It's more than just lust, bigfoot.

***

I PARKED THE car in front of the hospital. She let out a huge breath before she got out of the car. I let her hand clutched my arm as I led the way inside the hospital. The clean scent and the sound of the intercom brought back some bad memories. I pushed that thought away and looked at the woman beside me.

"Ms. Paisley, good morning! Are you ready?" the late fifties thin doctor greeted.

"Good morning, Dr. James. This is my friend, Arrow Slate."

I shook the hand of the doctor. "So, how does this corneal transplant work?"

"The surgery will take two to two an half hours. We will give her anesthesia to relax her muscles and to control her blinking and eye movements, and eye drops to numb her eye. She's awake the entire time. She will feel slight discomfort for days, but we'll give her steroids to help her body accepts the corneal graft. She doesn't have to stay in the hospital after the surgery. There could a possible rejection, but so far, it didn't happen to any of our patients. We'll take care of her, Mr. Slate," Dr. James explained.

I nodded and faced Brooklyn. "You'll be in good hands. I'll be here when you're done."

A female nurse in old rose scrubs approached us with a smile. "Are you ready?" She then looked at me. "I'll take care of her."

All I could do was a nod.

Brooklyn released her trembling hand on my arm and said shakily, "I hope to see you soon, Arrow."

"You will, Brooklyn." My throat dried. I wanted to say something, but I was tongue-tied. She'd taken my voice and thoughts with her. I watched her back faded down the hallway to the area with signage EENT department and the pastel color around me seemed to darken.

I released a sigh. I should be happy for her. Soon, she would get her eyesight and her life back and would be able to teach the kids she loved. She could smile brightly and had her confidence back, and could read her books like she used to do.

Something deep down in me wished I could turn back the moment for at least five seconds before she left. I tried to control my muddling thoughts, but I was having trouble focusing.

I wished I'd said more. What if she had her sight back and left my place and she—?

Okay, dude, first, don't let your hopes high. There's nothing going on between you and Brooklyn. You're just dreaming and someone like you who had a scar on your face is not good for someone as beautiful as her. I felt like I'd just been slapped in the face, all my lust, needs, and wants had tumbled away.

I slammed my ass down the bench with scattered thoughts. Where the fuck is Imogen?

"Arrow!"

My head snapped to my left. Imogen was rushing toward me with her blue hospital uniform. "Thought you were swallowed by this hospital. Why are you late?"

She frowned. "What had gotten your panties in a wad? Haven't get laid?"

I rolled my eyes which I didn't usually do. "You're just like Kian. You both think that sex can solve the world's problems."

"And it doesn't? You're not a saint and you've been lusting her for almost two decades." It's more than just lust, bigfoot. "Did you tell her?"

"Tell her about what?" The wave of frustrations furrowed on my forehead.

"Your feelings, dumb." She rolled her eyes.

I snorted, "It was a long time ago, emoji."

"Then why did you look like just about to cry your ass out when I found you?" she pried, confusion flooded her brown eyes.

I stared at her. "Will you stop it?" Swallowing down the air, I admitted, "I'm dying to know how did she get into that accident."

"That's all? Did you ask her?"

"Nope. It didn't feel right and she's cagey."

"Cagey?" She laughed. "Of all the people, Arrow. You can uncage her if you want to. I noticed her when you two arrived at your apartment—she must have noticed that you're restraining your feelings."

"I don't have feelings for her."

"Don't lie to me. You thought that you two somehow are related by blood that is why you never make a move, dumb." She was right—that was what stopping me, but not a moment I wanted to push her against the wall and kissed the hell out of her, vulnerable or not.

I'd been dreaming for years to feel those plump lips, and now that I saw what was underneath those clothes, everything, every sane I thought of to get rid of unhealthy obsession toward her was threatening to burst out into flames at any moment now. Those priceless gems that I wanted to put my hands, my mouth and my tongue on were overwhelming me to dizziness and had awakened my fucking senses like a freaking ticking time bomb. It fucking frightens me.

"Hey." She nudged me. "I have an idea."

"Don't do anything stupid again." I threw her a stare.

My phone chimed, probably Kian. I sent him a message earlier that I couldn't come to work, and he gave me a day off.

"You haven't heard me out."

"I don't need to hear it. I know your dubious plan, so just don't do it and leave her alone. She'd been through a lot."

"You don't know that, and you don't know anything as much as I do."

"Well, congratulations! I still don't wanna know. She could have told me if she wanted me to know."

When my phone chimed again, I pulled it from my pocket.

"I just want you to be happy and I want you to move on from what happened there." She was referring to my last assignment. My brothers died including the woman I secretly dated. Imogen knew everything. It was not like I could keep secrets from her—she was a nosy emoji, sticking her nose in every part of my life.

"I'm good. Thanks for the help."

"You better answer that."

"Yeah. It's Kian." His name blinked on my phone screen. I tapped the answer icon and pressed it against my ear. "Kian?"

"It's Caitriona. She didn't come today. I think your suspicions are right. I tried calling her, but she did not pick up." My heartbeat dropped. My skin turned cold.

"Can you check her address? I'm on my way." I hung up the phone. I was sweating, feeling claustrophobic. I found a miss call from a new number. I dialed.

Before the ring ended, someone picked up. "Arrow!"

I blinked and swallowed. It can't be! Fuck!

"I got to go," I told Imogen who had her eyebrows drew together.

"Is everything okay?"

"I hope so."

I stomped away, then stopped. I turned back and strode my way toward the room where they had Brooklyn.

"That's not the exit!" Imogen sang, amused.

When I reached the door, I breathed deeply and pushed the door open. At least three pairs of eyes pinned at me with shock on their faces.

"I'm sorry, can I have a moment with her, please?" A doctor and two nurses looked at Brooklyn. Thankfully, they had not yet brought her to the operating room.

"Okay, but don't make it long, we need to take her for surgery." The doctor checked his watch. "In less than five minutes."

"It won't take long," I assured them.

They left, leaving me alone and Brooklyn inside the room. She dragged herself off the bed, and I stepped closer to her.

"Is everything okay?" Her voice filled with bewilderment.

"Yeah." I cleared my throat and held her arms.

She licked her lips and swallowed.

"It's alright, Brooklyn." I'd never been so sure in my entire than what I was about to do. It was an act of desperation, but it was now or never. I needed to get this out of my system for good to get my life back. I thought if I had a woman or women in my bed, I would not feel the same way toward her, but it was the same the moment I laid my eyes on her and what was worse she was now different. Vulnerable. "I hope you won't hate me after this because I sure as hell I would never regret—"

Brooklyn looked shell-shocked.

Before she could protest, I grabbed the back of her head, slammed my lips into hers. The fire burned and raged inside me—it felt like all my worries, the stress, the confusion, and the pressure had washed out of me.

Brooklyn was still shocked to respond. She let out a whimper, and I deepened the kiss. It didn't take long until she responded to me—her soft and sweet lips moved against mine. Her hands moved to my arms as if she needed support, then to my hair as I snaked my hand around her waist and pressed my body against her soft one. She moaned as my tongue slipped inside, swirling in her hot mouth and felt my raging hard-on pressing against her lower belly.

Jesus! I'd been dying and begging to feel this—to experience this. And now it was happening. It was wracking and frenzied. And it felt right.

We both pulled away, breathing heavily. I opened my eyes, her lids still flutter closed, and her lips were swollen and raw. And I could still taste her sweetness as I licked my lips.

My heart constricted in my chest, but I needed to go. There was a life in danger. I kissed her forehead and backed away.