The Predicament

  “I’m not sure how we’ll explain this to the insurance company,” Nate mused.

  Casey groaned. “It’s all my fault. I was too caught up in making the bedroom into a Tantric temple that I didn’t realize I put the candles too close to the drapes.” She shook her head. “Guess it’s safe to say that sure as hell didn’t go as planned.”

  Nate laughed. “I would disagree. You wanted to put some heat in our bedroom, and a house fire is one way to do it.”

  Swatting his arm, she replied, “Oh whatever.”

  They stood there for a few minutes just staring at the mess. “What now?” she finally asked. After all, they had a whole Olivia free afternoon to fill. Part of her wondered if they should try to make love just to do it, or if they should call it a day. Considering the acrid smell of smoke still lingering in the air, they would have to use their imagination on where else to do it.

  “We could catch up on some sleep, or we could order in some Chinese, watch some Netflix and just veg out,” Nate suggested.

  “That sounds good.”

  “Or…”

  “Or what?”

  His dark eyes stared into hers. “We could go get Olivia and spend the rest of the day with her. Maybe go out to eat and take her for a walk in the park?”

  Casey reached out and cupped his cheek. “I like that idea a lot.”

  Nate grinned. “Good.”

  For the second time that day, he sprinted to the bathroom. “I’m going to change. I probably smell like smoke,” he called.

  She nodded. “Me too.”

  When she eyed the soot blackened wall, she shook her head. Once again, her sex life had gone down in flames, and once again, she wasn’t sure how in the hell she was going to fix it.

  A week passed without any improvement. She got slammed with back to back projects at work, and Nate helped out one of his doctor friends by taking their shift, which resulted in nothing but sleep happening in their bed. While the setback was disheartening, Casey wasn’t giving up. She had decided to view the time as a way to recoup and recharge and come back with a better strategy.

  Thursday night found her sitting around Aidan and Emma’s dining room table as she bounced Olivia on her knee. Earlier that day, Emma had called to invite her for an impromptu dinner. Thankfully, it was not another meeting about her dying sex life. Instead, they were all there to support their friend, Connor, and his husband, Jeff, in their adoption journey.

  As she balanced Olivia on her shoulder, Casey rifled through her work bag. She pulled out a manila envelope and passed it across the table to Connor. “Here is Nate’s and my recommendation letter. I had him do a separate one to lend his medical expertise to.”

  Connor beamed as he took it into his hands. “Thank you. And tell Nate thanks for taking the time to do one himself.”

  “He was happy to do it.”

  “We all are,” Emma said, as she reached over to squeeze Connor’s hand.

  When she pulled back, Jeff gave Emma a sheepish smile. “Out of everyone, I’m surprised that you didn’t say no.”

  Emma’s green eyes widened in surprise. “Why ever would you think that?”

  “Because I didn’t want Connor to have a baby with you.”

  “I could never, ever say no to Connor’s and your happiness because of a grudge.” Glancing over at Aidan, she winked. “Besides, it all worked out as it should have.”

  “Here, here,” Aidan said as he raised his wine glass.

  Sorting through the paperwork, Connor said, “I think that’s everything we need from you guys. Now that we have all the recommendation letters, we can move forward with the agency.”

  Casey smiled. “That’s so exciting.”

  Connor nodded. “To think that this time next year we could be parents…” His eyes closed as a hopeful expression came over his face. “It’s just amazing.”

  With a grin, Casey said, “There’s always surrogacy, too. I mean, between me or Em, we could pop you a kid out, I’m sure.”

  Emma groaned. “Speak for yourself.”

  Connor and Jeff laughed. “While we appreciate the offer, we really want to give an unwanted child a home,” Connor said. After he wrinkled his nose, he added, “Jesus, that sounded rehearsed, didn’t it?”

  “No. It just sounds like something which you’ve given a lot of thought to,” Emma replied.

  Connor smiled. “We have.”

  “Well, any child would be lucky to get you guys for parents,” Aidan said.

  “Very true,” Casey agreed.

  As she rose out of her chair, Emma asked, “Who wants some dessert?”

  Aidan rubbed his stomach. “I think I’m too stuffed.”

  Cocking her brows at him almost in a challenge, Emma said, “It’s Grammy’s Strawberry Delight Cake.”

  Her statement sent Aidan’s blue eyes flashing with pleasure. “Well, then, I think I could try a little piece.”

  Emma laughed. “I thought as much.”

  “I’ll clear while you get it ready,” Casey suggested.

  “Here. Let me help,” Connor added.

  Once she handed Olivia off to an eager Jeff, Casey started gathering up the dirty dishes. As they started through the alcove to the kitchen, Connor asked, “So what’s been going on with you?”

  With a shrug, she replied, “Oh, you know. Same old same old.”

  After Connor sat the plates in his hands down by the sink, he gave her a no-nonsense look. “Hmm, so the same old shit warrants an emergency girls’ summit?”

  Not really wanting to take a trip down memory lane with him, she rolled her eyes. “Just Emma overreacting as usual,” she replied, before heading back into the dining room.

  She should have known she wouldn’t be able to dissuade Connor so easily. He caught up to her the moment she reached the table. “Come on, Case. What’s up?”

  Aidan shifted Caroline on his knee. “You didn’t tell him?” he asked.

  Before Casey could protest, Connor’s eyes widened. “You mean Aidan knows, and I don’t.”

  “It’s not some conspiracy against you, Connor,” she argued.

  “Just because I couldn’t make it that day doesn’t mean I shouldn’t get to know.” In her hesitation, he added, “Seriously. If you don’t tell me, I’ll just ask Emma.”

  “Fine. If you must know, I fell asleep giving Nate a blow job.”

  The wine goblet Connor had just picked up slipped through his fingers and smashed onto the dining room floor. Without even looking at the broken glass, he questioned, “W-Wait, what?”

  “Em, bring the broom and dustpan. I just freaked Connor out with my narcoleptic oral sex story, and now we have a cleanup on aisle three,” Casey called in an amused tone.

  Poking her head in the doorway, Emma peered curiously around. “One second,” she replied.

  “I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just…wow,” Connor said.

  Casey laughed. “Yeah, I know.”

  When she gazed over to gage Jeff’s reaction, he shook his head. “Oh no. Leave me out of this one.”

  “Thanks.”

  Connor pulled out a chair and eased her down into it. Then he sat down beside her. “Okay. Tell me everything.”

  Holding up her hands, Casey said, “Seriously, do we really need to talk about this right now?” As Olivia grinned at her across the table, she added, “Call me crazy, but it’s kinda weird talking about it in front of the kids.”

  “Why don’t I take them into the living room?” Jeff suggested.

  Aidan nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Traitors,” she muttered under her breath.

  Rising out of his chair, Aidan said, “Normally I wouldn’t pressure you to talk, but after what happened the other day, I think it might help.”

  “There’s more?” Connor questioned.

  Casey exhaled loudly. “Oh yeah. There’s more.”

  “Damn,” he murmured.

  “Yep. Pretty much.”

  They were
momentarily interrupted by Emma arriving with the broom and dustpan. After Aidan had helped get the kids and Jeff settled in the living room, he took his seat just as Emma brought the cake in. Although she probably shouldn’t have indulged, Casey needed a little sugar to fortify her strength to unload the continuing sad saga of her sex life.

  She finished up the last sordid detail along with the last bite of strawberry cake. Connor had sat in rapt attention, nodding along through some of the parts while cringing at others. At the very end, he shook his head. “Man, that’s rough.”

  “Yup,” she murmured.

  “But as I’m sure the others have said before me, I can promise you it isn’t as bad as you think.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “When you have something as strong as you and Nate do, it can’t be lost so easily. It’s still there. You just have to have a little patience.”

  She grunted as she licked the icing off her fork. “You should know I’m the last person in the world to have any patience.”

  “You’re just going to have to try. I mean, I haven’t had a child yet, nor will I have the hormones when I do, but I do know that all relationships and marriages go through sexual spells. Sometimes it’s just a lesser season for you.”

  “Ugh…I guess.”

  “And getting yourself all worked up over it doesn’t help matters. You just have to take a deep breath and relax.”

  “The last time I did that I almost burned down my bedroom,” Casey quipped.

  Laughter erupted around the table. When it died down, Aidan leaned forward in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. "Maybe it's the bedroom."

  Casey furrowed her brows in confusion. "Huh?"

  "Like the issue is with the bedroom, the place, not the sex itself."

  Tilting her head, Casey paused to let Aidan's words sink in. In Casey’s silence, Emma glanced between her and Aidan. "What could possibly be wrong with their bedroom?" she questioned.

  “Besides the destruction by my pyrotechnic candle lighting skills?” Casey mused.

  Emma laughed. “I thought you said the walls were repainted two days ago and the new window treatments are being delivered tomorrow?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “So then what’s wrong with it physically or emotionally?” Emma asked.

  "I'm not saying there's something wrong with it, just that to spice things up she might want to look somewhere different,” Aidan replied.

  Emma crinkled her nose. "Like a hotel?"

  Aidan grinned at her. "You say that like it’s a bad thing. If memory serves me well, the first time we were together was at a hotel."

  A blush of pink tinged Emma's cheeks. From the way she cast her eyes down, Casey knew she was having an elicit flashback. Aidan seemed to appreciate her reaction. Taking her hand, he pulled her out of her to chair and eased her down on his lap. As his hand drew circles on her back, Casey chuckled to herself that Aidan and Emma would most likely be making use of their bedroom as soon as the kids were asleep.

  “So you’re advocating we go away somewhere to rekindle the heat?” Casey asked.

  Tilting his head thoughtfully, Aidan replied, “Not exactly.”

  “Then what?” Casey asked.

  A devious glint burned in his blue eyes. “Consider a public place.”

  “That’s not exactly a first for us,” Casey admitted.

  With a shrug, Aidan replied, “It doesn’t have to be about trying something new. In fact, I think part of the problem is you’re getting too caught up in the planning and execution. You just need to throw caution to the wind and go balls to the wall.”

  Casey thought about Aidan’s suggestion. “Hmm, like a sneak sex attack at the hospital?”

  Aidan bobbed his head. “I like that.”

  Connor cleared his throat. Smiling slightly, he asked, “Are you sure you want to be taking advice from him?”

  Aidan huffed indignantly. “Excuse me? Considering my reputation, I think anyone would be thrilled to have me dispensing sexual advice.” His comment earned him a smack from Emma. “Ow,” he muttered.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t be throwing around your former reputation in front of me, or you’ll be needing some sex advice of your own.”

  Casey and Connor busted out laughing. “Burn, Douchenozzle,” Casey replied.

  Aidan merely grinned. “Sorry about that. I got a little carried away.”

  “I’ll think about letting you make it up to me later,” she replied, with a wink.

  “Angel of mercy,” Aidan teased as he nuzzled her neck.

  After pushing Aidan away, Emma turned to Casey. “Are you really serious about doing a hospital sneak attack?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess the aspect of it being Nate’s workplace makes it seem a little…seedy and sordid?”

  Wagging a finger, Casey argued, “Ha, like you and Aidan didn’t get busy in his office.”

  While Aidan snickered, Emma’s face flushed. “That was only because I was ovulating, and after taking my temperature, that was the optimal time to have sex for conception.”

  “Yeah, yeah, so you claim,” Casey teased.

  “Fine. Go bang your husband all over the fourth floor. See if I care,” Emma huffed.

  “Speaking of my office, maybe you should come by sometime?” Aidan suggested as he wagged his eyebrows.

  Emma rolled her eyes as she pulled herself out of Aidan’s lap. “You’re all impossible. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make sure my children haven’t terrorized Jeff into no longer wanting kids.”

  Casey laughed. “I’ll come with you. It’s time I got Olivia home for her bath and bed.” After standing up, she winked at Aidan. “Thanks for the advice, oh mighty Douchenozzle.”

  “You’re welcome. Let me know how it works out.”

  “Call me Pessimistic Paul, but I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Connor said.

  “Me either,” Emma agreed.

  Casey grinned. “Ha, then I’ll just have to prove you both wrong.”

  After easing her SUV into a spot in the parking garage, Casey threw a final glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror. “Hmm, a little more lipstick,” she murmured, before digging her makeup bag out of her purse. Once she fished out her favorite gold tube, she colored her lips a darker red. She puckered them and made a kissy face at the mirror. “Nice.”

  Operation Sneak Attack Sex was about to commence.

  The instant her office clock hit eleven, she’d grabbed her carefully packed bag out of her closet and hurried into her bathroom. Thankfully, her job as Vice President of Marketing meant she had one of the few offices with a private bathroom. She was certainly going to need a little privacy today.

  First, she took out a sexy pair of black lace stockings and a garter belt. Once she had them on, she put on the black and white lace panties that looked demure but were conveniently crotch less. Then she put on the matching corset top. To ensure another nurse’s costume mishap didn’t happen, she had used her lunch break the day before to go shopping for a size larger than she usually wore.

  Standing back from the mirror, she appreciated her appearance. “Looking pretty sexy there,” she murmured. After quickly reapplying some makeup and fluffing out her hair, she pulled on her black, ankle length rain coat that if it had been brown, would have made her look like a detective in a trench coat.

  After grabbing her purse and phone, she headed out of the office. She then made the twenty minute drive over to Nate’s hospital, in a break-neck fifteen minutes. Drawing her shoulders back, she stilled what little nerves she had and got out of the car.

  When she reached Nate’s floor, she drew in a breath and stepped confidently off the elevator. She was secure in the knowledge that in just a few minutes she would be giving Nate the surprise of his life. Just the idea sent tingles up her spine and heat between her legs.

  She paused at the nurses’ s
tation. “Hi, Mrs. Rossi, how are you?” Amelia, the charge nurse, asked. Most of the nurses knew her from the holiday parties.

  “Good, thanks you. Can you tell me where my husband is?”

  “I think he just stepped inside a patient’s room. Would you like me to have him paged?”

  “No, no,” Casey said a little too quickly. At Amelia’s raised brows, she said, “I wanted to surprise him.”

  “Ah, I see. I think he’s in Room 415.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ignoring Amelia’s curious expression, Casey turned and started down the hall. When she finally reached room 415, Nate was just stepping out. At the sight of her, a pleased but confused look came on his face. “What are you doing here?”

  Without answering him, she demanded. “Where’s the doctors’ lounge?”

  His brows furrowed. “Down the hall. On the right,” he answered almost robotically.

  She grabbed his hand and then proceeded to drag him down the hall, which considering his size and build was no easy feat. “Casey, what’s going on?”

  When they reached the door, she grabbed him by both sides of the face and jerked him down to where she could lay one on him. Once they were both breathless from her kiss, she pulled away. Taking a step back, she untied her raincoat and flashed him.

  His dark eyes bulged as his jaw dropped to his chest. “W-What the hell?”

  “Now that I have your undivided attention, I want you to obey your Hippocratic Oath by giving me the best care possible.”

  Dumbfounded, Nate replied, “You want me to what?”

  She giggled. “Just how plain do I have to make it, Dr. Rossi?”

  “I don’t know,” he muttered.

  “If it’s not abundantly clear, I came here for you to fuck me.” When she tried the door on the doctors’ lounge, she found it locked. Eyeing the card reader on the wall, Casey then jerked Nate’s keycard off the lapel of his white coat. “I want you right here and right now.”

  When she slid the card into the reader, it beeped approval and entry. As she shoved Nate inside, he shook his head. “Wait, Casey, not here—”

  “Yes. Right here and right now.” Reaching for his pants, she tugged on his belt. “Let’s get that fabulous cock out so you can fuck me until I scream.”