Warning – Sexual Content

Chapter 13 – No Going Back

Grace was the first to wake the next morning. Romano was lying with his chest to her back, still holding her in his arms. She smiled even before she was fully awake, recalling the events of the previous evening. She decided to slip out quietly and take a shower and was enjoying her first cup of coffee when he emerged from her bedroom.

"You're an early riser, considering you should be completely spent from recent physical activities."

She smiled, "Well, what can I say? I guess I have a lot of stamina."

He closed his eyes for a moment and grinned. "That's the understatement of the year."

"You managed to keep up pretty well."

"Gee, thanks."

"I made coffee but I'm afraid I'm not much of a cook. My ex insisted on having a personal chef and I kind of got out of the habit of cooking, especially now that it's just me."

"I can go pick us up something. What do you want?" He said as he took her in his arms and kissed her.

"I'm fine, I'm really not hungry."

"Well, I'm feeling rather ravenous."

She smiled. "Really, and what exactly did you have in mind?"

"Let me show you." He pulled her close and snaked his arms inside her bathrobe. With little effort, it fell to the floor and she shivered slightly as the cool air brushed over her.

"Ooh, it's cold."

"I have a cure for that." He said, kissing her desperately as his hands eagerly traced over the contours of her soft skin. The mere touch of his hands engulfed her in waves of warm, sensual pleasure, and awakened all her senses.

"Mmm. I like they way you think, Romano."

"God, I love it when you call me by my last name."

"You know what they call you in the ER don't you?"

"Spare me. They're just jealous of my amazing skill and devastatingly good looks."

"So, Dr. Romano, what's your prognosis for my condition? Any ideas on the best way for me to boost my body temperature?" She said, as she held onto him tightly.

"I think you're going to need a complete examination, Miss Hanson. One that involves a thorough going over, inch by inch. It could take hours."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him urgently. The intensity of her kiss revealed a burning desire to once again feel swept away by his unwavering desire. He picked her up, and as she held on with her legs wrapped tightly around him, he carried her back to the bedroom.

"Take me now, Robert." She begged seductively.

Before actually making it back to the scene of the crime, Romano pushed Grace up against the wall and thrust himself deep inside her, both of them unable to wait another moment before being consumed by their insatiable appetite.

"Oh, God! You feel so good inside me," She confessed. She was more than ready for another round with him and as she moved her hips in perfect rhythm with his, she drove him near the edge. He carried her back over to the bed and took immense pleasure in teasing her until neither one could hold back any longer.

They spent the next hour enjoying each other until Grace finally broke the moment. "Robert, I have to work at 3. At this rate, I'll be completely useless. I'm such an idiot for not changing shifts."

"You could call in sick."

"On New Year's Day? Weaver's already threatened us in advance."

"Well in a way, you are in need of medical attention. It could be detrimental to your physical well being if you do not receive an immediate examination of your entire anatomy." He said as he began to devour her neck with gentle kisses.

"I'm sure that would go over well with Weaver. 'Sorry, Kerry, but I won't make it in today because I'm desperately horny and the only course of treatment is an immediate orgasm'."

"Well, it wouldn't just be one. You really shouldn't underestimate your potential, Grace."

"You do seem to find new ways to take me to unbelievable levels of satisfaction." She kissed him softly, allowing her mouth to tug gently on his bottom lip as she released him, "but…we both know I have to go in, Robert. Can you give me a ride? I'm still using the EL until my car's fixed."

"You seem to have gotten over your resistance to accepting rides from me."

"Well, now that I know you're all bark."

"I do bite, Gracie." He said, huskily, nibbling on her ear.

She picked up his keys from the table, "How about letting me drive? I've always wanted to get behind the wheel of a Jag."

Laughing, he replied, "Not a chance. I've seen the way you steer a gurney."

Grace was in the lounge, hanging up her coat when Carter arrived for his shift. "Grace. Just the person I was looking for."

"My shift's already started, Carter." She said, trying to avoid the inevitable conversation.

"So is mine. But," he said, pulling her aside, "this will take just a minute."

"Carter I know what you're going to say…"

"I'm just trying to look out for you, Grace."

"Well I'm a big girl and I don't need anyone's permission to go on a date."

"Hey, I'm not judging you, but it's just hard to believe…I mean, Romano of all people?"

"He's not who people think he is, at least not with me."

"That's funny. I though he was the one who kept you up all night doing his charts to punish you, not to mention he's been driving you crazy for weeks."

"I don't know what to say, Carter. I really can't explain it. You'll just have to trust me."

"Be careful, Grace." He said sincerely.

"Kind of hard to do with affairs of the heart, especially where doctors and nurses are involved, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that." She said, poking him in the stomach. "Can I ask a favor? Please don't say anything, at least not yet, until I see where this is going. I think you and Susan were the only ones from the ER who were there last night and I'd appreciate not having this same conversation with 20 other people."

"See? You know what they're going to say."

"And I don't care what they think, I just don't want to have to justify myself to everyone."

"Well, it's your decision, Grace. I guess I'll have to respect that."

"Yes you will." She grinned.

"However you do realize that gossip has a way of spreading like wildfire around this place. How long do you think it will be before this news hits the ER?"

"I don't know, but I'll take what I can get. Now why don't we talk about your love life? What about Susan, Abby…Malucci?"

"Oh you're going to pay for that one." He said, tickling her as they walked out of the lounge.