Deliver Me (Silver Oak Medical Center Book 1)

by Aiden Bates

  "Someone's calling you on your crap and you don't know how to handle it?" Idoni raised an eyebrow.

  Finn managed a little laugh. "No. We're finding excuses to go and get into one another's faces, but we don't actually like each other so we just wind up shouting. It's just chemical. If we screw once we'll get it out of our systems and we'll be able to move on with our lives."

  Finn wasn't sure what he expected from the doctor, but laughter wasn't it. "You're kidding." Idoni clutched at his abdomen and doubled over. "You think we should have sex and that will somehow magically, mystically make us stop trying to tear out one another's throats?"

  Finn frowned. "Why not? You're an omega, I'm an alpha, and it's obvious that our hormones want something. If we give in, once, that should satisfy the urge and we go back to our jobs. Once we don't have those pesky hormones propelling us forward, we can have a civil conversation around our disagreements and hopefully have a calmer workplace."

  "This is a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen." Idoni glanced at the window.

  "Oh come on. I'm not making it a condition of your continued employment. I'm offering a solution because we have a problem. I'm not even offering a relationship." Finn rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. "It's one night, to get it out of our systems, and then we move on. No one even needs to know."

  "But we hate each other."

  "Angry sex is still fun sex." Finn shrugged. "I honestly think that it's the best solution to this situation."

  Idoni scowled. "Fine," he said, after a long moment. "Not here. Once, and that's it."

  "I'll meet you at my place, tonight at eight."

  "Fine." Idoni turned on his heel and left.

  Finn watched him go. It wasn't enthusiasm, and Finn found that somewhat disappointing. Oh well. If he was right, once they'd finished, he wouldn't have to worry about what Idoni thought ever again.

  Chapter Six

  What am I doing here?

  Carter looked up at the glass doors leading into the vestibule. Apparently Riley had bought one of those old palaces up in the Sedgwick neighborhood. Carter should have guessed. The place was impeccably kept up and perfectly landscaped, and there was no way in hell that Finn Riley had handled any of it.

  Carter could still leave. There was no rational reason for him to be here. Riley's argument hadn't even been very persuasive. Let's have sex, so we won't want to have sex with each other anymore. Yeah, that made sense. On what planet did that constitute a good reason to show up for a booty call? Carter had more respect for himself than that. Riley wouldn't have seen him yet. He could still turn around and leave.

  Except he wouldn't. He knew he wouldn't. Apparently he had a type—attractive men who came from money, had no understanding of how doctors functioned, and had absolutely no respect for him. Something must be seriously wrong with him. He should get help.

  He rang the doorbell instead.

  Riley answered the door right away. He didn't say anything, just held the door open for Carter and let him in. Carter tried to hold himself back from crossing the threshold, but he couldn't. He stepped over and into the Edwardian-era house.

  "I'm still kind of settling in." Riley offered him a wry grin and gestured to the boxes stacked up in a corner. "I'll get there eventually, I guess. Come on in. Can I get you a drink?"

  Carter gave a nervous chuckle. "I won't say no." He followed his host through some formally decorated rooms until they came to an absurdly formal and fussy parlor. It even had a grand piano. "You play?"

  "Um, no. The previous owners didn't want to pay to move it, so I charged them to leave it here." Finn smirked. "It looks good there, I guess. It fits the room. Most of the furniture came from the people who staged the place for the realtor, so I guess they worked around the thing."

  Carter nodded. He wasn't sure what to say in response. He didn't play the piano either. The decor looked nice enough in context, he guessed, although it was still kind of fussy for his tastes. He wasn't there to critique the guy's taste in furniture, though.

  "I'll get that drink. You like martinis?" Riley headed back toward the kitchen.

  "Sure." Right now Carter would be happy with tequila, chugged straight from the jug, but he'd take the martini.

  Riley returned after a moment with identical cocktail glasses and sat down on the couch. "I have to admit that I'm a little surprised you showed up." He sipped from his drink. "You seemed kind of unenthusiastic."

  Carter took a slug from his glass. "I'm a little surprised that I showed up too. I'm not usually in the habit of casual sex." He grimaced. "And definitely not with people from work."

  Riley lifted his eyebrows but left it alone. "Here's to new experiences then."

  Carter joined Riley in his toast. Riley's leather scent was everywhere. Carter was so used to fighting it that he was having a hard time loosening up. The martini helped. "Do you do this a lot?" he asked.

  "I don't usually have to." Riley glanced out the window. "Of course, there aren't a lot of omegas in a position to butt heads with a senior administrator, who then choose to do so. It seems like a reasonable solution to our issues. Doesn't it?"

  Carter waved his hand. "I'm willing to give it a shot, if it makes things easier on the people around us." He couldn't deny that Riley turned him on. He just had to learn to let go a little.

  Riley dropped a hand onto Carter's thigh. "Hey, it doesn't have to be a big deal. There aren't any strings attached to this. It's just a way to get these hormones out of our system."

  "Of course." Carter put his glass down onto a coaster. Riley's heavy hand on his thigh was like a brand. Every nerve ending in his body suddenly sprang into high alert. "No strings." He met the alpha's eyes.

  Riley set his martini aside, a wolfish smile on his face. "Let's move this upstairs."

  Carter followed Riley back through the absurdly formal rooms and up a set of stairs. The master suite was on the right side of the staircase, and it took up a good chunk of space. Carter barely noticed. This was really going to happen. He was really going to let himself have sex with this man, with nothing between them other than mutual antagonism.

  Riley didn't bother to close the door behind them. They were alone in the palatial house, after all. There was no one who could see them. He turned around and stared at Carter, unbuttoning his polka-dotted shirt. Carter had to admit that he wouldn't mind seeing it go, the thing was a monstrosity, but he also wanted to see what was underneath.

  Riley's stare intensified, and Carter remembered himself. He was supposed to be taking his own clothes off, too. He undid the buttons on his black dress shirt with shaking hands and laid it on the back of an overstuffed leather chair in the seating area.

  Now that he had something to do, he could focus on the minutiae instead of on the monumentally stupid decision he'd made. The shirt got followed by his undershirt, and then by his dress pants and his briefs. Socks and shoes went next, and he stood naked before his nemesis. "Where do you want me?" He held his head up, defiant.

  Riley swallowed hard. He too stood naked, beautiful and muscular in the dim light of the bedroom. He looked Carter over from the tops of his feet to the roots of his hair. "How about if you go and sit on that chaise over there?" He gestured to a giant chaise perfectly positioned between two windows.

  Carter walked over to the chaise. He'd rather be in the massive four-poster bed, where he could bury himself in the sheets if he felt self-conscious, but he could see where Riley might not want his scent in the bedding. After all, this was supposed to be no strings attached sex. He sat down on the edge of the lounger and then leaned back, letting the furniture support his back.

  Riley walked over to his nightstand and grabbed lube and condoms. He was already half hard when he got over to the lounger, and Carter had to pinch himself to stop himself from drooling. Riley's ice blue eyes were on him, and for once he liked it.

  Riley pounced. He straddled Carter and claimed his mouth in a rough kiss, pinning Carter to the chaise with hi
s weight. Carter flinched at the sudden movement but gave himself over to the kiss without hesitation. The taste of gin on Riley's lips, coupled with his partner's leather scent, kicked something into place in the recesses of Carter's brain.

  He'd never been kissed like this before. He'd had other partners—not a lot, but a few. None of them had ever possessed him like this, taken control like this. He wouldn't have thought that was something he'd have enjoyed, either. Here he was, though, warm and safe under the body of this alpha as though it was the most natural place for him to be. He ran his hand along the hard swells of Riley's muscles, enjoying the solidity he found there.

  Riley's cock pressed against Carter's, creating an intoxicating friction as they explored one another's bodies. Carter loved the way it felt when it dragged across his skin, even as Riley put his mouth on Carter's left nipple and sucked. Carter reached to touch and took both of them into his hand, jerking slowly and lazily. He didn't want to finish them, but just to work them up a little bit further.

  Riley groaned and closed his eyes. His breath fell hot and heavy against Carter's chest for a few minutes as Carter worked them, and then he grabbed Carter's hand. "You've got to stop," Riley told him.

  Carter met Riley's eyes and nodded.

  Riley took a deep, shuddering breath. Then he reached for the lube. "On your knees. Brace yourself on this." He patted the back of the chaise.

  Carter understood what his alpha wanted. He leaned against the chaise's support and spread his knees, presenting himself. Later, if he thought about it, he would probably be embarrassed by his position. As it was, he just wanted. He heard the snick of the cap on the lube bottle and the squelch of the lube itself as Riley slicked up his fingers.

  Carter moaned when the first two fingers breached him. Apparently his partner didn't like to mess around. That was fine. He didn't need that, not right now. Another time, maybe, they could take things a little slower. For now Carter was having a hard time thinking beyond his own need. He welcomed the intrusion and soon found himself rocking back onto Riley's fingers.

  A third finger soon followed the first. Just when Carter thought he couldn't handle any more teasing, all three were removed. He heard the crinkle of the condom packet, the squelch of the lube, and then Riley pressed into him.

  Riley was a big guy, and the initial entry wasn't comfortable. Carter panted his way through it. The reward at the end would be worth it. When Riley finally bottomed out he paused, and Carter could adjust to that intrusion.

  It felt amazing. It had been a while since he'd been with anyone, and he'd missed the feeling of fullness that went along with sex. Even with his last partner, he hadn't felt quite the same stretch, or the same need. It wasn't just Riley's size that gave Carter that feeling. It was Riley's scent. It was the feeling he had underneath the alpha's body, hot flesh pressed against his own. He felt complete, in a way that he hadn't before, and it terrified him.

  "Move," he ordered.

  Riley complied. He set up an athletic pace, one that left little room for tenderness or affection. It did leave Carter screaming for more, though, and he came with a shout. He didn't care that he'd just made a mess all over his ultimate boss' furniture. Said boss was still slamming into him when he came down from his orgasmic high, so he figured it was okay.

  Riley finally came after another couple minutes, groaning as he spilled into the condom. He collapsed against Carter's back and they lay there like that for a few minutes, the sweat cooling on their bodies. Then Riley carefully pulled out and disappeared into the bathroom to dispose of the condom.

  When he got out, Carter went in and cleaned himself up. He stepped out into the bedroom and looked around for a moment.

  Riley looked at him, and for a second he looked almost human. His eyes were soft and vulnerable, and he reached out a hand. Then his face closed off again, and he grabbed a clean pair of underwear out of a drawer. "So. That was splendid."

  Disappointment welled up deep inside Carter's chest. It had been incredible, for what it was. "It was. Thanks for that." He threw his clothes on as quickly as he could. He suddenly found that he didn't like feeling so exposed. "I guess I'll see you on Monday?"

  "Probably." Riley could have been talking about the weather.

  Carter got his socks and shoes back on. "Okay. I'll see you around." He left the bedroom and all but ran out the door.

  He held it together on the twenty-three minute drive from Riley's place back to his own. He even managed to get his car into the garage and lock up behind himself before he broke down.

  What had he been thinking? He'd known it was a bad idea. He'd spent his entire life looking at decisions, evaluating his choices, and saying, "Not today, Satan," to the bad ones. Even being with Tom hadn't been a bad decision, just a lack of knowledge about a guy who'd seemed good.

  Riley hadn't even seemed like a good guy.

  No, Carter had known that Riley wasn't a good guy. Carter didn't even like Riley. If Carter didn't like Riley, why was it that he was so upset now?

  He shed his clothing for the second time that night and headed for the bathroom. He thought about a shower, but then he ran himself a bath. Maybe it was wasteful, but he needed comfort and he needed deep cleaning.

  He wondered if he should burn those clothes, too.

  He dismissed that thought. He wasn't going to burn his clothes. He was being ridiculous. Sure he'd done something foolish, but that wasn't the end of the world. If he took a minute and thought about it rationally, he had to admit that he was just upset with himself. He'd known that Riley wasn't interested in a relationship with him and wasn't a relationship kind of guy, for a while now.

  He didn't even want a relationship with Riley, not really. The guy was attractive, but he was an unmitigated ass. Carter was more or less past the age when he could hope for a long-term relationship anyway. Riley hadn't done anything wrong tonight. He'd given Carter the best sex of his life, in fact.

  That was the whole problem. Carter grabbed a loofah and scrubbed at his chest, right where Riley's lips had been. Carter hadn't ever seen himself as the kind of omega who submitted to anyone. His brother had been and look where it had gotten him. Carter hadn't gotten those feelings with any of the other alphas he'd been with. He'd never been comfortable pinned beneath an alpha; he'd always valued his freedom of movement.

  Tonight, he'd been trapped underneath Finn Riley and everything in Carter had been perfectly content with that. He'd felt warm. He'd felt happy. He'd felt safe, even though he knew that Riley despised him. Something was very wrong here, and it wasn't something wrong with Riley.

  He would never be able to get the memory of Riley's scent out of his nose. He didn't want to, and of course they worked in the same place. What was it with Carter and men who didn't think he was anyone?

  He scrubbed at his belly and thighs. He'd known himself better than to go into a "no strings attached" romp. Carter got emotionally attached to string, for crying out loud. He needed to remember that he was in charge of his body, and his body wasn't in charge of him.

  Knowing that wouldn't help him forget Riley, or Tom. It might help him avoid these kinds of complications going forward.

  ***

  Finn had fully expected to get Carter out of his system with his plan. He truly believed, deep in his heart, that once he'd had sex with Carter he wouldn't have much interest in the omega anymore. His interest in other omegas hadn't ever lasted past the first or sometimes second time they'd made love; he had no reason to believe Carter Idoni to be any different.

  Of course, his reaction to Carter had been different than it had been to anyone else, ever. He figured that was probably just a function of their jobs and wrote it off. He took sensible precautions, of course. When he'd had Carter, he took him on the chaise instead of on the bed, so that he could get to sleep without that tantalizing wood smoke scent seeping into his brain.

  That didn't help to banish the memory of that hot, wiry body underneath his.

  G
od, what it had felt like to be buried inside of Carter! Finn didn't have language to describe it. Carter had been so responsive to his touch. Unlike the way things were at the hospital, Carter had followed Finn's lead in everything and he'd liked it. His little gasps and moans of pleasure hadn't been faked. He'd wanted everything, welcomed every touch.

  Of course, the ending could have gone better. Finn had almost reached out and invited him to stay. What had he been thinking? Finn didn't do relationships. Carter wouldn't have wanted a relationship with him. They were two guys scratching an itch, nothing more. Lord knew that Carter couldn't get out of the house fast enough. The guy had run like actual hellhounds were on his trail.

  That night, Finn found that he couldn't sleep until he transferred over to the chaise. Once he moved, his omega's scent lulled him into slumber right away.