|| Reverse Harem || 18+ || MMFM ||
Valarie's life revolves around two things: work and sleep. As a dedicated nurse at Silvercrest Medical Center, her world is a relentless cycle of double shifts, quick naps, and more double shifts.
But when her lov...
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As I finish up with Mrs. Franklin, I make sure her oxygen levels are steady, adjusting the flow with practiced precision. She's been in and out of this hospital more times than I can count, and I know what she needs before she even asks. Her frail hand gives mine a soft squeeze as I tuck the blanket around her, and she murmurs a quiet thank you. I smile back at her, the kind that reaches my eyes because Mrs. Franklin, despite all her ailments, has a way of making you feel appreciated.
"Take it easy, Mrs. Franklin," I say gently, my voice low so as not to disturb the other patients in the ward. "I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
She nods, her eyes already fluttering closed as the medication does its job. I take one last look at her before I head out, the door closing softly behind me.
The halls are busier than usual, a mix of staff and patients moving through the space with the kind of quiet urgency that's become so familiar to me. It's Friday night, which means the ER is probably bursting at the seams with all the weekend warriors who think they're invincible until they end up here. I smile to myself, thinking about the stories I could tell if I ever bothered to write them down. The bizarre injuries, the strange excuses, the occasional heartfelt moment that reminds me why I do this in the first place. It's all part of the job, and despite everything, I can't imagine doing anything else.
As I turn the corner, I almost collide with someone—a solid wall of muscle that forces me to take a step back. I look up, and of course, it's Declan Hale, Silvercrest's favorite cop, looking as annoyingly handsome as ever. I catch a whiff of something distinctly masculine—clean, like soap and just a hint of something woodsy—and it takes me a second to find my voice.
"Declan," I say, my voice carrying that mix of surprise and familiarity. "You should put a bell on or something."
He chuckles, that deep, rumbling sound that always makes me wonder if he does it on purpose. It's the kind of laugh that vibrates through your chest. "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you. Just came by to check on a buddy of mine who got in a bar fight last night. Thought I'd see if the hospital staff needed a little law and order while I'm here."
I roll my eyes, but there's no hiding the smile tugging at my lips. "Always the hero, aren't you?"
"Just doing my job," he says, his tone teasing but with a hint of something else—something that makes me wonder if he's as smooth as he lets on. He shifts slightly, and I notice the way his uniform stretches across his broad shoulders, the badge on his chest gleaming under the harsh hospital lights.
"Your buddy okay?" I ask, more to keep the conversation going than out of genuine concern. It's a safe question, one that doesn't require much emotional investment, and I'm grateful for that.
"Yeah, nothing too serious. Just a busted lip and a bruised ego. He'll live." Declan's gaze lingers on mine, and the hard lines around his eyes relax.
Maybe it's the sleep deprivation catching up with me, or the fact that I've been unintentionally celibate for longer than I'd like to admit, but Declan looks especially irresistible tonight. Even more so than usual. He's always been handsome, and he knows it, but tonight there's something about him that's downright delectable.
