The acrid, chemical taste of the Love Dust hit the back of his throat and sent him spluttering to the ground. His hand scrabbled across the dusty path, trying to find the alpha amongst the chaos. “I’m here,” Lucas spluttered, voice hoarse as he gripped Oliver’s fingers.
“Oi, get down, you little shit,” Nancy shouted.
The powder cleared, and Oliver saw the beta wrestling with the man on the ground. Acting on pure adrenaline, Oliver launched forward, bitch-slapped the man across the face and hauled him onto his front.
“Cuffs—” he coughed, hand coming up to his mouth, only to find that it was completely covered in powder.
“Oh shit,” Nancy said, giving him a horrified look.
“Fucking cuffs, Nance.”
“I don’t have any. They’re on the guy I just locked up.”
Then Lucas was there, shoving them both out the way as he pinned the man’s arms with one of his massive hands. “DC Purslow, locate another set of handcuffs. Reed, stay here with me.”
“R-Right,” Nancy said, scrambling back inside the house.
Lucas pressed his radio. “Control, this is bravo delta one.”
“Bravo delta one, go ahead.”
“Officers have been exposed to a noxious substance. We require immediate medical assistance. All other officers are to remain within the property until the scene is secure.”
The control room said something back, but Oliver had to pull out his ear piece because the buzzing in his head was irritating beyond belief. Lucas’ eyes trailed up his face, the only thing of colour amongst the blanket of silver.
Oliver glanced around, the Love Dust giving everything in sight a hazy edge. “Fuck me, it’s snowing,” he said, brain filling him with childish wonder.
“Reed,” Lucas said, gripping his shoulder with his free hand. “Did you inhale any?”
“Er…yeah,” Oliver grimaced. “You?”
“Yes.”
The man thrashed in Lucas’ grip, so Oliver jumped on his legs. “So—” he began, the edges of his vision beginning to distort. “I’d estimate that we have approximately two minutes until we’re absolutely off our tits.”
Lucas nodded, the hand on Oliver’s shoulder slipping to the nape of his neck. “That’s a fair estimate.”
And then it hit him—there would never be a ‘perfect’ time to tell the alpha how he felt. Not in their line of work. So, leaningforward, he pressed his powdery lips to Lucas’ and whispered, “I love you too.”
TWENTY-ONE
THE BITE THAT BINDS
High Enfield Accident & Emergency wasnota place Oliver expected to visit again so soon, and as the nurse came at him with a long needle, he decided enough was enough.
“Oliver Jamie Reed, get back here right this second!” Nancy called, sprinting down the corridor after him.
Oliver giggled as he weaved between small clusters of patients and medical staff, dragging the IV drip behind him. He wore a baggy, chequered hospital gown that hung just above his knees and let a rather unpleasant draft circulate around his nether region. On top of that, he absolutelystankof alcohol wipes. The kind that could make someone's nostril hairs wither. The nurses had done their best to clean him up, but there was only so much one could wipe a determined escape artist.
“What are youdoing?” Nancy demanded, finally catching up with him at the hospital cafe.
“Getting a drink,” he said, reaching for two pint glasses that were filled to the brim with lemonade. “I’m fucking thirsty.” The man behind the counter raised an eyebrow as he handed Oliver the drinks.
Nancy’s expression softened as she pulled a glass out of his hand and set it on a nearby table. “I know, love. But your arse is hanging out, and the nurse needs to check your bloods again.”
“My arse is not—” he began, reaching around the back of his hospital gown to discover that his arse wasindeedhanging out. Yelping, he swiftly sat down on a rickety plastic chair and grimaced as the cold, germ-ridden surface touched his bare bum.
“Nancy, where thehellare my clothes?” He said, shifting uncomfortably back and forth.
