Billionaire: Billionaire Romance: Billionaire Tiger (A Billionaire New Adult Shifter Contemporary Romance)

by Loretta Devine

  Alexa knew her own blood type - O, the universal type. But she had no idea what type this guy was. Her heart raced as she threw her head back and took a deep breath. The chances of him being compatible weren't that slim but...what if he wasn't what if she went and gave him her blood and it didn't help. or even worse..what if it killed him?

  She looked down at him. He was tall, slender, but lying there, so pale and weak, he looked so small. Alexa knew she couldn't simply stand by and let him die.

  She shook her head, her brain screamed at her, replaying rules, regulations, the possibility of a law suit, but she managed to push those thoughts to the back of her mind as she got out the supplies she needed.

  She went to the refrigerator, flung the door open and pulled out the drawer. As a small clinic, they relied upon donations from the public but people hadn't been giving much of late and as she flipped through the reserves, she saw that they had a number of packets of both A and B but no O.

  "You've got to be kidding me," she said, flipping through the blood packets again, but still, only specific types of blood.

  She shook her head, sat back on the stool and looked over to where Dane lay. If she gave him A or B and he was the opposite type, she could kill him. O was the only safe bet and they were out.

  "I'm not though," said aloud, hoping that by saying it, it might talk her out of what she was thinking. Now she knew understood how having Type O blood was a blessing and a curse. She had the means to potentially save him, but doing so could open up a can of worms that started with law suits and could end with her single-handedly tanking her career.

  She stood and went over to him. As though sensing she was there, his eyelids fluttered and he looked up at her. Alexa felt her stomach lurch with uncertainty but when he flashed her a weak smile, he nodded, it was like she couldn't say no.

  "It's okay," he said. "Do it."

  "How...How do you know..."

  "I'll be fine...if you help me."

  As she stood over him, something in his eyes, in his gaze, willed her to act. She placed one hand on his face and looked down at him. When he started seizing again, Alexa didn't think. She acted.

  CHAPTER 2

  Once the blood transfusion was complete, Dane seemed to be resting comfortably. Alexa continued checking on him every 15 minutes,. She had just completed writing up her report on his chart when the front door to the clinic opened and someone came rushing inside.

  "Hello? Doctor, hello?"

  Alexa jumped up and headed out of the examination room. She made her way to the lobby and a dark-haired man came rushing toward her. He stopped short the moment he saw her, almost as though he saw a ghost.

  ”Hi. I'm Dr. Ramirez."

  He nodded, his mouth hung open for a moment before he composed himself. "Mr. Thorne...how is he? Is he okay? Did you treat him? Tell me how he is!"

  "Sir, please, just calm down and I'll tell you everything."

  He came toward her so that Alexa had to put both hands up to stop him.

  "Sir. You're going to have to calm down or I'm going to call the cops, alright?"

  His eyes were wild and darted around, trying to see past her. Then "I--I'm sorry. He's been missing for a few days and I had no idea where he went. I've just been so worried."

  "He's fine. He's going to fine. Please...come with me."

  Rather than explain to him, Alexa knew it was better to just show him. She turned and led him down the hallway toward the exam room. She moved aside, gesturing for him to go inside. when he did, he took two steps inside and let out an audible gasp. he rushed to Dane's bedside, standing over him and ___."

  "You said he's doing alright? Does that mean..."

  "Yes. I treated him. But--."

  "Dr. Thank you! I don't know how to thank you!"

  The man spun around, taking Alexa's hands in his and shaking them. she smiled at him, warily before responding.

  "It's what I do. but sir...I do have to tell you. Our reserves were low and since you hung up before I could get his full medical history from you, I had to treat him with my own blood."

  He stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. He gave her a strange look before turning back to Dane.

  "Oh. You gave him...your blood. And how did he...react?"

  "Um...he didn't...react...but he did take well to it, so far at least. As I said, we were out of a lot of blood reserves and since I didn't know his type, I had to use my own. But let me assure you, I only did it because the situation was so dire. He was seizing, I had no other recourse. I only did it knowing that my own blood type is O - generic - safe to be transfused into people with any type of blood."

  "Yes, that's fine. I understand."

  "I only say that because, for insurance purposes--."

  He help up one hand. "No need to worry. I gave my consent. I understood the consequences."

  Okay, Alexa thought. That was easier than I expected. "Yes, well, he seems to be stable now but once he's ready to be moved, I'd suggest taking him to the hospital for an extensive check-up. My resources here are limited and--."

  "That won't be necessary." The man said. "He should be fine, especially after receiving your blood."

  Alexa couldn't put her finger on it, but something wasn't right about this whole thing. James was too nonchalant about it all. He barely even blinked when she'd told him she used her own blood for the transfusion. In fact, he seemed kind of relieved by it.

  "I'm sure he will be but I really do think--."

  Before she could finish, Dane started to stir. James bolted to his bedside, leaning over him and whispering to him before Alexa could get to him.

  She moved beside him, looking down at him. She studied the monitors. As far as she could see, he was stabilizing. In fact, his vitals were almost back to normal. She looked down at him. He was practically at death's door earlier. She'd never seen anyone recover so quickly. It was almost a miracle. He was a miracle.

  As though hearing her thoughts, Dane's eyes opened and for the briefest second, she forgot about where she was and what she was doing. All she could do was stare back at him, getting lost in the vibrant jade color of his eyes as he studied her face.

  "Dane, you alright? You fell. You passed out."

  James' voice beside her drew Alexa out of her dream but she almost didn't want it to. She wanted to stay there in his eyes.

  When he blinked it was like the spell was broken and Alexa could think again.

  "Mr. Thorne. I'm Dr. Alexa Ramirez. You collapsed before I brought you in, and you were unconscious some time, I believe. I'm just warming you up now."

  "Yes...you are."

  Alexa was taken aback at first, but James' awkward laugh beside her made her smile.

  "Flat on his back under observation and he still manages to flirt."

  Alexa cleared her throat awkwardly. "As I was saying...I think you're going to be fine but we should get you to a hospital to be sure."

  He stirred finally, reaching up for her hand and taking it in his. His touch was powerful, but even though it was ice cold, Alexa felt a heat between them.

  "No, please...no."

  "I know, no one likes hospitals but I strongly suggest you get checked out. You've had a blood transfusion. You should rest and take care not to overexert yourself for at least 24 to 48 hours."

  ”Please...I'll be fine."

  "No, please, I would feel much better if--."

  Before Alexa could finish, Dane reached up for her, placing his hand on her cheek.

  "You saved me."

  "Yes, but you need further tests, and--."

  He ran his fingers up the side of her face and didn't say anything, he simply stared at her and shook his head softly.

  "Oh-okay," Alexa said, wrinkling her brow. Her thoughts were clouded, fuzzy, but she knew that she only wanted to do whatever he wanted. "Maybe we can just...get you home then?"

  He managed a weary smile before setting his arm back down at his side. Alexa looked up at James, who stood ov
er them, watching the two of them with a somewhat quizzical, somewhat amazed look on his face.

  Alexa stood up and straightened her top awkwardly. "I don't know how I feel about this..."

  "I know but you've seen him. he's fine now," James said. "We'll just get him home and he should feel better after some rest."

  "Are you sure?" she said, eyeing Dane, who was looking up at her like a lovestruck teenager.

  James nodded and stooped down to slip his hands under Dane's shoulders and sit him up.

  "Well, I'm not.” Alexa said and watched as Dane swung his legs awkwardly over the side of the bed as James tried to help him to his feet.

  He staggered a few times and fell onto Alexa clumsily as he tried to get his footing.

  "Look. I...I'm sorry. I can't let you take him. Not unless...not unless I can come with you."

  Alexa was sure her own expression mirrored James' look of surprise. She'd heard herself say the words but almost didn't believe she had. She'd never done anything like this before and had certainly never felt such an intense connection to a patient before. But after what she'd just done, she couldn't just let him walk out of her life. She felt some sort of protectiveness over him that she couldn't quite explain.

  "That's fine," James said, gathering their things and starting toward the door.

  "Wait, what?!" she said,and followed after him. "Fine. Just like that. I mean...you have no idea who I am."

  James chuckled. "Yeah, well, you just saved my boss's life. I'm pretty sure I can trust you."

  "What about him?" Alexa said, gesturing to Dane.

  "After the gift you've just given him, I'm pretty sure he's going to feel indebted to you for life."

  He turned and ushered Dane into the back of his town car. He closed the door and got into the driver's seat. "You sure you don't want to ride with us?”

  Now that Dane was tucked away inside the car, she felt like she could think clearly again. "No, no that's fine. I'll follow you."

  Every bone in her body screamed to just turn around and go the other way. There was something about him...maybe his darkness, his piercing eyes, almost an animalistic draw that pulled Alexa in and made her feel a little lightheaded when she got close to him.

  I hope I don't regret this, she said to herself as she jumped into her car and started the engine. At first she was wary about helping him at all and now here she was, volunteering to go to Dane's house without knowing anything about him. He could be a dangerous man, a criminal, some kind of monster.

  But somehow, the only thing she was afraid of was how this stranger made her feel. She was doing things against her better judgment. It was like she was under his influence. The thing that scared her wasn't the hold he seemed to have over her. It was of letting him walk out of her life without every seeing him again.

  CHAPTER 3

  Alexa tried her hardest to talk herself out of this crazy adventure across town. This was so unlike her. She was usually independent, cautious, the type of doctor who would do whatever it took to help a patient while still making responsible decisions.

  But in the past hour or so, she'd dragged some unconscious stranger into her clinic, given him a risky blood transfusion, and now volunteered to go with him to his house in the middle of the night.

  The further out into the country she followed them, the more desperate she felt, but when she thought of Dane's face, those eyes, his touch...she ached to be close to him again.

  Geez, you really are desperate, Alexa, if you're head over heels for some stranger.

  She hoped a little tough love might snap her out of this craziness but Dane seemed to have her under some sort of spell and no matter how much she knew she should turn her car around and get away from there, she was powerless against him.

  She followed the town car as it slowed then turned down a long drive. She couldn't stop her mouth from hanging open as they came through the trees and pulled up to a sprawling estate.

  "Who the hell is this guy?!" she said, staring up in awe at the ivy-covered country house.

  As she stopped her car, turned off the engine and jumped out, she stared up at the home. It was odd, it looked so familiar, at first she wasn't sure how, but then it clicked. Its pointed eaves and towering arched gables reminded her of an old Gothic painting that had once hung in her grandmother's house. Alexa used to stare up at it and daydream about meeting her prince and running away to live happily ever after in that house.

  James jumped out the car in front of her, immediately opening the door and helping Dane out of the back seat. The moment Dane turned to look at her, Alexa immediately felt like that little girl again, like maybe this was her happily ever after and Dane her prince.

  You're getting a little ahead of yourself aren't you? she told herself, shaking off the silly thought as James motioned for her to follow.

  Alexa went toward the pair, waiting for James to take one arm before taking Dane's other and flinging it over her shoulder. As they headed carefully up to the front door, it swung open and an older gentleman came rushing out to greet them.

  "What is it? What's happened?"

  "He collapsed, hit his head." James said.

  "I told him not to go out. Stubborn fool."

  "He came to, knew his name, so that's a good sign," Alexa piped up.

  The man hadn't noticed her before but when she spoke, he stopped mid-step and stared at Alexa with the strangest look on his face. It was a mixture of surprise and what seemed like recognition, almost the same way James had looked at her a few times.

  "Uh...yes. That is a good sign. Miss." he nodded his head, almost bowing to Alexa before looking up at the sky and then turning back to James. "Come. We have to get him inside before...before he falls over again."

  With each man on one side of Dane, they led him up the steps and through the oversized oak door and inside the sprawling house. Alexa followed behind them, stepping tentatively through the door, still aware of the voice in her head telling her she'd done enough, that she didn't know who the hell these people were and that she should get the hell out of there. Maybe it was her fascination with that painting all those years ago, and the feeling that she had been here before. For whatever reason, she had to see what was inside. Not to mention the fact that she had promised Dane she would take care of him and stay with him until he was better.

  Inside, the house wasn't what she was expecting. Rich brocade fabrics made the sofas and carpets look warm and inviting and a smattering of oil lamps around the room and a roaring fire in the sitting room instantly made Alexa feel at home.

  The men had taken Dane up the oversized staircase in the center of the foyer, so she tore herself away from snooping and followed after them taking each step in turn, slowly, just in case she had to make a quick retreat for some reason.

  At the top of the staircase, two doors were flung open and the men had placed Dane into an oversized four-poster bed draped with lush crimson and black velvet blankets. He wasn't moving and his eyes were closed.

  James turned to her, motioning for her to come inside, so she did, tip-toeing into the room and moving toward the bed. As she looked down at Dane, she felt that instant need to help him. She wanted to check his vitals again, to take his pulse and make sure he wasn't bleeding or anything of the sort.

  "I...I would still feel much better if we took him to the hospital. He hit his head. He may very well have internal injuries."

  As she leaned over him, the lump where he'd hit his head looked smaller. Alexa reached forward, her hand shook as she felt gingerly with her fingertips. The bump was almost gone.

  "Is there someone you need to call, to let them know you are alright?"

  Alexa turned her head to respond but couldn't tear her gaze away from Dane. "No. It's just me. No one's expecting me."

  "Okay then. Why don't I go fix you something to eat? Or a cup of tea? Coffee?"

  "That sounds fine."

  It was settled. She was staying. Even if they had insisted Dane was f
ine and she could go, Alexa wasn't going anywhere until he opened his eyes again. She'd made a promise to him and she intended to keep it.

  CHAPTER 4

  Alexa was aware she was asleep but after the adrenaline rush of the night, she was so exhausted she couldn't pull herself out of the dream.

  She stood on the walkway outside Dane's house and knocked on the door. When no one answered, she knocked again, but unable to just stand there and wait, she put her hand on the doorknob and slowly, quietly turned. It was unlocked.

  She eased the door open. Alarm bells went off in her head. Most of the house was dark except for a fire in the parlour and a few oil lamps scattered around various rooms. She went as far as the foyer then stopped, held her breath, and waited. The house was silent, yet she didn't feel particularly afraid for her safety. It was Dane she was worried about.

  The moment she thought his name -- Dane -- flashes of his face contorted in pain took over her vision and she couldn't control herself anymore. She felt willed upstairs, and unable to stop herself, went immediately to the staircase.

  Up....up she climbed up a never-ending staircase. The further she went, the darker the corridor became.

  When she finally reached the top of the staircase, she followed a faint glow of light that led up a long hallway to a half-opened door at the end.

  At the top of the stairs, she paused again and waited for a sign. When she felt drawn back down the hall to his study, she obeyed.

  The walls were lined with countless oversized paintings of various exotic locales. She felt herself drawn to a half-opened door at the end of the hallway.

  For a moment, Alexa wondered if she was back at home, still dreaming. She didn't seem to have any independent thought, no fear, only a wanting, a yearning to find him, to see him again, to simply look into his eyes to make sure he was okay.