prepared for Siren, I saw she was out cold. I set it on the table by the window and pulled one of the chairs over to the bedside.
Then I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and studied the woman sleeping in my bed. Her memory was coming back slowly, at least in bits and pieces.
Should I tell her now that what she remembered about us had been a one-time thing? She’d asked me how long we’d been in love. Love? Where had that come from? Siren and I detested one another.
But did we really?
Sure, she infuriated the hell out of me. Many times, I thought about wringing her damn neck. But that night, when our inhibitions were lowered, it had only taken a single touch before our mouths were fused together in a frenzied passion. It was a kiss so good, so hot, so everything, that it could only lead to sex.
I could try to convince myself I didn’t remember much about it, but I did.
Unable to resist the temptation now, I peeked under the blanket and sheet at Siren’s body. As I hoped, my t-shirt had ridden up, exposing her bare pussy.
I closed my eyes, remembering how she’d tasted that night when I spread her legs and devoured her with my mouth.
She’d said she remembered that sex between us was fantastic, and she was right. I leaned farther forward and kissed the bare skin of her hip and felt her fingers weave into my hair.
“Smoke, touch me,” she pleaded, pushing the bedclothes away and spreading her legs just slightly.
I sat on the edge of the bed and looked into her eyes.
“Please,” she mewled.
“Open more for me.” I placed both of my hands on the inside of her thighs and used my thumbs to part her folds. I leaned down and ran the tip of my tongue from just above her opening, up to her clit. I pressed hard against it at the same time I eased two fingers into her wet heat.
She writhed as I continued my gentle assault and pulled back when I felt her tighten around my fingers.
“No,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.”
I licked through her folds again, reminding myself to take it slow. Give her pleasure. Nothing more. When her body clenched my fingers again, I didn’t stop.
“Come on, let go,” I murmured, watching her face as she did as I told her. Her eyes opened and bored into mine.
“Smoke…I…I…”
I moved up her body and kissed her, thrusting my tongue into her mouth. Whatever she was about to say, I couldn’t let her.
Tonight, I gave her pleasure, and in the morning, I’d tell her the truth. I had to. Nothing good could come of me continuing to let her believe there was something more between us than there really was.
“Will you stay with me?” Siren asked when I stood and covered her body with the sheet and blanket.
“I think you’ll sleep better if I stay in the other room.”
“For a little while, then?”
“Sure.” I walked around to the other side of the bed and lay on top of the blanket.
When the nurse knocked on the door a little while later, I got up, let her in, and then went to the bedroom across the hallway.
* * *
I opened my eyes, surprised it was daylight, and got up to check on Siren. After rapping on the door, I eased it open. The bed was empty, the monitors were turned off, and I didn’t see her IV pole.
I walked down the hallway in search of her. Seeing me, Ms. Wynona rushed out of the kitchen. “Shh,” she said, putting a finger in front of her lips. “Ms. Gallagher is sleeping.”
“Where?”
She pointed over to the sunroom just off the main living area of the house. I could see her IV pole and the nurse sitting in a chair close to the daybed.
When I walked over, she looked up, stood, and led me in the opposite direction.
“Siobhan had a rough night. I’ve just gotten her back to sleep.”
“What happened?”
“I gave her this so she could call me if needed.” The woman held up a small device.
“What is that?”
“It’s a caregiver’s pager, sir.”
“You said she had a rough night.”
“Yes. I came in, and she was complaining of a terrible headache. I gave her something for the pain and then stayed until after she fell asleep. It wasn’t long before she woke again, this time saying she’d had a nightmare. It wasn’t until the sun rose that she was able to