Under His Care

Riskier Business

By Friday, the walls of St. Augustine seemed to close in tighter around Aisha. The game was no longer just about desire — it was about survival. And secrets.

Fatou hallow's sharp gaze trailed her in corridors. Colleagues' conversations hushed when she entered a room. Even casual glances between her and Doc crackled with a dangerous undercurrent. And Doc? He seemed to thrive under the pressure.

It only made him bolder.

That evening, after an exhausting double shift, Aisha found herself in the hospital's dimly lit supply room — restocking linens, trying to lose herself in the mundane rhythm. The small space smelled of antiseptic and fresh gauze, quiet except for the hum of distant equipment.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Before she could turn, strong hands gripped her waist and spun her gently but firmly against the shelving unit. Doc loomed over her, his eyes dark and hungry, his jaw set with a raw tension that sent adrenaline rocketing through her veins.

"Doc—" she hissed, glancing nervously toward the door.

"Are you crazy? Anyone could—"

"I don't care." His voice was a low growl, edged with frustration and need. His hand slid into her hair, tilting her head back so her lips parted instinctively. "I've been watching you all day. Watching her watch you. I'm tired of pretending."

His mouth crashed against hers — hot, claiming, unapologetic. The kiss left no room for doubt; it wasn't soft or coaxing like before. It was possessive, laced with the simmering rage of a man whose territory had been threatened. His hand gripped her thigh, hiking it up around his waist, pinning her between cold steel shelves and the hard, insistent press of his body.

"You're mine, Aisha," he murmured roughly against her lips, his breath ragged.

"I don't care who suspects it. I don't care if the whole damn hospital knows it. No one touches what belongs to me."

The fierce dominance in his tone sent a molten rush spiraling through her core. His age, his authority, his total control — it all hit her harder now, under the threat of being caught. Her nails dug into his shoulders, her pulse hammering wildly.

"You're playing with fire," she whispered, though her hips arched against him involuntarily.

"If Fatou catches us—"

"Let her," he growled. His teeth grazed the tender skin along her throat, making her gasp.

"Maybe I want her to know. Maybe I want the whole damn hospital to see how well I take care of you. How you come back to me every night."

Her breath shuddered out of her, her body betraying every ounce of caution she'd tried to hold onto. She wanted the risk. The danger. The thrill of it all. His hand slid down her back, gripping her lower firmly as he pressed her even closer, as though he needed her as much as she needed him.

Then — footsteps. Close. Just outside the door.

Aisha froze. Her wide eyes met Doc's — but he didn't flinch. Instead, his lips quirked into a wicked, unrepentant smirk.

"Don't make a sound," he whispered against her ear, his tone dark silk and steel.

"Be a good girl... and stay quiet for me."

Her breath caught, the forbidden edge making her head spin.

The footsteps paused... then moved on.

Only once the hallway fell silent again did Doc pull back slightly, his thumb brushing across her swollen lower lip with dangerous affection.

"That's my girl," he said softly, pride darkening his gaze.

"You handled that perfectly."

She swallowed hard, chest heaving, completely unraveled.

"This is getting risky," she breathed.

His smile was slow. Deliberate.

"Then maybe it's time we stop hiding."

Her heart stopped.

"What are you saying?"

Doc leaned down, kissing her slow and deep, staking his claim with every stroke of his mouth.

"I'm saying," he murmured against her lips, "come home with me tonight. No offices. No supply closets. No stolen moments."

His hand gripped her jaw, tilting her face to his so she could see the full, commanding weight of his stare.

"I want you in my bed. All night. I want you to know what it feels like when I don't have to hold back."

Her knees nearly buckled.

"I want you completely."