All Chapters of Under the Mistletoe with my Ex's Brother : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

ScarletThe roses were just the beginning.Over the next week, Lucas's presence became inescapable. He was everywhere I looked, always appearing at the exact moment I least expected him.Day three, I was reviewing charts in the doctors' lounge when he appeared in the doorway holding a familiar brown paper bag."Scarlet." His voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Do you have a minute?"Every head in the lounge turned toward us. I felt my colleagues' eyes boring into me, felt their curiosity like a physical weight."I'm working," I said without looking up from my charts."Please. Just five minutes. I brought lunch."He held up the bag, and despite myself, I recognized it. Morrison's Deli. The place we used to go every Saturday during our marriage. My favorite sandwich with extra pickles and that special garlic aioli I loved.He remembered.Of course he remembered. That was the point of all this—to remind me of the good times, the small moments of connection that had existed between the crue

ScarletThe air between us shifted the moment the words left my mouth.Damian's eyes darkened impossibly further, his pupils blown wide with something that looked dangerously close to hunger. His hand on my face tightened slightly, thumb pressing against my cheekbone with just enough pressure to make my breath hitch."Say that again," he demanded, his voice dropping to something rough and dangerous."I chose you," I repeated, and I felt the tremor in my own voice. Not from fear—from anticipation. From the way he was looking at me like I was something to be devoured."Damian—"He kissed me.Not gentle, neither was it in a way like he was asking permission. He claimed my mouth with a bruising intensity that stole the breath from my lungs and made my knees weak.This wasn't like the other times we'd been together. Those had been controlled, calculated—physical release as outlined in our contract. Mechanical, even when it was passionate.This was different.This was Damian unleashing all

ScarletI woke to the sensation of being devoured.For a moment, still caught between sleep and consciousness, I couldn't process what was happening. Just that something hot and wet was between my thighs, that my legs had been spread wide, that pleasure was building in waves that pulled me rapidly toward wakefulness.My eyes flew open, a gasp tearing from my throat as I looked down.Damian.He was between my legs, his dark hair visible in the early morning light streaming through the windows. His hands gripped my thighs, holding them apart with bruising force as his mouth worked against my most sensitive flesh."Damian—" I gasped, my hands flying to his hair. "What are you—oh God—"He looked up at me, and the sight of his eyes—dark and hungry and utterly focused—while his mouth was on me made my core clench.He didn't stop. Didn't pause to explain or ask permission. Just sealed his lips around my clit and sucked hard while his tongue worked in devastating circles."Fuck!" The curse ri

ScarletI knew something was wrong the moment Victoria Henderson smiled at me.But I'm getting ahead of myself.The conference room at Minneapolis General was nothing like the cramped, outdated space I'd left behind in LA. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, a massive table dominated the center, and the chairs were the kind of expensive ergonomic design that hospitals only bought for their top executives.My new surgical team filed in one by one—twelve doctors and nurses who would be working under my supervision as Chief of Neurosurgery for the Midwest region. I recognized some names from their files, but seeing them in person was different.They looked... impressed. Maybe even slightly intimidated.Good. I'd earned that."Dr. Hayes, welcome." A resident named Kale, extended his hand. "We've been following your work. That tumor removal you published last year in the Journal of Neurosurgery? Revolutionary.""Thank you," I said, shaking his hand firmly. I have him a small smil

"Beautifully done, Dr. Hayes," she said, falling into step beside me. "Though I hope you didn't mind my questions during the procedure. I find that open dialogue in the OR helps everyone learn.""Your questions undermined my authority in front of my team," I said bluntly."Did they?" Victoria's eyes widened with apparent concern. "Oh, I'm so sorry. That wasn't my intention at all. I was just trying to understand your approach. You know how it is—we all have different training, different philosophies. I find it fascinating to see how surgeons from different backgrounds handle complex cases."The words were apologetic, but her tone suggested she didn't mean a word of it."In the future," I said carefully, "if you have questions about my technique, I'd appreciate it if you asked them outside the OR.""Of course, of course." Victoria nodded earnestly. "I completely understand. You're still establishing yourself here. You need your team to see you as confident and capable. I won't make it