"Good. I'll see you there, Professor." After popping his head into the condo and yelling to his brother that he needed to run out again, Drake climbed back into his car and started it up. Hitting the garage door opener, he eased out of the enclosure and back onto the street. After closing the garage door, he glanced in the rear view mirror again, more to assure himself that the man was still unconscious than anything else.
* * * *
Doctor Ailean Carmichael let out a low growl as he set the phone down. Some idiot human was bringing in an injured man, possibly Detective Sullivan. The big cat shifter figured he should be grateful for the good Samaritan, since they'd been looking for the missing man for two weeks, but it sure made his job more difficult. All his rooms were full, which meant he'd have to transfer a patient to Doctor Lansey, who would raise a fuss and demand all kinds of explanations. The prick.
He strode to the emergency room admissions desk and smiled at Bernice. "I need to free up one of my rooms. Can you transfer Mr. Sanders from room three into one of Doctor Lansey's rooms, please?"
The woman grimaced, but nodded. "Yes, Doctor." Still typing, she glanced up at him. "You know he's not going to be happy."
6
"I know, Bernice." He tapped his clipboard on the desk in agitation. "If he gives you any trouble, tell him the order came from me."
"You'll probably be seeing him in exactly … six minutes," she said after glancing at the clock.
Ailean nodded, knowing she was probably right. A couple moments later, just coming out of the room of one of his patients, he found a glaring Doctor Lansey. He glanced at his watch and lifted a brow. Damn. Six minutes. Is Bernice psychic? More probable was the fact that the older woman had been working at the hospital for two decades.
"Why did you transfer your patient to me? Don't you think I have enough of my own?" the other doctor snarled angrily.
Doctor Lansey did a damn fine impersonation of a cat, Ailean thought, staring at the man. "I received a call from Detective Stryker notifying me that an injured man was on his way. He asked that I take a look at him," he said, crossing his arms over his white coat.
"And you couldn't just give that patient to me?" Doctor Lansey scoffed.
"No," he replied. He'd be damned if he explained himself to this human.
"Why not?"
"Doctor Carmichael, please report to the emergency room desk," Bernice's voice came over the intercom.
Ailean turned on his heel and walked down the hall, dismissing the irritating man behind him. As he neared the reception area, a sweet musky scent hit his senses, making his cock perk up and take notice. What the hell? Trying to ignore the sudden onslaught of lust, Ailean crossed the room while taking in the occupants.
Half a dozen patients occupied chairs. An orderly walked past him, taking another patient through the doors behind 7
him to a room. Bernice sat at her desk, keying information into her computer. And a cute man stood nervously in front of her desk, twisting his long slender fingers in agitation.
He couldn't help but give the human a once over as he walked toward him. Light chocolate skin and short, dark brown hair spoke of a mixed heritage. The stranger stood around five nine and had a lean body, a little too lean in fact.
The poor human looked like a stiff wind would blow him over. A strange desire to hold the man and ease whatever stress caused the man's obvious tension swept over Ailean.
Frowning at the ridiculous notion, he made his way over and stopped next to the desk. The small human stared up at him, and his deep brown eyes widened as he swept his gaze over Ailean's body. He smirked, keeping his eyes on the human as he said, "You called for me, Bernice?"
"Yes, Doctor," she replied, her gaze glancing from one man to the other. "This gentleman says Detective Stryker sent him to see you."
"Thank you, Bernice," he said. "Come this way." He rested a hand on the man's shoulder and a bolt of desire shot through his body, making his dick tighten and jerk in his scrubs. Mate! Ailean snatched his hand away as if burned and sucked in a breath. No. It can't be! My mate can't be human! But the intoxicating scent that surrounded them as the man followed where Ailean led to a quiet corner of the reception room didn't lie. Fuck!
Glaring, he snapped, "Where's Lyle?" The man's brows shot up. "Lyle? Oh, my hitchhiker!" He wrapped his arms around his midsection and dropped his gaze to the floor. "He's in my car. I couldn't get him out.
He's too big."
And, well hell, now he felt bad for growling at the human, and Ailean wanted to wrap his arms around him and soothe him. Letting out a frustrated breath, he said, "Let 8
me get a stretcher and then you can lead the way." The man nodded quickly, still not looking at him.
Running a hand through his thick black hair, Ailean headed toward the back to get what he needed. He was back a moment later. The man glanced up quickly before averting his eyes. Shit! Ailean didn't want the man scared of him.
How the hell was he supposed to seduce him that way?
Even if he was human, a shifter only received one mate.
Then another thought struck. What if the human wasn't gay? That put a whole new spin on the situation. He'd have to find out. But first … "Where's your car?"
"This way," came the soft, breathy reply that had Ailean's balls aching.
Swallowing his desire, so glad the coat he wore reached mid-thigh and hid his erection, he followed out the door.
The man glanced over his shoulder at him. "Don't you need an orderly to help or something?"
"Nope," Ailean said. His shifter strength would be more than enough to get Detective Sullivan, or whoever it turned out to be, out of the car. At least he thought so until he saw the tiny hatchback's lights flash in response to his mate hitting a key fob. He may need the little human's help just due to the awkward confines of the vehicle. He pulled open the car door and got a good look at the detective. "Fuck, Lyle. What'd they do to you?" he growled.
Blood covered the human's arms, face, and neck, and Ailean knew some of the discolorations were masses of bruises. He mentally cringed at what he'd find under the blanket. He turned to the good Samaritan and motioned him over. "Okay. I'm going to need you to keep the stretcher steady as I pull him out and get him on it." The man nodded and wrapped long fingers around the metal bars of the stretcher. For a second, Ailean stared at those fingers, wondering what their length would feel like 9
around his dick. Shit! Giving himself a mental slap, he turned back to Lyle. The man needed help, and here he stood lusting over his mate, one that didn't look like he returned Ailean's desire.
Gritting his teeth, Ailean placed one foot in the car and maneuvered his big body into the back seat of the little vehicle. He wrapped his arms under Lyle and carefully lifted him. Lyle groaned, his eyes fluttering. The fingers of his right hand seemed to clench convulsively on empty air, then the detectives eyes snapped open. He started to struggle.
"Easy, Lyle," he muttered to the thrashing man. "It's Doctor Carmichael. Ailean Carmichael. You're going to be okay." Damn, he hoped he wasn't lying to the man.
Finally, Lyle stilled. Focusing dilated eyes on him, he whispered, "Ailean?"
"Yup. I'm gonna get you fixed up, Detective," he purred soothingly. Sometimes it was good to be a cat. For some reason, purring soothed even the most upset human. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little man shiver and discreetly adjust his dick. Ailean hid a smile, pleased the man wasn't completely immune to him.
"Grady?" Lyle whispered.
"He's on his way. Just relax. I'm taking you into the hospital, so we can get you fixed up."
"No. No hospital," Lyle muttered, beginning to wriggle again.
Tightening his hold as his back started to burn from holding the awkward position, Ailean purred again. "Easy.
It'll be off the record. No one knows you're here except me, Grady, Gordon, and the one who found you. You'll be fine." Lyle opened his mouth again, probably to protest, but the words died in his throat as he passed back out. That was definitely a blessing, for both of them. Moving again, Ailean pulled Lyle from the car as gently as possible. His mate was 10
there instantly with the stretcher. "Hold it steady, little mate," he commanded as he set Lyle down. The man nodded absently as he held the rolling cot's frame. Ailean quickly strapped Lyle down, so he wouldn't fall off during his quick trip across the parking lot.