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  “You were saying?” Claire said louder than she had intended, trying to put herself back on task.

  ***

  Nate was so caught up in staring at Claire’s sexy ass he almost didn’t hear her call out to him.

  “Sorry, what?” He looked at her confused, shaking his head. Then he laughed.

  He watched her shake her head and mutter something under her breath as she continued walking to the therapy room. He followed closely behind her, somewhat amused by the fact she had just caught him gawking.

  He wondered if she had any idea how sexy she looked in the tight black skirt she wore, or how, when she was angry, he could see the tops of her breasts turn red in her blue blouse. She was sexy, no doubt about that. Her long blonde hair was brushed into a tight pony tail. Images of him wrapping it around his hand while kissing the nape of her neck flashed in his mind. He needed to get laid.

  It had been months since he’d been with a woman. His mates had tried to get him out into the club scene when he had started walking on crutches, convincing him he’d have women eating out of the palm of his hand, you know because of the ‘chicks dig scars’ sort of thing. Having his leg in a cast though, didn’t help with general walking, let alone having sex. Even though he knew that certain positions would be ideal for his current disability if he did want to go there. He’d be lying if he said the thought of having a bare naked woman ride him on his wheelchair didn’t make him hard - it did - but somehow he couldn’t bring himself to get off his ass and do it. Laziness consumed him day in and day out. Hell he was even going to miss his therapy sessions if it wasn’t for Claire.

  Claire. Now she was an entirely different story. Something about her seemed so familiar to him, yet so unfamiliar. It didn’t make sense. For the first time on Monday he felt like he could have an actual conversation with someone without their pity, their sympathy, or their preconception of who he was. Claire made him feel comfortable. She made him feel like him. She didn’t judge his life - well what his life used to be - or voice her opinions on who he should be and what he should be doing. She just listened.

  He didn’t even mind that she had called him this morning wondering where he was. He thought it was cute the way she went from concerned Claire to feisty Claire within seconds. He was growing to like her even more by the minute, especially when he made her blush, letting her guard down for that split second.

  “Are you ready?” Claire asked him, leading him over to the same mat they had used on Monday.

  “I was born ready,” he said, enjoying the look of disgust on her face from his comment.

  “If you sit down on the mat we can get started. You’ve already wasted half of the session so we won’t have time to do everything.”

  Claire took the crutches from under him, and helped him down onto the mat.

  He wondered how after everything he’d done and said she still offered him kindness.

  “Ok so if you can put your foot into this piece of fabric,” Claire said handing him the long piece of white material. “I want you to pull back and forth.” She held her hand over Nate’s guiding him with what she wanted. She pulled away when he started doing it as requested.

  This exercise thankfully wasn’t as painful as some of the others had been, but it still made him cringe at times. He turned his head to Claire, deciding to follow her advice by talking through the pain.

  “Seriously, though. Why do you even care if I come to these sessions or not? Would it really matter if I didn’t walk again?”

  She stopped writing in his file and looked up at him. “I care because you have the potential and the chance to walk again. Not many people can say they get the opportunity to learn to walk again after a serious car accident. And of course I want you to walk again. I want you to move on with your life, live freely again, do what makes you happy.”

  He stared at her now. Did she just admit to caring about him? She wanted him to be happy?

  She quickly dropped her gaze and went back to writing. “Anyway I need you to walk again for my prac placement. Wouldn’t look very good if I wasn’t able to get a fit young guy to walk again when there were no physical barriers stopping him.”

  And there’s the real reason, Nate realized. She needed him to do these sessions for her study. Nate didn’t know why it bugged him so much that she was only doing this for her study and not for him. Even though he knew he’d never given her a reason to care about him, like him even, he thought maybe…No. He shook his head, pushing the thought out of his mind.

  She picked up a piece of elastic and gave it to him, showing him a different exercise.

  “So, how long is your placement?” he asked her.

  She looked up at him, smiling. He watched as she visibly relaxed to his question.

  “Five weeks. It’s my last placement and then I’ll be finished uni forever.”

  “Congratulations. So I guess my attendance is important then?”

  She broadened her smile. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

  “I think I can make the effort.” He smiled. “So what are your plans when you finish uni?”

  “Well I’d love to do what you did and take a few years off and travel around the world. There are so many places I want to see…”

  He couldn’t help but be drawn to her as he listened to her talk about travelling. Her excitement was contagious. It was a side to her he hadn’t seen yet. A carefree, young girl.

  “…And the tomato festival in Spain. That would be awesome! Crazy, insane, but so awesome. Could you imagine it? Everyone throwing tomatoes left right and centre. I’d probably get trampled and end up in hospital.” She laughed.

  “I’d protect you,” Nate blurted out before he even had time to think about it.

  She didn’t seem to care about his comment, in fact, she smiled and played along. “Would you now?”

  “Someone has to.”

  And I would gladly be your knight in shining armour, he thought. What the fuck did I just say to myself? Knight in shining armour?

  “And you wouldn’t think Dave would be able to?”

  Nate frowned. “Dave?”

  She looked at him, no longer smiling. Quickly standing up she reached for his crutches.

  “He’s my boyfriend,” she said, reaching down to help him up.

  Boyfriend.Of course. Claire was gorgeous. He didn’t know why he thought she wouldn’t have a boyfriend. Any guy would be lucky to have her as a girlfriend. So why did he suddenly feel jealous? It must be his hormones. The lack of social interaction, not having sex in a while. Yes, that must be it, he told himself.

  He fixed the crutches up under his arms. “I guess we’re done for the day then?” he asked.

  Claire was still writing notes when she answered him. “Yep, all done for the day.” She looked up at him. “I’ll see you on Friday?”

  Nate smiled. “I’ll be here.”

  He turned and left the room. Whatever he had felt in there just now- and he wasn’t talking about the pain- he needed it to disappear ASAP. Jealousy was not something he cared for. Feelings, in fact, were not something he cared for. Maybe it was about time he took the guys up on their offer and go out, find someone, and rid himself of these ‘feelings.’

  ***

  Claire launched herself into Dave’s arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  “Hey, baby!” she said, smacking her lips onto his.

  She kissed him hard, devouring him with every taste. When she finally pulled her face away from his to take a breath she saw his huge smile.

  “Hey to you to! Miss me?” He winked.

  “Of course I missed you. And I’ve been thinking about something I wanted to do to you all day,” she said seductively.

  Leaning over, she ran her tongue along his neck.

  “I like the sound of that,” Dave said, his voice raspy and hard.

  “Oh I guarantee you’ll love it,” she said, unwrapping her legs from him and standing. She grabbed his hand and led h
im towards her bedroom.

  “Your ass looks amazing in that skirt, Claire. I could stare at it all day.”

  Claire froze, remembering the way Nate had looked at her today. The desire in his eyes. The way he bit his lip, sending shivers down her spine.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Dave asked, pulling her to face him.

  “No it’s fine,” she said, pushing thoughts of Nate out of her mind. “Now that little something I was talking about...”

  She pulled him into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Holding onto his waistband with her hands, she slowly undid his belt, pulling it free with one hand.

  “Hands,” she prompted.

  Dave tilted his head at her, smiling. Not knowing what she had planned for him, he held his hands out in front of him anyway.

  “You won’t need these,” she said, wrapping the belt around his wrists and tying it tightly.

  She put the palms of her hand on his chest and pushed him onto the bed.

  “Prepared to be amazed.” She winked. Confidence was definitely something she didn’t lack, especially when it came to men.

  ***

  “Your place or mine?” The tall, skimpy blonde whispered into his ear.

  Turns out chicks really did dig scars. It took all of twenty minutes after walking into the bar to get to this point now with the blonde wrapped around his finger.

  “Yours,” Nate replied.

  Although his place looked like a dumpster right now, that wasn’t what he was concerned with. He just didn’t like the awkward morning after. This way he could easily leave her place with her dignity intact and the reassurance he wouldn’t see her again.

  “Be right back,” the blonde said, winking at him.

  He watched her move over to where her friends were sitting and say something to them, nodding her head in his direction.

  Normally he would be lapping up the attention, especially from someone as attractive as her. Her hair was a lighter shade than Claire’s, her body was shaped in all the right places, but it held no comparison to Claire’s body. In fact he didn’t think he could fault Claire on anything, she was…perfect.

  What the fuck are you thinking! Nate thought to himself. Get your head back in the game.

  Sure Claire was stunning, and sexy as hell, but she also had a boyfriend, and she wouldn’t be interested in someone like Nate. She deserved better.

  “Ready?” Amber asked, or was it Stacey? Oh fuck it! Her name wasn’t important. She’d be long gone from his thoughts by tomorrow.

  “I was born re-” He stopped himself from repeating the line he’d said earlier to Claire. Somehow saying the worlds to her didn’t seem right.

  Sex, Nate. Hot, sexy, hard sex with the blonde, he told himself. Distraction seemed the only key to get his mind off Claire.

  The blonde let her other hand graze the front of his jeans, springing him to life.

  Yes, sex was exactly what Nate needed.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Going to Uni Night last night was a bad idea, Claire thought, yawning as she walked to the physio room to prepare for her next session.

  She had decided last minute on Thursday night to go out with her friends, Layla and Katie. They had a very compelling argument, since technically in a few weeks she wouldn’t be a uni student anymore, she should live it up while she could and take advantage of the discount she got at Uni Night.

  Fortunately she had paced herself last night so she didn’t wake up with a hangover. Lack of sleep was what she was suffering. What she would do for a bed right now!

  Dave wasn’t too impressed with her actions, accusing her of not taking her clinical placements seriously. Of course she took them seriously, but she had just dedicated the last four years of her life to study, so having fun every now and then should be okay. Well, so she convinced herself anyway. In hindsight, he was probably right. She hadn’t really considered how she would feel today, and it didn’t help that when she had gotten home at one in the morning she had wanted a two-hour sex marathon with Dave. Yeah, not the smartest thing she’d ever done.

  “Morning,” a deep voice called behind her.

  Startled, she jumped and dropped the papers she was holding on the ground.

  “Did I scare you?”

  She dropped to the ground on her knees, scrambling to pick up the pieces of paper. She looked up and saw Nate standing there. Great. She’d forgotten she would be doing his therapy sessions today. Just what she needed, sarcastic Nate.

  “I’d help you…But…Well,” Nate said, lifting one of his crutches in the air.

  “It’s ok…I just…”

  “Forgot about me?” Nate smirked.

  “No, I…I…lost track of time.” Claire kept her head down, picking up the remaining pieces of paper and standing.

  “I should be offended. Maybe I didn’t leave enough of an impression last time?” He raised his eyebrow.

  “I could never forget you,” she said, softer and less sarcastically than she had intended. It sounded too nice, too sincere. Shit!

  He moved closer and grabbed the loose piece of hair that had fallen across her face between his fingers and pushed it behind her ear. His dark brown eyes held hers. She could feel his breath on her face, smell his tantalizing scent.

  “You have the most mesmerizing eyes,” he breathed.

  “Than-ks,” she stuttered.

  His eyes moved to her lips. She felt her body take over, her lips parting slightly.

  Nate let out a low moan from the back of his throat, possibly the sexiest sound Claire had ever heard. She could feel her body responding to him as she clenched her legs more tightly together, trying to keep herself composed. Too late for that.

  Nate abruptly pulled himself from his trance and chuckled. “Anyway, let’s get back to it, shall we? Can’t stand around and talk all day.” He winked, turned and started walking on his crutches towards the entrance to the physio room.

  What the hell had just happened? Claire clutched her papers tightly. Son of a bitch. She couldn’t believe what he had just made her feel. She had a boyfriend. Nate knew that. That was the way it was going to be then? Well, she could play dirty, too. Claire smiled and followed Nate into the room. This day had just turned interesting.

  “So what are you up to this weekend?” Nate asked while Claire helped him onto the bed. He was thankful they had nearly finished for the day. His muscles were killing him.

  “I’m actually going skydiving on Saturday!” Claire said excitedly.

  Nate’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? You? Skydiving?”

  “Yeah, why not? It’ll be fun!”

  He laughed. “I can’t imagine you doing anything fun.”

  “Well clearly you don’t know me well enough, then. I happen to be a lot of fun.”

  “I’m starting to agree with you on that one,” Nate said. Oh how he wanted to get to know her more.

  “You just seem to bring out the serious side in me. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been so serious before.”

  Nate was starting to believe that. He’d seen her brief interactions with the other therapists and patients and she’d always come across happy and bright.

  “Ouch!” Nate yelled, shooting up from the table to look down to where Claire was holding his calf muscle. “That hurts!” he growled.

  “Your muscles seem sorer today. I’m not pushing you too hard, am I?”

  Nate laughed. “No, it’s not you. It’s my extra-curricular activities that have made me sore.”

  Miss Blonde from Wednesday night had turned into Miss Thursday as well.

  She looked at him, confused.

  “If you get what I mean?” He winked.

  She stared at him, going over what he’d said in her mind, and then it hit her. She went bright red and dropped her eyes.

  “Well, I think we’re done for the day,” Claire said as she got up from her stool. She screwed her face up and held her thigh “Ow,” she cried.

  Nate touched
her shoulder concerned. “Are you okay?”

  She stretched out her side, still holding her leg. “Yeah, I guess I’m just a little sore as well.”

  He chuckled. “Not for the same reason as me, I’m guessing.”

  She turned to him. “I dunno,” she said softly. “I’m thinking it’s exactly the same reason.” She traced the top of her lip with her tongue.

  Nate shook his head. “Sure…”

  Claire moved her hand up to her neck, tracing it with her fingers. “It went for hours,” she breathed deeply. “It was so hot. Sweat was dripping off my body, I could feel it everywhere.”

  She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath and moving her fingers down her neck, skimming the skin beneath her shirt. He caught a glimpse of her pink lacy bra as she pushed the shirt further down with her fingers.

  He was her captive, hanging off her every word. Her every touch.

  “It was dirty. Rough. Hard. Firm,” she exhaled, hanging on to each word.

  His dick was hard, that was for sure. He reached out, grabbing her arm and pulled her close, her body between his legs.

  She was startled by his quick movement, but only for a moment. Nate held her hips as she dropped her hands onto both of his thighs, slowly moving up him.

  “Sometimes I wonder if I’m being too rough. I mean, I don’t want to pull too hard from the tip and break it. That’s why I always start from the base.” She leaned in, her lips inches away from his, and breathed, “But in the end, it’s only a weed. It doesn’t have feelings.”

  Nate was so focused on her seductive trance it took him a couple of seconds to grasp what she’d said. “What? What are you talking about?”

  She pulled her face away. “Gardening, why what were you talking about?” She smiled, pushing herself out from his grip.