Her Dominant Doctor (2 page)

Increasingly aware that the recovery room nurses were watching him with nosy curiosity, Thomas left them to monitor her. Heading back to his office, he grabbed a cup of coffee and sank into the oversized black leather ergonomic chair, propping his feet up on the sturdy antique oak desk. He needed an injection of caffeine to counteract his exhaustion. To say it had been an extremely long day was an understatement. He felt like he had just run the Boston marathon, a combination of intense fatigue, coupled with a feeling of elation, like a runner’s high. He sensed it had everything to do with his last patient. Sipping the strong brew, he reflected on the events that led to meeting her.
Annie
.

Hoping to leave right when his shift ended, he had been informed that there was an emergency cholecystectomy on the way up to the surgical floor. He had been grateful it was a straightforward procedure, usually completed in just under an hour, provided there were no complications. Gallbladder removal was common and he had performed hundreds of them in his career.

Thomas had logged into the computer system to read the notes on his soon-to-arrive patient. The documentation showed that she was a forty-one-year-old female suffering from an acute gallstone attack, who had been across the Atlantic Ocean when the pain started. He winced in sympathy for the poor woman. To have suffered such distress was bad enough, but while traveling must have been a miserable experience, forcing her to cut her vacation short.
Tragic
.

It was at that point that he had looked up to see the gurney being wheeled down the hallway. Annie O’Reilly had been officially transferred from an emergency room case to a surgical case. Her care was his responsibility to provide, oversee, and safeguard. He had prepared to meet and examine his patient, entering the pre-op suite.

Having barely looked at her as she passed him a few minutes before, Thomas really saw her for the first time, doing a double take, momentarily stunned by her attractiveness. Annie O’Reilly had soulful brown eyes and a round face that was a combination of youthful and fresh, but also showing depth and maturity. Her complexion was pale and smooth, like ivory. Her mahogany hair was fanned out on the starched white pillow in stark contrast. She appeared to be of average height for a woman, although it was hard to tell with her lying on the gurney. Thomas was pleased to see enough definition under the thin white hospital sheet to know the woman had a voluptuous physical shape. He could most definitely identify that she had large breasts, a realization that pleased him greatly. He was a breast man and ardently enjoyed extended breast and nipple play. It was upon that thought Thomas immediately recognized the inappropriateness of his internal monologue. He was not allowed to think about his patient in any way other than in the strictest professional manner.

“Hello, Ms. O’Reilly. I am Dr. Callahan and will be performing your surgery.” He extended his hand in greeting. He felt the delicate bones and soft skin of her hand when she grasped his in return. He glanced down, noticing the absence of a wedding ring on her left hand, which lay beside her. Thomas was irritated with himself for even looking. The woman was ill and needed his expert skills. Lusting over her was wrong on so many levels. The sound of her melodic voice brought him back to reality.

“Hi, Doctor. It’s nice to meet you, although I would prefer that we did not have to meet under these particular circumstances.” Her smile was beautiful.

Thomas chuckled. “Yes, I can understand why you would feel that way. Let’s see about getting you taken care of. I’m going to do a quick exam, alright?” He could see the apprehension on her face. “It will just take a minute,” he reassured her.

Annie nodded her head and bit the corner of her lip, which Thomas found endearing. Carefully pulling down the stiff sheet, he pulled up her hospital gown. Probing the area with his fingers, he became hot and his heart beat faster. Her skin felt so silky. He could not help but confirm that his patient was a well-endowed D cup. That revelation caused his cock to stir in his scrub pants, the unwelcome reaction horrifying him. It was unacceptable. Thomas needed to complete the exam with the required detached and objective mindset of a surgeon. Pressing down firmly where her gallbladder and liver were located, he saw her wince in pain.

“I’m sorry, Ms. O’Reilly. I know that must hurt,” he said sympathetically. It bothered him to cause her more discomfort, despite the fact that it was a necessary evil.

“It’s okay, I understand, Doctor. I’ll just be happy to get this over with and get home. How long will I be in the hospital?” she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

Swiftly, Thomas carefully covered her with the sheet. “If all goes well, as I imagine it will, you should be able to go home in a couple of days. It will depend on your recovery. Right now, let’s get you in the operating suite and remove that gallbladder.”

Annie smiled. “Sounds good to me, Doc. Thank you for taking care of me.” Annie bit the corner of her lip again. His cock grew stiffer, leaving him with a half-mast boner. Mortified, he used his lab coat, pulling the sides closed, to cover the evidence of his lack of professionalism.

With a nod and final words that he would see her in the operating room, Thomas followed the stringent hospital protocol, scrubbing up to his elbows while his mind wandered.
Poor woman suffered through that pain for so many hours. She’s really very pretty. And those ample breasts beg to be caressed. Stop thinking about her breasts, you jackass!

Thomas again scolded himself for thinking about his attraction to Annie. He should not even be mentally referring to her by her given name.
She’s Ms. O’Reilly. Your patient. Nothing more
. In a few minutes, he would hold her life in his hands, literally. Looking through the window into the operating room, he could see that his team was preparing for his arrival. He felt the familiar rush of power and control at the sight of every one in place, ready and waiting for him to direct and guide them. With his thoughts finally in check, he confidently walked into the O.R. to do his job. He would lead the team to restore his patient’s health.

* * *

Annie was staring off into space when Dr. Callahan sauntered into her room the next day.

“Ms. O’Reilly, it’s very nice to see you fully awake. How are you feeling?” he asked with a confident, professional demeanor. “You certainly are looking better than the last time I saw you.” He smiled.

“Well, anyone would look better after getting the good meds, Doctor.” She returned his smile. Her voice was raspy from limited use. She cleared her throat. “By the way, please call me Annie. Ms. O’Reilly is so formal and, let’s face it, you’ve poked and prodded around inside me, so no need for formalities.” She could feel the heat of blood rushing to her face, evidence of the innuendo in her statement.
Stupid. Stupid. Now you’re scarlet red with embarrassment, making your foolish quip all the more noticeable.
Annie could not help but admonish herself. She hated how easily she blushed when embarrassed. It was a curse she suffered from very early on in her childhood that she never outgrew.

Thomas chuckled. “Yes, you are right there. Luckily you were a textbook case and the poking and prodding was minimally invasive.” He winked conspiratorially. “So please tell me, are you experiencing any pain or discomfort?”

“No, Doctor, I’m not in any pain just now. I feel groggy and not myself, but that’s it. In fact, I’m rather enjoying the feeling of no pain after the past few days. I can’t say that this hospital bed is very comfortable though.” She wiggled, repositioning herself. “I can’t wait to get home and sleep in my own bed.” Annie’s embarrassment grew worse.
Why are you talking about your bed? Brain-to-mouth filter, hello, where are you?

“Yes, I can imagine, after your days at sea and now in the hospital, that going home is an appealing prospect. I’m happy to hear you are not in any pain. You certainly seem to be recovering well post-surgery.” He glanced up at the monitors above her head. “Your vital signs look good and the nurse told me that you were able to hold down some soft foods. That’s good news. I’m pleased with your progress. If you continue on this path, I see no reason why you cannot be discharged tomorrow. Do you have someone who can be with you over the first twenty-four hours you are home?”

Ah, no. Shit. What the hell should I say?
“Oh, well, I uh… um, I guess I could call a friend from work to help out,” she stuttered. His intense look was penetrating. Annie felt as if she were naked, raw, and exposed. She believed he could see right into her soul. It was ironic that, where she should feel a sense of discomfort at that, she actually felt safe. It was bizarre that this stranger could make her feel sheltered and secure. Protected. It had been such a long time since she felt that way. If ever.

His brows furrowed and his jaw visibly tensed. “Surely you have family who can help you?”

“Well, I have some family but… they live far away.”
Yeah, that’s a good answer. We’ll go with that.

His nod was curt. “I see. Let me leave you now to rest. I will come check on you tomorrow morning and decide if discharge is appropriate. Do not hesitate to call the nurse if you are in pain. Your body needs rest to heal. Pain management is a critical part of your recovery, so no trying to brave it out.” He had a slightly admonishing tone in his deep, masculine voice. “I’ve left orders for a strong pain medication that the nurses can give you if needed.” His voice softened, as did his sympathetic blue eyes. “Promise me that you will inform them if you become uncomfortable so they can administer it if necessary.” He added, “Do you understand, Ms. O’Reilly?” The domineering tone was not to be ignored.

Annie was a bit taken aback at his forceful nature. She wondered if he was this way with all of his patients. “I will, Doctor. Thank you for your concern,” she responded. “After all I have been through, believe me, I don’t wish to put on a brave front. If I experience pain, I want the drugs, though I do feel much better at the moment.”

“Excellent,” the doctor said, patting her hand just as he had done when she was in the recovery room. The gesture provided her with much-needed solace. Annie saw his blue eyes widen as he grasped her hand firmly in both of his. “Your hand is freezing. Are you chilly? How long have you been cold? I’ll let your nurse know to bring you another blanket right now.” He spoke so rapidly, Annie had a hard time formulating a response. She was surprised by his reaction.

“Thank you, Doctor. I am a bit chilled and would certainly appreciate another blanket.” She paused. “I’m so tired. Think I’ll take a nap.” She let out a long breath. Annie stared at her hand still clasped in both of his, amazed and unbelieving. His large, strong hands completely covered hers, holding firm. His thumb was gently rubbing over her knuckles. That small action did more than just comfort her, it made her feel cherished in a way she never experienced before. She did not ever want him to let go.
What the hell am I thinking? There is no way he’s interested in me.

Thomas nodded. “Good, you get some rest and I will check in on you later.” Releasing her hand, he laid it gently on the bed, patting the top of it one more time before he walked out of the room.

Annie immediately felt sad at the loss of his presence.
What the hell was that?
The encounter with her attractive doctor left her feeling unsettled and unsure.
Must be the meds messing with my head.
Annie lay quietly thinking about Dr. Callahan. He was ‘McDreamy,’ the name used to describe the actor who portrayed a doctor on a popular medical television show. She thought it was
Grey’s Anatomy
but wasn’t completely sure, not that it really mattered.

His full head of shortly trimmed dark brown hair was streaked with silver gray, giving him a mature, distinguished look. She could tell that his physique was lean but muscular. His sky blue scrubs brought the color out of his striking blue eyes even more. Annie thought they were the most unusual shade of blue, but was unable to think of an adequate comparison. More striking than his eye color was the piercing, intense stare as he looked at her. It caused a stirring of arousal down deep in her belly. It was hard to believe that she could feel any sexual attraction having just been cut open and operated on, but she felt the evidence of wetness gather between her legs. This was her last thought as she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Thomas used the walk to the nurse’s station to calm down.
Get a grip!
He took a few deep breaths, trying to clear his head. The encounter with his patient had been unnerving. He could not understand the strange sensation that went through him whenever he was with Ms. O’Reilly. She had looked so lost in the oversized hospital bed. She seemed fragile and delicate. Every protective instinct inside him spilled out when he was near her. The connection between them was undeniable. It was intangible, but nonetheless present. Something about her called to him on a primal level. It was a foreign feeling that shook him at his core.
Where is all of this coming from?

He searched for the nurse assigned to Annie, glad that it was Maggie Simmons on duty tonight. With Maggie having over twenty years of nursing experience, Thomas knew that Annie would receive excellent, professional care. Reaching the nurse’s station, he greeted her. “Good evening, Maggie.” He tried to sound jovial when he spoke.

The portly nurse looked up from the desk. “Well, hello and good evening to you too, Dr. Callahan. All finished with rounds?” Maggie asked cheerfully, with a slight Irish brogue.

“Yes, I was just in with Ms. O’Reilly. She seems to be recovering nicely.” He stood there smiling.

“She is a model patient. So polite. Very quiet and appreciative of assistance. Doesn’t complain or demand. I’ll take more like her any day,” Maggie responded.

“Yes, she is very polite and appreciative,” he agreed, distracted.
And very pretty. With very expressive brown eyes the shade of burnt amber.
“It’s no wonder given what she went through on that vacation. I’m sure Ms. O’Reilly is glad to be back in the US.” The nurse smiled, nodding. “Maggie, I did notice that Ms. O’Reilly was rather cold. Her hand was freezing. I’m a bit concerned about it. As you well know, dramatic changes in body temperature can indicate a post-operative complication. Can you bring her a warm blanket and monitor her temperature closely tonight, please?”