---- Chapter 11 Erin Calhoun POV: My mind drifted, unbidden, to the memory of those hands on my body, exploring, claiming. | was ruined. Utterly and completely ruined by this man. He turned, drying his hands ona clean towel. "The pain is back?" He came to stand in front of me, his expression softening. "I'm sorry. | meant to call, but this accident... it's been nonstop." | just stared at him. He'd lost weight in the few days since I'd seen him. A dark stubble shadowed his jaw. Without thinking, | reached up and gently touched the rough scruff on his cheek. "You look terrible." He captured my hand, turning his head to press a rough kiss into my palm. "I'll go shave." | tugged his hand, stopping him. "No, don't. It's... handsome." | felt my cheeks heat up. "Very... masculine." A true smile lit up his tired features. "So | should keep it?" | crinkled my nose. "It might scratch when you kiss me." His smile widened, a devastatingly attractive sight. "Should we ---- test that theory?" "This is your office," | reminded him, my voice a weak protest. "It's fine. I'm on a half-day today. No one will bother us." He told me he'd been about to call me when he saw my name on the patient list for another doctor. His expression grew serious again. "Erin, | need to apologize. | didn't know... that it was your first time." We were sitting so close. The scent of antiseptic and his own clean, personal scent filled my senses. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the tiny mole near the corner of his eye, the dark circles of exhaustion, the individual lashes that framed his intense gaze. He was my girlhood dream, a fantasy |' d never thought could be real. A lump formed in my throat. There were so many things | wanted to say, but | couldn't. In front of him, | felt a familiar wave of inadequacy. | was a mess, a tangle of insecurities and family drama. | couldn't pull him into the ugliness of my life So | forced a smile, a brittle, bright thing. "Are you saying you're going to take responsibility for me, Doctor?" He didn't smile back. His gaze was steady, serious. "| want to." "Don't be so serious," | deflected, pulling my hand away. "You're scaring me. We're both adults. We're responsible for our own actions." ---- "Erin..." "Let's just focus on the treatment," | said, cutting him off. "It really hurts." His jaw tightened, but he nodded, his professional mask snapping back into place. He became Dr. Hurst again, his examination gentle but thorough. He adjusted my medication and prescribed a course of physical therapy. | stood up, ready to leave. "I'll take you," he said, grabbing a clean white coat from a hook on the door. In the therapy room, | closed my eyes in embarrassment as he applied the warm compresses and began the massage. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!