Page 71 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
“I’m hurting.Why does everything hurt so much?”
Gordon squeezed Raven’s arm.“That’s because you’re turning.It will pass, and you’re safe here.”
Raven’s face twisted, but whether it was in reaction to what Gordon had said was hard to tell.The lucid period didn’t last that long, and Raven went back to shaking and turning as if caught in a fever dream.
The day drained away in pretty colors, but Gordon only noticed the shifting light, not the colors painting the horizon.
He pulled out his phone at one point to call Clement.“How’s Mil doing?”
“Reading before bedtime, obviously.”The Lar sounded as if the question alone were an insult to him.“There are more books at the house than in this tiny apartment,” he added, the criticism in his voice not subtle.
“Thanks for making sure she’s okay.”Gordon decided not to rise to the bait.
There was a pause on the other end.“It’s what I’m for.To make sure people are all right.”
For once, Clement’s tone wasn’t snide, and Gordon thought he heard actual pain underneath that hard-to-like charm.Then perhaps, that might just have been Gordon’s imagination or projecting what he was feeling himself.
When nightfall came, Gordon felt exhaustion overtake him, maybe also hunger.Raven’s mumbling kept him awake and alert though.
At last, the door to the apartment opened.Gordon felt his heart lift, and he knew Adler’s footsteps even before his mate walked into the bedroom, wearing jeans that didn’t quite fit right and a maroon shirt, not really his color.He was silently followed by Maxim.Maxim still looked like he always did, dressed in his hunter’s blacks.He wasn’t carrying his blades though.
Mate,Gordon heard, and it was the only warning he got before Adler bent low to kiss him, hard and needy.
“You both should go to bed, sleep.Or something,” Maxim said.“I will take care of Raven from here on out.”
Gordon nodded, too tired to argue.Adler pulled him up from the armchair he’d been sitting in, and Maxim took Gordon’s place.
“Sweetheart,” Adler said and wrapped Gordon in his arms once more.
“I love you a lot, you know,” Gordon whispered against Adler’s neck where he inhaled his mate’s scent.
Adler reacted, tightened his hold on Gordon, drew him nearer.
Maxim clicked his tongue.“Take it elsewhere, my turtledoves.And Gordon?Thank you for watching over him.Heath said you insisted.”
Gordon turned out of Adler’s embrace, though his mate was slow to give him room for that.“It was nothing.And he didn’t have anyone.Maxim, what they did to him...”
“Look at you, Gordon.Leaving the corpses for those who still draw breath.”Maxim winked and turned his gaze on Raven.“I’ll take care of him.”
Adler leaned his forehead against Gordon’s.“We should go, sweetheart.”
Gordon was too tired and too exhausted to protest.
They made it to the elevator and into it, but it spilled them out not in the wide foyer, but on another floor, and Bryan the Lar was there, waiting for them.
“You look like you should be lying down rather than take a long cab ride home,” the Lar told them.
Adler and Gordon exchanged a glance.Whatever you want, sweetheart,Gordon heard Adler’s thoughts.
Gordon blinked.“Well, I talked to Clement, and Mil is fine.”
Bryan made a dismissive noise.“Making sure a child is fine is the bare minimum for one of us.Even that one should manage a single, well-behaved wolf child.And as much as it pains me to say this, even that Lar isn’t a babysitter anyone would want to mess with.Honestly, this is me being grateful for getting Clement out of the house for the day.And of course, while Heath has been cursing a lot, finding your killer and instigator is one less thing he worries about.”A dreamy look crossed over Bryan’s face.“I don’t want him to get worry lines.He’s too handsome.”
Gordon and Adler exchanged yet another look before Gordon said, “You know what, I could sleep.”
Adler’s arm was still around Gordon, and at the words, he immediately pulled him closer.“Then we’ll do that.You deserve rest.”And you’re probably hungry too.We’ll take care of that.You were so brave today, I’m so proud of you, Gordon.
Gordon frowned.“Are you enjoying this, detective?”
