"I already told you I'm fine." Riordan rose from his seat, wincing slightly. "I'm perfectly capable of diagnosing myself."
Duncan shook his head, pressing him down into the shabby hospital chair again. "Well then, diagnose this, Doctor Ward: headache; neck pain; out cold for two minutes; threw up twice on the way here. Well?"
Isabela wasn't exactly worried. Riordan seemed fine to her, if a little woozy, but Duncan had been adamant that he had to be taken to a proper hospital. Fortunately, Oz had gotten them over to the main island without wasting time. She pressed the cloth tighter to the back of Riordan's head. "Bleeding hasn't stopped entirely yet, either."
"All right, I may have a concussion." Riordan glared at Duncan, then at her. "And I'll probably need stitches."
Duncan threw his hands up in the air in an exaggerated gesture. "Well done! I hope that shirt can be salvaged, by the way, you look good in it. Now stay put, and I'll get you some water while we wait."
Riordan made an exasperated noise, and Isabela laughed softly, following Duncan with her gaze as he walked out. "Don't be mad at him. He's just taking his fear out on you. You scared the shit out of us back there." The ugly cracking noise when Riordan's head had hit the concrete edge of the jetty wasn't something she was likely to forget soon.
"Don't remind me." Riordan leaned back and closed his eyes. "I feel like enough of an idiot already. You'd think I'd never gotten off a boat before."
"Well, the plank was slippery," Isabela conceded. "And you'd had quite a bit of rum on the island."
"I wasn't drunk!" Riordan sounded genuinely indignant. "Just distracted and- Oh, damn it, this is ridiculous! I'm sure there are many worse cases waiting and I'm just taking up space."
"Actually, you are in luck. The night isn't busy so far." A youngish doctor with blond hair and a distinctive nose approached, giving them an inquiring look. "Dr Ward? My name is Anders. It says here that you had a small accident?"
"Hit to the head, unconscious for two minutes, vomiting, and headache." Isabela recited mechanically.
"Ah." The doctor leaned down to look into Riordan's eyes, frowning slightly. "I'll order a scan."
"This really isn't necessary." Riordan protested in a querulous tone that made Isabela smile. Really, men are such babies sometimes.
The blond doctor smiled, and the smile transformed his gaunt face, making him look instantly likeable, not to mention twice as attractive. Isabela just barely resisted the urge to whistle through her teeth.
"I'll be the judge of that." Anders motioned toward the double door at the end of the brightly lit hospital corridor. "Please let your wife sign you in, and follow me."
"I'm not his- oh, whatever. Where do I sign?" Riordan made a face at Isabela but she ignored him, reaching for the clipboard instead.
The two disappeared through the door, and she settled back into her chair with a resigned sigh. Duncan returned with a water bottle, cursing briefly when he realized he'd missed Riordan by moments, but then he dropped into a seat next to her. They had to wait for nearly an hour, and the waiting room filled up quickly while they sat there, staring at the wall. Neither of them was in the mood for talking, and they both jumped to their feet at once when Anders finally showed up again.
"Your friend has a minor concussion. Nothing dramatic, but you did right to come here." The young doctor looked serious. "We stitched up his wound, too. Luckily, the scan showed no other injuries, and he should be fine in a few days. I'd like to keep him overnight, though, just to be on the safe side. I'll take you to him if you wish."
"Please." Duncan rose, and Anders motioned for them to follow him to a tiny, but immaculately clean, hospital room.
Riordan's head was wrapped in a bandage, but his eyes were clear and he seemed a little more resigned to his fate. "Yes, yes, I'll stay. I'm not that unreasonable. But, I'll be out of here tomorrow, at first light. Bring me a fresh shirt when you pick me up, will you?"
The doctor gathered up his papers. "Well, we'll see how eager you are after a night being woken every hour."
"Every two hours should suffice," Riordan huffed indignantly.
"And this is why they say doctors make the worst patients." Anders smiled, but his voice was firm. "Every hour. I like to be careful and I wouldn't want to risk any lasting damage to your brain. I've read some of your work, you know."
"I'm honoured." Riordan turned and hid his face in the pillow. "Most of it is crap."
Duncan sighed. "Please excuse him. He's a bit of a perfectionist."
"I can relate." Anders nodded at them as he left the room. "See you tomorrow."
Riordan had been eager to get back to the villa, but when Isabela and Duncan showed up around ten the next morning with bright smiles and a change of clothes, he found he'd somehow changed his mind overnight.
"Look, would you mind terribly going back without me?" Buttoning his shirt, he popped his head around the corner of the minuscule bathroom to get a glimpse of their reactions. "I'd like to stay a little longer, see if I can help Anders out a little."
"Help him out?" Duncan frowned. "Why would you do that? You need rest."
"Oh, come on. I've been worse." He rolled his eyes at Duncan, valiantly suppressing a yawn. "I might as well make myself useful here."
In all honesty, he wasn't sure himself what had gotten into him. When Anders had told him they were short on staff today and would probably have to send away the less serious cases, he had offered to stay without even thinking twice about it. The hospital was reasonably well-equipped, but there were few trained doctors around, and it was obvious Anders had his hands full. Riordan had a sneaking suspicion that he didn't always ask for payment for his services either.
Isabela raised an eyebrow. "Suit yourself. But hey, I've got an idea! Why don't you invite that pretty doctor of yours over for a game of strip poker tonight?"
Duncan shook his head, but for once, his laugh sounded a bit strained. "Oh, come on, Isabela. Strip poker? Why should we even bother? So far, you've won every time we've played."
"It might be because she cheats." Riordan carefully stretched his neck. There was still some residual pain, but nothing he couldn't handle. "And by the way, jewellery does not count as clothing, no matter what you claim."
"I don't cheat." Isabela pouted. It was a good look on her.
"Yes, you do," they replied in unison. But again, Duncan's levity seemed forced.
"You've yet to catch me, guys." Isabela smiled nonchalantly.
"At least I try." Riordan glanced over at his friend, trying to gauge his mood. He wondered what Duncan's real objection was. "You know Duncan loses focus as soon as the bra's gone. And you're totally doing that on purpose, by the way."
Isabela shrugged, unperturbed. "And yet, you have only beaten me twice."
He didn't bother to hide his dirty grin. "I also enjoy when the bra goes."
Isabela's smile turned into a full-throated laugh. "So, how about inviting Anders? I wouldn't mind seeing him naked."
"Let it go, Isabela." Riordan shook his head.
Truth be told, he wouldn't have minded either. He'd really enjoyed talking to the young doctor earlier this morning, and Anders was quite attractive, despite his scruffy look. That intensity of his was incredibly hot, and his smile... But Duncan was obviously less than enthusiastic. He hadn't said anything, but Riordan wasn't fooled. Ah, well. He'll get over it, whatever it is.
Pulling his friend into a quick embrace, he extended an arm to include Isabela. "Bye, guys. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, okay?"
"Well, that leaves us some wiggle room." Isabela grinned suggestively. "Have a nice day."
"You didn't want him to stay." Isabela glanced over at Duncan's face.
They were on the way back home, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the salty aroma of the sea spray as the boat's prow cut through the waves. Oz had readily agreed to return for Riordan in the evening. He probably enjoys a trip into town now and then. It must get boring on the island for a young man like him.
"No. Yes. I don't know." Duncan sighed. "I'm a bit worried about him. Concussions are nothing to joke about, and he really should rest. I wish he'd come back with us."
'Well, you know Riordan." She did her best to chase away his dark mood. "He could never resist a lost cause. And I'm sure he'll be safe with Anders. Actually…" Isabela smiled as an idea struck her. "I think the good doctor might have done this on purpose, so he could keep an eye on him for another day. He's an interesting guy, don't you think? Capable, gentle, compassionate. Not bad-looking either."
"Yeah." Duncan's expression darkened again. "That doesn't make me less worried, you know." He didn't elaborate and she didn't ask.
He was still gloomy by the time they got home. When even the delicious coconut chicken they had for lunch failed to cheer him up, Isabela's mind was made up. Something needed to be done, and quickly. And there was really only one cure she knew of for a mood like his.
"What you need is a movie," she declared. "The older and cheesier the better. Trust me."
"Now? In the middle of the day?" Duncan raised a surprised eyebrow.
"Yes. Now." Isabela remained firm. "Come on. I'm sure we'll find something in Cailan's den."
It wasn't actually a den, of course. Like all the other rooms in the villa, it was large and airy and tastefully furnished. There was a huge TV screen mounted on one wall, though, with a sofa and a pair of comfy armchairs facing it. A generous number of sports channels were available via satellite, and on the shelves below the screen, they found an impressive selection of DVDs and Blu-rays.
"Let's see… We want something with a beach scene, I think." Isabela went through the titles, thoughtfully chewing on her lower lip. "Ooooh! From Here to Eternity!" She blew a kiss at Duncan, pretending to swoon. "'Nobody ever kissed me the way you do,'" she exclaimed in her best melodramatic tone.
"Isn't that a bit too old? Even for me?" Duncan made a face. Still, there was a hint of a smile playing around his eyes, and he readily joined her in her search. "What about Blue Lagoon? Plenty of beaches there, if I recall correctly."
Isabela flinched. "Now that might actually be too cheesy. Hmmmm." She picked another movie from the shelf. "There's always Top Gun, of course. We could fast-forward to the beach volleyball scene." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at him.
"Really, Isabela? Tom Cruise?" Duncan's moue of distaste made her laugh.
"No, silly. Val Kilmer, of course. Young Val, in all his bare, blond, well-muscled glory." She sighed wistfully, noting with satisfaction that he chuckled at her response.
"I think I've got it." He reached past her, his arm brushing against her breasts. "Dr. No. You can't go wrong with a classic Bond movie."
"Fine with me." Isabela popped the disc into the player and snuggled up happily in Duncan's arms on the sofa.
She didn't mind being alone with him for a change. And it was nice to just hang out like this, feeling him gradually relax against her body as the familiar theme music played, breathing in his scent, listening to his low, dark chuckle. On screen, Sean Connery somehow managed to look hot and dangerous in a baby blue polo shirt and ugly slacks. Must be the voice. Or the eyebrow game.
When Ursula Andress emerged from the waves, clad in her iconic bikini and crooning Underneath the Mango Tree, Isabela sighed happily. "Gods, I love this scene. She looks so gorgeous."
"Not as beautiful as you." Duncan buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply. "You know, we could finish watching this or we could-" Without waiting for her reply, he tilted her head back and caught her lips in a long, deep kiss.
"We could," she agreed, as soon as she could speak again.
With one hand, Duncan reached for the remote to switch off the screen, simultaneously pulling her into his lap. Another skilled, long drawn-out kiss made her moan helplessly. His hands had already found her breasts and were gently massaging them while his fingertips circled her nipples, adding the occasional pinch. He knew her body by now, knew exactly how she liked to be touched, and though Isabela detested any kind of routine, there was something to be said for the soothing familiarity of his caresses.
Besides, Duncan was experienced enough to avoid being wholly predictable. Just as she was closing her eyes in bliss, expecting him to untie the sash of her dress, he pushed her off his lap, twirling her so she faced away from him.
"Upstairs." He slapped her lightly. "I want you in a proper bed, where I can take my time with you."
A pleasant shiver raced down her spine as she preceded him up the stairs, never once turning to see if he was following her. There was no need. She could feel his gaze on her back, feel the desire emanating from him, almost like a physical presence, and it was a heady sensation.
She let the dress slide off her shoulders before climbing on the bed. Today, she'd put on panties, for the trip to the hospital. When she made a move to take them off, Duncan stopped her with a gesture, even as he was throwing off his own clothes.
Slowly, he followed her onto the bed, stretching out next to her, all lean and trim and brown. You'd never guess his age from looking at his body. He had kept up his fitness regimen even here, on the island, and Isabela appreciated his efforts. Though, really, he probably could have seduced her with nothing but the heated look in his dark eyes. By the time he put his mouth and hands on her, she was already writhing impatiently on the sheets, and when he started to lick her through her panties, they were already soaked.
He did his best to draw it out, but soon enough his patience wore thin and he pushed aside the fabric to slide a finger inside her. Isabela didn't hesitate to let him know how good it felt, digging her nails into his shoulders, moaning unrestrainedly. He gasped hard at her reaction, and then he was pulling down the panties, spreading her wider, his cock hard and insistent against her thigh.
Not for the first time, she regretted the need for a condom as he fiddled with the foil wrapper, cursing when it refused to open as quickly as he wanted it to. The temptation was almost overwhelming to have him like this, bare and without any barriers between them, but of course they both knew better. And when he entered her, swiftly and confidently, it was wonderful anyway, hot and full, the best feeling in the world.
Duncan paused to kiss her again, and she was oddly touched by the gesture. He could be rough in bed, and she liked that, liked it when he gave his desire free rein, trusting she'd be able to take whatever he gave. But not this time, it seemed. This was about closeness, about being together, sharing pleasure and caring for each other, and she was not so jaded that she couldn't appreciate it.
They fell into a rhythm naturally, without conscious effort, and the gentle roll of his hips took her toward her climax at a slow, but inexorable pace. When it came, pleasure flowed through her body like a warm, soft current, leaving her relaxed and tingly and smiling. He watched her all the way through it, drinking in her sighs and shudders as quietly and patiently as if his own orgasm was the farthest thing from his mind. Only when she urged him on with a twist of her hips did he pick up speed, thrusting faster and harder, moaning deep in his throat when he came, lips locked with hers in another sweet and sensuous kiss.
Afterwards, they lay next to each other for a while, quiet and heavy, without speaking a single word. Birds were warbling outside the open window, the palm fronds were rustling softly in the afternoon breeze and in the distance, the waves were rumbling against the shore. Almost an hour had passed when Duncan finally turned to look at her.
"Isabela. Thank you so much. You were right. That was just what I needed." He hesitated. "I was-"
"Shhh." She put a finger on his lips to silence him. "Don't tell me. Don't explain. I'm glad you're better."
He opened his mouth as if to say more, but then decided against it, smiling and closing his eyes again. For the first time since Riordan's accident, he looked calm and at peace.
Giant octopus hugs to my wonderful beta suilven, and to olivegbg, for giving me the inspiration for this chappy.