Fragile by Veronica Short Read Free Book Online Page B

diverted my eyes to Aiden and ran my hands through my hair. I must look like a mess.
    “Do you have to go in? Can’t you sleep this morning and go in later?” He sat back down on the bed, and I moved my gaze back to his face. He truly was worried.
    “No, I need to go in. The first twenty-four hours after surgery are the most critical.”
    He was searching my face for something, “Make sure that you get some sleep in somewhere today, even if you have to call me. I can come and pick you up for a small nap in the car.” I smiled at his suggestion. “I’m serious, Lu. I’m worried that you don’t sleep enough.”
    “I know my limits, Rick, but I will stop and have a rest in the on call room at some stage.”
    I left the apartment shortly after Rick. Not long after arriving at the hospital my phone alerted me to a message.
    Have you slept yet?
    I shook my head at the text before I pressed reply.
    Not yet, will soon.
    Make sure that you do.
    Yes, Chief.
    I pocketed my phone and headed into the consultation room. After finishing up with the consultations and doing rounds, I spoke to my interns, instructing them on post-op care before I called it a day.
    I had been dying to use Rick’s bath since I saw it and decided that today I would use it. My body ached and being submerged in warm water sounded perfect. Having made the decision that I wanted to have a bath when I got home, I stopped at the store for some bubble bath and a bottle of wine.
    Entering the apartment, Aiden greeted me in his usual fashion. We said hello, and I headed upstairs to the main bathroom, where the giant sized bathtub waited for me. I started to pour the bath and headed back down to the kitchen to get a glass of wine. Leaving the door open for Aiden to come and go as he liked, I placed my phone on the counter next to my glass, undressed and sank into the warm water. I instantly relaxed as the water cascaded over my aching body. I stopped the water when it threatened to overfill and then I just soaked with my eyes closed.
    My phone started to ring and I sighed as I reached over to answer it. “Hello.” I hit the answer button, too relaxed to check who was calling me before I answered it.
    “You sound...different.” Rick’s voice said into my ear and I could hear him typing in the background. “I’m just making sure that you have a rest or a break today.”
    “Hmm, I’m at home in the bath, relaxing.” I heard the typing stop and Rick cleared his throat, “That does sound relaxing.” His voice sounds different than it did a moment ago.
    “It is. You should try it some time. Get some of that tension out of your body.”
    “I don’t think a bath will be enough to relieve my tension.”
    “Hmm, I know what you mean.”
    “Are you alone?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you in the bath now?”
    “Yes.” We stayed silent and even though we weren’t in the same room, the air held a sexual tension. “Are you alone?”
    When Rick said yes, his voice was so tight I wondered what he was doing on the other end of the phone. “Is your phone on loud speaker?”
    “Yes.”
    “Is your phone on loud speaker?”
    “No but I only need one hand.”
    “Fuck Lu.”
    I smiled to myself at the sound of Rick’s unravelled voice. “Fuck, Lu. I gotta go.” I laughed at the sound of the phone beeping and hung up, exchanging it for my glass of wine.
    Submerged in the tub, I heard movement and when I opened my eyes, Rick was standing in the doorway. “I thought you were going to be late.” I frowned over to him.
    “I am.”
    “Oh, I must have dozed off.” I started to sit up, my knees covering my chest.
    “I brought dinner home,” Rick announced, stepping into the bathroom and grabbing the towel that I had hanging on the rack. “You’re probably a prune by now. Come on, dinner will get cold.” He held the towel open. Not thinking anything of it, I stood up and Rick wrapped the towel around me and helped me out of the bath. Being around Rick had become