Page 92 of The Heat of Us

“It was a freak accident. Unpreventable. Would’ve been worse if I didn’t warn her,” Remy said firmly, answering Ben’s unspoken question. “Happened in a split second and she didn’t hit her head on the way down. We called you straight away.”

I resisted the urge to correct him to say that we had called Aleks first. Don’t anger the touchy alphas.

“As interesting as this is…” I began when it was clear there was no winner of their contest. “...I would like to get home if I get the healthy tick of approval, doctor.”

Ben’s mouth flattened, giving him a strange expression.

“Did I…turn you on by calling you ‘doctor’?” I asked him as realisation sank in. Did I turn myself on? I dreaded the hospital and never thought I’d have a thing for doctors. But I think I had a thing for Ben the doctor.

Ben swallowed audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Yes,” he admitted after a long pause, followed by a self-conscious cough as he laid a hand on my forehead. I definitely felt something when he did that.

“Noted, doctor.”

“Stop it,” Ben grunted.

He continued to check my vitals. I blinked furiously after he shone a torch into my pupils. “Do I need a private exam, doctor?” I asked, sultrily.

“Hazel, we are in broad daylight,” Remy scolded me as the pink in Ben’s cheeks deepened.

I turned to him excitedly. “Ooh, we should do some roleplay with our content! That could be fun.”

“Jesus Christ.” Ben put away his things with agitated movements. “You’re fine physically but mentally is a whole other ball game.”

“Business as usual then.”

Ben carefully helped me stand, watching me like a hawk for any sign of dizziness. I sucked in a sharp breath as the shock leached out of me and the aches began to settle in. “Lean on me,” he ordered. “We’ll get you home and clean up your scrapes.”

Remy was typing away furiously on his phone. “I’m telling Aleks to just go back to Hazel’s,” he explained without looking up. Once he was done, he turned to Ben. “Thoughts on sharing our locations?”

Ben didn’t miss a beat. “I think that’s a good idea,” he agreed easily.

My head swivelled between them incredulously. “Weren’t you two just…” I bared my teeth in a mock-growl and made a claw with my hand. “...like a second ago?”

Remy licked his bottom lip. Slowly. “We have reasons to play nice.”

“Singular,” Ben corrected, his voice rough. “One reason.”

“True.”

The heat of both their stares on me overwhelmed me and to my utter mortification, I perfumed in a great, sweet bloom of lush needy omega pheromones.

Remy grinned at Ben. “Told you she was fine.”

33

HAZEL

Ben was carefully cleaning my injuries. I think I would’ve preferred if he made tutting sounds or hissed in sympathy as he worked.

Instead, he was methodical and steady. Silent. The storm in his eyes was merely brewing into something greater.

Remy sat off to one side, his leg bouncing restlessly as he watched us.

Our heads all swung towards the door as it slammed open. Aleks burst through, looking windblown and in disarray. His eyes locked directly on me as he strode over, determined to close the distance between us as rapidly as possible.

“I’m ok,” I assured him quickly.

Aleks stilled, his eyes darting as he took in Ben and Remy next to me. Self-consciousness seemed to swallow him, slowing his footsteps. His hand spasmed as if it itched to touch me.

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