Chapter 4

4

JOSEPHINE

J osephine had found herself daydreaming when she left Emma that morning in the hotel room in The Grand. She’d told Emma that she needed to get to work, but that wasn’t entirely true. She’d run away. Waking up next to such a beautiful young woman, the memory of their previous night together, it all felt too good to be true. She couldn’t bear it anymore. So, she ran. It was one thing she was historically prone to doing. She found a good thing hard to accept.

And Emma’s tall, strong, naked athlete body with her lazy morning eyes was a memory she wouldn’t easily forget. She could have stayed for more. She had wanted to stay for more. But she had lied to Emma and left her there.

She didn’t need to show up to work just yet, but Josephine wanted to make a good impression as she was still new to the job. So, she showed up and tried to familiarize herself with the routine. She was a new doctor here, although she was the boss, but she liked to know how everything worked and every hospital had their own way of doing things.

It was a good day. Becky had been right about Phoenix Ridge, mostly run by women and even the staff at the hospital were kind and approachable on the whole. They were incredibly patient with her, showing her the ropes, so to speak. That being said, she was eager to be back home when she finished that evening. She had barely slept the night before and Emma’s naked, supple body kept popping into her mind.

Her new apartment was amazing. It was insane how much cheaper everything was compared to New York. So she had gone all out on a super luxurious, ready furnished apartment with a roof terrace and incredible views. It was massively spacious with a homey feel that came mainly from the wood finish. Nothing like the sterile, cramped apartments that came a dime a dozen in New York.

She made dinner, showered, and relaxed on the couch for a few hours, catching up on some shows before she went to sleep.

The next morning, she woke up to a text from Becky; her daughter had been in a car accident and was at the hospital. It was one of the most horrifying things she could’ve woken up to.

Josephine burst into the hospital having dressed in a rush to get there as soon as possible. Scared for her friend. Becky had spoken about her daughter a lot and Josephine looked forward to meeting her. Between moving in and getting things going with her new job, the time never presented itself. This would be a terrible way to meet her. Josephine knew how close Becky and Ember were. She had a nurse meet her at the doors of the hospital to go through Ember’s file. Becky needed to be sure they were doing everything they could for her.

To be honest it sounded like Ember Thompson had been lucky.

“Becky?” She caught the fire chief on the way to her daughter’s room and pulled her into a brief embrace. The nurse was still walking next to her.

Josephine took the clip board from the exhausted nurse. She walked next to Becky while she gave the chief of the fire department an earful. Becky knew she should have called, especially for something so serious.

“—you didn’t even give me a call!”

Becky had the decency to look contrite. She apologized and pointed at a door.

“That’s where they put her,” Becky said, lowering her voice significantly.

Josephine decided to keep her grievances down for the moment. They didn’t want to accidentally wake Becky’s daughter after all. The patient needed all the rest she could get. The accident wasn’t as bad as it looked, according to the report. Most of her injury came from a concussion she got, most likely from her head hitting something when her car somersaulted. Her seatbelt prevented the worst of it.

Becky went inside the room while she hung back to go over Ember’s file once more, making sure she got everything right. Also, making sure they got everything right. She’d seen negligence lead to some unforgettable consequences. She was going to order some tests redone, just to be sure, but Ember Thompson looked to be in full good health. Now, time to go say hello to her good friend’s daughter.

Josephine raised her head and smiled, trying to make a good first impression. Then she saw Ember Thompson sit up in the bed. Lazy, sexy, beautiful brown eyes. Long strong legs under a hospital gown. Big strong hands with fingers that could create magic, and a wild mane of reddish brown hair that looked like it needed a brush.

Oh my god. Emma. Ember. The best sex of my entire life.

It felt like the entire world became a giant frozen block of ice around her. Ember Thompson stared back at her.

Becky’s daughter. Oh, Jesus. I had sex with Becky’s daughter.

“Oh, great, you’re still awake,” Becky said. She had clearly been anticipating this moment for some time now.

“This is my friend, Josephine Mars. Josephine, this is Ember, my daughter.”

They’d messed up. The shock had completely taken them both off-guard that Becky immediately picked up on the fact that something was wrong.

“…you two already know each other?” Becky asked, glancing between the two of them.

“No.” Ember growled. She was staring at Josephine as though she had seen a ghost. This was clearly just as awkward for her as it was for Josephine.

“No,” Josephine echoed quickly.

Both Josephine and Ember denied at the same time. It made her a little annoyed that her date had used a fake name as well as lying about her age, but then again, so had she. Josephine was in no position to cast any stones.

She recovered first.

“Hello, Ember, your mother has told me so much about you. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she smiled and walked up to her with her best bedside manner on full display.

“Uh, hi. Mom mentioned you too,” Ember replied awkwardly. Her beautiful brown eyes looked as uncomfortable as was possible. Clearly, she was still reeling from the shock.

Josephine found her gaze dragging to Ember’s lovely full lips. She couldn’t stop thinking about what that mouth had done to her.

And those hands. Big strong hands.

Jesus. Josephine. Pull yourself together.

It made sense now , Josephine thought. She’d been wondering what job Emma—no, Ember—did that made her body so toned. Turns out, she was a firefighter, just like her mother.

And she had Becky’s brown eyes and reddish hair. Like a taller, stronger, more masculine Becky. Should she have recognized her as Becky’s daughter?

Now, how the hell was she going to tell her friend that she had slept with her daughter? There was no way Becky could ever know. She was fiercely protective of Ember, and something told Josephine her friend wouldn’t take too kindly to her daughter seeing a woman who was more than 20 years older than her. She wanted to sigh. Phoenix Ridge had been so perfect, up until just now.

She asked Ember a few questions, nothing particularly serious. All pertaining to her general health and how she was feeling. She seemed to be doing okay, but she was still going to wait until the test results came back. Ember’s eyes tracked her every movement, they flickered over her breasts and seemed particularly keen on her face. It was as though the young woman couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Josephine couldn’t believe it either. Ember looked sad. Clearly, they needed to talk but now wasn’t the time. Not while her mother was right there.

“Well, looks like you’re doing great.”

Josephine placed her palm on the back of Ember’s hand. It was supposed to be a kind gesture, but the feeling of their skin touching again made her develop instant goosebumps. She unconsciously clenched her thighs, remembering the feeling of Ember’s strong fingers, the same ones under her hand, as they teased her pussy before entering her.

Stop it, Josephine! She’s Becky’s daughter for god’s sake! She’s entirely out of bounds. Don’t even think about it.

Their night of passion was still very fresh in her mind, and with the way Ember was staring at her, it was fresh in hers too.

Josephine pulled away quickly, attempting to mask her slip up with a smile.

“I’ll come check up on you from time to time.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Ember offered her own fake smile; her emotive brown eyes held a great deal of questions. Josephine wasn’t sure she had the answers to any of them.

She turned to Becky. “She’s doing great. You can take a break if you need and go home. The hospital staff will keep an eye on her for you.”

Becky nodded. She had dark circles under her eyes. Josephine could tell she was tired and she did need to get some sleep, but it was clear she wasn’t ready to leave her daughter’s side. Josephine said her goodbyes and left hastily before things got even more awkward.

Ember Thompson. Josephine glanced at the name on the clipboard. Twenty-eight years old. She’s so young, she thought guiltily. And so beautiful.

Before, it had been difficult to keep Ember out of her mind. Now, with her in the same hospital, albeit as a patient, she was the only thing Josephine could think about. She went through the day mechanically, answering questions, asking some, but largely she barely paid attention. Most of the things they told her, she already knew about them. She noted when Becky finally left to go get some much-needed sleep at her house. Ember was alone. The coast was clear.

No, Josephine, you shouldn’t, she told herself. But multiple times throughout the day she found her feet carrying her towards Ember’s room. She would turn away, only to find herself back there a few minutes later.

Finally, she decided to end the farce. She knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Josephine tried to steel her nerves. A few deep breaths did nothing to calm her down.

Just go inside, she won’t eat you.

But I want her to eat me.

Josephine blushed suddenly at the double entendre of that thought. She forced herself to twist the knob and let herself in.

Ember’s eyes immediately fixated on her. Josephine felt so self-conscious under the young woman’s unwavering gaze that swept over her body.

“I thought you would come earlier,” Ember said.

“I was busy, sorry,” Josephine lied.

“Oh.” Ember nodded and looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my real name.”

“It’s fine,” Josephine said quickly. “I apologize for not telling you mine either.”

They lapsed into silence. So many words they wanted to say, the tension was thick enough to cut through with a butter knife.

“Was it real?” Ember asked, looking up at her. Josephine was mesmerized by her eyes once again. There was something about them, the way she looked at people. It made her heart flutter with an indescribable emotion. It made her feel… real… seen.

“Yes, for me it was,” Josephine answered honestly.

Ember nodded. “That night was amazing. I’d never felt anything like that before. I can’t stop thinking about…thinking about you.”

The earnestness in her gaze tugged at Josephine’s heart. Ember was so open and so evolved for someone so young. She walked up and sat on the edge of Ember’s bed.

“I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

Silence. This time, words weren’t going to be enough for the two to express themselves. Josephine could feel it as much as Ember did. Her lips found Ember’s of their own accord. Ember responded with enthusiasm, kissing her with the same level of desperation and desire. All of the emotions they had been feeling in the last two days were conveyed with that one, intense kiss.

Josephine felt Ember reach her hand up inside her blouse to grasp hungrily at her breasts. She moaned from the sensation of her warm touch. She wanted Ember’s hands on her body. She wanted them so badly. She placed her hand on top of Ember’s, encouraging her to squeeze harder. The young woman obliged her, eliciting another moan from Josephine as she felt her nipples harden and her panties getting wet.

She leaned in further into the kiss, and they made out passionately. All the while, Josephine thought about how wrong this was, how risky it would be if she was caught making out with a patient barely a week into her working at the Phoenix Ridge hospital. But she couldn’t pull away from the kiss. It was addictive.

Ember moaned, her hand searched past Josephine’s knee, seeking up her skirt running higher up her inner thigh between her legs. Josephine felt her back arching into the touch, hitching her skirt higher to allow Ember access.

Ember’s fingers teased over and under and around her silk panties.

“You are so wet for me,” she growled into Josephine’s ear. “I like it.”

Josephine smiled back. “You always seem to know exactly the right thing to do and say.”

Ember kissed her, more forcefully this time. Her passion was clearly growing, and Josephine had to admit that hers was too. They were quickly being consumed by the same desires they felt that night. The feeling was back, and with full force. Ember had awakened something within her that night, a part of her that she had forgotten but it was back with a vengeance.

She could already feel herself approaching that precipice as Ember’s magical fingers slid in and around her soaking panties, teasing her like crazy with the occasional swipes of her clitoris. She’d barely been touched, but the familiar shaking was beginning to set in.

Then they heard a knock on the door. It was like someone had spilled cold water on the two of them. Josephine gasped and pulled away sharply, rising to her feet and adjusting her skirt, retucking her blouse. Ember rearranged her hospital gown.

Josephine made sure her face looked alright before she went to answer the door. It was an unfamiliar woman. She was a bit on the short side but thick and strong-looking and wearing the regulation navy blue pants and T shirt of the Phoenix Ridge Fire Department.

“Hello,” the woman greeted. “I’m Rory, Ember’s friend and colleague.”

Josephine’s smile faltered a bit but she recovered quickly before Ember’s friend noticed.

“Hi Rory. I’m Doctor Josephine Mars. It’s nice to meet you.”

Josephine stepped away to let her in. “Come right in, Ember is awake.”

The young woman’s face lit up the moment she walked in and saw Ember sitting up in bed.

“There’s our favorite superhero!”

Josephine winced at the boisterous woman’s enthusiasm. She crossed the room quickly to give Ember a warm hug. Ember gave Josephine an apologetic look over Rory’s shoulder. Josephine smiled back reassuringly.

She left the two of the friends, her mind still reeling from the intensity of the desires that lingered between them. She was soaking wet still and her panties needed sorting out.

They’d almost gotten themselves caught! Josephine was terrified about what would have happened if Rory had walked in without knocking first. Or even worse… Becky.

“That was careless,” she said to herself but deep down inside, she knew she would do it again. She simply couldn’t get enough of Ember. She didn’t care if they had both used a fake name that night they met. Josephine was certain it would have changed nothing.

“Doctor Mars?”

Josephine jolted to attention. “Oh, hello?”

There was nurse talking right next to her. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there. She’d been so distracted by her thoughts she zoned out completely.

“Doctor Gale is asking to talk to you.”

“Where is he?”

“At his office.”

“I’ll be there.”

The nurse nodded and left her alone. Francis Gale was her boss, mostly in name. She did have leagues of experience over him, and he acknowledged that, but he was largely in charge of running the hospital and keeping them staffed and stocked.

“Gale,” she greeted, entering his office.

The man was older than her. Most of his hair had gone grey and the wrinkles around his eyes spoke of someone who smiled a lot throughout his life. He gave her one of such smiles when she walked in.

“Doctor Mars, I hear you’re settling in quite nicely.”

Josephine nodded. “I am.”

“Good, good.” He bobbed his head. “I was thinking, since you and Chief Thompson are close, you might as well take up her daughter’s care. Would be a nice way to start. We don’t want to overwhelm you right away.”

“Oh.” That was not good.

“Just look after her is all I’m asking. Chief Thompson is special to our city, and we want the absolute best for her family. And you’re obviously the best.”

Josephine had already done that but since Gale was asking, she elected to simply accept it. There was no need to correct him on that front. But, if she was the one handling Ember’s case, that meant they were going to have to see each other quite often. She shivered. It was going to be difficult to keep her hands off Ember now. However, in spite of her thoughts, she couldn’t find it within herself to refuse.

“Sure, I’ll look after her.”

“Perfect!” Gale waved it off. “I mostly just wanted to check on you. Ember is doing pretty okay. She should be ready for discharge in a few days.”

By the time Josephine returned to Ember’s room, her friend was gone. It was already past visiting hours anyway. She went with her clipboard and took a seat in one of the chairs in the room.

“Hey Ember, how are we feeling?” Josephine asked, trying to gently probe her patient.

Ember was laying on her back. She watched Josephine through half-lidded sexy eyes.

“Would you believe me if I said I feel great?”

Josephine shook her head. “You were in accident, and you suffered some head trauma. I’d be worried if you said that.”

“But I do feel great. I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d see you again, period. Meeting you here again feels like fate or something.”

“More like karma,” Josephine countered, putting her clipboard down. “Karma for sleeping with someone way younger than myself. You’re my friend’s daughter, she’s going to be livid if she found out what we did.”

“She doesn’t need to find out.” Ember grinned mischievously and her brown eyes flashed enticingly.

Josephine laughed and picked up her clipboard. “Let’s try this again. How are you feeling?”

This time, she managed to get a decent assessment of Ember’s condition before she got sidetracked again. Ember was an extremely flirtatious young woman. She was so bold and forward, a stark contrast to Josephine. Josephine was scared. This entire affair looked like something that would blow up in their faces, and a part of her was already saying she should return to New York to get away from it all. She’d never had much luck with relationships. Each time she felt things were going well, it would all slip away through her grasp. They would either lose interest, or cheat, or move away, something always happened.

And, aside from Ember being Becky’s daughter, dating a 20-something was bound to be trouble.

“Rory brought me a little bit of news.”

“What is it?” Josephine asked. It was amazing how easily they had gotten to the point where they spoke like two old lovers. It proved that everything she’d felt that night on their date hadn’t been a fluke. Conversation was ridiculously easy between them.

“The driver who hit me, I was worried, but she turned out okay. Her car had spun out and slammed into two other people, but she was largely okay. Apparently, I was the one who suffered the most damage.”

“And thankfully you’re doing okay.”

Ember nodded.

“But your car…Joan…” Luckily Josephine remembered the car’s name.

“Totaled,” Ember said simply and sadly. The loss was apparent in her voice.

“She was a beautiful car,” Josephine sympathized. She found herself walking toward Ember’s bed, overcome by the need to console her. She hugged her and for a while, they remained motionless, reveling in each other’s embrace.

Ember moved to lay on her back, pulling Josephine down with her. She ended up laying on her side, so as not to put her weight on the younger woman. She found it incredibly hard to say stop , the small part of her mind that remained rational helped her make that one last concession. Ember kissed her neck, sending a jolt of pleasure shooting through her body.

They laid down next to each other in bed, their legs entangled, their lips pressed against each other. All of Josephine’s resolve crumbled in an instant. Her hands were exploring Ember’s body with wild abandon.

I want her so badly.

“I think you better lock the door,” Ember whispered to her. “I want to fuck you.”

Josephine managed to pull herself away from the haze she was in. She got up and quickly went to lock the door to the room. This way, a nurse wouldn’t randomly walk in on them. Josephine had nowhere else she needed to be right now. Becky hopefully wouldn’t be back for a few hours. They had time.

Josephine headed back towards the bed.

Ember’s eyes were hungry on her body.

“Josephine,” Ember growled. “Roll your skirt up.”

Josephine went to obey and rolled her skirt up higher and higher until her panties were exposed.

Ember sat on the edge of the bed, still in her hospital gown, but she could make anything look sexy.

“Roll your panties down. I want to look at you.”

Josephine still had her doctor’s coat on. This was wild. But she didn’t care.

Her hands moved to her hips and she rolled her panties down. She gasped as the cool of the air hit the wetness of her vulva.

She stepped carefully out of her panties still wearing her heels.

The panties were soaking.

Ember reached out her hand for them and Josephine handed them over. Ember put them to her nose and inhaled deeply.

As she lowered her hand she smiled.

“I missed you,” she said simply as she took hold of Josephine’s doctor’s coat and pulled her in close. With her other hand, she moved quickly between Josephine’s legs and Josephine moaned with want at the touch. She was desperate.

“Please…” she gasped.

“Oh, baby, don’t worry. I’m going to fuck you,” Ember growled, and her fingers entered Josephine roughly. Josephine felt her eyes widen. Her body adjusted to the penetration and suddenly she was overcome with the pleasure of the feeling.

Ember pulled her closer with her fingers that were inside of Josephine. She literally pulled Josephine’s pussy right to her face, she opened her full lips and took Josephine’s clit into her mouth as her fingers began to fuck her.

As those lovely, long, strong fingers went to work thrusting inside of her Josephine felt her eyes roll back in her head and her moans become involuntary.

It felt like seconds later when her orgasm overcame her and rushed through every inch of her body. She felt her pussy clamping tight around Ember’s fingers. She thought she might collapse until Ember took her in her strong arms and pulled her forwards onto the bed.

“Oh my god,” Josephine gasped, her voice hoarse. “That was incredible.”

Ember pulled her in close and whispered in her ear. “You are incredible.”

Josephine thought her heart might beat out of her chest.

“Now, maybe you could just slide a hand between my legs quickly… I’m so turned on, this won’t take long,” Ember murmured, taking Josephine’s hand in her own and pushing it to her own wetness.

Josephine was more than happy to oblige her.