“Gross…” Nancy muttered.
Then they were pressing their faces together, Oliver’s arms winding around Lucas’ neck like a snake. One half of his brain knew it was extremely unprofessional and he should probably just slope back into his little side room, but the other half wanted to let everyone in the triage suite know that Lucas washis.
“Enough!” the matron shouted, pulling them apart. “I know you were exposed to Love Dust, but heavy petting isnotpermitted on the ward. I need one more set of readings from both of you, then you can fuck off out of my hospital.”
Oliver tutted as he untangled his arms. “You made her swear,” he said, pouting at Lucas as he allowed himself to be led away. The alpha’s eyes trailed down the open line of his hospital gown, darkening as they reached the curve of his arse.
“Pervert,” Oliver called, over his shoulder.
“Here,”Nancy said, handing him a grey custody tracksuit. “It’s the best I could do, unless you want me to drive you home in your hospital gown.”
Oliver groaned as he held his head in his hands. “Thanks Nance, but I think the world has seen enough of my bum for one day.”
The beta nodded. “More than enough. You’ve got a good waistline, though. I’ll give you that.”
He dressed quickly, despite the ache spreading across every inch of his body. Pulling off spectacular arrests and daring takedowns whilst riding an adrenaline rush was one thing—butdealing with the bodily pain and pulled muscles afterwards was all together miserable.
“The drugs have worn off, but trace amounts will show in your system for a few more hours, Mr Reed. So no driving or operating heavy machinery,” the matron said, pulling the cannula out of his hand. Wincing, he was about to ask if six foot five mafia bosses fell in the realms of ‘heavy machinery,’ but she looked thoroughly done with his shit. “Your mate is waiting for you by the double doors. Now piss off.”
“T-Thanks,” he said, smoothing the dressing on the back of his hand. “And, er, sorry about… you know.”
The matron’s expression softened for a fraction of a second, before she whipped back the blue curtain and marched across the triage bay. “Right, you lot, back to sodding work!”
Something wasdifferent between him and Lucas as they made their way out of the hospital. Oliver felt needy, and weak as he tucked himself so far under the alpha’s arm, they were practically sharing a jacket. Lucas gripped the back of his neck, fingers shielding the unbitten patch of skin just above his shoulder. The tension between them grew and grew andgrewas they approached Nancy’s car, neither saying a word as they walked.
Nancy looked them up and down, frowning as she opened the door. “So… you sitting on his lap, or what?”
“N-No,” Oliver replied, reluctantly peeling himself away from the alpha. However, within thirty seconds, he edged towards Lucas in the back of the car.
For God's sake, Nancy’s right there!
The beta shook her head as she glanced at them in the rear-view mirror. She flicked on the radio but swiftly turned it off again when a soppy love song came on. “Pendle Cross, right?”
“Y-Yeah. Please,” Oliver replied, his throat straining as the alpha’s scent made his whole body tingle. Lucas pressed his face into his hair, warming Oliver’s scalp with the heat of his breath. He didn’t speak, or move, or even open his eyes for that matter. Only breathed.
“You okay?” Oliver whispered, running his fingers across the top of Lucas’ thigh.
The alpha shifted slightly, a low sound rumbling in the back of his throat. Dropping his mouth next to Oliver’s ear, he said, “Do you remember what you said to me, Reed? During the raid.” His voice was breathy and thick, like he’d just been disturbed from sleep.
Oliver flushed as he turned his face into the alpha’s shoulder. “I said… I… think you’re a lovely person.”
Lucas let out a disapproving hum. “Try again,” he whispered, nipping his earlobe.
Oliver squeezed his thighs together. “I—uh—said, I think you have nice eyes.”
Lucas practically purred next to his ear. “Again”
Before Oliver even knew what he was doing, he turned his head into the crook of the alpha’s neck, swallowing as an involuntary rush of saliva coated the inside of his mouth. He sucked Lucas’ throat, kissing and mouthing the skin around his Adam’s apple.
“You have a wonderful smile—” he whispered, almost letting out a moan as the alpha pressed a hand to the inside of his thigh. “And really sexy hands. And arms, and legs, and arse, and co?—“
“Jesus Christ, I’m dropping you at The Cherry Tree,” Nancy said, stomping her foot down on the accelerator.
Frowning, Oliver pulled his mouth away with a wet smack. “What? Why? My flat’s only round the corner.”
“Yeah, but the hotel is closer. It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. I’ve worked all night, and Icannotdeal with you two groping each other in the back of the car. Another second and I’ll be driving myself to the sodding morgue.”
Oliver sniffed. “Consider it your punishment for dropping thirty kilos of Love Dust.”
