Prognosis Christmas Baby - Amy Andrews Page 0,24

After tonight. But it was the only thing that made any sense right now — she wasn’t going to question it. ‘I don’t want to be alone today.’

Her honesty hit Nash square in the solar plexus. Neither did he. He couldn’t think of a better way to try and forget last night than being in Maggie’s bed. ‘Your car or mine?’

Maggie sat in silence all the way to her place as Nash drove. She didn’t want to rehash or speculate about what would happen on the unit today. She wanted a shower and she wanted him.

To get lost in him, to be wrapped up in him.

Nash followed her up the front steps as he had the other night and waited as she slid the key in the lock. She pushed the door open and shut it again after them looking so desolate he wanted to make it better. ‘You know Ruby’s—’

Maggie held up her hand to silence him. ‘Can we please just not talk?’

He nodded and Maggie turned away aware he was following her through the house and into her bedroom and beyond to her en suite. When she peeled her clothes off, Nash did also and when she was naked Maggie flicked on the shower, stepped under the spray and opened her arms to him.

He stepped in and Maggie kissed him again and again, twining her arms around his neck, fusing her body with his. Kisses that took over, that made her forget. Deep and wet. Full of passion. Tinged with sorrow. She gave herself up to desire, letting it rise up and sweep the sadness away.

He soaped her body with long slippery strokes and it was only when he was buried deep inside her, her legs wrapped around his waist, screaming his name as their climaxes hit, that Maggie finally let go of the emotions that had threatened to rise up all morning.

Clinging to his shoulders, she buried her face in his neck and let go of the deep sobs she’d been holding back. They shook her chest as powerfully as her orgasm shook her to the core.

When she spiralled down, Maggie was more exhausted than she’d ever thought possible and she thanked god Nash was there, turning off the taps and wrapping her in a fluffy towel before picking her up and carrying her to the unmade bed.

Then he lowered her to the sheets and joined her, spooning behind her, tucking her head under his chin, sliding his hand around her waist.

They were both asleep in minutes.

CHAPTER FIVE

Nash woke in the darkened room to the patter of rain on the roof and Maggie on her side, her bare back to him, murmuring into the phone. He looked at his watch. Two o’clock. They’d been asleep for five hours.

He heard Maggie say, ‘Just ringing to check on Ruby,’ and ‘I see,’ and ‘I’m fine,’ before she hung up the phone. He reached out and laid his hand between her shoulder blades and admired the contrast between his bronzed skin and the creamy richness of hers.

‘Has she gone?’

Maggie nodded, her heart unbearably heavy. She didn’t turn. ‘An hour ago.’

The inevitability of Ruby’s situation didn’t ease the impact of her words. Nash felt the little girl’s death deep in his soul. Remembered Tammy’s death and the devastating time that had followed all over again. He ran his hand across to Maggie’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She shut her eyes at his comforting gesture, grateful for his silence. He’d known just what she’d needed like only another who worked in the field could. Her ex, an engineer, had never understood. He’d tried to fill her sadness up with clichéd phrases or contrived distractions, but none of them had worked as well as Nash’s simple touch.

She didn’t blame Peter. He’d tried hard but ultimately he hadn’t been able to understand that every death took a little piece out of her soul. That she was diminished a little each time.

That life made a little less sense with each tragedy.

‘I’m sorry. I get too involved,’ she murmured, falling back against her pillow and staring at the ceiling.

Nash rolled up on his elbow and looked into her sad brown eyes. He’d hoped that the nurses who had looked after Tammy at the end had been even half as involved. ‘You should never apologise for that.’

Maggie smiled at him and lifted her palm to cradle his jaw, scratchy with blond stubble. ‘Thank you.’

Nash turned his head and pressed a kiss to her palm. ‘Are