by Lynn Hagen
“He has a mild concussion, but his spine is fine,” Gavril said to Dr. Bjord. “He has a laceration on his forehead, but it’s not that deep. It won’t require stitches. He got damn lucky considering he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.”
“You can remove the collar,” Dr. Bjord said.
Gavril removed the plastic thing from around Fisher’s neck. Now that he was able to turn his head, Fisher looked around. He spotted an oversized bear resting in a corner.
“Blake?” Where was Arturo? Hadn’t Jake said that the bouncer had brought Blake here? Fisher didn’t see Arturo anywhere.
Dr. Bjord walked over to the bed. “Yes, that’s the driver. He will heal in his shifter form, but I can’t tell you how long he’ll be out of it. Everyone is different. I’m still waiting on his body to work the bullet out.”
Gavril opened the door, and Grayson walked in. Fisher was happy as hell to see his friend among these two strangers. “Grayson!” Fisher tried to sit up, but Dr. Bjord gently pushed him back down.
“You have a concussion.” The doctor patted Fisher’s arm. “I don’t want you moving around. Just lie still for a while.”
“You want me to fix him?” Gavril asked.
“You’re not supposed to interfere, remember?” Dr. Bjord said to Gavril.
Fisher had no idea what they were talking about, but he had a killer headache and still felt nauseous. Fisher grabbed his temples and winced.
“I’m gonna at least take away his headache and heal his cut,” Gavril argued. “Poor guy’s been through enough.”
Fisher cringed when Gavril approached him again. He tapped Fisher’s forehead, and the headache was instantly gone. “Can you get rid of the nauseous, too?”
Gavril smiled at him and tapped his chest. Who was this guy, and how had he done that?
“Okay, back away,” Dr. Bjord said.
Grayson moved to the bed and gave Fisher a soft, comforting smile. “That was quite an accident. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I’m going to step out of the room,” Dr. Bjord said. “Don’t get up while I’m gone.”
“He won’t,” Grayson reassured the doctor. “And I won’t be long. I’m aware that Fisher needs his rest.”
The doctor and the guy with the freaky eyes and miracle fingers walked out. Fisher’s attention was pulled back to Blake. “Is he going to be okay?”
Grayson looked over at Blake. “He’s not as big as Moose in that form, but he’s still impressive.” Grayson turned back to Fisher. “He’ll be fine. His body is healing even as we speak. He just needs to rest and let nature do its thing.”
Everyone kept telling him that Blake was okay, but Fisher still wanted to get to him, to lie next to Blake until his mate fully recovered. “Take me to him.”
“You’re not supposed to get up, Fisher.”
“Take me to him,” Fisher insisted. “I’ll rest against him. I promise.”
He would do whatever the doctor wanted him to do just as long as he was with his mate. That was the only important thing to him now, not resting, not talking to Grayson, and not thinking about John. He just wanted to be with his mate.
Blake had said he’d take a bullet for Fisher, and fuck, that was exactly what he’d done. That was the opposite of what Fisher had wanted, and now he feared Blake would hate him for this. First his tires, then his house, and now an attempt on his life.
How much more would Blake endure before he washed his hands of Fisher? Could mates work this many problems out?
“I can see those wheels turning in your head,” Grayson said. “Don’t even think that. You have no idea how deeply your bond goes with Blake. He won’t be mad at you for this, Fisher. He’s gonna want to hunt John down and rip out his spine.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m mated,” Grayson stated as if it were a fact and answered all Fisher’s questions. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Moose and nothing he wouldn’t do for me. I’d take a hundred bullets if that meant keeping him safe. That’s what being mated is all about. Not only that deep bond but also keeping each other safe.”
Grayson lifted Fisher from the bed and settled him next to the gigantic bear. Fisher curled into the soft fur, finally calming down now that he had Blake next to him.
“What happened?” Grayson grabbed a chair, moved it across the room, and then took a seat.
Fisher told Grayson about how he’d taken off, how Blake came to find him, and how he saw John standing by a dark car after Blake had been shot.
“So it was him.” Grayson’s lips settled into a thin line. “Then he’s not driving his white BMW. My deputies would’ve spotted him. They’ve been driving by your house for the past week.”
Fisher hadn’t known that the cops were watching their house. John must have figured that out and waited until they’d passed when he’d torn Blake’s house apart.
“Can we finish this conversation later?” Fisher snuggled deeper into Blake’s fur, inhaling his familiar scent as he closed his eyes.
“We’ll talk later. I’m glad you’re both okay.” Grayson got up and returned the chair to where it had been before then left the room. Dr. Bjord came in and looked around until he spotted Fisher. The guy didn’t look happy that Fisher was out of bed but didn’t say anything.
“I’m so sorry,” Fisher whispered to Blake as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “Please heal and wake up. I need to tell you that I think I’m in love with you.”
Chapter Nine
Blake woke to a weight on his chest and a cushion underneath him. He had to blink a few times to focus, and that was when he saw Dr. Bjord standing by a counter and reading something on his electronic tablet.
“I had my mate move you two to the bed when you were both asleep,” Dr. Bjord said without turning around. “I didn’t want you shifting back to your human form while on the floor.” He finally turned around. “Fisher had a concussion, but I finally allowed Gavril to heal him.” The doctor shrugged. “He just looked too damn adorable draped over your bear, and I didn’t want him falling asleep, but he did, and that was when Gavril made his concussion disappear.”
Blake furrowed his brows. “What on earth are you talking about?”
Blake’s brain was a little fuzzy on how he’d gotten here and why Fisher was curled up on him. He was also puzzled why he was lying there naked with just a sheet draped over him. Why had Blake been in his bear form earlier?
“Your car accident,” Dr. Bjord said.
That was when everything flooded back to Blake’s mind. He’d been out searching for Fisher, had panicked when he couldn’t find him. Blake had spotted his mate, and John had shot Blake. He’d tried to make it to the police station but had blacked out.
Had blacked out.
Blake looked down at Fisher, who was still fast asleep. He could’ve killed his mate driving so recklessly.
Dr. Bjord approached the bed. “Everyone is fine, and the sheriff and his deputies are out searching for the one who shot you. I’ve never see Grayson so riled up. Not like this. His deputies showed up here, and Grayson was barking orders at them to find the son of a bitch.”
Blake curled his arms around Fisher, thankful the crash hadn’t been more serious. His only thought had been to get Fisher away from John. To get Fisher to safety.
“A friend of yours brought you some clothes.” Dr. Bjord pointed to a backpack on the chair next to the bed. “Except for leaving to get them, Arturo hasn’t left the waiting room. Do you want me to send him in?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll come back in a bit.” The doctor left the room just as Fisher began to stir. He hiked his leg higher over Blake’s groin, which caused a reaction. Even fresh from healing, Fisher turned him on with an accidental rub.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Blake kissed the top of Fisher’s head. “How do you feel?”
Fisher yawned, then his gaze snapped to Blake. “You’re awake!” He tried to get up, but Blake tightened his arm around h
is mate. “Are you okay now?”
If John had shot Blake in the head, he wouldn’t have survived that. But the son of a bitch had shot him in the back. That only told him what a coward the man truly was.
“I’m fine.” He touched Fisher’s head. “I heard you had a concussion.”
“It was the weirdest thing.” Fisher’s brows dipped. “The doctor’s assistant touched my head and everything healed.”
There was whisper through the nonhuman community that Gavril was an angel, but Blake wasn’t so sure he believed that, wasn’t sure he believed that angels even existed. But whatever the guy was, Blake was thankful for his talents.
“How long have I been asleep?” That would’ve been a damn good question to ask the doctor.
“About seven hours.” Fisher snuggled close and looked up at Blake with those gorgeous green eyes. “I was worried sick about you. I’m so sorry he did that to you, Blake. I’ve been nothing but trouble since you rescued me.”
“You?” Blake snorted. “You’ve been the best since we met. You’re not responsible for his actions. John’s the one to blame here, not you.”
“Grayson came in twice. Once to ask what had happened and the next time to tell me he had your Mustang towed to the repair shop.”
Now both of Blake’s vehicles were out of commission. It looked as if he would need Arturo to take him somewhere for a rental until Raven got both his SUV and Mustang back on the road.
Blake was going to take the repair bills out on John just as soon as he found him. The prick was costing him.
Fisher scooted farther up the bed and gave Blake a soft kiss. “I thought I’d never be able to do that again.”
“I’m built tougher than you think.” He took Fisher’s hand and guided it to his erection. “But I could sure use some pressure release right now.”
Fisher pursed his lips. “So that would make your dick the pressure release handle.”
Blake softly chuckled. “I guess you’re right. Help me release that steam.”
“But we’re at the clinic,” Fisher whispered as if the doctor or someone else was standing right by the door listening. “What if someone comes in?”
“Then they’ll get an eyeful.” He wrapped his arm around Fisher’s waist. “Are you feeling adventurous?”
“With anyone else I would say no.”
Blake shifted his weight so he could lie on his side. “There. I just gave us a little more privacy.”
Fisher’s eyes sparkled. “Hang on. Let me find some lube.”
Blake released his mate and watched as Fisher went through the drawers. He came back to the bed with packets of petroleum jelly.
“This’ll have to do.” When he got back on the small bed, Blake tapped at his waist.
“Pull your pants and underwear down to your thighs.”
“No,” Fisher whispered as he looked toward the door. “You being naked is reasonable since you just shifted not too long ago. I wouldn’t be able to explain why my pants are down.”
“I’ll cover us with the sheet.” Blake lifted it and pulled it up until it covered them to their shoulders. “How’s that?”
“Very risky.” Fisher might’ve argued, but he wiggled around, shoving his clothes down his legs. “If the doctor kicks us out, this will be all your fault. I’m not taking the rap for this.”
“Stop whining and give me one of those packets.” Blake kissed Fisher’s forehead because his mate’s head was tilted down and he couldn’t get to his lips.
Blake used his teeth to rip the packet open as Fisher did the same. With no other place to set it, he tossed the packet on top of the sheet. Fisher jerked and groaned when Blake curled his fingers around the man’s hard cock.
He gave it a gentle squeeze. “See, you’re turned on by the idea of jacking each other off in the clinic.”
Fisher chuckled. “It’s a first for me.”
“Me, too. I’ll have to think of other places we can get adventurous.” He wiggled his brows. “Ain’t nothing wrong inserting some fun into our sex life.”
“Shut up and jack me off.” Fisher arched his back and groaned when Blake started moving his hand up and down his mate’s steel pipe. Fisher grabbed Blake’s dick, and a loud moan rumbled in his chest.
It hadn’t gone unnoticed that Fisher had gotten assertive with him, and Blake loved it. He wanted to see more of that side to his mate. Was Fisher normally a bossy pants or the passive-aggressive type?
John had nearly broken Fisher and tamped down his true personality. Blake wanted to watch it resurface and see the true man who Fisher was.
He was willing to bet his mate was feisty, and that thought turned him on even further.
“Squeeze my dick tighter,” Blake said with a hiss. “Don’t be afraid to use force. You’re not gonna break it.”
Fisher began to twist his wrist on every upward stroke. He palmed Blake’s balls and gave the sac a light tug. An electric sensation went up Blake’s spine, rippling out through his body.
He pressed his finger into the slit at the head of Fisher’s cock. His mate whimpered as he tried to get closer.
They stilled when the door opened and Dr. Bjord walked in. “How’re you two feeling?”
That was a loaded question. “Fine, can you give us a few more minutes?”
Dr. Bjord’s gaze fell to the sheet where the empty packet of petroleum jelly lay. He rolled his eyes. “For Pete’s sake. This is a clinic, not a motel room.”
The doctor left the room, closing the door behind him.
Fisher snickered. Blake chuckled. They both moaned when they went back to stroking each other’s cocks.
“Now I’ll never be able to look him in the eyes again,” Fisher said.
“I’m pretty sure we’re not the first to do this in the clinic.” Blake wasn’t sure and didn’t care. He just wanted to watch Fisher fall apart in his arms.
“I’m right there. I’m right there,” Fisher chanted seconds before his eyes rolled back and he jerked around, his cum shooting out and hitting Blake’s chest.
The scent of his mate’s release triggered Blake’s. Fisher was too busy floundering around, so Blake took matters into his own hands. He fisted his own cock and stroked himself until he was a boneless mess.
He kissed Fisher. “Thanks for pulling my release valve.”
Fisher burst out laughing. It was the most beautiful sound Blake had ever heard.
* * * *
It had been two weeks since Blake had rescued Fisher, and it felt as if things were falling into place. John had disappeared, and Fisher hoped it stayed that way.
They had cleaned up the wrecked house the night it had happened. But Fisher needed something to do since Blake thought it wasn’t a good idea to start work just yet. At first Fisher had thought his mate was pulling a John stunt where he didn’t want Fisher to leave the house. But what Blake said made sense. Fisher would be working behind the bar, out in the open for John to get at.
Just as long as he could start working as soon as the fiasco was over, Fisher was okay with staying home. But this was different. Fisher wasn’t tiptoeing around Blake. He wasn’t worried about making mistakes. He’d even had an argument with Blake about the house being so spotless.
Blake liked a lived-in look while Fisher’s eye twitched at the strewn magazines and his mate tracking mud into the house. Fisher looked around and decided to read instead.
It was also different because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. If they weren’t kissing or innocently touching, they were having sex on every available flat surface—and some not so flat.
The only thing he hadn’t done so far was tell Blake how he truly felt. Fisher wasn’t sure why he froze every time he wanted to say he loved Blake.
“I feel like going out for dinner,” Blake announced when he entered the living room where Fisher was curled up on the couch reading a spy novel. “You want to go to the diner, get tavern food, or should we get a little fancier and go to The Cante
en?”
Blake leaned over the back of the couch and circled his arms around Fisher, pressing their cheeks together. He would never tire of the way Blake treated him. It was a far cry from what Fisher had endured before meeting his mate.
“We can do fancy another time.” Fisher closed his book and set it aside. See, he was being asked his opinion and Blake never blew his top over his answers.
“We can go to the grocery store afterward.” Blake nibbled at Fisher’s jaw. “We’re running low on food, toiletries, and household stuff.”
“I put a list on the fridge of the things we need.” Fisher sighed and closed his eyes as Blake kissed the side of his neck.
“I saw it. Do you know how sexy you are when you make those lists?”
As much as he didn’t want to, Fisher pulled from Blake’s embrace. If he didn’t, they wouldn’t get out of the house, and Fisher wanted to go out to eat. He needed fresh air and to be around other people.
Renny had called yesterday and asked if Fisher wanted to go shopping this weekend. Fisher had declined since he was broke, but Blake had heard both sides of the conversation since they were snuggled on the couch. His mate insisted Fisher go and had even given him a credit card to use.
Blake hadn’t even set an amount. He’d just told Fisher to make sure he had fun and that Sal was with them. Blake didn’t want Fisher to be alone for one second when out of the house.
“The diner it is.” They got their shoes on and left the house. Only the SUV in the driveway. The mechanic had said it would take longer to repair the Mustang since it had a lot of frontend damage.
When they stepped outside, Blake handed Fisher the keys. “I feel like chilling. When was the last time you drove?”
“Well over a year,” Fisher said. John had never let him drive. Period. He always had to be the one in control while Fisher sat in the passenger seat like a good little braindead human being.
“Then it’s time you got back into the saddle, so to speak.”
Fisher’s heart raced, and he felt giddy when he took the keys from Blake. He was gaining more and more control over his life, with the help of his mate.