Tessa Teevan - Incinerate

“I have to admit, Charlie, I’m used to women undressing me. Not the other way around. But I think I can get used to you doing this for me, especially if you keep looking at me like it pains you to cover me up,” he whispers in my ear, his breath tickling me as his words send a shiver down my spine.

Pulling back from him, I glare. “I was no—” He cuts me off my placing a long finger on my lips.

“Whatever you want to tell yourself, sweetheart,” he says, grinning at me. What was it that I called him? Oh yeah, an arrogant cockbag.

“Excuse me for trying to be helpful. And stop calling me sweetheart! I have a name, you know.”

He just keeps grinning at me, and I swear that in three days’ time he’s learned how to push every single one of my buttons. Huffing, I clamber off the bed and leave the room with him trailing behind me. When we get to the living room, I remember that he needs his brace, so I run back to his room to get it. He scowls but allows me to fasten it on him.

“Get your shit. You’ve wasted enough of my time and I’m not going to make you late to the first appointment that I’m supposed to take you to,” I snap, watching as he grabs his wallet and keys.

He locks up the house, and it isn’t until we’re in the car and on the highway that I begin to smell the sweat on him. Wrinkling my nose, I look over at him only to find him staring out the window.

“Umm Knox?”

He turns to look at me, and the serene look on his face catches me off guard. Like he’d been lost in his thoughts and I just pulled him away from something special. His eyebrows rise as he waits for me to continue.

“Have you showered since your brother left?” I ask, feeling like a jerk the moment the words escape my lips.

His brow furrows as he looks at me. “It’s not exactly easy getting dressed, undressed, and into the shower with my cast and brace, Charlie. I can do sponge baths, but that’s about it. I’m doing the best I can.”

I clear my throat, my hands gripping the steering wheel. I’m watching the road ahead, but I can feel his gaze on me. “You know, umm, I can help, if you want. Cohen told me how to wrap your arm, so seriously, any time you want, just let me know. I have no problem making sure that you’re fresh and clean.”

I glance over at him, and a smile lights up his face. “Okay, Andre 3000. After we get back from the doctor’s office, you can get me naked and into the shower so that I can smell nice and manly for you.”

“Andre 3000? Seriously?” I ask, and he grins at me, launching into the Outkast song “So Fresh, So Clean.” Honestly, the thought of getting him naked and in the shower has me both salivating and shaking, but if it’ll help him out, I guess I don’t mind lending a helping hand. Maybe it’ll brighten his demeanor a little bit if he’s feeling refreshed, relaxed, and well…a little less smelly.

As we pull up to the doctor’s office, Knox sobers and stares at the building before he exits the car. “I’m so fucking ready to be done with this shit,” he says, not exactly to me, but more to himself.

“How many appointments have you had?” I ask him, because other than the initial conversation we had, he’s never talked to me about his injuries, the coma, or what he’s been doing since he was released from the hospital.

“Way too many. I’d gladly never step foot in another hospital or doctor’s office for the rest of my life once all this is over with. Too many memories. The week I had to spend here after they took me out of the coma was brutal and depressing as hell.”

“Was this the first time you’ve been injured in the line of duty?”

The question causes a dark shadow to form in his eyes, and he simply shakes his head as we go through the automatic doors. He doesn’t say anything to me before he goes to check in, letting the receptionist know that he’s here. We sit in the waiting room, and his legs begins to shake, bouncing up and down as if he’s nervous or antsy.

“You okay?” I ask, and he gives me a small smile.

“Yeah, I’m good, sweetheart. Just really hoping to get the all clear to get this damn brace off.”

“Is it really that bad?” I’ve never had to wear anything like it, but I do know that I can only sleep on my stomach or my side, and I don’t think I’d be able to do it with that.

Shrugging his shoulders, he stares at the television on the wall across from us as he answers me. “I can barely sleep when I have it on unless I’ve taken my pain medication. And I’m tired of feeling lethargic and weak all day long from taking the pills. But until I’m out of this brace, I don’t think I’ll be able to wean myself off of them. I’m just so ready to be active again, and it’s driving me nuts being such a shut-in.”

Instinctively, I place my hand on his thigh, and his leg stills beneath my touch. “I’m sure, if not today, it won’t be much longer. And once you’re cleared for physical therapy, we can start getting you out of the house and doing some physical stuff. I know a great place where we can rent paddle boats. Since you’ll be out of commission with your arm, that’ll be a great way for you to exert energy with your legs.”

He places his hand over the one that I have on his thigh and grins at me wickedly. “Oh, sweetheart, I can think of a few things I can do to expend some energy that having a bum arm won’t affect.”

Pulling my hand away from his grasp, I’m about to respond when the door opens and his name is called. He stands up and looks down at me. “Coming?”

I rise and follow him, surprised that he is okay with me joining him. Cohen made it sound like he’d give me some grief about it, so I was expecting him to put up more of a fight.

We follow the nurse back to an examination room, and she checks Knox’s vitals and removes his brace. I roll my eyes as he flirts with her, and she’s eating up every single word and sexy smile he throws her way. Eventually, she takes him down to x-ray so they can see how he’s healing, leaving me alone in the room. It’s not long before he comes back, but I’ve already pulled out the paperback I leave tucked in my purse for slow days at work, diving into the story of Acheron, desperate to learn more about him after having to get through fourteen books to find out more. Once the nurse leaves, I notice Knox pull out his phone, and we sit in silence until I hear a faint knock on the door.

It opens, and a petite woman with gorgeous auburn hair enters the room. She looks vaguely familiar, and she smiles at Knox sitting on the waiting table. She’s probably in her late thirties, but she’s beautiful, and I’d love to know her skin care regimen.

“Good afternoon, Sergeant Wellington. Nice to see you again,” she says, and he grins at her.

“How many times have I told you to call me Knox, Dr. B?”

Flushing slightly, she just shakes her head and goes to grab his chart. This is when she finally notices me in the corner. Her eyes widen slightly at the same time I catch the name on her ID tag. Dr. Olivia Branch.

Knox

IT DOESN’T escape my attention that Dr. B and Charlie are looking at each other like they don’t know what to say. It’s weird to say the least.

“Hi, Charlotte. I’m not sure if you remember me, but we met at the Christmas party last winter.” She walks over and extends her hand, and Charlie stands and takes it, shaking it softly.

“Hi, Dr. Branch. Yes, I remember you. Nice to see you again,” she tells her before returning to her seat.

“You two know each other?” I ask, remembering the argument we had where she’d mentioned her father was a doctor.

Dr. B looks at me and then back at Charlie. “I work with her father here at the hospital.”