Vesper Swan: Ruinbound Ch. 05

It was nearly noon when Vesper's otherwise mundane morning took a turn for the interesting.

The ED had been quiet for a Tuesday morning--mostly older folks who'd fallen out of bed and the odds and ends of random aches and pains. Vesper was thankful for the slow morning, the ED had been short staffed as usual and any lull in the typically constant action was appreciated.

Vesper was putting the finishing touches on a clinical note when the overbearing scent of expensive cologne breached the One-North nurse's station.

A dark-skinned woman--a medical tech, was the first to wrinkle up her button nose.

"I was wondering when he'd show up," Vanessa groaned, wiping her nose.

"I thought he was in Greece with Doctor Flannigan's wife," said Jericho.

Vesper let her eyes wander down Jericho's V-shaped torso. The black scrubs he was wearing fit him snug in all the right places. It took an extra second--she was still ramped up from the motorcycle ride in and, though she'd never admit it, from Danny's exciting 'finish'--but Vesper managed to tear herself away from staring.

"Guess the vacation ended early," Vesper said.

Vanessa giggled. "Maybe he's ready for something... a little curvier." She gestured the shape of an hourglass at Vesper, with a cocked eyebrow.

Vesper pointed into her mouth and gagged. "Not in a million years."

"Shhh," Jericho said. "Danger close."

Dr Colton Hall flashed a trillion dollar smile as he walked behind the nurse's station. He was six-and-a-half feet of smug and still had the build of a man half his age. He also had a reputation for taking apart any of the problem patients that stumbled into his emergency room.

He was also a notorious, world-class asshole.

"Good morning, team," Hall said without an ounce of sincerity. "Lovely to see you all today." He pulled an old paper chart from the rack behind Vesper and thumbed through some lab results. Never once did he look anyone directly in the eye.

"And a good morning to you, Doc," Jericho said. "Thought you were still sailing around in the Med somewhere."

Hall shoved the reports back into the folder. "How many times have I asked you not to call me that?"

Jericho raised his hands. "Hey, sorry, Dr Hall."

No one said anything for a breath.

When Hall finally broke the silence, he moved onto his favorite subject: Himself.

Vesper's team listened absently as Hall droned on about his myriad conquests over the previous two weeks. Stock market gains. Thoroughbred wins. Hell, he'd even closed on another vacation home, this one somewhere in the Alps.

Vesper got up to head out to the lobby, needing a breath of smug-free air. As she rose, her arm accidentally brushed Dr Hall mid-thigh. Something long and thick rolled against his leg.

"Am I boring you, Ms Swan? Hall asked with a murderously wry grin on his face.

"Mrs and no, just need to catch a breath before things pick up," she replied.

Hall took a seat in the chair Vesper had just vacated and leaned back, locking his fingers behind his head. When he did, his scrub top crept up his stomach, revealing a few inches of washboard.

"Be sure to let me know if you find anything picking up out there." He flashed a glance to his midsection and lower, a glance only for Vesper.

Her face flushed, excused herself and headed quickly for the lobby. As she made her escape, a second heat swelled beneath her panties.

What is wrong with me?

There's no reason to be getting worked up over Hall. That asshole is everything wrong with this job rolled up into one terrible human being. Who cares if he had a big dick? Lots of guys here have big ones. Dammit, it must be the echo of Luca's Essence driving me crazy. That second mouthful was too much.

As she passed by the security station, Vesper's mind was full of Luca. More specifically of Luca standing in front of her. Looking down on her and her open, eager mouth. She'd dreamt this dream dozens of times. Luca, unzipping his pants to free himself. Luca feeding her, inch by inch. Her reaching up to grip Dr Hall's big white cock so she could suck both--

Vesper!

The automatic doors slid open and wet, sticky air spilled onto Vesper's face. The summer had been unrelentingly hot and humid this year, but despite the heat she was still eager for some distance from Dr Hall.

Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She slipped it free of her skin-tight scrubs, shielding the screen against the glare of the sun with her hand.

It was a text from Danny.

Thanks for this morning. I love you.

Vesper sighed and stuffed the phone back into her pocket.

Of course Danny would thank me for jerking him off. A little stroke and presto... Golden Retriever.

She was just working up the motivation when the flashing lights of an ambulance caught her eye as it pulled under the ED bay's awning.

"Here we go," Vesper said.

A pair of EMTs, a male with sandy blond hair and a woman with dark hair like Vesper's own, but straight as edged glass, climbed out of the ambulance and circled to the back.

Vesper didn't recognize them--staffing and turnover had strangled a lot of the local ambulance companies in the same way the hospital had been hit.

"I'm charge nurse in the ED today," Vesper said. "Whatcha bring me?"

The male EMT extended a hand. His short sleeve shirt seemed in imminent danger of losing a battle with his bicep. "Collins. This is Ling."

Vesper shook Collins' hand, noting the flash of colorful tattoo on the inside of his forearm.

"Emily Ling," Ling said, with a little wave. "Guy got jumped in a park near the river."

She snapped on fresh gloves from a cargo pocket.

"Neck laceration, gonna need stitches."

"Got lucky," Collins added, popping the rear latch.

"Lucky?" Vesper asked.

"Psycho missed all the big vessels. Cops happened to roll up and scared the attacker off."

"They get him?"

Ling hesitated. "Her. And... no. We just stabilized and bounced."

Her? I definitely didn't have violent female slashers on my bingo card for today.

"So much for my quiet morning," Vesper said.

***

The ED bustled with its usual hectic thrum. Besides the new patient Vesper had greeted outside--Richard, the staff had caught a break in terms of acuity.

"You're the only one who's come in bleeding today," Vesper said with a mock scowl. The privacy curtain scraped the rail as she closed it behind her. "You ruined my 'it's a quiet day' hot streak."

Richard laughed, but then quickly winced. His hand moved to the fresh bandages at his throat.

"Hurts?" Vesper asked.

"Not really. I just didn't want to ruin your Dr Hall's handiwork with the stitches."

Never my Dr Hall. No shot.

Vesper sat at the wall-mounted computer and swung the keyboard tray over her toned thighs. She logged in and started clattering on the keys as she spoke.

"Probably for the best. Trust me, he'd love to come back down here and lecture the both of us on wasting his time blah, blah, blah."

Richard laughed again, this time unafraid to enjoy the feeling. "Hard ass, eh? Probably needs a good old-fashioned."

"An old-fashioned what? Tire slashing?" Vesper asked.

Richard gave her a look. "No, not that sort of old-fashioned."

Vesper blushed. "Oh."

"Sorry. Crude joke. You'll have to forgive an old man's habits."

Too crude? If he only knew.

"Don't be silly. You look really good for seventy-six. I bet you drive all the Golden Girls at the rec center crazy."

"You're a doll, Nurse Swan. Your husband's a lucky guy."

"It's Vesper, please," she replied.

The old charmer was growing on her by the minute.

"I just have to check the IV antibiotic bag and then I'll be out of your hair for awhile."

Vesper nudged the keyboard away. She checked the various monitors, wrote some numbers on the back of her hand. When she leaned down and checked the IV in Richard's arm, she noticed the old man looking down her scrub top.

He didn't leer. He just... looked. And smiled. Like a man recalling a pleasant but distant memory.

"See something you like, sport?" Vesper asked, hands balling onto her hips as she pushed her chest forward, just a little.

Richard opened his mouth to apologize, stammering already, but she waved him off.

"Don't worry about it. People stare all the time." She cupped her full breasts, gave them a lift, and let them drop with a soft bounce. "Seriously. I can't take them anywhere."

Richard's lips parted in a breathless little oh.

Vesper followed his gaze down. The sheet over his lap had risen--just enough to confirm what he couldn't say out loud.

"Getting all worked up from a little look? Must've been a while," Vesper said.

There was no judgment in her voice. No teasing. Just curiosity.

Richard flushed and turned his head.

She stroked his shoulder gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"Too long," he said quietly. "I honestly can't remember the last time it wasn't just... my hand."

A moment passed. Vesper's fingers lingered, brushing lightly along the skin near the collar of his johnny.

"That's why I was at the park," he added. "I was meeting someone."

"Oh." Vesper blinked. "Damn. I'm sorry you missed your date."

She smiled, trying to lighten the air. "Don't worry. You'll be home tomorrow. I'm sure she won't mind waiting an extra day for such a handsome man."

Richard's gaze drifted to the window and settled on nothing. "It wasn't exactly a date, per se."

It took a beat, but Vesper caught the meaning.

"Oh... that's--uhm. That's okay," she said. "No judgment from me. We're all human. We've all got needs."

God knows I've been swallowing mine most nights this week...

"No, it's disgusting," Richard said suddenly. "I've never done anything like that in my life."

Vesper exhaled gently. Poor old guy. She couldn't imagine going untouched for years. Hell, she got cranky after one of Danny's weekend work trips. Small cock or not, his homecomings were appointment viewing. She was pretty sure the neighbors heard. They probably thought he had a third leg with how loud she got--but that was just Vesper doing her part.

"I'm really sorry, Vesper," Richard said again.

It's okay," she replied softly. "Really."

She glanced at the modest rise beneath the sheet--watched it throb once, like a quiet plea.

She made up her mind.

Vesper poked her head outside the curtain. One glance up and down the hall.

Empty.

She stepped back in and pulled the curtain tight behind her. "This never happened," she said.

"What never hap--"

Her hand slid beneath the sheet. Warm skin. Soft hair. Then flesh--old but alive, twitching in her grip. And hard. Painfully hard.

He wasn't big. Smaller than she'd expected--narrow and tight in her palm.

Still... a touch longer than Danny, not that it was some rare feat.

This wasn't about size. It was about kindness. Letting someone feel wanted, even for just a minute.

Vesper gently rocked her hand on Richard's cock, lightly squeezing the eager flesh, and brushing her thumb across the slit in his crown.

A pleasure-filled sigh escaped Richard's lips.

Vesper flipped her dark hair over a shoulder. "You like?"

He nodded. "Very much. Do you?"

She smiled. "You have a very nice cock, Mr Fallon."

Richard gave a genuine chuckle. "He's not much more than a roll of nickels these days." He winked.

"But I have a feeling you would've really liked him in his prime."

Vesper admired his resurgence of confidence as she rolled his balls between her thumb and forefinger. She dragged her nails lightly up the soft underside of Richard's shaft and his body quivered.

She regarded the cock in her hand for a second.

"Ah what the hell," she said.

When her lips sealed around the head of Richard's cock, the old man dug his fingers into his mattress. Slowly, Vesper slid her mouth down his shaft, making sure the wet of her tongue enveloped him.

Her head bobbed gently. Up and down, fingers tracing circles over his swelling nuts and the tender spot above his asshole.

When her finger brushed against his opening back there, Richard's body jerked.

"I'm going to--"

"Mhmm," Vesper answered without freeing him from her mouth.

Richard clenched a final time, then spilled his warm load into Vesper's waiting mouth. He went slack in the bed, exhaling a long steady breath.

Vesper gave the tip of his cock a little kiss, then pulled the bedsheet over Richard's softening member. She smiled at him, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Thank you, Vesper. So much. I mean it," Richard said. I can't remember the last time a woman--you know."

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I just wanted you to feel like yourself again." She winked at him.

"Besides," she said, lowering her lips to his ear. "I like the taste."

"I'll say it again. Your husband is a very lucky man."

Vesper leaned and kissed him on the forehead. She let her breast brush against his cheek as she pulled back--one last, teasing gift.

"He certainly is," Vesper said. "I'll be back to check on you before I go home."

***

The rest of Vesper's shift passed without incident. No innuendo from Dr Hall or mass catastrophes.

No other pitiable old men in need of her mouth.

True to her word, she checked on Richard twice more during her rounds. He smiled each time her hips swayed into the room and grinned as she left--but remained a perfect gentleman. No dirty jokes. No hopeful requests for another helping hand.

Vesper and Vanessa were mid-appreciation of Jericho's carved-from-marble ass by the time clock when the gurney burst through the doors.

Both looked like they'd seen ghosts.

It didn't take long to understand why.

Collins pushed hard like he was driving a tackling sled while Ling held strong pressure against her patient's throat. Bright red blood saturated his shirt and the gurney's sheet.

The world seemed to slow as the gurney got closer. He couldn't have been much older than Danny. But his color was... wrong. Too pale. Waxy...

Vesper locked eyes with the wounded man. He reached weakly toward her.

He's dying. He's dying... and he knows it.

Vanessa grabbed a stack of towels from beneath the nurse's station and rushed to the gurney. Ling replaced the wad of blood-soaked towels with Vanessa's fresh ones. Blood sprayed in a wide arc in that single moment of released pressure.

The cardiac monitors on the gurney erupted into panicked bleating. Dr Hall burst out of the adjacent trauma bay.

"You're losing him! Take him to surgery now!"

Vesper watched as the oncoming nurses took over for Collins and Ling. The gurney disappeared through the interior access doors. The shrieking monitors faded, leaving uneasy silence in their wake.

"Jesus Christ, what happened?" Vanessa asked.

Neither of the EMTs answered.

Collins' vacant stare chased after his relinquished gurney. Ling stripped the bloodied gloves from her hands, muttering a prayer under her breath.

Vesper shook Collins by the shoulder.

"Hey. Collins. What happened?"

Nothing. Just the long, empty stare.

"Collins!" Vesper shouted. "Talk to me--what the hell did you just bring in?"

Collins' voice was robotic. "Male patient. Thirties. Massive tissue damage to the left clavicle." He paused for a second, eyes tracing the spattering trail of blood on the floor.

"My God... so much blood."

Vesper's stomach dropped hard. Ice slithered up her spine

Another adult male with a possibly fatal neck wound? What the hell is going on out there?

Vanessa eased Collins into one of the lobby's wood framed seats and pressed a bottle of water into his hand.

"I've never seen him so shaken. I guess three were too many for him," Ling said.

Vesper nodded absently. "Three victims like that is too many for anyone's career."

Ling's face was pale under the harsh fluorescent lights.

"That's his third one today."

Vesper didn't answer. She just stared at the blood trail.

Something was very, very wrong.