Free Shiraz by Gisell DeJesus Page A

of it.” He managed a laugh despite his
apparent merciless hangover. “After Ryan took you home, Alexa and I
went to the Shooter's Pub down the street. That girl can put down
her liquor, especially for somebody whose career is to keep her
their voice intact. I tried to go drink for drink with her, but
Jesus,” He shut his eyes and opened them again. “Did you get home
okay?”
    Moving out of the way for a gurney
laid under a patient to pass, I jumped right back into conversation
as it ran in between us. “Oh yeah. That was sweet of Alexa to offer
Ryan to me—er, for her to offer for Ryan to drive me
home.”
    Antonio’s eyes lit up. “What was that
just now? Did the drummer get a little frisky with the new
fan?”
    I don’t think I have ever felt blood
rush to my face as fast as it did during this conversation. There
was no way in hell I wasn’t currently the color of a beet.
 
    “ No, nothing like that! He
was a real gentleman. A very nice guy, any woman would be . . .
very happy to have him in their life.”
    Antonio’s hangover must have been
fading as we spoke because he was having trouble containing what
looked to be a bit of giggles.
    “ Will you stop?” I asked,
my cheeks absolutely flushed. “You’re embarrassing me,
Antonio.”
    He took a step toward me,
his hand reaching out before I could stop it. He had flipped a lock
of hair out of my face, leaving my neck exposed. Oh shit. I hope it’s not
what I think.
    “ It looks like the perfect
gentleman gave you a permanent kiss goodnight.”
    I glared at Antonio. He was fixated on
my neck, and it occurred to me that in the heat of my taking nude
photos for Ryan, I never stopped to notice the bite marks he had
left behind. If there was just a small souvenir on my neck, I can
only imagine what the rest of my skin must look like underneath the
scrubs.
    I stopped glaring, realizing I had
been busted. I quickly whisked him over to an empty patient’s room
where we could talk without anybody else listening in. Antonio
grabbed one of the chairs reserved for visitors and quickly nudged
around until he was comfortable, crossing his legs and awaiting my
explanation as if I were a librarian about to begin story time.
 
    I started, “He . . . He didn’t force
anything. He never made me feel uncomfortable at any point that
night, hell, I felt as safe with him as I do with you. He gave me
the key to his room, and said if I wan—“
    Antonio squealed loudly enough I was
scared the other nurses on the floor might come running in thinking
there was a patient in distress. “You slept with him? Oh my God, I
was so naive to think it wouldn’t reach further than a tap kiss,
but I was wrong! You get it girl, I can’t believe it!”
    I was quickly confused. “Wait, you
don’t think I’m a whore, right? That I just
    jumped into his bed at the first
chance I had, right?”
    He sat back in his chair. “Sweetie . .
. that is none of my business. Your decisions are your own, and if
one of them happens to be making sexy time with a hot drummer I
would have gladly fucked until we killed each other, so I would
never judge you. And considering you have never done this since
I’ve known you, it must have been a careful decision.”
    I sat down on the patient’s bed
closest to the door, facing my new confidant. “It was. It was
totally my call, and I went to his room. I went up to the floor,
let myself into his room . . . and God, he just took me.
 Everything he wanted, he took and gave right back to me.
Jesus, his tongue is going to give me nightmares. He worked me like
a fucking puppet.”
    Antonio was smiling. “So what now? Is
it over between you two?”
    “ He wants to see me again
tonight. They’ll be leaving for the next city Monday morning. I
don’t know what the hell I’ve gotten myself into, Antonio, but I
haven’t stopped thinking about him since I left his hotel room. I’m
consumed. I have his taste in the back of my mouth. I can still
smell the lotion