Forbidden Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 5)

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Come on, Doc. Give me something.”

  “It was good to meet you, Shale, but I think it’s time you left.” There was no way she was putting up with this even a moment longer.

  He turned serious for a second and then grinned at her. “Don’t be like that, Doc. He’d do exactly the same to me. As would our brothers, Sand and Volcano. Hell, even my sister would give us hell in a situation like this.” He gestured to an unconscious Granite. “I’m proud of him, but it’s my duty as a brother to give him shit.”

  “Um … okay.” If he said so. Then she registered what he had just said. “How many siblings are there?” Her eyes widened for a moment.

  “Five.”

  “Wow! Nice big family. Your folks didn’t mess around.”

  “Yup. That’s for sure. They’re still very much in love.”

  “Oh really. That’s interesting. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen very many elderly people around.”

  Shale looked solemn. “Between the humans some years back and the more recent internal battles, we’ve lost plenty of our elders. Most of them don’t live in the lair they’re …” he seemed to rethink what he was about to say, “somewhere else.”

  Louise decided not to push it. “Well, it was really nice to meet you but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Granite needs his rest. It’s going to be a while before he’s back on his feet.” At least another twenty-four hours, maybe more. She wasn’t about to give Shale more ammo though so she kept that to herself.

  Shale gave her a look that told her she had lost her mind. “You asked for help moving him. You mentioned something about him not being alone for the night. Well,” he spread his arms, “here I am, Doc.”

  “Oh … ohhhh. I see. Okay, well, that changes things. I see no reason why he can’t go home. He does need round-the-clock monitoring though.” She wasn’t convinced Shale was the right guy for the job. He didn’t seem all that responsible.

  “I’ve got it covered.”

  “Granite could experience something called biphasic anaphylaxis. It normally occurs within twelve hours of the initial reaction. Particularly one as bad as Granite’s was.” She could see that Shale was looking at her quizzically. “It basically means that he could have another reaction just as severe as the one he just had.”

  “That would be amazing.” Shale was grinning from ear-to-ear.

  “No, it would not.” She was dealing with a bunch of crazy people. “It could kill him.”

  “I sure hope so.” His eyes pulled up in thought. “I really need to try to find a camera … or a cellphone ...”

  “No pictures, Shale. This is serious. Granite is your brother and your king for god’s sake and you actually want him to die? I think I’ll keep him here in the clinic for further observation.” The thought of sitting here the whole night was not appealing and completely unnecessary but she couldn’t entrust his life to the surfer dude shifter. She’d have to try to get comfortable on the floor or on her office chair. There was no other option. She could not discharge Granite into his care. No way. No how.

  Shale shook his head. “He wouldn’t stay dead, Doc. He’s a strong male … the strongest of the Earth people. My brother would not be beaten so easily, I can assure you.” He gave a sigh. “I promise not to take any compromising pictures or to give him too much shit when he wakes up.”

  Louise kept her eyes on him. Not sure what to do.

  “Come on, Doc. I mean it. I will make sure that he is well taken care of. I promise, he’ll be just fine.”

  “Okay,” she finally agreed. “He needs to keep that device on his finger. It has a built-in alarm which will go off if his heart-rate goes up too quickly. You call me immediately if that happens.”

  “You will be the first to know … I promise.”

  Louise was sure Granite was on the road to recovery. So far, none of the others had suffered from biphasic anaphylaxis but she couldn’t be too careful.

  Shale leaned down over the bed. Louise could see that he was about to pick Granite up.

  “The hospital bed has wheels. It might be easier than carrying him all the way. I’ll stop by first thing tomorrow morning to check in on him.

  Shale gave a nod. “I can see that you are worried. Don’t be …” the shifter winked. “He’ll be just fine. I’ve got this.” He pushed the bed towards the door.

  She didn’t have a good feeling about this. “Are you sure?”

  “Couldn’t be more sure if I tried.” He tossed over his shoulder as he maneuvered the bed through the door. “Goodbye, Doc.”

  “Bye.” Shit, maybe she should go after them. No! Granite would be fine. Nothing could go wrong.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning …

  Louise knocked on the door. There was no answer so she tried again. Nothing. Dammit. She couldn’t just stand there. Granted it was still really early but surely Shale was not that deep of a sleeper.

  Then a thought crept into her mind. What if Shale had left Granite? What if Granite had suffered another attack? Only, worse this time. What if …?

  She knocked again, harder this time. No answer. Panic welled. She should never have trusted the guy. Should never have left Granite with such an irresponsible person.

  Screw it!

  Louise pushed the door open and entered the large space. She immediately peered up at the loft area that housed Granite’s bed. The sun was still rising, the bedroom was cast in shadows.

  “Shale?” she whispered, her voice swallowed in the big space.

  “Hello,” slightly louder this time.

  It looked like there was someone sleeping in that big bed. If Shale had left Granite and if something was wrong … Her heart hammered in her chest. She didn’t want to barge in but at the same time, it was her duty as Granite’s doctor to ensure that he was well.

  Louise walked up the a few of the stairs. “Shale,” she called, but there was no answer. “Dammit!” she muttered as she hurried the rest of the way up.

  There was a pair of those cotton pants on the floor and a … a …dress crumpled up next to it.

  “Good morning,” a very feminine voice spoke up. Her voice was a bit husky, like she’d just woken up.

  Louise had to hold back a yell. She grabbed her chest.

  “Sorry to scare you.” The woman was wrapped around a still sleeping Granite. Her dark hair was mussed. Her eyes at half-mast. Wow! She was beautiful and naked under the silk sheet.

  Louise gave a nod. “Sorry to interrupt like this.” She swallowed hard and felt like a complete idiot. She hadn’t slept most of the night, worried about him when he’d been just fine. More than bloody fine.

  She just needed to get the hell out of there before he woke up.

  The woman giggled softly and Granite stirred. Louise took a small step back. “I’ll come back at a more appropriate time.”

  The woman smiled. “That might be a good idea.” She gave Louise a wink and snuggled closer to Granite.

  Louise took another step back, intent on hauling her ass out of there as quickly as she could, but before she could turn, his eyes flashed open. His dark stare fixed on her. His eyes narrowed as they focused on her. Then he frowned and glanced backwards.

  “Good morning, my king.” The woman lifted herself onto her elbow, the sheet dropped lower. There were suddenly boobs everywhere.

  Louise felt her cheeks heat. It wasn’t embarrassment but sudden anger. Why had she wasted even a single moment’s worry when here he was … carrying on like … like … this …? She realized that the anger was irrational but she couldn’t help it. God, there were naked people in a bed right in front of her. Her eyes felt like they were going to bug out of her skull and her mouth felt like it had been filled with cotton wool. She couldn’t seem to find her thoughts or pull herself together. What the hell?!

  Part of her recognized that it was jealously. Pure. Fierce and totally out of place. Why the hell was she jealous? He might be decent-looking … okay, he was
off the charts hot but he was also a gigantic jerk. A total asshole. She didn’t even like him so why was she jealous?

  Granite rolled onto his back, the black silk only just covered his privates, which were … she gasped and her eyes widened even more. His erection was back in full force and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of it.

  The woman laughed softly, her voice was husky. “I’ll keep an eye on him, healer.”

  “Great!” She gave a nod and inched a bit closer to the stairs. “I can see that you’re fine.” She struggled to keep the venom from her voice. “You do that.” Softer this time and directed at the woman. There had never been anything between them and there never would be. This was for the best. Louise turned, preparing to get the hell out of there.

  “Stop,” a growl. “Come back,” a commanding tone. Louise turned to face him … them.

  The lady put her hand on Granite’s chest. “But, my lord,” husky and filled with promise.

  “Get off me and get the fuck out of my bed.” His eyes were still locked with hers. Louise couldn’t move. She could barely breathe under the weight of his stare.

  It was completely irrational but she felt happy for a moment after hearing him kick the other woman out. Then the anger kicked back in. He really was a dick. Here she was feeling all upset that he had slept with another woman and he wasn’t even worth it. Not even a tiny bit. It irritated her. She was an intelligent woman. Why was she feeling all wound up in knots over a guy like this?

  “No!” she shook her head. “You stay. I’m leaving.”

  The woman’s eyes lit up and she gave Louise a sultry smile. “Are those doctor’s orders?”

  “Yes,” Louise said.

  “No!” Granite barked at the same time. “Out!” he added, more fiercely this time.

  Louise turned, wanting nothing more than to be gone. She wished she had never come in the first place.

  “Not you,” Granite growled. “You …” he pointed at the shifter, “now!”

  The sheets rustled. “My lord, I …”

  “Now,” he growled again and more loudly.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  When Louise turned back, the other woman was curtsying. An actual honest-to-god curtsy and she was completely naked. That, and beautiful. She was curvaceous, yet firm. Her skin was an olive tone. Her dark hair was thick and glossy. Louise shouldn’t be staring like this but she couldn’t help herself.

  “I’m sorry …” Louise finally managed to drag her eyes away. She turned her head.

  “Don’t be silly, healer.” The lady walked towards Louise. There was a rustling sound. “I hope you feel better soon, my lord. Please don’t hesitate to—”

  “Out,” he grunted.

  What an asshole! Louise turned back. The woman clutched her dress to her chest. “Goodbye, healer,” she smiled broadly. It seemed that she was going to allow him to treat her like this after they had just …

  It had nothing to do with her. Not one little thing. She nodded at the shifter lady, feeling sorry for her, which was crazy since she didn’t seem to mind herself. Louise was too angry to talk though. She kept her gaze on the foot of the bed. It seemed like an age before the door finally clicked shut.

  “Well …” She forced herself to meet his stare. “You are clearly feeling just dandy so I’m going to go—”

  “Why did you come?” Granite put a pillow behind his head and pulled himself into a semi-reclined position. He even had the audacity to hook his hands behind his head. Like he didn’t have a care in the world. His erection was still in full force.

  “It doesn’t matter.” All she wanted was to leave. He’d just had sex with another woman and she was noticing how ridiculously huge his package was and how chiseled his chest looked in the morning light. What the hell was wrong with her?

  She didn’t like the guy but apparently, her body had other ideas. Well, her body could forget it. Her brain was in charge here.

  “Why are you in my chamber?” he used that same commanding tone.

  “I came to check in on you, make sure you were doing okay.” Stupid! Stupid! “I wanted to check your vitals. Ensure that you weren’t still sick, or worse … that you weren’t …” She felt like an idiot.

  “Dead?” He raised his brows.

  She nodded. “You were unconscious and very ill when I last saw you.” Why was she explaining herself to him? He didn’t deserve it. She was still holding her medical bag, her arm was getting tired. Her fingers were starting to feel stiff from gripping the handle so tightly.

  “You may proceed with your checks.”

  What? He expected her to still conduct an examination. She couldn’t help but frown. “I think you’ve proven that you’re just fine.”

  “You came here to … check my vitals. You’re here now so you might as well do it.”

  He was right. The guy had exerted himself far too soon after suffering such bad shock. What the hell had he been thinking?

  She nodded once and walked towards the bed, dropping the bag at her feet. She opened it up and took out a stethoscope. Then she looked down at the naked, very aroused shifter and realized that she actually had to touch him. Damn!

  “Maybe you should put some clothes on first.” She was acting like she’d never examined anyone half-naked before. Those hospital gowns did sweet bugger all to cover a person. This shouldn’t bug her, but it did.

  Granite shook his head.

  The asshole could see that she was uncomfortable. He didn’t give a shit. So she was going to act like it didn’t irritate the shit out of her. This was business, plain and simple.

  Then again, she really didn’t want to touch him. Yuck! He and that other woman had been all over one another not so long ago. She knew she was being childish but she didn’t want to touch him. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him. “No, really …” She prayed he listened to her for once. “I don’t mind waiting while you shower and dress. I’ll conduct the examination after.”

  Granite shook his head and she felt like hitting him with the stethoscope still clutched in her hand. “I’m ready now,” he said.

  She had to fight not to look down at his—

  “Fine.” She pulled out a pair of latex gloves. “Suit yourself,” she added as she pulled the first glove on.

  “You don’t need those.” He glanced at her now gloved hand.

  She nodded. “Yes, I do.” Asshole!

  “No, you don’t. We can’t catch anything from one another.” He took his hands back from behind his head and folded them across his chest. The move made his pecs pop.

  “It’s just precautionary,” she stammered, trying not to look at his pecs. His slutty, slutty pecs.

  “Mmmm … that’s funny.” He didn’t look like he found it amusing. The opposite was true. “Why didn’t you wear gloves yesterday when you were sticking me full of needles?”

  “Because you weren’t covered in sex juices yesterday,” she blurted.

  Granite held her gaze for a few moments. Why the hell had she just said that? Shit! Then again, she wasn’t sorry. It was the truth. Since when did she apologize for telling the truth? Besides, it had just slipped out. He made her so mad she couldn’t even think clearly.

  “It wouldn’t be hygienic and quite frankly I would prefer not to touch you with my bare hands.” Take that, ass-hat! “You should not have exerted yourself like that so soon after suffering from anaphylactic shock. I’m not touching you until you’ve showered. That or I’m wearing gloves.”

  “Sex juices …” His lip twitched. “I didn’t realize you were going to touch my dick.”

  Louise made a choking noise. “What did you just say? No,” she shook her head, “you didn’t just say that.” She looked down at the floor and tried to find her sanity. When she looked up a few moments later he was completely deadpan. Looking the picture of relaxation and calm. Of course he was, he’d just done ‘the deed’. “No, I won’t be touching you there. Not now and not ever,” she added the last un
necessarily.

  “Okay, well, then you really need someone to explain to you how things work. How a male and female rut. Better yet, I could show you.”

  Was he for real? “That is highly inappropriate and …” She felt flustered. “It’s really rude. My god!” Her voice was raised. “You’re some piece of work. From one woman to the next. On that note …” She folded her arms across her chest. “How could you treat her like that? You kicked her out like she was nothing to you.”

  He shrugged. “She is nothing to me.”

  Louise sucked in a deep breath, she felt her eyes widen. “How can you say that? Oh, my word! You are too much. It’s none of my business,” she shook her head.

  “No, it’s not.” He moved his arms to his sides. “Examine me. Do it with or without the gloves, just get it done.”

  Fine! She didn’t give a shit anymore. She put the other glove on, put the stethoscope in her ears and listened to his heart.

  All good.

  Next, she checked his blood pressure. She looked away while the cuff inflated.

  “How did I get back to my chamber?” His deep voice almost startled her.

  The machine beeped as it gave a reading. “Your brother brought you. He said he was going to take good care of you.”

  “Shale,” Granite growled. “The little prick.”

  “Yup. He should never have left you alone like that.”

  “I wasn’t alone though, was I?”

  Louise had to work not to roll her eyes.

  “The fucker!” he added, under his breath.

  “Please don’t swear like that.” His blood pressure had completely normalized. She checked his coloring. “How did you know it was Shale and not one of your other brothers? There are four of you if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Because, out of all of my brothers, Shale’s the dickhead, that’s why?”

  She wasn’t sure why Granite was so pissed off. She didn’t ask him. It had nothing to do with her. “How are you feeling? Any nausea?”