Page 11 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

ALTON

The morning went by in a blur. Patient after patient had been in with flu, strep throat, the list went on.

The nurses had been administering rapid tests on those who presented with symptoms. Even my lunch break was only fifteen minutes long due to us running behind.

We were a well-oiled machine, but some patients liked to talk.

As much as I should cut conversations short, I delivered the level of care I did by knowing about them and their families.

It was a personal experience to sit with a doctor they trusted.

If I rushed each person out the door, why would they keep returning?

I glanced at my screen to see who my next patient was, nearly spitting out the drink of water in my mouth. The reason for the visit was listed as a follow-up. Why did he come here instead of calling or texting me? None of Jordan’s men booked appointments in my practice.

Exiting my office, I found the room he was located in and knocked on the door before entering. Lane sat on the exam table, squirming on the paper that lined it.

“Hey, Al,” he said with a grin. “Can’t they make something more comfortable and less noisy than this? It doesn’t set the mood right.”

I closed the door behind me, sat on the rolling stool, and scanned my badge to log into the system so I could detail our visit. “I’m not sure what mood you’re hoping to set, but this is a medical office.”

“This is a lot of wasteful paper. Use a sheet. Maybe that’s not the best idea.

You’ll rack up the cost of detergent, water, and unless you’re doing it yourself, the fee for a company to handle it.

” I could listen to him talk all day. He fascinated me with the things he said.

Not necessarily this topic, but how his mind worked.

We were on a schedule though. There was only a fifteen minute window I had with him.

“Lane, why are you here? Are you still not feeling well?”

“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you and over text didn’t feel right.”

I turned on the stool to fully face him. “What would you like to discuss?”

“We’re not on camera in here, are we? Or being listened in on?”

“No, I would never do that.”

“Just checking. Anywho…” He dropped his voice and leaned forward. “The other day, I was on a job with you know who and I might have called you and Raiden my boyfriends.” I did not think he’d say that. Apparently, I should expect the unexpected with Lane.

“Why?”

“Some asshole grabbed my wrist, and Raiden… Well, let’s just say Raiden didn’t take it well. I got in the guy’s face and told him my men don’t like to share. I also said people don’t fuck with you and Raiden.”

“I…” What the hell was happening? Part of me was beyond confused, and another was trying to refrain from asking who touched him so I could go find him.

That wasn’t me. I wasn’t the guy who got possessive and had the urge to hurt another.

I was a doctor, for fuck’s sake. “Were you afraid?” Who knew why I asked that?

He scoffed. “Um, no. I don’t intimidate easily. You remember who I grew up with. You never met them but they were evil incarnate. Jack didn’t scare me.”

“Jack?”

“The guy. Anyway, I called you my boyfriend and thought we should talk about that. I violated a code of something.”

“A code?”

He groaned. “Why must you ask so many questions?”

“Because I’m confused as hell.” I stood, pushing the stool back so I didn’t trip over it. On the wall, I grabbed the otoscope so I could pretend to examine him.

Lane watched me, then leaned away when I tried to look in his ear. “What are you doing?”

“You’re here for an appointment. I should at least make sure you’re doing okay.”

“I’m fine. If you’d like to look me over, I have much more interesting places than my ear to offer for an examination.”

Sighing, I returned the otoscope to the wall. “You’re not making this easy on me.”

“I’m not sick.” He lifted his hand and traced his fingers along my tie. My breath stilled. “I like this look on you, but not as much as when you were relaxed on my couch. Why did you leave?” I shouldn’t have been surprised he brought it up.

“You were comfortable with Raiden. He would take care of you. I wasn’t needed any longer.” There was no reason to mention how right they looked together. I didn’t belong.

“Neither of us wanted you to go. You could have stayed and cuddled with us.”

I swallowed, as difficult as it was now with the vision of the three of us lying together on the couch was in my head, not that we’d fit. “I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

“The truth.”

“I told you to be with Raiden. You don’t need me.”

“Need. Want. Desire.” His hand wrapped around my tie to pull me closer.

“You belong, Al. Don’t make me beg.” Dear god, I could not get hard at work.

Lane licked his lips. “You want to kiss me, don’t you?

I’m no longer infectious.” He scrunched his nose up.

“That was the least sexy sentence I think I’ve ever said. ”

“I was afraid of us becoming more and me being rejected. Raiden… I don’t know what he wants or how to handle things with him.”

“That’s because he doesn’t use his mouth like he should.

Okay, that sounded dirty, but I didn’t mean it that way.

We need to talk. All of us. I’d say just you two, but I have a feeling if you were in a room together, neither of you would say anything and instead stare at the wall.

” He wasn’t wrong. Even when I had Raiden on my schedule for an annual visit, our conversation was kept short and concise.

I took the stethoscope and put it in my ears. “I’m going to listen to your lungs.”

“We’re not done talking.”

“You had bronchitis. I need to make sure your lungs are clear.”

“Fine. Have it your way.” Lane reached for the hem of his shirt and lifted it over his head, revealing a smattering of dark hair on his chest, stomach, and down to where it disappeared into his jeans.

My mouth went dry. I couldn’t take my eyes off his body, off the muscles beneath that hair, or the ones in his arms.

His finger went beneath my chin to lift my gaze to his. “I’m breathing just fine.”

Shaking my head, I walked behind him and had him take deep breaths, while I listened and tried not to stare at the way his back flexed with every movement. Lane wasn’t going easy on me.

I moved to his chest and listened there. He breathed in and out, his chest rising and falling. Fuck. My. Life. How was I going to see patients after this?

“Your lungs are clear,” I said, leaning away and putting the stethoscope into my pocket.

“Not so fast.” His hand wrapped around my tie again. “Do I scare you, or does the idea of being with Raiden and me do that?”

“All of it. You. Raiden. The idea of us in bed together.”

“Sex is thrilling, not frightening. You’re afraid of what comes after, aren’t you? Or do you have performance issues?” He lifted his hands. “I’m not judging.”

“I’m fine,” I growled, growing irritated. “It’s the after.” Jesus, he was… Fuck, he was maddening.

“Okay, I can work with that. Do you want to kiss me?”

My eyes dropped to his lips before I could stop them. Lane parted them, his pink tongue slipping out to glide over his plump bottom lip.

“Al, kiss me. Let me know you want this.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Like I said the other day, your ethics don’t exist between us. Kiss. Me.” He pulled me closer. The puff of breath that left him found a home on my lips.

“Raiden,” I whispered.

“We’ll worry about him later. He’s got his own shit to deal with. Leave the details to me. I just need to know you’re on board. That you want me.”

“Wanting you isn’t the problem.” My gaze lifted to his. This close, I noticed his eyes were an endless sea of brown, easy to get lost in. “Knowing what to do once I have you is.”

“I’m easy. An open book. I’ll warn you about something though. I want to work for Jordan, so you might have to patch me up from time to time.”

“You what?” I yelled. Lane quickly cut me off with his mouth. He pressed to me, his lips gliding over mine. I was so stunned I didn’t move. “Let me in, Al.”

My hands fisted at my sides to keep from reaching for him. I shouldn’t do this, especially not at work.

“Lane.” One word, brokenly falling from my lips.

“If you don’t kiss me, I’m going to walk out that door and not look back. I’ll beg when I know you want me to, but I refuse to offer myself to someone who doesn’t desire me. I thought you did by what happened the other night. Maybe I’m wrong. I could have?—”

It was my turn to cut him off. I didn’t waste time with a closed-mouth kiss.

My tongue pressed to his lips, sweeping along the same one he’d licked.

He let me in just like he asked me to. Lane’s head tilted to the side, granting me better access.

The hand he had on my tie slid up to cup the back of my neck and brought me closer, my body following, unable to refuse the pull.

Lane turned on the table, his legs on the side, slipping around my waist as he brought himself flush against me. He let me lead, let me devour him, but I still didn’t touch him. The logical part of me remembered where I was.

I was the first to pull away. “You didn’t read me wrong. I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing with you. Raiden is… Raiden’s going to say no.”

“You just witnessed how persuasive I am, and you still doubt me?” He tsked. “Shame on you. You leave that giant of a man to me. Oh, and before I leave, you don’t want to check my prostate, do you?”

I’d never been more grateful for the extra insulation between the patient rooms. I did it so privacy could be retained, not with the intention of one day having a man with his legs wrapped around my waist while he tried to coax me into more on the table.

“I think my time’s up,” he whispered. “I’ve stunned you silent.

Not a bad way to end an exam.” He dropped his legs and smoothed his hand over my tie, then my coat.

“At least you don’t look like I was tongue fucking you in here.

Wait, your face has a bit of a beard burn.

I’d put on a mask. You know, so you don’t catch anything. ” He winked.

“You’re dangerous.”

“You have no idea of the things I can do.” Lane stepped down from the table and stood before me. “Do I have to check out at the desk or can I handle that in here with you?”

“Desk. Tell them you don’t need another follow-up.”

“That’s right, because we can take care of it later, off the books, in the privacy of my home.

” Lane leaned forward and brushed his lips over my cheek.

“I can be sweet and sinful. It will be a mystery which one you’ll get.

See ya later. Thanks for my follow-up.” He opened the door and walked out of it, leaving me to wonder what the hell I’d just gotten myself into.