When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(31)

“It’s my job to protect you, not hurt you,” I say gruffly. “I assumed you were about to…” I swallow. “When you didn’t, I felt…overwhelmed. You overwhelm me.”

“I still stutter when I get really nervous or excited about something, or someone.” She gives me a blinding smile. “I know the feeling. You overwhelm me.”

We stand there in the middle of the kitchen, holding on to each other so long that when I finally remember the food, I practically shove her out of the way.

“Have to get dinner off the stove.”

“Sure you weren’t meant to be a fireman?”

“Hard to be a fireman when you’ve been sent to juvie for setting fire to the chemistry lab at school.”

Piper slaps a hand over her mouth and giggles. The tension finally leaves the room.

“You were so bad,” she says as I start spooning out the meat and veggies into a serving bowl.

Were? “You like bad boys, kitten?” I glance at her over my shoulder, raising a brow.

“I like you.” She gives me a meaningful look. “You’re not bad anymore, just misunderstood.”

I bark out a laugh. “Is that how you reconcile yourself with being with me?”

“No. If I didn’t want to be with you, I wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble—never mind.” Taking a deep breath, she walks to me and wraps her arms around me, her full breasts pressing against my back. “Jase, if you could only see yourself through my eyes, then you’d know exactly why I’m with you.”

That’s the problem. I do know how she sees me, but in my mind I’ll never be a hero. Heroes don’t go to jail for attempted murder. “Set the table and I’ll take care of this,” I say gruffly, grabbing the pot of rice. Luckily, it didn’t burn. Burned rice is not a good smell, and it takes hours to scrub it out of a pot.

“On it,” she chirps, slowly letting go of me.

I feed her bits of cooked meat and veggies while she gets out plates and makes drinks for the two of us.

After we sit down, Piper holds up her glass. “I think a toast is in order.”

I pick up my glass as well. “Let’s hear it.”

“To the future…to new beginnings.”

I take a drink.

“And all of the orgasms a woman could possibly want.”

I almost choke on my sweet tea but somehow manage not to make a complete ass of myself.

“I think we should say that before every meal.” Winking at her, I start to eat. “Man, this is good. You did an awesome job with supper.”

A pleased smile curves her lips. “I had a really good teacher.”

As she eats, I can’t help but think that as soon as her doctor gives the all clear, then I’ll be teaching her a hell of a lot more.

—

The wait at the doctor’s office is excruciatingly long, and the slow movement of the clock is exacerbated by the fact that I hate going to doctors. I hate needles in particular.

Yeah, I realize I have tattoos, but it’s not the same to me. Inking my skin or anyone else’s has a purpose. To me, art is a part of life and the human body is another canvas to display it on.

For the first time, I try to imagine what kind of tattoo I would give Piper—that is, if she would allow me the honor. Maybe something under her breasts with the showpiece in the center of her chest. She would look gorgeous with flowers and vines curling around her tits and following the contours of her sides. All that virgin skin begging to be inked by me.

I give myself a mental shake.

“Piper Ross.”

Piper jumps to her feet and reaches for me. I stand, taking her small hand in mine. We walk to the back, where they get her vitals before placing us in a room to wait for the doctor.

“Kinda disappointed you weren’t told to undress and put on one of those paper gowns,” I say with a teasing frown.

“You would be.” Piper squeezes my hand for a minute and then lets go. “Everything will be okay.”

“What?”

“You look a little pale…and green.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Not a fan of doctors.”

“That’s okay. She doesn’t have to examine you, just me.”

I tap my medical file against my leg. “Brought my stuff just in case.”

Piper gazes at me with adoration shining in her pretty eyes. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

Before I can say anything, the door opens and the doctor walks in.

“Good to see you again, Piper.” The doctor looks at me and holds out her hand. “Hi there, I’m Dr. Stevens.”

“Jase—Jason Simmons.” We shake hands and do a bit more of small talk before she walks to the counter and washes her hands.

“Never can be too careful with a patient,” she says by way of explanation.

Fine with me if she wants to protect Piper from getting someone else’s nasty germs. While she examines Piper and asks questions, I flip through my file without actually reading anything.

“What are your concerns?” Dr. Stevens says, and I’m back in the conversation.

“We’re concerned about her attacks when we’re…ah, intimate,” I say.

The doctor nods. “It’s more common than you think. How bad was the last attack?”