Stern Desire Love Redeemed (5 page)

The phone almost fell from my hand.

"Jared, there is no need for you to suffer in pain."

"Kyra, I'll wait, and please don't send anyone
else." Click. He hung up.

The dressing was in a very intricate position on a large woman. It took three nurses to fix this dressing: one holding the leg, one holding up the belly, and me getting up under there to fix the dressing.
Fifteen minutes later, there was no leak anymore. I felt so dirty and tired, like I had done twelve hours already. I hurried back to my floor, so that I could medicate Jared.

The wrestler bodyguard was still in the sitting area. He
looked up from his phone and nodded. I knocked on the bedroom door and entered. Jared looked very uncomfortable; he was in pain.

"Jared, why did you let yourself suffer unnecessarily?" I asked as I injected the med into his intravenous line.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'll suffer in pain if that's what it takes to see you again."

I ignored that comment. "Do you want me to do the pin
site care now?"

"It was done once today already."

"It's ordered for two times per day. I'm sure you want to get better and get back to your life."

I prepared the supplies and removed the old sponges from the pins when the questions started.

"Kyra, how long have you been a nurse?"

"Five years."

I was concerned about the look of a pin site. It looked inflamed, and he winced and swore under his breath when I applied the new sponge with the disinfecting solution.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "That really
stings."

"That pin site is a bit inflamed."

"What made you become a nurse?"

"My friend Jenn was instrumental in my decision."

"So, Jenn was the reason. She must have made quite an impression."

"We met under difficult circumstances. She was a total stranger to me at the time, but she really helped me through everything with
her compassion and generosity. She went above and beyond to help me and my son."

"You have a son?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes, his name is Nathan, and he is ten years old."

"You have a ten-year-old son? I'm sorry, but how old are you?"

"Take a guess." This was not a strange question for me. I got asked my age a great deal, and I liked to have them guessing. A
patient of mine told me once that I looked like I should still be in high school.

"You don't look a day over eighteen."

I smiled.

"I had a patient last week who refused to let me put a
Foley catheter in him because I look younger than his daughter, and she was eighteen."

"So, are you going to tell me, or should I keep guessing?"

"I'm thirty."

"Wow."

"People think my mom is my sister. I hope I look as good as she does when I get to her age."

"I have no doubt you will."

He stared at me. I busied myself, but the compulsion to look
at him overcame me. I looked up and he was staring at me. His eyes tugged at my heart.

"It's very impolite to stare," I said, and quickly looked away.

"I could have said the same to you on several
occasions," he replied.

I smiled.

"Did you read your card?"

"No, not yet. I've been busy."

I finished his pin care and cleaned up.

"You have very gentle hands, Kyra."

"Thank you. How is the pain?"

"I'm very comfortable, thank you, but there is one
other thing."

"What is it?"

"Can you please read the card?"

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now," he insisted.

I removed the envelope from my pocket and took the card out. He had a beautiful, scripted handwriting.

"Lovely handwriting," I commented.

"Thank you. Read the card, Kyra," he insisted.

.

My eternal gratitude for taking such good care of me.

I thought you were an angel when you glided into my room that first night.

Your elegance, beauty, and poise confound me.

I thought it was the drugs, but that angel never went away.

You have a great heart and a beautiful spirit that shines through in all that you do.

Hope you enjoy your orchids. They remind me of you: graceful, delicate, exotic, beautiful and strong.

Orchids have been eloquently described as "living gemstones."

That's what I think you are - a living, precious jewel.

Jared

.

I should not have read it in front of him. I did not know how to respond, so I continued to look at the card, reading it over again. What
could I say? "Thank you. You shouldn't have?"

"Kyra, take a breath," he said gently.

"I'm sorry, Jared, I...I don't know what to say."
I fidgeted with the card.

"You don't have to say anything."

"Jared, what I do is my job, and I haven't done anything for you that I would not have done for any of my patients." I lifted the card. "Thank you, but this does not feel right."

"Kyra." He took hold of my hand.

Please don't do that
, I thought. I couldn't handle his touch: the warmth, the electricity that traveled up my arm.

"From the moment you walked into this room, I knew it. I have never been more certain of anything."

"Stop, please stop." I pulled my hand away. "Jared, this is way too fast for me. You don't know me and I don't know
you. A guy like you must have a girlfriend or a wife somewhere...I come with baggage and issues..."

"That makes two of us. We can help each other."

"Listen, Jared." I sat on the side of the bed,
which I realized immediately was a bad move. "This is wrong. I would be crossing professional boundaries here. Do you know how much trouble I could get in? I could get fired...or even lose my license. I am a professional caregiver,
and I can't do this. This is very, very...unprofessional and unethical."

"Are you finished?"

I nodded in response.

"So, what you are saying is that as long as I'm your
patient..."

"It is unacceptable to have a relationship with a current patient and for up to six months after discharge."

"So, is there a chance?"

He obviously refused to listen to what I was saying.

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"And I'll repeat. Is there a chance?"

I sighed and avoided his eyes. "No...I don't know...I
don't think so." I was confused.

"You don't know. What's holding you back aside from the regulations? There must be a way around that."

"You don't know me." I was stressing now. "I
can't do this."

"We'll get to know each other, Kyra. That's what it's all about. Just give it a chance."

"No, I can't. It's not right."

"I'll ask Dr. Anwar to transfer me to another hospital, or I'll even sign out against medical advice."

"Are you crazy?" But his eyes said otherwise; he meant it.

"Yes. I am about you."

"Jared, we can't end our nurse-patient relationship to pursue an...an..."

"Intimate relationship," he concluded.

"I can't do this. I'm not willing to risk my career
for..."

"Kyra," he said gently. He lovingly stared at me.

Why did I look in those beautiful, vibrant, hazel eyes that hypnotized and rendered me helpless under his spell? He had to be a warlock or
a sorcerer, because I could not move. My mind was telling me to get up and go, but my body was not responding. I was frozen. His hand reached to the back of my head and slowly pulled me toward him.

"Please stop," I begged nervously. My heart quivered. My entire being yearned for his lips on mine, but that nagging wretched voice in my head annoyingly repeated,
He's your patient, he's your patient...

"Do you really want me to?" he asked in that
velvety smooth voice, his lips inches from mine.

He was intoxicating, both in his scent and his touch. The closeness had me mystified.

"Do you want me to stop?" he repeated, his lips
brushing against mine. "You'll have to stop me, Kyra, because I don't think I can."

I closed my eyes as he captured my lips with his. There was a flicker of light in the dark hollow space where my heart belonged. The
flicker transformed into a bizarre, intense aching feeling in my chest. His tongue gently circled mine. My insides felt weak. He sucked my tongue and then my lips, sensually, slowly, and softly. The ache radiated down my torso and
into places that I never knew could ache. I wanted more and yet I wanted him to stop. I was scared.

The aching in my chest radiated to my arm, coupled with dizziness, extreme weakness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and tingling.
I had all the symptoms of a heart attack! I opened my eyes and focused on the code blue button on the wall. I wondered if I should press it. I was probably being punished. I needed medical attention. I felt like I was dying. If I were,
I would die happy.

I closed my eyes and did what I had
longed to do. I took those full, sexy lips in my mouth. His hand tightened at the back of my head, and a moan escaped me. This kiss was the catalyst for all the buried,
foreign emotions I'd thought I no longer had. Then I heard voices from outside the door. I pulled away.

"Fuck!" Jared said.

I stood up and mumbled, "I have to go now."

"Kyra," Jared called.

"What!" I snapped at him.

"Don't fight it."

"Don't fight it," I repeated. "I've got to be crazy. I think I need a psych evaluation."

He chuckled.

"I'm sorry, but I can't be your nurse anymore," I mumbled.

There was a soft knock on the door, and then it opened. J.C. and Gabby came in.

"How is my brother?" Gabby asked as she entered. "Is he being good, taking his medications, listening to his nurse?"

"He's doing just fine," I answered, and escaped out the door.

"What's up, Jay?" I heard J.C. ask, just before the door closed.

I needed to go to the ladies' room. I did not realize how wet my underwear was.

I sat in the office and collected myself. What the hell
happened? I had never felt this way about anybody: the attraction, the magnetism, the longing, the intense arousal were unbelievable. How could I have kissed him and loved it so much? Why did he stir up such mind-blowing emotions
in me? Why couldn't I control myself when I was around him? He was my patient and this was so unethical. How was I going to handle this? How could I distance myself from him when I was forced into this situation? I couldn't tell Amanda that I refused to take care of him. He had already threatened to sign out
against medical advice, or ask for a transfer. I couldn't imagine what would happen if he actually did. I would be up in the office being questioned and interrogated by everyone as to why Jared Stern wanted to leave after he had
spoken so highly of us. What happened on my shift that had changed his mind about the hospital? What would I say? He thought there was a possibility that we could be together if he left. This was a no-win situation. In the end, the
nurse was going to get the blame no matter what.

I needed to maintain professional boundaries. I was the nurse, the one with the power from a professional standpoint. I was the one who should have established and maintained these boundaries, but we had a power
imbalance here. He had stolen the power, or maybe I did not have it to begin with. He had the power to have my nurse manager jumping through hoops, along with everyone else in the hospital, as a matter of fact. I had never had the
power.

I jumped as my phone rang. The number displayed on it was Jared's room.

"Mr. Stern, how can I help you?"

"Kyra, can I see you for a minute?"

"Is there something I can bring in for you?"

"Can I have something for the pain?"

"You sure can."

I hang up and dialed Marie's number. She was glad to
medicate Jared for me, even though I knew he would not be happy. A few minutes later, my phone rang again: it was Jared. I did not answer, so it was forwarded to the nurses station. My phone rang once more, but this time it was Claire,
the patient assistant. She informed me that Jared wanted to see me. Five minutes later, my phone rang again: Room 825 was displayed on it.

"Mr. Stern, how can I help you?"

"Did you get my message?"

"Yes, I did."

My iPhone vibrated in my jacket pocket.

"Please answer your cell phone," Jared said.

I was puzzled for a minute. I could not understand how he
knew my phone was ringing. I looked at my iPhone; it was displaying a number I did not recognize.

"Answer your phone, Kyra," he repeated emphatically.

I numbly accepted the call.

"This is more private. I don't trust those phones you guys carry around," he said.

"How did you get my phone number?" I was puzzled.

"I can find anything that I need," he said
confidently.

That did not surprise me. He could probably get anyone he wanted, too. I was sure.

"Are you avoiding me, Kyra?"

"No, I'm not," I lied. "You are not my only
patient, you know."

"I detect some hostility in your voice."

"I'm sorry."

"Kyra, I can't apologize for what happened
earlier."

"Please forget about it. What happened earlier was a stupid mistake, and it will not happen again."

"I can't forget about it, Kyra. Can you?"

I could not, either.

"Good night, Kyra. I won't bother you for the rest of the night."

"Good night, Jared."

I hoped that I could make it through the night without going
back to that room. Everything was going great, until four AM, when Claire called and told me that Jared's blood pressure was very elevated. I went into the room to check on him, and to retake his blood pressure. He was sitting on the edge of the bed. His pillows, the linen, and his t-shirt were all soaking
wet.