Shattered Desires: Hands of Perpetuity Read online

  Shattered Desires

  Hands of Perpetuity book 2

  Valentina Turner

  Content

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

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  Copyright © 2020 [Valentina Turner] – All rights Reserved

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Chapter 3

  Loomis awoke.

  He was drenched in sweat when he opened his eyes. There was a LED clock on the mantelpiece beside his bed. He could see its red glow as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of his room. It was two AM. Loomis rose from his bed, heading to the bathroom, the front part of his boxers protruding—proof that he was still one hundred percent flesh and blood. He rinsed his face, his mind circling back to the dream. They were getting more intense lately. He gazed down at his hard-on, taking a deep sigh. It had been a while since he had been with a woman. Although Susan didn’t look like a lady that was to his liking, she was the perfect type that would lure him to his baser instincts. She was friendly and tried to act cordial, but behind her smile and modest demeanor was an arsenal of seduction and hauntingly sexy experiences. Some nights ago, during dinner, Loomis had played a little game with her. They had been goofing around when Loomis started ‘misbehaving’.

  “So, what do you do when you’re bored?”

  “Not a lot. I try to read from time to time. Usually, though, I’m snoring between books.”

  “Sounds like a boring way to spend a day.”

  “You have no idea,” she said.

  Loomis smiled, tapping her fingers carefully, his eyebrows going up and down.

  “What are you doing?” she said, giggling.

  “I’m enchanting you…call it a subtle sort of seduction.”

  “Hooh, well it’s working, Mister.”

  “Oh, is that right?”

  “Umm...no,” she giggled, withdrawing her hand slightly.

  Loomis smiled. “You’re scared of my touch now. Well, you should be. Not a lot of people can handle it.”

  “Good God Dr. Loomis, that’s like the weakest line I’ve heard.”

  “It’s intentional,” Loomis said, winking. “Consider it an act of…mercy. Now, we wouldn’t want you misbehaving here, would we?”

  Susan smiled awkwardly. Loomis watched her cheeks quiver as if she were squirming. He leaned backward, squinting as he studied her. She was elegantly dressed, her hair parted on the side, casually covering her left eye. Her lips were smeared in black lipstick and her eyelashes were lined with black strokes that made her look like some Halloween ghoul. It made her look dark—Like Billie Eilish kind of dark—in an evil but satisfying way.

  “Maybe we should misbehave, doctor.”

  “Nah, I doubt you can handle it.”

  She leaned forward, her lips parting, dripping with every bit of seductive awareness she could conjure. “Maybe I want to handle it badly, maybe.” She winked, stroking his sleeve.

  “Now you’re being a really naughty girl, Susan.”

  “Oh, I like naughty. I like naughty a lot.”

  “If you don’t behave, I may have to give you what you deserve.”

  “Oh, give me what I deserve…give me everything…and more…” she said, slipping some berries between her lips with her tongue. Loomis shifted in his seat. He could feel himself hardening but he remained poised, observing her keenly.

  “How do you want me to punish you?” he said.

  “Oh, I want you to spank me. Spank me real good,” she said, clawing at his sleeve.

  “You’re gonna get it,” he said, looking around, making sure no one was eavesdropping. So far, they seemed alone in their game.

  “So, tell me, do you like giving head?” Loomis said, sipping his drink.

  For a moment, Loomis watched her go tense. It was then he noticed the pulse of her cheeks.

  “Are you alright?”

  “W—what did you say?” she said with difficulty.

  “Are you alright?” Loomis said, leaning forward.

  “Loom,” she said, gasping, “let’s use the bathroom.”

  Seconds later the two were necking in the women’s bathroom with Susan’s legs wrapped around Loomis’ waist. Her body shook with spasms as Loomis jammed his length into her. She whimpered, moaning loudly and clearly, unashamed as he ran fiddled with her nipples. His tongue slipped into her ear and she felt electric chills race down her spine as a thousand and one sensations coursed through her body. She was hot and cold and sad and happy. She was tired and strong and hungry. Voraciously hungry.

  She was in heaven.

  She was staggering when they finally left the bathroom and for a moment, she was sure every eye was staring at them. But Loomis held her tightly and together they found their way outside into the cool September night.

  “That…” she gasped, biting her teeth as an awkward smile curled up her face, “…was intense.”

  Loomis grinned; their hands locked as they walked down the road, staring at neon signs that lit up the road. She studied his face. He was quiet.

  “Are you alright?” she said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Nothing…it’s just…been a while I…” he shrugged. Susan smiled. She understood.

  “Why?” she said, “why were you keeping yourself?”

  “I don’t know…it just…never occurred to me. Guess I was mourning, ” Loomis said, gazing at the moon. Susan did the same. They stood there, in the middle of a dark road alive with electric signs, gazing at a slice of moon dangling in the dark-bluish beyond.

  “It’s my first time,” she said, smiling awkwardly. She looked down at her feet, embarrassed that she admitted this. “I’ve never done it before.”

  Loomis grinned.

  “For a first-timer,” he said, looking at her, “you did great.”

  She nodded awkwardly, wiping her eyes. Loomis spotted the wet lines on her cheek.

  “It’s ok to cry, you know?” he said. She was sniffing now, her fingers clawing into Loomis’ shoulder.

  “There is something…something I want to tell you…” she said, finally summoning the courage to hold his gaze.

  Loomis ran his hand through her hair, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

  “You look wonderful in the glow of the moon,” Loomis said softly. And he meant it. She knew he meant it.

  “What was it you wanted to say?” he said.

  She blinked, her cheeks going hot as her heart threatened to explode in her chest.

  “I…I…” she said, watching his lips move fast as they came close to hers. He kissed her. And she kissed him back. She kissed him hard and she didn’t want to stop. When he broke it off, she was gasping, and she didn’t know what she was doing any longer.

  “You were going to say something.” Loomis said. His lips burned with black lipstick.

  She blinked. “I don’t like children.”

  Loomis shook his head as he dabbed more water on his face, watching the memory play out. He was trying to decide whether it had really happened; whether he had actually made-out with Susan and whether she had said th
ose last words. He couldn’t tell whether it really happened or it was some made-up fantasy. He inhaled, certain that his obsession with Mrs. Love Gladwell would finally undo him.

  Earlier in the day, he had phoned Ms. Hue. He wanted to schedule a meeting. The woman had asked what it was about but Loomis hadn’t given much information, however he assured her she was under no pressure to agree to the meeting. Her voice had been shaking over the phone and she had hung up.

  Loomis shut the bathroom door. But he wasn’t going to his room. He was heading to Martha’s. He could still see what it looked like since the day Charlotte had taken her away, based on the court order. Martha was everything he had in the world. She was everything he had to live for. He could see her pink pillows and the few toys he had gotten for her as she grew older. Loomis brushed his hair, sighing. Martha was just like her mother. She had Love’s eyes.

  Love.

  That name.

  He recalled the bed-ridden face of Love Gladwell. Right there, he could see Martha. He could mentally picture her. The more he thought about her, he couldn’t help but feel his life was coming apart. His wife was dead. His patient bore his wife’s name. His daughter looked like her mother.

  And Susan doesn’t like kids.

  *

  “Hi dad.”

  “Hey Sweetie. . How’s it going?”

  “It’s boring out here without you?”

  “What can I say, dad’s like the salt that lets everything make sense,” Loomis joked. Martha’s voice communicated a grin over the line and Loomis found himself smiling.

  “How’s my baby really doing?”

  “I miss you dad.”

  “I know you do, Sweetie. Daddy misses you too.”

  “So, anything big thing happening back over there, dad?”

  “Well, dad’s back at the hospital now.”

  “Whoa! Cool.”

  “I know, right?”

  “What’s up with those nurses?” Martha said, her voice assuming a mature tone. Loomis laughed as his daughter took on this role again.

  “Oh, they’re fine, don’t worry.”

  “Now, you have been behaving yourself, right?”

  “Umm…no. Daddy hasn’t been behaving himself.”

  “You’ve been a bad boy, daddy.”

  “You’re’ so right,” Loomis said. He could hear her break into laughter.

  “How’s Susan?”

  “She’s good. She’s good.”

  “Dad.”

  “Yes, Sweetie?”

  “Do you like Susan?”

  Loomis broke into a laughing fit. “W—what are you saying?”

  “Have you…kissed her?”

  Loomis clutched the receiver to his ear, his eyes looking around the hospital hallway to make sure no one was watching him or overhearing the conversation.

  “Don’t be shy dad, it’s just a simple question…it won’t hurt to—”

  “Umm…how’s...how’s…the weather…the weather…out there?”

  “I’m not listening. You’re trying to change the subject. I’m so not listening,” Martha said.

  “Daddy really has to go now, honey.” Loomis looked at his watch.

  “But we’ve got five more minutes dad—”

  “I know, I know…I’m sorry. Daddy’s at work now. I’ll make it up, I promise.”

  She sighed. Loomis could imagine her rolling her eyes and her lips making an upside-down ‘U’ sign.

  “Talk to you soon, dad.”

  “Love you Sweetie.”

  “Oh, and Aunt Charlotte sends her—”

  Loomis ended the call.

  He stood in the hallway for the better part of a minute, staring at the phone, conjuring images of his twelve-year-old daughter. It had been two months since they last saw each other. Loomis leaned forward so that his head rested on the wall, closing his eyes tight as he held back tears.

  Martha.

  She looked so much like her mother. She looked like her in every way. And Charlotte had taken her away.

  “Dr. Mars,” the large speakers in the hallway uttered, “Dr. Mars, surgery starts shortly. Kindly report to ward B12.”

  Loomis checked his watch again as he wiped his cheeks. He had surgery in four minutes.

  *

  The food hall was a large noisy space filled with round red tables and chairs. The hospital designers believed red helped stimulate the appetite, but Loomis didn’t share that enthusiasm. He glared at the many tables that dotted the cafeteria, watching the human species fashioned in diverse sexes and skin tones, all of them in white robes conversing over unique menus. Loomis swallowed, his eyes on his own food that gradually went cold. Before him was a slice of pie, a sandwich, and two smoothies. That was how Martha liked her meals. With two smoothies. He wondered what his daughter had been telling Susan. The two had clicked since the time he handed Susan the phone. He suspected that they secretly had phone calls behind his back. For the better part of the noon break, Loomis did not touch his meal.

  One thought filled his head.

  Love Gladwell.

  Following his chat with Frudge the other day, the surgery had been postponed. They had received an unexpected visit from the patient’s only relative, Ms. Hue, though it was still unclear what her relationship with Love Gladwell had been.

  Ms. Hue had gone ballistic. A few days before she had appended her signature to allow the surgery to proceed, only to show up on the day of the operation to make a scene. Hysteria was hardly the word Loomis would use to describe her antics. Loomis, alongside the six other aids in the theater, had been going over a final debriefing session when the noise in the hallway reached them. Ms. Hue had been screaming, leaving the nurse at the reception distraught as the two exchanged a verbal kung fu. Ms. Hue had raced to the operating theater and yelled and wept and cursed. She would not stop until she was assured that the surgery would be postponed. Loomis had found the incident somewhat liberating though, and he had pulled off his gloves with relief. It was just the break he needed. After all, he wasn’t sure he could carry on with the surgery, not after finding out the patient shared first names with his deceased wife.

  “Love Gladwell, ” Loomis muttered, sipping his smoothie.

  “Is that mine?” someone said.

  Loomis gazed up and found Susan staring at him. She had her eyes on the extra smoothie. He shrugged, his gaze inspecting her body. She stood with her hands on her waist as she waited for an answer.

  “What?” Loomis said, straw in mouth.

  “I’m trying to figure whether I get a share in that smoothie.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up, Sus. Maybe you’re not that special.” Loomis winked in his teasing way.

  Susan choked on laughter as she took a seat at his table. “Doctor, you are not nice.”

  “Yeah, I hear that often. It never seems to bother me though,” he said as he slid the extra smoothie her way. “It’s poisoned.”

  Susan laughed loudly. One of the cafeteria waitresses happened to be passing by at the time. Susan waved at her and gave an order.

  “So, how did your surgery go?” Susan said as the waitress left.

  “I don’t know…how about awful.”

  “Dr. Loomis, you’re like the most skilled surgeon here. Come on, you can’t be this much of a sadist.”

  “Right now, I’d give anything to get away from this life.”

  “It’s Martha, isn’t it?”

  Loomis toyed with the straw in his smoothie.

  “She keeps asking whether I’m behaving.” Loomis massaged his temple, smiling. “Nerves,” he said.

  “Well, she does come from your loins, right?” Susan grinned.

  “If only that wasn’t so true.” He sipped his beverage.

  Things got quiet between them as the sound of cutlery and hushed voices floated around the cafeteria. Loomis took the time to savor the ambiance. He gazed over the sea of faces that filled the hall. All of them, experts, assistants, offering their skills to
save lives. And here he was, doing the same job. And hating it.

  What a life…

  “How is she though?”

  “Pardon?” Loomis said, his gaze gradually coming to focus on Susan.

  “Hmm, staring at someone, huh?” Susan followed where he had been looking. Absurdly, there was a pregnant nurse just in the way. Susan’s eyebrows shot skywards.

  “Never knew you were into the bumpy ones.”

  “What are you talking about?” Loomis chuckled, stuffing his mouth with his sandwich.

  “She’s quite hot though. No doubt an unusual addition to your collection, huh?”

  “There is no collection, Susan. Trust me.”

  “Well don’t be shy, a little fishing doesn’t hurt.”

  “Fishing?”

  Susan winked. “Umm…girl scouting? Fishing for Cinderella? Good God, doctor, What planet did you fall from?”

  Loomis suppressed a grin as he finished his sandwich. He checked his watch. He still had about thirty minutes left.

  “So, what’s it gonna be, doctor?”

  “Could you call me Loomis please?”

  “Not sure I’d wanna do that.” Susan shrugged, dropping the act, gazing around. “You know that, right?”

  “Oh, yeah…of course,” Loomis said.

  He had totally forgotten this was a professional setting and that titles were everything in the medical world.

  “So, have you heard what they say about you?” Susan leaned forward.

  Loomis rolled his eyes as he reached for the smoothie. It felt lighter now.

  “I don’t think it would help,” Loomis said.

  “Really? And it doesn’t bother you that every nurse has you on their crush list? ”

  “What on earth is a crush list, Sus?” Loomis said, feigning ignorance. “Tell me about my secret admirers though.”

  “Haha, now you wanna hear it.”

  “A little gossip shouldn’t hurt.”

  “Well, you’d have to make yourself available for dinner if you really want to know.”

  “You’re hooking me up?” Loomis said.

  “Relax, my boy. A friend is throwing a party in the ‘hood. I figured you could use the fresh air, maybe find true love…” she said, enunciating that last bit slowly.