Page 102 of Screwged for Christmas

She shook her head. “Sorry, the stats aren’t in your favor. I don’t need the complications either.”

I couldn’t fault her for that. Up until an hour ago, avoiding complications was my life goal, too.

Something had changed between us. It was like an arc of current connecting us; she felt it too. Even in this crowded bar, it was as if we were on an island.

“I’ll walk you home.” It wasn’t a request. There was no way she was leaving this bar and walking the city streets alone. It was New York, after all.

“No need for that. I live three blocks away.” She grabbed her purse and slid out of her seat.

“Humor me.” Again, not a question.

I knew she lived in the hospital’s subsidized housing for staff, residents, and medical students. Housing in New York was a nightmare. I didn’t need subsidized housing, nor did I care to live right next to where I worked. Only Lucas and Oliver knew I had a brownstone townhouse in swanky Greenwich Village. It was a benefit of coming from a ridiculously wealthy family.

But Holly didn’t come from money.

Cool air greeted us outside and Holly pulled her arms around her chest.

I slipped off my jacket and a part of me loved seeing her inhale as I draped it over her shoulders.

We didn’t talk, but it didn’t feel awkward because I’d never known Holly to enjoy small talk. It was one of the many things I admired about her as a colleague.

Around us, the streets were busy with people heading home from work and others heading out for the evening. Street vendors were closing down their carts for the night while others opened.

Within minutes we reached the unremarkable brick building where she lived. There was no doorman on duty, and the keycard entry looked pathetically easy to bypass with any hospital ID. I couldn’t believe she really lived here. What was wrong with the hospital that their security was so lame? Tomorrow I’d be calling administration. I made significant contributions to the hospital, which I asked to keep it anonymous, but the admin knew the donors’ identity.

“Aren’t you going to ask me up for ginger ale?” I angled my body to shelter her from the breeze blowing off the East River.

A corner of her mouth quirked. “Malcolm, I know you. I’ve worked with you daily for the last year. The only reason you could possibly want to see my room is for hot, kinky sex.”

I put my hand against the brick wall by her head, trying to block more of the breeze. Goosebumps peppered her bare arms beneath my jacket. But what I really noticed were the hard tips of her nipples pressing against her dress.

“My interest in residential fire safety inspection might not be well known, but it is important nonetheless.” I dipped my head lower. Even with her heels, I towered over her.

Holly arched a brow at me. She’d folded her arms across her chest, pushing her breasts higher; the rounded curve of the tops made me want to run my lips across them.

Her lips twitched the way they did when she was suppressing a smile.

She ducked under my arm and slid her keycard into the door. Then she inclined her head for me to follow her.

The elevator’s first stop was floor seven. Stepping out on the floor, it had the same antiseptic institutional smell as our department, only slightly less pronounced.

“It’s a women’s only floor.” She glanced over her shoulder to find me staring at her ass.

Before that glance, I had been inspecting the living conditions. I was generous to report they were lacking. With dim lighting and dingy paint, the place was depressing as hell.

We passed a door to the women’s showers. At the end of a long hall, she turned at the last door.

“I’ll spare you the tour of the communal kitchen and lounge as you’re not supposed to be here.” She tapped the door to 725. “I’m here, safe and sound.”

“You’re not going to show me inside?”

Holly tilted her head to the side. In this light, her eyes were more green. “If you’re looking to slum it, I’m sure you can find some co-ed at NYU who would happily have sex with you in her dorm room. And it will probably have a private bath, at least.”

“I like seeing where you live. It’s a whole new side of you.” It was true. I had a hunger to know every part of her life that I’d missed.

Annoyance churned at me that I knew next to nothing about Holly besides her favored running shoe brand, and that she liked her pizza with extra pepperoni. Also, she enjoyed cat memes when she was stressed.

Her lips parted slightly. Again I was struck by the strongest impulse to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she fell breathless against me.

---