Open Heart (Dr. Love): A Steamy Standalone Instalove Romance Read online

Something’s not fine.

  “Just… got carried away a bit. Underwear,” she murmurs sharply.

  “And other lingerie,” she whispers, craning her neck up to my ear as I bend down, making me grin.

  “I understand,” I tell her, trying not to chuckle. Trying not to lose it right here in the store as my mind’s flooded with every lingerie fantasy involving Evelyn I can possibly think of.

  “And shoes,” she adds.

  My brow lifts as I give an approving nod.

  “Gotta have something on your feet,” I tell her.

  It all makes sense once the rack is wheeled out and I have to laugh out loud.

  “Honey?” I pretend to scold her. “Just enough for a few days, I said.”

  The look on her face is priceless.

  One I would gladly see every time we go shopping. She kind of shrugs but at the same time I know she feels bad, but only because she knows I’m right.

  “We can have luggage ready to fit everything, Dr. Love,” Paul chimes in, ever the salesman. “Or maybe just for what you’d like to take,” he sighs. “We can have everything else sent to your home address,” he concludes.

  I figure there’s a limit on luggage, but don’t feel like caring right now.

  “Evelyn? You can take as much or as little as you want,” I remind her, nodding my consent to Paul as I leave it up to her to decide what she’d like.

  I’m not gonna tell my queen what she can and can’t have. Not even gonna attempt to put a limit on anything she desires.

  It’s all for her.

  After a little more toing and froing, Evelyn settles on a case similar to mine and offers to put everything that she doesn’t choose back.

  I shake my head in the negative.

  “We’ll have the rest sent on to the house. Monday or Tuesday should be fine,” I tell Paul, reaching for Evelyn and telling her we should get going.

  “Have a wonderful trip, Dr. Love. We’ll see you again soon,” the enthusiastic assistant calls out behind us both.

  I can tell Evelyn feels awkward, and even says as much as I load what we’re taking into the back of the car.

  “I didn’t mean to,” she says, sounding worried. “They were all just so friendly. Everything actually fit for once.”

  Once the car’s packed, I hold her door open for her, reminding her that it’s fine.

  “I have no idea how much it all cost, either,” she adds. “Nothing had a tag and I never saw you even pay,” she protests as I help her into the car, pecking her cheek as I make sure she buckles up.

  Feeling a little like a doctor putting a patient back to bed, I’m glad to see she’s changing the subject by the time I get behind the wheel.

  “I’d love to grab a bite,” I tell her. “Maybe we can just have something on the plane though?” I suggest, not wanting to miss a moment of this for the world and certainly not wanting to miss our flight I had to pull a string or two to reschedule.

  “I’m just happy to be with you Mark,” she smiles and I know she means it, even though I know I’d change the whole world if I could if it was what she wanted.

  I guess changing her world slightly is enough, making sure I’m in it is all that matters to me now.

  By the time we make it through the airport and finally get on a plane, our mood easily shifts back to what we both really want once we’re alone.

  And I mean, we’re alone.

  The plane is empty except for us and it’s quickly apparent that nobody else will be on board.

  The flight crew makes themselves scarce and I begin to wonder if we even have a pilot before we hear the chimes of the seatbelt signs and listen to the captain as we taxi out onto the runway before finally lifting off.

  Once we’re airborne, it’s clear being such a short flight there’s not a lot else going to happen.

  The plane is first class, a private jet leased by the hospital and certain staff on an as-required basis.

  I’m figuring with the late change in my schedule and maybe because the hospital is actually paying for it, we get the no-frills budget version of first-class travel but I don’t mind.

  “It’s only a couple of hours,” Evelyn says, resting her head against my shoulder and showing off her newfound knowledge about Bermuda.

  A place I have to admit I’ve only been to once, years ago for a medical conference.

  From memory, first-class usually involves a bunch of alcohol and food I’m never interested in any way, but a sandwich would be nice.

  “We can have a late lunch, early dinner once we get there,” I suggest. Knowing full well there’s really only one thing on both our minds, even though my stomach groans with hunger and I’m sure Evelyn’s does too at some point.

  Even though we’re both hungry for something far more important than food right now.

  It’s easy enough to be distracted from both time and hunger talking to her. Really talking to her.

  It feels like we’ve known each other forever anyway, with so much in common and even more differences, which I’ve read is key in lasting relationships.

  How boring would it be if you agreed with everything your partner said every time they opened their mouths?

  I’m fascinated by Evelyn’s opinions, understanding, and feelings on a range of topics.

  The least of which is medicine.

  She knows plenty from her own studies so far, but we both agree it’s not something anyone can master in one lifetime.

  “You’ve done alright,” she observes challenging me.

  “Only just recently,” I remind her, squeezing her hand.

  “Working fifteen hour days seven days a week for twenty years isn’t success or even very smart,” I hear myself reflecting.

  “Then what is it, don’t all those lives you’ve saved and changed make a difference too?” she asks, her brow creasing.

  “They do, but yours is the only one that matters here, in my own heart,” I tell her truthfully.

  We sit in silence for the rest of the way and before we know it, there’s a car waiting to take us to the house on the private beach, which isn’t longer than a half-hour drive from the airport.

  The roads snake and wind around the sun-bleached coast, bathed in pink in some places.

  Sometimes from the fading light and sometimes from the coral-rich sand that surrounds the main island.

  Evelyn has the window down, almost hanging out it as she takes in the views.

  I have my eye on her rear end most of the time, feeling a familiar ache between my legs I know won’t be satisfied until I’m deep inside her.

  But seeing her expression as she turns to tell me how amazing it all looks, to see the life and color in her cheeks.

  That’s what counts most.

  Seeing her happy.

  “It’s just beautiful, Mark,” she says with excitement, turning to face me before my eyes move back down over her curves.

  The outfit she put on before leaving the store showing me everything I know I’ve been longing for.

  “It certainly is,” I echo back to her with a smile.

  “Just beautiful.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Evelyn

  The sea air has definitely cleared my head, and the thought of nothing but Mark and me alone for two whole days feels like a dream come true still.

  Even once we finally pull up to a huge gated driveway that opens on its own and I can see a row of people standing by the main entrance to the huge colonial style house which has been modernized with gleaming steel and glass with an immaculate garden out front with a huge white fountain.

  For the first time since we’ve set out, Mark seems annoyed.

  His low growl lets me know for sure, double so when he orders the driver to wait once we step out.

  A stunning looking woman steps forward, introducing herself as the hostess, and welcomes Mark.

  “Welcome, Dr. Love. To Sanctuary Cove. A place of rest and recreation, all your needs attended to, my name is
Lara,” she adds. The other staff, mainly local islanders by the looks all give a solemn bow of welcome.

  Lara looks like a corporate installation and her large hazel eyes dart to me and scan my body from head to toe. One brow lifting, almost in disbelief.

  “You’ve brought your daughter with you? How wonderful,” she adds with a note of sympathy. Telling me straight away they have a special entertainment room for guest’s children as well as patients with special needs.

  But that’s as far as she gets.

  Mark speaks over her suddenly.

  Cuttingly.

  “Evelyn is my partner and the only thing we need is privacy right now,” he hisses, looming up over her so much that I feel myself gripping his arm and holding him back as best I can.

  “You can all leave, immediately,” he adds. “I’ll make sure you’re all paid for the weekend if that’s an issue,” he adds dismissively, looking with some concern at the line of staff who might rely on wages more than our hostess.

  “But a dinner is prepared. You’ll need special attention during your stay,” she stammers, her eyes wider than ever, bordering on venom when they meet mine as Mark dismisses everybody with a firm movement of his hand. Signaling the end of it.

  “The car will take you where you need to go, I can figure out the rest,” he says, reeling in his temper for what feels like my sake.

  There’s no argument to be had, and in a second all but one of the small staff have piled into the car, smiling with thanks once Mark hands them some American bills each before he turns on our Hostess last.

  “I have my own car,” she scowls, turning back only once to give me a final, sour look before Mark makes sure he has all our bags. Not taking his eyes off the gates until everyone else has left and they close after them.

  “Well, that sucked,” he sighs, puffing air out of his cheeks, pulling me closer to him and apologizing.

  “I’m sorry. I really thought it was gonna be just us,” he says, shaking his head.

  “It is now,” I remind him, my finger finding the gap in his shirt, circling a taught layer of muscle as I feel myself shiver with a new level of excitement.

  Finally alone, in a mysterious beach house with Dr. Love for two whole days?

  What’s not to be excited about?

  Apart from our more than awkward arrival, and Mark’s insisting on going through the place to make sure we truly are alone now, it’s perfect.

  Like the whole island, like him.

  It just takes him a while to simmer down after booting everyone else out, which still makes me smile.

  That witch who thought she was running the place was sent packing, Mark not even trying to be polite once he sensed anyone dared encroach on what we both know is rightfully his.

  I’m so glad he did, too.

  The idea of staff creeping around the place while we get to know each other. While I give myself to him body and soul?

  Nah. Was never gonna happen and Dr. Love proves himself yet again by making sure things are just how they should be.

  Just me and him, the stars above and the sea at the back of the huge courtyard steps. As promised, with a private beach awaiting us both.

  I stop myself at the edge of the sandstone patio out back, hearing the waves and smelling the sea. Not wanting to stray too far from Mark until he’s satisfied we’re alone.

  But I can feel it.

  We’re quite alone now.

  Probably forever with the attitude he gave everyone, half making me wonder if we’ll need a cab back to the airport when we need it. But I don’t care right now. I love him for it.

  Love knowing I have a man who isn’t afraid to tell people where to get off so we can have what’s most important. Each other.

  I feel myself jump when he wraps his arms around me from behind.

  His warm lips on my neck telling me what I want to know for sure.

  That this is real and we’re definitely alone.

  “There’s a buffet-sized meal in the kitchen, piping hot and super chilled seafood,” he adds, teasing me more by nibbling at my neck, but I know what we both want.

  Knowing what we’ve both waited all day to really have, I just hope I can satisfy his needs.

  Waited all day? Hell, I’ve waited for this my whole life.

  Never dreamed it could ever be a man, let alone the man himself who I gave myself to without question.

  Turning to face him, and feeling him pull me closer, I feel there’s more than food on his mind as well as my own.

  “I’m the only buffet you need to eat right now,” I hear myself saying huskily.

  Trying to sound sexy but coming off pretty badly until I hear him agreeing with some urgency.

  “Uh huh. I know Evelyn, you’re all I want right now. All I want forever,” he moans, kissing me so hard until I realize I’m kissing him back just as hard.

  This is it.

  My whole body melts into his, collapsing as his huge arms grip me from behind and scoop me up like I weigh nothing.

  “I know a place,” he growls gently in my ear, nibbling it as I watch the luxurious interior of the house flash past in between me trying to claw at his shirt and kiss him, all while attempting to have a quick tour of the place.

  Ending in what must be the master bedroom.

  I only feel the firmness and size of the mattress under me, vowing to explore the rest of this beautiful room once I’ve given myself to my man.

  Our lips meet again, but gentler this time. Slowly.

  His hands moving up my body slow enough to help me undress, but leaving me helpless when it comes to try and undress him.

  His touch is like a wave, moving in time with the sounds of the beach outside, drifting in through the open French doors, breaking softly against me and plummeting me into a new depth of arousal I never thought possible.

  Like coming up for air after the crashing of a wave, I gasp again under his touch.

  His warm body flexing against my softness, an extra heat between us both as I reach down and feel the thick smoothness of his member’s tip in my hand for the first time.

  I circle it by instinct, moaning when I feel the warm fluid oozing from him as he curses under his breath.

  Me, gasping again.

  Louder now.

  The man is huge down there and I’ve never felt anything so wonderful in my whole life.

  “I want you, Evelyn. Say you’ll be mine,” he groans, moving my legs apart with his knee. The softness of my thighs wrapping around what feels like pure muscle before his engorged cock is sliding up against my own dripping center.

  I can hardly speak but need to tell him.

  “Take me, Mark. Dr. Love. Fill me up and don’t stop until I feel you come inside me.”

  He moves me onto my back gently, and I can feel his arms stiffen as he holds himself above me, looking down.

  “Just beautiful,” he murmurs, staring into my eyes before he tries to move himself down.

  I know what he’s doing, but there’s no time for that.

  I bought extra panties, a whole caseload for a reason on this trip.

  Mark Love’s face between my creamy thighs is heaven, but it’s not what I know we both need right this second.

  I’m so close already I can feel my pussy quivering at the thought of that heat he’s packing driving deep inside me.

  “Now, Mark,” I gasp.

  “Here. I need you here, now,” I whisper, feeling both my hands wrap around his thick cock and guide it towards my slippery hole, his hardness making me buck and grind harder against it in an instant.

  Craving it like nothing else. Now and forever.

  “Always,” I whimper, feeling him edging his way into me.

  I feel a little tightness as I grip his thick rod and then a sharp edge to the sensation of him slowly guiding himself all the way inside me until we both moan so loud I swear the ocean echoes our passion right back into the room.

  “Oh Evelyn,” Mark gasps, his breathing
as quick as mine now, both of us beside ourselves and nearly in tears with just how right all this feels.

  How good he feels inside me.

  How much I’ve longed for him and knowing I’m all his.

  I can feel his cock stiffen, and my body shudders with what I think is going to be the end of it all before it even starts, but like a wave, it breaks and passes.

  The deeper water underneath us both now as Mark starts to navigate me.

  Guiding me.

  Showing me what it means to be a woman pleasured by a real man.

  Giving me feelings and sensations I could never have dreamed of.

  The man himself in real life is total perfection.

  This moment is perfect and I tell him so.

  “You’re perfect,” he corrects me, kissing me again, letting me taste him while he’s inside me for the first time.

  Something we both know is going to be our new favorite thing from now on until the day we die.

  Forever.

  My doubts about being able to please him vanish, because, in the same way, we knew we were meant for each other, I feel both our bodies starting to work together in the best possible way that proves it.

  I’m his now and he’s all mine.

  Dr. Love is finally mine and I’m most certainly his from now on.

  No doubt about it.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Mark

  She’s so fucking perfect.

  I want to taste her again, feel her thick creamy thighs hot against my cheeks as I bring her to another shuddering climax.

  But she has other plans.

  More desperate needs that I fully understand once I feel the slight coolness of her hands against my raging hardness, desperate for nothing but to fill her with my seed.

  To show her how much I love her and most of all, to feel her grinding to one of those climaxes against my quaking rod as we come together once I claim her properly.

  She’s so tight but determined to get me inside her. I feel huge with her body under mine, her hands guiding me into her for the very first time, making me grind my jaw and swear once I feel her sweet pussy clamping down on me.

  I feel my cock twitching already, an electric pulse running wild through it and all through my body. Willing myself not to finish before I’ve pleasured her, we both relax into each other in a moment once I’m fully inside her.