Claire couldn't tell if Mattie was sweating so much because of the hot summer night or because of how much pain the woman was in. Either way the fabric of her shirt stuck to her skin perfectly outlining her form. Claire pictured herself running her hands up those hips to the abs and then the breasts. Claire shook her head before the visual could go too far. She had work to do. "I'm glad you called me."

Mattie smirked. "Missing me already?"

"Actually, I take it back. Next time go ahead and bleed out on your nice carpet."

"Is it nice? Foggy says it's a piece of crap that I need to replace six months ago."

Claire looked down at the carpet. Yeah, it was kind of crappy. "Well as long as you like it."

Mattie shrugged, and then she winced. Apparently she had forgotten about her severe scalp laceration that Claire had just finished sewing up. "The material doesn't trap dust the way some carpets do, but other than that it doesn't make a difference to me. It could be an image of hardcore porn and I wouldn't even know."

Claire blushed. She was glad Mattie couldn't see her. "It's not."

"Yeah, I know." Mattie was still grinning. Why was this woman always so damn pleased with herself? "Someone surely would have told me by now."

"Actually, it is porn. None of us had the heart to tell you. It's really raunchy. I can see this woman's clitoris and everything."

Mattie's grin grew. "Is it an accurate drawing?"

"I... I don't. Why would I know?"

"Maybe because you're a nurse," Mattie teased.

Shit, Mattie was right. She had a perfectly good reason to know what a clitoris looked like. "I guess it's accurate. I mean... Obviously there's not actually any porn on your carpet."

"Obviously," Claire wanted to wipe that smirk off Mattie's face. Or kiss it off...

Claire shook her head. "I'm straight," she said very suddenly. Way to make things less awkward, she thought.

Mattie shrugged. "Okay, you're straight. Doesn't change the fact that your face gets hot and your heart rate goes up every time you're around me."

Claire looked away. "So you picked up on that."

"I'm blind, but that doesn't mean I'm not perceptive."

"Apparently not," Claire whispered.

"Hey," Two fingers lifted her chin. Claire was suddenly looking at those warm blank eyes. And under them... Soft full lips. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Are you an expert or something?"

Mattie shrugged. "Gender doesn't matter to me. It's all about how the other person makes me feel."

"And how do I... Make you feel?"

The soft lips came closer. Claire made no move to evade them. They felt even softer than they looked. They were moist and tasted like sweat, but in a good way weirdly. Claire licked the lips, trying to examine the taste further. Mattie opened her mouth. Claire's tongue touched teeth. Smooth marble panels. Behind those easily parted walls was a tongue. It reached for Claire's own. It touched her lips, tasting her in turn. The lips closed around her bottom lip. They moved along her chin-

Claire broke away. "You're my patient," she protested weakly.

"Worried I have Florence Nightengale syndrome? This is hardly a hospital setting. I don't think the standard rules apply."

"I... You..." Claire looked at Mattie's lovely face. "I want you," she whispered.

"Here I am," Mattie whispered back, her voice liquid sex.

"You're hurt," Claire put up one last feeble protest.

"I know you'll be gentle with me."

Claire took a deep breath. "I never have before. I probably won't be any good."

Mattie took Claire's hand and placed it on her hip. Claire felt the sticky material under her fingers and suddenly wanted it gone. Claire reached under the slippery fabric to feel the smooth skin beneath. Claire started to run her hand up. At the same time Mattie was brushing back her hair and then kissing her neck.

"This okay," Mattie asked.

"Yes, oh yes."

"Want to go to my bedroom?"

Claire ran her thumb over a nipple. "I really, really do."