Laurann Dohner - Obsidian

Alli finished closing the last box, suffering nostalgia despite only having lived in her home for a few months. It had been the best time of her life. She blinked back tears as she tried to plot out her future. It looked pretty bleak.

She’d gambled with her career and now it was time to pay the price. It wouldn’t be hard to find employment elsewhere as long as the NSO didn’t file kidnapping charges. Any backwater hospital would be eager to hire her. The computer screen she’d left on drew her attention as she sank into the desk chair. The search results were displayed as she pondered her options.

An image of Obsidian distracted her when she closed her eyes. No regret surfaced over taking him from Homeland. It had saved his life. He was recovering quickly physically. She could attest to his strength.

Her hand lowered to her hip where a slight bruise had formed. It had resulted when he’d hooked her around the waist before tossing her on the bed. There was no pain but she was more than aware of it. She wished her emotions could heal as quickly as the contusion would. In a matter of days the physical mark would disappear but she had a feeling the memory of him would stay with her for the rest of her life.

Go!

She relived the memory of him pointing to the door, demanding she leave his room. It was for the best. Part of her knew that but another part refused to accept it. He needs me. No. He just wants to use me. It’s all about sex. Damn. She blinked back tears.

“Stupid,” she whispered aloud. I should know better than to get personally involved with a patient and I had to go and fall for him. He was damaged in so many ways yet it just made her want to be with him more.

The doorbell pulled her from her tortured moral debate. She tried to calm her racing heart, afraid that Justice North had sent someone to return her to Security. They’d had to spend money and resources to send the task team after her. She hoped they would just escort her off NSO property. The other option would mean her job search had been wasted.

Dread froze her by the door, her hand on the doorknob but not turning it. The concept of going to prison scared the shit out of her. She wasn’t tough and had never been in a fistfight in her life. Her parents had sheltered her from other kids by homeschooling her and later she’d gone directly to med school where violence wasn’t exactly commonplace among the students. Prisoners were going to eat her alive and she’d be lucky to survive a week unless her medical degree offered her some kind of special privileges. She could hope they needed her to work in the prison hospital as free labor to keep her out of general population.

The doorbell buzzed again and she straightened her shoulders. She’d face the consequences of her actions with her chin held high.

Her head lifted as she twisted the doorknob to jerk it wide open.

Obsidian stared down at her. His hair was a tangled mess flowing over his bare chest but she barely noticed, too surprised at finding him on her doorstep.

“I want to come inside.” He took a step closer and completely blocked the opening. “Move back.”

She stumbled a little as she did what he demanded. He entered her house and shoved the door closed firmly behind him. His gaze left her to travel slowly around the living room.

“How did you get out of Medical? Do they know where you are? You could have been hurt or gotten lost.”

Dark eyes fixed on her. “Be silent. I came to talk and you will listen.”

Her lips sealed as she stared wide-eyed at him, flabbergasted.

He blew out a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. She wondered why he hadn’t put on a shirt. She glanced down to find he also hadn’t donned shoes. Grass stains were on his knees as if he’d been sliding in it.

“Alli?”

She focused on his face and gasped. He looked to be in pain with his eyes wide and his lips pursed out. He blinked rapidly and she grabbed at him, sure he was about to pass out. Her hands flattened on his chest and pushed him against the door behind him, knowing full well that she wasn’t strong enough to catch him if he pitched forward. She could only hope to pin him upright until he regained his equilibrium. His head hit the wood hard enough to make her wince at the noise.

“Why are you attacking?” He looked surprised.

“Are you still that angry with me?”

“Where does it hurt? Are you dizzy? Lightheaded?”

“You didn’t push me that hard.”

“You looked sick.”

A soft snarl passed his parted lips. “I was attempting a puppy look.”

“A what?” She was puzzled as she stopped pressing her hands so tightly against him to keep him against the door.

“I walked here from Medical to say I’m sorry.”

“For what? Scaring me? I thought you were going to faint just now. Are you sure you’re all right?” She eased back, glancing down at his knees. “Did you fall? Strike your head somehow?

Your knees look banged up.” Her gaze held his, trying to see his pupils.

“I jumped off the building from the roof. I didn’t land as smoothly as I intended but I’m in no pain.”

She was horrified at of his words. “You what?

Why would you do that?” She clutched his arm.

“Come here.” She pulled, urging him to her couch.

He didn’t limp as he took hesitant steps forward and she pushed a little, urging him to sit.

His big body dwarfed her cream-colored couch—a vast contrast between his masculinity and the feminine décor. Alli slid to her knees in front of him and reached for the ankles of his pants, shoving them upward.

“What are you doing?”

She glanced up when the material bunched over bulky calves. He was too muscular to work the legs high enough to see his knees. “Stand up.”

She scooted back a little to give him room and sat on her legs. “Drop your pants.”

His dark eyes narrowed but he rose to his feet, gripped the waist of the sweatpants and shoved them down. His long hair draped around her when he bent enough to drop them to his ankles, momentarily blinding her while she twisted and blew some of it from her face.

He straightened, pulling the curtain of silky strands away. She turned, immediately zoning in on his knees. Both were a little red but she didn’t spot any swelling or abrasions. It seemed his sweats had gotten the worst of the impact. She looked up. Obsidian was naked and very aroused.

The guy has big balls, all right , she noted. Big everything. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “You can sit back down.”

He collapsed on the cushions, still aroused and in clear view since now his lap was directly in front of her.

“Um, you can pull your pants up.” She tried to back away but was emotionally off balance enough for it to mess with her movements. She just slid to the side until she had to brace a hand to keep from falling over.

“Why?”

He blinked at her, totally unconcerned with his naked state. Her glance diverted back to his dick, which was jutting upward. He leaned forward a bit until the crown of his cock pressed against his abs. Look away , she ordered, but her gaze refused to obey. She stared at his lap.

“Alli?”

That drew her attention up to his face. “It’s not proper to sit naked on someone’s couch.”

“I don’t care about that.” He reached out and his fingertips brushed her cheek in a caress. “I do not want to mount you to replace 46.”

“You jumped off a building to tell me that?”

“Yes. You accused me of it and it’s not true. I know she is dead and you are nothing similar to her. I see you.”

Her heartstrings tugged. He could have been hurt, had gone to a lot of trouble to clear up their misunderstanding. She wanted to believe him but he had to be pretty confused. Grief could be an unpredictable factor on mental stability.