Priceless: Urban Fairytales, Book 3 Read online

  “Yes.”

  Eric turned the knob and stepped in the room, all without looking up. “I’m Doctor Athers. What seems to be the prob—?” Eric lifted his gaze from the chart, and to his utter surprise the patient was none other than his wife. For a second he was struck dumb. She was the very last person he’d thought he’d see, the last person he deserved to see, yet there she sat, a small smile on the lips he loved to kiss. “Nia? What are you doing here?”

  “Dr. Athers.” The amusement in her voice went a long way to ease the fear that had taken hold of his heart. “I had an emergency that just couldn’t wait.”

  “So I see.” Eric glanced down at the chart then back at her. “Rectal pains?”

  “Yeah.” She fought to maintain a straight face. “My husband is being a terrible pain in my ass.”

  “Is he now?” If she was willing to joke about it, things weren’t as dire as he’d thought they’d been. And maybe, just maybe, she would forgive him and make his world right again.

  “He is.” She held her arms out wide. “I’m talking ginormous pain, Doc.”

  “That sounds just terrible.” Eric turned to Corrine, who was smiling, obviously in on the joke. “I think I can handle this patient on my own.”

  “Never thought you couldn’t, sir.”

  “Page me if I’m needed, but if not…”

  “I’ll forget where I saw you last.” She opened the door and stepped out, leaving them in the room alone.

  “I like her,” Nia remarked as soon as the door closed behind the other woman.

  “Me too.” Unfortunately, there was class warfare at times between the nurses and doctors. It was nice to have a reminder from time to time it didn’t have to be that way.

  Without saying another word he walked over to the door and locked it. The upcoming conversation was something he preferred to keep private. After testing the handle, he turned around once more and faced his wife. “So, is this the part where I grovel?”

  Chapter Seven

  As fun as watching her husband grovel sounded, it was the last thing Nia wanted. Okay, maybe not the last, but it wasn’t what she had come for. “No groveling necessary.”

  “What is?” He seemed hesitant. Not that she blamed him. It had taken her working the rest of her shift before she’d finally been able to rid herself of her anger.

  Even after making arrangements for his car to get fixed, there had still been some lingering annoyance weighing her down. She refused to go to bed though until things were resolved between them. Even if it meant hanging out at the ER all night. They were going to squash this and move on. Life was far too short and precious to waste on regrets.

  “Talking.” Then out of the blue the ramifications of it all occurred to her. “It is okay for me to be here, isn’t it? I mean, you’re not going to get into trouble or anything.”

  “No. It’s pretty slow out there tonight. I’ll just call this my lunch, and if I’m needed, they’ll page me.”

  “Good.” Nia rose from the plastic chair in the corner and made her way over to the exam table. She turned so her lower back was against the table then placed her hands on the paper-covered top. With a quick bend of her knees she vaulted up and hopped onto the table.

  Once settled, she glanced around the taupe room, checking out her surroundings, before focusing on her husband, whose expression was guarded closer than Fort Knox. Hoping to break the awkward silence, she started off light. “So this is where you spend your nights?”

  “Mostly.”

  Nia frowned in disappointment. “It always seems so much sexier, more intense, on the show ER.”

  His lips quirked in a smile. “I think that had more to do with George Clooney than the actual building.”

  “You may be right.”

  “No may about it.” Eric walked over to her and laid the bogus chart down next to her thigh. “Is this what you came to talk about? Fact versus fiction?”

  “No.” So much for small talk. “I came to apologize.”

  Eric’s brows shot up. He looked taken aback by her claim. “Apologize?”

  “Yes.” Nia nodded firmly. “I’m not so high and mighty I can’t admit when I’ve done something wrong.”

  “Nia.” Eric took her hands in his and squeezed. “You haven’t done a thing wrong. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I think you owe me one as well.” She wasn’t a doormat after all. “But I didn’t come to get one from you. If and when you’re ready to say your piece, I’ll be more than happy to listen, but tonight I came for me.”

  “And I repeat. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “No. I do.” Nia pulled her hands free. She wanted to be able to concentrate on what she was saying, and when he touched her, all her rational thoughts fled. “I shouldn’t have thrown your student loan in your face. I did it to be petty, not because I have a problem putting my funds towards it.”

  “You shouldn’t have to though.”

  This is what she’d been afraid of. Eric closing himself off from her. Shutting her out. “Why not? Will you have problems helping me pay my college bills when it’s time for me to return to school?”

  He frowned. “Of course not.”

  “Then why would I? I wouldn’t. I don’t. I was trying to wound you because I was feeling hurt, and it was the wrong thing to do.”

  “It was the human thing to do. Plus, honestly, it’s refreshing to see I’m not the only one in this relationship who can wear the asshat.”

  “As much as I loath to admit it…” She smiled. “It’s true, I’m not perfect.”

  “I would disagree.”

  “Well, maybe next to you it might seem that way,” she joked. “But I can be pretty selfish and self-centered at times.”

  “What times? Never.”

  “It happens.”

  “Name one thing, one itty-bitty thing you’ve ever asked from me.”

  “I asked you to love me.”

  “That’s one thing you’ll never have to ask me to do. It’s automatic for me. Like breathing.”

  “Yet, no matter what I say or do, you can’t seem to understand I feel the exact same way about you.” This had always been their problem, Eric’s belief he wasn’t good enough. It was a belief Nia wasn’t going to let him get away with thinking any longer.

  “Because it makes no sense.”

  “What makes no sense?”

  “Why you would love me.”

  “I have low standards,” she said with a straight face.

  Eric burst out laughing. “Obviously.”

  She cradled his face in her hands and peered into his eyes. She didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding, or doubt, when she spoke her heart. “I just love you. I don’t know why, and I don’t need to. I just do. I also know that you love me as deeply and completely as I do you. I accept it all on blind faith because what we have is…” Nia paused as if searching for the right word, “…priceless. Worth more than silver and gold combined.”

  Eric placed his hands on her wrists and gently pulled them away from his face. “There’s not a day that goes by I don’t thank God for you.” He paused to bring her ring finger up to his mouth then laid a gentle kiss on her wedding band, before looking up and continuing. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m too much of a bastard to ever let you go, even when I think it might be the best for you. To go to California so you can be with your family and live in a place that actually has seasons and not just endless bouts of winter.”

  “I am with my family. You.” She brought his left hand up to her lips and returned the favor. She locked her fingers with his when she was done and brought them back down to his side. “Let me ask you a question. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I’m not your reward, but you’re mine?”

  “No.” He laughed ruefully. “I can honestly say that thought has never crossed my mind. Because it’s too insane to even consider.”

  “Well, consider this
. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. No matter how mad you make me by mocking my beautiful decorations.”

  Eric winced. “I’m sorry about that. I was in a bad mood and I took it out on you. I love that tiny little wannabe tree. I love our stockings. I love our fireplace picture. And I especially love the fact you care enough to do those things for me. Most of all, I’m sorry it took a fight for me to say this, but I appreciate everything you’ve done to make this holiday special.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No.” He leaned his forehead against hers and peered into her watering eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Stop it, Doc.” Nia pulled back and sniffled a little. “You’re going to make me cry.”

  “Okay.” Eric tucked a stray hair behind her ear and lingered to caress her lobe. “But let me just say this final thing. I know you think we should sell the car.”

  Nia placed her finger over his lips to silence him. “When you’re ready to sell the car, you’ll sell it. If you want to keep it as a planter, or a project car, or just as some sort of strange memorial I’ll honestly never get, I’m fine with it.”

  “You really don’t care?”

  “I care, but only because I think you’re holding on to it for all the wrong reasons. But you know what, Eric, they’re your reasons. And I respect that. I don’t need the hunk of junk rusting in our parking spot to tell me what type of man you are. I see the good in you every day. But until you get to where I am, hold on to it if it makes you feel better.”

  “You make me feel better.”

  “Then my work here is done.” Nia moved to get down from the table but was stopped by Eric’s hands firmly holding her thighs in place.

  “Done?”

  “I only came by to make up with you. There was no way in the world I could have gone to bed with this still brewing between us.”

  “I wasn’t looking forward to it either.”

  “Then you’re glad I came by.”

  “Beyond glad.”

  “Good.” She laid her hands on top of his and gave a slight squeeze. “I guess I should let you get back to playing doctor.”

  “Or you can stay awhile and let me play doctor with you.”

  Nia cocked an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  Eric pulled his hand out from under hers, dug his pager out of his pocket and showed the empty screen to her. “See, no emergencies.”

  “Are you joking?”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it.”

  Just hearing him say it out loud had her getting wet. “Well, sure I’ve thought about it, but thinking it is one thing, acting it out is a whole other ballgame.”

  “I’m up to play.”

  “What’s with you and sex in the workplace lately? What’s the turn-on for you?”

  “You are the turn-on for me. Don’t blame me for the thoughts your body creates inside my mind. Besides, haven’t you heard, the best way to end an argument is to make love.”

  “I don’t think they mean for us to do that at our place of employment.”

  “They should.”

  “This is wrong.”

  “You know, you say that a lot.”

  “That’s because you’re constantly trying to encourage me to do dirty things.”

  “The things that are most enjoyable normally are dirty.”

  “You are so bad.”

  “That’s why you love me.”

  “One of the reasons why.”

  “So then, Mrs. Smith. Tell me. Where does it hurt?”

  “All over,” she said, getting into the spirit of the naughty game.

  “You do look a little…” he paused to look her up and down, “…flushed to me. When was the last time you had a complete physical?”

  Nia teasingly tapped her finger on her lips as if she were really pondering the question. “I honestly can’t remember.”

  “I believe that’s our best course of action.” Eric went over to the cabinet and opened the door. He pulled out a paper gown that had to have been invented by a voyeur because of just how little it actually covered, then made his way over to her. “I want you to undress and put this on. Leave it open in the front.”

  “The front?”

  “Yes. I’m going to start with a breast exam, then move on to a pelvic one. You never can be too safe.”

  “I guess not. Does seem a bit like overkill though.”

  “To rule out illness I have to check everything.”

  “If you think that’s best, Doctor.”

  “I do. All you have to do is put yourself in my capable hands and everything will work out fine. Now undress. And do it slowly.”

  When he said it like that, there was no way she could refuse. “Yes, Doctor. Right away.”

  Just to be on the safe side Eric checked his pager and the door once more. The gods must have been smiling down on him, because normally this close to Christmas, the ER was a madhouse. Holidays brought out the worst in people. They, in turn, brought the fallout of their emotional upheavals to the hospital in the form of broken bones, slit wrists and overdoses. Today, though, it was quiet. A bit freakishly so. Like that book with the line not a creature was stirring. Instead of complaining about it though, Eric was going to accept the good and be grateful he had this opportunity not only to make up with his wife, but make out with her as well.

  When he was sure everything was fine, he looked up to find his wife wearing next to nothing except her hospital gown, while folding her clothes in her OCD way and laying them on the chair next to the table. She was so freaking cute. He wondered if she really did this when she went for a physical. Something told him she did.

  When she was done, she crossed her arms over her breasts and ran her hands up and down her arms. To Eric it seemed as if she did it more because of nerves than because of the temperature. As much as she liked to pretend she was a freak, his baby was a bit of a prude when it came to love games outside the bedroom. “You okay?”

  “Yes, it’s just a little chilly in here.”

  “It’s warmer than the apartment.”

  “True.” Nia pointed down to her feet. “But I’m still keeping my socks on.”

  “Fair enough.” He smiled.

  “So where do you want me?”

  “On the table.” He watched her as she climbed up on the table and lay down before he turned and went to the sink. After soaping and washing his hands thoroughly, he dried them on a paper towel and tossed it into the trash.

  As he made his way over to his jittery wife, Eric rubbed his hands together. He wanted them warmed up a bit before he touched her. “Don’t be nervous. I’m a professional.”

  “Also far kinkier than I would have ever imagined.”

  “Complaining?”

  “Oh no.” She looked up at him and grinned. “It was a compliment.”

  “Good.” Eric cleared his throat and got back into character. “Okay, let’s begin. Shall we?”

  “Yes.”

  “Bend your left arm and place it over your head.” Eric helped her get in to position. “Perfect.”

  The soft rounded flesh of her nipple beaded as he began to knead the pliant tissue in a circular motion around her left breast. He treated her as he would any patient, but once he was sure there were no abnormalities underneath her skin, he flipped the switch and changed it up a bit.

  He worked his way toward her nipple then took her pert peak in between his fingers and pulled gently on the tightly pressed flesh. “Do you know the reason women’s nipples are far more sensitive than those of men is because women have more nerve-supply endings? There are also women who find absolutely no pleasure in nipple play while there are others who can orgasm simply by having their nipples stimulated.”

  “No,” she moaned. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Your nipples are quite sensitive, are they not?”

  “Yes, yes they are, Doctor.”

  “I’m willing to bet with the right man who was dedicated to spending hours worshippi
ng your breasts, you too might be one of those women who could come from nipple play alone.”

  “I’ll have to look in to that.”

  And he’d be more than happy to help her. “Everything seems to be in working order.” Eric released his hold on her. “But just to be sure, I’d like to perform another test.”

  “Whatever you think is best, Doctor.”

  “This is definitely in your best interest.” Eric leaned down and took her erect peak between his lips and suckled hard. She arched up toward him, wordlessly begging for more. The sweet sound sent a lightning bolt of lust straight to his cock. But that was nothing compared to what he felt when she tangled her hand in his hair and held him to her breast.

  His woman wasn’t above making her needs known. When she saw something she went after it, and from her demanding actions he could tell she wanted his mouth on her. Lucky for the both of them, he was of like mind.

  As much as he would have loved to dally and spend hours upon hours just making love to her breasts, they were on borrowed time. With a growl of frustration, he released her nipple and stood up. “Everything checks out. Now for the other breast.”

  Nia’s eyes were dilated. “You’re awfully thorough.”

  “What can I say.” He smiled. “I love my job.”

  Nia moved her hand from above her head and off the table and brushed it across the erection bulging from behind his slacks. “It shows.”

  “Not everyone gets the deluxe treatment.”

  Narrowing her eyes, she tightened her hand on his cock. “Not anyone but me better get this treatment.”

  Eric held perfectly still. “That’s exactly what I meant, honey.”

  “Right.” With a devilish gleam in her pretty brown eyes, Nia released his cock and went to work on his zipper. Once it was pushed all the way down, she slipped her hand inside his slacks and through the opening of his boxers. Grasping his shaft in hand, she began to slowly stroke him. He wasn’t the only one who could have a little fun.

  Eric closed his eyes for a few seconds and simply enjoyed the feel of his cock in his wife’s hand, before opening them again and getting back to business. “Switch arms now. I want to check your other breast.”