Her Doctor Mate: Seasoned Shifters #3

by Black, Tasha

  Her Doctor Mate

  Seasoned Shifters #3

  Tasha Black

  13th Story Press

  Copyright © 2019 by 13th Story Press

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  13th Story Press

  PO Box 506

  Swarthmore, PA 19081

  13thStoryPress@gmail.com

  Contents

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  About Her Doctor Mate

  Her Doctor Mate

  1. Addison

  2. Ryan

  3. Addison

  4. Ryan

  5. Addison

  6. Ryan

  7. Addison

  8. Addison

  9. Ryan

  10. Addison

  11. Ryan

  12. Addison

  13. Addison

  14. Ryan

  15. Addison

  16. Ryan

  17. Addison

  18. Ryan

  19. Addison

  20. Ryan

  21. Addison

  22. Ryan

  23. Addison

  24. Ryan

  25. Addison

  26. Ryan

  27. Addison

  28. Ryan

  Her Professor Mate (Sample)

  1. Parker

  2. Parker

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  About the Author

  One Percent Club

  Tasha Black Starter Library

  Packed with steamy shifters, mischievous magic, billionaire superheroes, and plenty of HEAT, the Tasha Black Starter Library is the perfect way to dive into Tasha's unique brand of Romance with Bite!

  Get your FREE books now at tashablack.com!

  About Her Doctor Mate

  He craves her madly, but she’s only pretending to be his...

  Dr. Ryan Stevenson has a dream career and a house to match. By day he saves lives at Springton Hospital. By night he runs with the Tarker’s Hollow wolf pack. But from the moment he lays eyes on grad student Addison, the rest of his life feels meaningless. He knows that only Addison can fill the emptiness in his heart and bed. But her innocence makes him fear she won’t be able to handle the truth about what he wants. When Ryan's dying grandmother asks if there is anyone special in his life, he accidentally spills the beans about his newfound love, but doesn't mention the fact that his intended mate isn’t aware of his feelings.

  Addison Sparrow is head over heels for Dr. Stevenson, but he seems to deliberately ignore the electricity between them. When his grandmother unexpectedly arrives in town for Thanksgiving week, Addison is shocked that Ryan asks her to pretend to be his fiancée. But she finds herself unable to refuse an opportunity to spend more time with the sexy doctor.

  As the events of the season throw them together, Addison and Ryan must put on a cheerful face for Grandma Stevenson, even as their close contact throws them into a tsunami of temptation. Will Dr. Stevenson keep playing it cool? Or will his desire for Addison push the bubbling tension between them to the boiling point?

  Experience Required. If you like wolves, magic, strong women and alphas with experience, you’re going to love Seasoned Shifters, set in the steamy shifter world of Tarker’s Hollow.

  Her Doctor Mate

  1

  Addison

  In the dream, Addison Sparrow stepped into a swirl of snowflakes.

  The orchard around her stood silent, except for the whisper of the breeze through the bare branches of the apple trees.

  The farm was dormant now. The gnarled branches of the bare trees pointed her down the row, toward the meadow, where snow was slowly painting the brown grass a paler shade.

  Why am I here?

  She couldn’t remember.

  But the crisp air tasted good and the soothing earth tones of the Pennsylvania orchard, freckled with snowflakes, reminded her of the sprinkling of confectioner’s sugar atop her favorite aunt’s signature pumpkin pound cake.

  She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, extending her tongue to catch an errant flake. It melted instantly, leaving behind a familiar sweet taste.

  She opened her eyes again.

  The air was hushed now, and the snowflakes seemed to fall more slowly than before.

  And then he was there.

  She recognized him with her whole body. All at once she was trembling, the scent of his spicy aftershave carried to her on an invisible breeze, the vision of his big, sexy body practically swimming before her eyes.

  She even heard the sound of the words he hadn’t yet said.

  Her mouth tried to form his name, but she was unable to speak.

  Ryan…

  She held her arms out to him instead, hoping her movement could tell him what her mouth could not.

  She was dreaming. She knew that.

  But she didn’t care.

  These ceaseless dreams were the only place where Dr. Ryan Stevenson was hers.

  He strode toward her, wearing a tight white t-shirt and jeans that hung low on his hips, and she prayed that she wouldn’t wake up this time.

  He held her in his hypnotic dark-eyed gaze, his chiseled jaw clenched as if he were angry.

  Addison tried to speak, but nothing came out.

  Then he was close enough to touch.

  Addison was tall. She was used to towering over everyone she loved.

  But Ryan was taller. He wrapped one big hand around her upper arm and caressed her cheek with the other.

  She tilted her chin up to look at him, trying to memorize the feeling of coziness, of being in proportion.

  But he was already drawing her close.

  She drank in one last glimpse of the dark shadow on his jaw, snowflakes on his long lashes, and then closed her eyes.

  Then he was kissing her, thumbing open her jaw to taste her tongue.

  Addison lost herself in the sensations - the cold air, his warm mouth, the pull of her body to his. This was more than an attraction, it was a compulsion, a force like gravity, binding her to him.

  Can you feel it too?

  She wanted to ask him, but he was possessing her mouth, his hand sliding down from her arm to clutch her roughly against him.

  Her breath caught in her throat when she felt the size of his rigid cock, pulsing through his jeans against her belly.

  Ryan, Ryan, Ryan…

  He groaned into her hungry mouth and pressed her closer still, even as her nipples hardened to pebbles and her insides clenched on nothing.

  He pulled back slightly and gazed down at her, his eyes hooded with lust.

  “Addison,” he growled.

  Please, she tried to say. But still no words would come.

  “Addison,” he said again.

  But his lips weren’t moving.

  No, no, no…

  “Addison.”

  But Ryan was fading, the snow swirling between them and the sun shining too brightly.

  Addison had to close her eyes against the glare.

  “Addison, dear, I hate to wake you, but we’re making my special buckwheat pancakes,” Helen said happily. “Would you like to join us?”

  Addison stretched and opened her eyes.

  She was in bed at Thayer mansion where she and her roommate, Mei, were staying while work was done to their rental.

  Their hostess, Helen Thayer, was so good to them, and quite fond of pancakes.

  Addison normally shared her enthusiasm. But no pancake could compete with the dream she’d just been
wrested from.

  She had to hide her disappointment though. Helen was always so kind to her. It wasn’t her fault Addison kept having these dreams.

  “Sure, that sounds nice,” Addison said, sitting up. “Thank you. Do you need help?”

  “Oh, no, I’ve got everything under control,” Helen said in a pleased way. “Breakfast will be served in fifteen minutes.”

  Addison could hear her footsteps disappearing down the hall.

  She stretched and got out of bed, gathering up clothes for the day.

  Since Mei had moved into the carriage house with her mate, Hector, Addison had been upgraded to Mei’s old room. It had window seats overlooking the impressive grounds, and an en suite bath.

  Addison showered quickly and then headed down the back stairs to the kitchen. She could already hear Mei and Hector chatting happily.

  “Here she is,” Hector said as Addison came in.

  “Coffee?” Mei asked, holding up a mug.

  “Yes, thanks,” Addison said. “Sorry I slept so late.”

  “It’s good sleeping weather,” Helen announced, then expertly flipped a pancake without a spatula.

  “Nice, Aunt Helen,” Hector said.

  “I’ve had lots of practice,” Helen said.

  “So what’s your plan for the day, Addison?” Mei asked. “Hector and I were thinking of going to the zoo in Philly. Want to join us?”

  Addison glanced over at Hector. He was smiling openly too. Damn those two lovebirds, they really were good friends.

  But Addison didn’t want to be a third wheel.

  Besides, it could be tough to see both of her best friends happily mated when Ryan wasn’t even attracted to her. She was happy for her friends, of course, but it was hard not to feel a little bit alone.

  “I’m planning to go rock climbing on campus. There’s a free seminar,” she told them. “But thanks anyway.”

  “Rock climbing?” Hector asked, looking impressed.

  “Addison, aren’t you scared of heights?” Mei asked, handing her a mug of coffee with milk.

  “I think I’m going to work on that,” Addison said.

  Maybe the adrenaline would stave off her libido so she wouldn’t lose her mind the next time she bumped into Ryan Stevenson.

  “Good for you, Addison,” Helen said, handing her a plate of pancakes. “I’m facing my fears too. Remember, I have a date tomorrow night?”

  They all remembered. Helen’s upcoming date had been the main subject of conversation at Thayer mansion for days.

  “Remind us what you’re planning to do, Aunt Helen?” Hector asked politely.

  “Did you decide what to wear?” Mei asked.

  “Oh goodness,” Helen said, and launched into a detailed rundown of her various wardrobe choices.

  Addison smiled and took a sip of coffee. It was heartening to see that even Dr. Thayer, who had just been through a terrible divorce, and was older than Addison’s mother, could find someone who made her want to try on all her clothes again.

  It gave Addison hope for herself. Though she worried it might be misplaced.

  She had never felt an attraction like the one she had for Ryan. It couldn’t be love - they barely knew each other.

  If she hadn’t known better, she would have suspected it was the mating bond her friends had experienced with their mates.

  But both Hector, and Bianca’s mate, Ian, had let them know what was happening, asked them to accept the bond.

  Whereas Ryan Stevenson had said nothing to Addison to indicate that he was aware of her, even though she seemed to revolve around him as if he were the sun every time they encountered each other.

  It’s not a mate bond, she told herself yet again. Or, if it is, he doesn’t want me, and that’s why he won’t acknowledge it.

  That last notion was a painful one. It had her ready to do almost anything, even climb a rock, if it took her mind off the subject.

  It would be easier to move on if the dreams didn’t feel so real.

  She pulled out her stool and carried her plate to the sink.

  “You barely touched your meal,” Helen said.

  “I shouldn’t eat too much before I climb,” Addison said.

  “Yeah, you don’t want to cramp up,” Hector added.

  “More like throw up,” Mei teased.

  “Mei,” Helen scolded.

  “No, she’s right,” Addison laughed. “You know me so well, Mei. Have fun at the zoo.”

  “You too, babe,” Mei replied. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Addison thought to herself that Mei’s instruction didn’t really limit her options, but chose not to say it out loud. She often envied her roommate’s fearless attitude.

  “Have fun, dear,” Helen called to her.

  “Thanks, you too,” Addison called back from the center hall.

  She opened the front door and looked out over the mansion’s lawn. The sun was shining in the sky and it was cold, but there wasn’t a hint of snow.

  See, it was just a dream.

  But the vestiges of it still had her skin tingling.

  Addison pulled her keys out of her pocket and headed to the car. There was no time like the present to find something constructive to focus on.

  2

  Ryan

  Ryan ran a hand through his hair and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a rough night, but his charges were now in good hands with Dr. Fitzgerald, and he was free to go home, watch TV, and try not to think about Addison Sparrow.

  “Hey, Dr. Stevenson,” Candy Wilkinson said with a smile as he passed her in the hall on the way to the elevator.

  Candy was a radiologist. Her unbelievable curves stretched her pink scrubs in all the right places. Ryan used to have to struggle not to stare at her boobs like some of the knuckle-dragging interns did.

  But ever since Addison, he barely noticed other women.

  “Hi Dr. Wilkinson,” he replied. “Have a good shift.”

  “I’m getting off now too,” she said, allowing the phrase to hang in the air a moment. “Want to grab a drink?”

  He would have said yes to that last summer.

  “Sorry, I’ve got plans,” he said instead. “Have a good night.”

  His phone rang, saving them both from any awkwardness.

  “My grandmother,” he said, accepting the call.

  Candy waved and smiled and headed down the hall to the changing room. Looked like she was getting that drink whether he joined her or not.

  “Hi Grandma Stevenson,” he said. Other grandmothers might be Grammy or Mimi, but Ryan’s grandmother was always Grandma Stevenson.

  “Oh, Ryan,” the older woman said, as if they were already mid-conversation. “I just wanted to hear your voice. Those shifts they have you on are too much.”

  “I’m fine,” Ryan said. “Don’t worry about me.”

  He continued to the elevator at the end of the hallway. Miraculously it was empty, so there would be no one to offend by staying on the phone.

  He pushed the button for the first floor and then leaned against the wall, looking out through the glass outer wall of the elevator at Springton woods.

  “I just wish you would find someone to take care of you,” Grandma Stevenson said. “A nice girl - or a boy. I’m not picky - someone to make sure you’re sleeping and eating, and happy.”

  Ryan sighed.

  His grandmother was ill. And she wasn’t going to be getting better.

  He’d been planning to fly out to be with her on Thanksgiving, their favorite holiday. But the hospital was short-staffed and he hadn’t been able to trade out of the shift.

  “Is there someone like that in your life?” Grandma Stevenson asked hopefully.

  Shit. His pause had given her hope.

  “Uh, yeah,” he heard himself say before he had taken too much time to think about it..

  “Oh, Ryan, really?” she asked, music in her voice.

  “Yes, Grandma Stevenson,” he said, deciding to
lean in the moment he heard her joy. “I’m really happy.”

  “It must be serious,” Grandma Stevenson said. “Is this the real reason you aren’t coming to see me? You can bring her, you know.”

  “No, it’s the hospital,” Ryan said. “But maybe one day you’ll get to meet her after all.”

  “Are you… engaged?” Grandma Stevenson asked, breathless. “You are, aren’t you? I can sense it. There’s something different about you, Ryan, it’s like you’ve finally found the one.”

  For a moment Ryan let himself picture Addison, the beautiful young girl with the serious expression. She was the one - he had no doubt.

  “I have found the one,” he said to himself dreamily.

  “Then all my wishes have come true,” Grandma Stevenson replied contentedly.

  Ryan closed his eyes and savored the sound of her happy voice. Grandma Stevenson had taken him for long walks when he was a little boy, taught him how to dress like a gentleman, and held him in her lap to read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, both of them laughing until tears ran down their faces.

  Her illness, coupled with a bad hip, meant that most of their recent calls and visits were light on laughter.

  It was good to hear a smile in her voice now, even if he didn’t feel great about how it got there.

  She would be gone before there was any chance she would find out the truth about his relationship status. And at least he was giving her something fun to think about on her rough days.