Heart Surgeon To Single Dad

“That makes two of us,” he assured her, between more ardent kisses.

“I like the way you’re looking at me,” she continued, her voice breathy, her fingers tightening around him. “As if you want to put every detail of me to memory.”

* * *

Matthew didn’t have to put every detail of Natalie to memory.

She was already there.

Every delectable inch of her.

He had no doubt he’d never forget what was happening. She was timeless, beautiful. Unforgettable.

Barely hanging on to his sanity, he took her hands into his, kissed her fingertips, then pressed against her. Eyes locked with his, her fingers moved to his shoulders, kneaded deep into his muscles as he grazed her lips with his teeth.

“More,” she breathed, arching into his touch. “I want more.”

Completely caught between him and the wall, she shifted her hips against him, pressing her upper body against the wall to give added pressure to the sensuous contact between their bodies.

A long leg slid up his, wrapped itself around his waist, pressing her pelvis more fully against where he throbbed.

Heaven help him.

They were barely inside her hotel room door and he was about to rip off her panties and take her like a madman. He’d meant to take her slow, to kiss her all over, and when she was ready, take them both over the edge.

Her body was ready now.

He could feel her damp heat burning into him and that reality undid every good intention he had of slow. Her mouth was against his now, hard and demanding. Her hands tugged at his shirt, managing to pull the material loose. He wasn’t sure if she’d unbuttoned it or popped every button. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was having her.

She made him manic, illogical, driven by physical need in ways he didn’t understand.

“Now,” she urged, her fingernails raking over his back, then gripping his buttocks to pull him tighter against her. “I want you inside me now.”

Matthew didn’t need to be told twice. Supporting her weight between his body and the wall, he reached into his sagging back pocket for his wallet, pulling out a condom.

“I only have one of these,” he confessed, ripping it open and making haste of putting it on. “I have the feeling I’m going to wish I had a dozen more before morning.”

Her eyes molten honey, Natalie kissed his mouth, hard, full of passion, and, keeping her eyes locked with his, she guided him to his own personal heaven.

* * *

Natalie’s boldness shocked her. Her boldness in how she touched Matthew, in how she wrapped both legs around his waist and took him deep inside her body with her skirt bunched at her waist and her panties pushed aside.

Her boldness in the things she said to him, in how vocal she was about what she wanted from him and to do to him.

Even more, she was shocked by how she bit down on his shoulder to keep from crying out as an orgasm rocked her body at his powerful thrusts.

Wave after wave of pleasure ripped through her.

If not for the wall, his strong body against hers, she’d have dropped to the floor to float her way back to the land of mere mortal beings.

She thought he’d climaxed with her, but he must have somehow held back. Rather than relax against her as she’d expected, he kept moving, pounding against her as she peaked in pleasure, then started the cataclysmic climb all over again, leaving her frantically moving against him until she went places she’d never been, to heights she’d never scaled, until she went into a blissful free fall that might go on for days.

Weeks.

Just when her orgasm began to spiral out of control, his willpower broke and her body became unwound with him, every nerve cell inside her zinging to life and exploding with a heated force so amazing she couldn’t believe her body remained intact.

Intact? More like turned inside out and back again.

From her biased, soaring view, this man lost in passion was a glorious thing.

A satisfied Matthew’s damp forehead dropping to rest against hers as he stared into her eyes was splendid. The way her body felt was beautiful. Everything felt so beautiful that Natalie wondered if orgasms were mind-altering.

Her mind had definitely been altered.

“If I’d known this was how it would be, we’d have never made it off the elevator.”

Looking a bit mind-altered himself, Matthew laughed. “You might be right.”

“Might be?” She squeezed her thighs, loving how his eyes darkened instantly in response. He kissed her forehead, and when his gaze met hers there was a contentment in his eyes that puffed up her chest.

She smiled at him with a confidence she didn’t understand, but that felt addictive. Yeah, they’d had amazing sex. This was the after part. Shouldn’t she feel awkward? Embarrassed by her daring?

She didn’t. She felt... She searched for a way to describe what she felt. More connected with him than with any person she’d ever known. How could she feel that way with someone she’d just met? Much freer than she’d ever been with Jonathan. She’d enjoyed their sex life, but, compared to what she had just experienced, sex with Jonathan had been boring. And not only because she’d just been pushed up against a wall still half-dressed and ravaged, rather than in bed with calm, intentional acts meant to please.

The way her body had responded was what had been different.

Matthew electrified every nerve ending, making her aware of every cell, every nuance of her body, of his body. She’d never had orgasms like those she’d just experienced. Maybe no woman had ever experienced orgasms like the ones Matthew had just given to her.

Whether it was how she’d admired his mind for years or how his sex appeal had toyed with her psyche from the moment she’d laid eyes on him, everything about this moment felt right. Perfect. For that, she hugged him.

His forehead still against hers, his breathing ragged, he searched her eyes. “What was that for?”

“A token of my appreciation.” Legs feeling a little shaky, she lowered them from his waist to tentatively support her weight. She felt so languid, she might collapse on the floor.

“I’m the one who needs to be expressing my gratitude, and my apologies for not hauling your delectable body up here the moment that first workshop finished.”

“No worries. I have every intention of giving you lots of opportunity to express your, um, gratitude.” Her tone was flirty and it felt good. “And to let you make up for wasting time.”

Had she ever flirted with a man before?

She’d always been focused on school, on her patients, her research, her career. Focusing on a man hadn’t ever been a priority. But she liked flirting with Matthew, liked the quick smile that transformed his handsome face.

Reaching for her skirt, she tugged the wrinkled material down her hips, then pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Aware that his gaze tracked her every move, she walked to the mini-fridge, took out a bottled water, twisted off the lid and took a drink.

“Thirsty?” She offered the bottle.

He took a long swig, then handed it back to her. “Not now.”

His tone implied it hadn’t been the water that had quenched his thirst.

Eyeing him, Natalie placed her lips over where his had been and took another drink, letting the water cool her throat.

“Thank you, Natalie.”

“For?”

“You know.” Winking at her, he went to the bathroom, she assumed to dispose of the used condom, then returned to the room with his pants restored.

That was when she got her first real look at his chest and abdomen. Earlier, she’d been distracted with need and sex, and had been up close to his body, but now... Oh, my.

Matthew without a shirt was a beautiful sight.

She’d touched that chest, kissed that chest, been pressed up against that chest, all hot and sweaty.

Feeling quite smug that she’d just had sex with the hottest man alive, she couldn’t help but smile. “Now what?”

He shrugged. “Not any more of that, unless we make a protection run, I’m sad to say.”

She eyed him curiously. She’d not really considered that they could have a repeat that night. Jonathan had never more than once... Oh, forget Jonathan. “Would you really be able to do that again?”

“Just say the word.”

Surely he was exaggerating, but his answer still stroked her ego. She knew she shouldn’t keep comparing what had just happened to her relationship with her ex, but he’d have rolled over and been asleep already.

Then again, she would have been, too.

Intrigued, and more than a little smug, she asked, “If I said now, you’d want to again tonight?”

He arched a brow. “You have to ask after what we just did? Of course I want to do that again.”

* * *

“One box isn’t enough. Buy two.”

Matthew grinned at the woman tugging at his arm and grabbed another box off the shelf. “Two boxes for three nights? You trying to kill me?”

“You’re the one who bragged you were able to repeat the deed anytime I said the word,” she reminded with a saucy flash of her eyes.

Wondering why he’d ever hesitated in allowing himself this three-day break from reality, Matthew laughed. “You saying the word? If so, I’m sure we can find a vacant corridor.”

Her eyes widened momentarily, but she quickly looked intrigued. So much for his prim and proper impression of her at the airport. Thank God he’d given himself permission to forget the real world and just play for three days. Three days to spend with this surprising woman.

Chuckling, he grabbed her hand. “Come on, Natalie. Let’s go pay for our two boxes.”

They’d opted to walk the beach to a neighboring hotel’s gift shop rather than risk one of their colleagues seeing them stock up at the conference hotel. Matthew had enjoyed the sea air and having Natalie’s hand clasped within his during the nighttime walk, but the fifteen minutes back to their hotel suddenly seemed like a long time.

“How did you get involved with the Libertine robot project?” she asked once they were back on the beach and headed toward their hotel.

“You want to talk shop?” He just wanted to get back to the hotel and get her naked. Completely this time. He had a lot of exploring to do and was looking forward to discovering every nook and cranny.

“The Libertine fascinates me,” she continued, her hand snug in his. “I’ve watched you perform surgery with it, you know.”

He shot a look at her, the moonlight casting just enough light across her face to illuminate her beautiful features. “No, I didn’t know.”

“I couldn’t tell much about you, since you were wearing a surgical mask, glasses and cap and the film clip pretty much only showed the surgery. I guess technically I watched a video of your hands doing miraculous things, because I don’t recall anything of your face and I wouldn’t have forgotten your eyes had I ever seen them.” She smiled sheepishly, then went on. “From how long I’ve been seeing your name quoted in the cardiology world, I had thought you much older.”

He got that a lot. He’d been fortunate to become involved with the Libertine from early in its inception as a surgical tool. Near the end of med school, his passion had shifted his interest to surgical advances being made in treating congenital defects in utero. Robert had followed suit.

Working for a robotics company, Carolyn had been one of the key design engineers on the Libertine. It was how they’d all met. He and Robert had been practically inseparable since grade school. Carolyn had changed that somewhat, but Matthew had felt more as if they’d added a third player to their team, rather than their friendship losing anything, when his best friend married the brilliant engineer.

He missed them so much. Three months and it didn’t seem real that he’d never see them again, never discuss the Libertine, or difficult cases. Never catch another football game while Carolyn laughed at their long-term rivalry of the Cowboys against the Steelers. Never again—

“You okay?” Natalie’s voice broke into Matthew’s memories.

Fighting back the hollow ache in his gut, he clenched his teeth. How had he let such depressing thoughts in tonight when he felt alive, truly alive, for the first time since before he’d gotten the call that Robert and Carolyn’s plane had gone down?

“Just got lost in thought.” He flashed a smile that wasn’t as real as he’d like, but there wasn’t enough light that she’d likely be able to tell. “How old do you think I am?”

She glanced his way a few moments, making him wonder if perhaps she saw better in the low light than he’d given her credit for, but she seemed to make the decision not to push. Maybe because she didn’t want to know what he’d really been thinking about.

“Uh-uh.” Her smile was wide, bright, not so over-the-top as to come across as completely fake. “I’m not guessing your age. If I go too high you might be offended. If I go too low, you’ll accuse me of robbing the cradle.”

Her voice was light, but her grip on his hand had tightened, offering a comfort he soaked up and was amazed at how much better her smile and touch left him feeling.

He chuckled. “No chance you robbed the cradle, Natalie. That would be me. I’m probably a good ten years older than you.”

“I seriously doubt it.” She told him her age.

“Eight years older,” he corrected. “I’m the one who robbed the cradle, it seems.”

“Eight years isn’t that much,” she assured. “You’re barely into your forties.”

A memory of his fortieth birthday, spent with Robert and Carolyn, popped into his head. They’d rented out their favorite restaurant’s back room, invited a ton of mutual friends and acquaintances and surprised him with a birthday bash.

“Hey—you okay?” she asked again.

Why had his friends popped back into his head so quickly when he’d just scolded himself for letting them in on a night meant to drown them out?

His gaze cut to Natalie. Why did he find himself wanting to tell her about them?

“You quit walking,” she pointed out. “And you’re squeezing my hand as if you’re afraid if you let go the wind might carry me out to sea.”

Matthew forced his fingers to pry loose from hers, raked them through his hair. “Sorry.”

“That sensitive about your age, huh? I’ll keep that in mind and be sure not to make any more age references.”

Pushing thoughts of his friends from his mind yet again, Matthew shook his head and gave in to Natalie’s teasing. “I’ve no problem with being called an old man.”

“Old man?” Natalie laughed, took his hand back into hers and gave him a little squeeze. “You aren’t an old man. Admittedly, it’s a bit kinky, but I’d be happy to oblige if that’s what you want me to call you.”

His smile was real. “As long as you’re calling me, I won’t complain.”

Her gaze searched his. “For the rest of the weekend, right?”

“Right,” Matthew agreed, but suddenly found it difficult to keep his smile in place. “For the next three days, I’m all yours.”

Then he’d fly back to Memphis, stay at his mother’s for a night, then he and Carrie would drive back to Boston because the little girl was terrified of the thought of getting on a plane, and he hadn’t forced the issue.

Back to trying to figure out life without Robert and Carolyn.

Back to him struggling to raise their precious daughter in a way that wouldn’t disappoint them, which seemed impossible for a sworn bachelor who still couldn’t even put Carrie’s hair up without missing handfuls of it from the bun.

Too bad the position in Memphis hadn’t worked out so his family would be close to shower Carrie in their love and guide him in the right direction as he got this parenting thing all wrong time and again.

What did he know about raising a kid?

Nothing. His friends had been foolish leaving Carrie’s upbringing to him. Robert had known Matthew had no plans to marry or have children. Truly, they couldn’t have chosen a worse guardian for Carrie.

“Your hand is getting tight again,” Natalie warned.

He loosened his hold. “Sorry.”

“Want to talk about whatever keeps bothering you?”

He couldn’t blame Natalie for asking. She’d let it go more than once, but he kept going back to places he didn’t need to let his brain go.

“It’s not important.” Which was a lie. Everything about Robert and Carolyn was important. How he was going to handle fatherhood was important. Part of him wanted to tell Natalie, to spill everything out to her, to tell her what a screw-up step-in parent he’d been so far and that he wished he could give Carrie to a couple who knew what they were doing so the kid wouldn’t turn out messed up. But losing his best friends, and his failed parenthood, weren’t decent conversation for a three-day affair.

For the next three days, he was just Matthew. The dedicated heart surgeon and researcher, the fun-loving man, the devoted short-term lover.

CHAPTER FOUR

NATALIE MADE IT to breakfast just before the hotel wait staff cleared the buffet trays.

Having gone earlier to his hotel room to shower, Matthew had arrived before her and was at a table with two other men and a woman, eating breakfast. Wearing his khaki pants and blue button-up shirt with the sleeves folded to mid-forearm, a smile on his handsome face, he stole her breath.

She could hardly believe she’d had sex with him. Hot, needy, carnal sex.

Natalie lingered, overfilling her plate with sliced fruit. There was no reason she couldn’t join Matthew and the others at his table, but she procrastinated, toying with toasting a slice of wheat bread.

She’d seen and touched every part of his body. With her hands, her mouth. They’d done things that just recalling was enough to make her blush and wonder who that wanton woman in bed with him had been. After all that, was she really hesitating to sit down beside him to eat breakfast?

When she’d finally gotten her plate and headed in his direction, Matthew rose from his chair.

“There’s a seat at our table, Natalie. Join us.”

He’d made it easy. As if he were inviting an old friend or colleague to join his table. No big deal. Only, when their gazes met, his unusual eyes held a warmth that conveyed that his smile was for her alone. Nothing had changed from the time he’d left her room. He had no morning-after regrets.

Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she fought the urge to lean over and plant another good-morning kiss on his magic lips.

Those lips had kissed her all over. More than once. Places she’d never been so thoroughly kissed. Those hands had held her, touched her, coaxed responses she’d not known her body able to give.

Natalie gulped back the emotion looking at him filled her with. Pride, pleasure, passion. Maybe they should skip the conference and go back to her room? No, they’d decided they would both attend morning classes to earn their continuing-education credits. As much as she’d like to drag him back to her room, she’d restrain herself.

At least until morning break.

A little giddy at the thought, she smiled at the others as she joined the table.

“Natalie, this is Dr. Kim Yang, Dr. Steven Powers and Dr. Herb Fallows. They all practice pediatrics at Loma Linda in California.”

She set her plate on the table and shook the outstretched hands as Matthew continued the introductions.

“And this talented lady is Dr. Natalie Sterling.”

She’d swear she saw him wink at her from the corner of her eye, but she kept her focus on the others.

“Natalie is a pediatric cardiac surgeon at Memphis Children’s Hospital with Dr. Ramone Luiz,” he continued.

“Hi.” Smiling, she sat down and turned to ask Matthew something that had been nagging at her mind and hit her again when he mentioned the hospital. “I’ve been meaning to ask you—why did you fly in from Memphis?”

For the briefest moment his face took on the dark expression he’d had on the plane, but it quickly disappeared behind a smile. “I was visiting family.”

Reminding herself not to sound too personal in front of the others, she asked, “You have family in Memphis?”

Asking personal questions probably wasn’t a good idea when a woman was only having a three-day affair, but she hadn’t been able to curb her curiosity.

He hesitated a moment. “My mother lives just over the Hernando de Soto Bridge on the Arkansas side.”

Natalie’s pulse pounded at her temple. She lived on Mud Island. His mother lived just across the Mississippi River from her. That meant he probably came to Memphis from time to time to visit.

Natalie put a hold on her racing thoughts of possibly seeing him again in the future.

Three days. That was what they’d agreed to and what she’d stick to. They were only on Friday of their weekend together. They still had the rest of the day, all of Saturday and part of Sunday before she flew home. It would be enough.

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