “So, most of you have heard, I’m sure, that Don made a suicide attempt last night.”

A few stoic nods, but I froze, only my lids able to move, blinking their surprise.

Why on earth had Kelly not told me? Not the hottest foreplay ever, I grant you, but you’d think he’d have mentioned it.

Jenny picked up the topic. “We don’t know how, but he got hold of a metal letter opener—”

The group collectively winced and grimaced.

“I know, I know. So please, be extra mindful. Guys, stay vigilant during those room searches. Kel, you saw him this morning, right?”

Kelly nodded. “He’s still groggy. Couldn’t tell you how he’s feeling.”