“And do you really think it would be any different if you were on a different team? Do you think that you wouldn’t worry about me every second that I was gone?”
“The difference is, someone else is there to do the thinking for me. I know that someone else would think of what was best for the team and the job at all times. I just can’t be trusted to do that anymore. I thought I could, but…I’m sorry. This is the way it has to be.”
Craig hung his head and Cap nodded, like everyone was accepting of all this. “You can’t seriously be accepting this. Craig, we’ve been together for years. You can’t really think that this is okay.”
“It’s not my decision, Florrie. Alec has to do what he feels is best for him. If he says he can’t do it anymore, then we have to trust him on that. You know he wouldn’t walk away unless he thought it was necessary.”
“Cap,” I pleaded.
“I’m sorry, Florrie. This is no different than if he wanted to leave the company. It’s his decision.”
We had already talked about this, and at the time it made sense, but now all I could think about was how we were splitting up and wouldn’t be working together anymore. It would change everything about us. I didn’t even realize I was crying until Alec walked over and swiped his thumb across my cheek.
“Don’t cry, Nightingale,” he said jokingly. “We both know this had to happen. It was only a matter of time before I lost it. Let’s just be happy that I made the decision to leave the team, not you shooting me and forcing me off the team. I don’t know that our relationship would have survived that.”
I huffed out a laugh and swiped at my cheeks. I really hated this, but I think deep down my gut instincts had been right. Back when we first started seeing each other, I knew that we wouldn’t be able to work together. There was just no way to make it work. It wasn’t about him trusting me to do my job. He knew that I was capable. He just loved me too much to see me risk my life on the job.
“So, what do we do now?”
“Now, I talk with Coop, Tony, and Storm and see if we can make a switch. They’re still a fairly new team and they haven’t worked that many jobs together, so it would make sense to make that switch. The other option would be to talk with Derek’s team. They have two medics on that team, so it would make sense to switch things up, but I think Derek and Hunter would have an issue with their team being torn apart again.”
“So, this is it.”
Alec grasped my hand in his and gave a squeeze. “Yeah, this is it. But this could be for the best. You know, now we won’t always be away from Reid at the same time, and you know we’re going to need all the help we can get in that battle. I think this will be good for us.”
He smiled with confidence, but I wasn’t so sure. I felt like everything was starting to fall apart, and nothing would ever be the same again.
CHAPTER TWELVEAlec
“Alec,” she moaned beneath me. It had been a week since she was released from the hospital, and I was using my time wisely. Of course, I was going to have to start training with my new team once we finally made a decision on that, but in my downtime, I was making Florrie squirm from my touch and driving her mad. I took her every chance I got, but my time with her was limited. Eventually, she would want to get back to work, and then I wouldn’t have her whenever I wanted.
“Give it to me,” I whispered. “Give me what I want.”
“I already told you I’d marry you,” she groaned.
“I want so much more,” I said, sliding slowly inside her and nipping at her neck. “I want you to hand yourself over to me in every way.”
“I already do,” she panted, her fingers snaking through my hair and gripping on tight.
“I want your heart, Florrie. I want you to need me like I need you.” I slid out and slowly pushed deep inside her. I could feel her holding back, wanting to maintain control, but I wanted her to hand herself over to me and let me give her everything she needed. She very rarely gave in to me. It just wasn’t in her nature.
I felt her arms slide to my back and tighten around me, pulling me in closer to her. Her legs wrapped around me, clinging to me with a need that had me slamming inside her. There was my girl, finally giving in and letting me have all of her. I stared into her eyes as I fucked her with an urgency that I felt deep in my bones. Her eyes slid closed as she gave in and let me take over. I felt every shiver and every gasp from her mouth. I felt the need pouring off her. I felt my heart swell with so much love for this woman that I thought I would die if she ever left me.
“Alec,” she cried as I pushed her to her limits. Her nails dug into my back and her breath huffed out in fast pants as
