I blinked at him. That was the last disease I expected from my rambunctious friend. "Anemia? How?"
He shrugged. "Sometimes these things just happen, but she wishes to see you. We've transferred her to a separate room for observation, but she should be able to leave in an hour or so."
He led me a few doors down the hall to a long room filled with beds. Flimsy rods on wheels with curtains provided the only privacy. Ruth lay on one of those white-sheeted beds with the blanket pulled up to her chin. Her pallor wasn't too different from the bleach-white sheet.
A nurse stood at her side, and the pair of them talked in low voices. I walked over to her bedside.
The nurse turned at my coming and smiled at me. "You must be Dakota. Ruth's told me so much about you."
I smiled down at my pale friend. "I'm sure it's all lies." Ruth returned my smile.
The nurse chuckled. "I'm sure they're not, but I'll leave you two alone for ten minutes, then Ruth has to rest."
I nodded. The nurse stepped out of the small makeshift room and shut the curtain behind her to give us privacy. I took a seat in a chair close beside Ruth's bed and looked around.
"Reminds me of the office," I commented.
Ruth shook her head. "The wallpaper's a lot better."
I snorted. "But you haven't tried the food yet."
She shuddered and looked away. "I'm not really that hungry."
I furrowed my brow. "Is that why you have anemia? Because you haven't been eating?" Ruth pursed her lips, but nodded. "Why not?"
She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't know. I'm just not hungry." She looked back at me and smiled. "But I promise I'll eat at our double-date tomorrow. It's still on, right?"
I reached out and squeezed her hand. "If it'll get you to eat, I'll have all your meals with you, and I'll drag along David to pay the bill."
She smiled and I saw that familiar twinkle in her eyes. "It's a date."
The curtain opened and the nurse stood in the entrance. "It's time."
I stood. My hand reluctantly slipped from Ruth's. "See you in an hour," she told me.
I nodded. "I'll be here."
I left the long white room and went out to the waiting room at the front of the hospital. My butt barely touched the seat when the doors slid open and David hurried in. Puer was close behind, but a little more winded. David swept his eyes over the room. His gaze fell on me, and he hurried to occupy the empty seat beside me.
He grasped my hands and inspected my personage. "You're sure you're all right?"
I rolled my eyes and nodded. "I'm here because Ruth collapsed, remember?"
He pursed his lips. "It isn't catching, is it?"
I furrowed my brow and glanced down the hall in the direction of her room. "Only if the white mist is contagious."
David arched an eyebrow. "White mist?"
I returned my attention to him and gave a nod. "Yeah. When she was knocked out a weird mist came out of her mouth and floated a foot over her head. It kind of looked like a really stretched light bulb."
David's eyes hardened. "And you say this came out of her mouth?"
I nodded. "Yeah, why? You think you know what it is?"
"Was it translucent?" he persisted.
I narrowed my eyes. "I could see through most of it, but what's this about? What was it?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure, but I know someone who can tell us."
"Cotio?" I guessed.
He shook his head. "No. We don't have anything solid to give to him, and besides, he's not a doctor."
I gestured around us. "You're in the right place for one of those."
He smiled. "I'm not quite meaning the usual kind. I'm referring to my personal physician, a man by the name of Vincent Ficus."
I arched an eyebrow. "Is he a man, or does he just fake that?"
David chuckled. "You'll see. Would you like to see him now?"
I shook my head. "Nope. You and I have to give a ride to Ruth in an-" A ringtone echoed out of Ruth's purse that I still held. I opened the purse and pulled out her phone. The name read 'Doug.' I took a deep breath and answered it. "Hello, Doug."
"Ruth?" a melodious male voice replied.
"No, this is Dakota, Ruth's friend from the office. Are you sitting down?"
I could hear him suck in some air. "Yes, why? What's happened? Where's Ruth?"
"She collapsed after work, but she's fine. The doctors said it was just a slight attack of anemia," I assured him. "She's still in the hospital, but they'll release in her in an hour."
"Which hospital? I'd like to see her."
I told him, and that ended our conversation. I dropped the phone back into the purse and glanced at David. "The boyfriend's coming."
3
David leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Tell me everything you noticed about your friend's illness. When did it start?"
I shrugged. "As far as I know just today, or maybe yesterday. I'd know better if a certain wolfy man hadn't dragged me around yesterday."
He furrowed his brow. "We'll have to catch that wolfy man and scold him, but later. When was the last time you saw your friend?"
"Last Friday. She left at five to meet up with the boyfriend, a guy by the name of Douglas Gardi."
"And she was healthy then?"
I nodded. "As healthy as a horse, and with as much energy. I don't think she's ever used her sick leave."
He stroked his chin. "How very odd." His eyes flickered to Puer. "Could you call Dr. Ficus and ask him how late we can visit him tonight? Tell him it's for a consultation for a friend."
Puer bowed and left the waiting room.
I arched an eyebrow. "So what's so important about seeing this doc? He a vampire or something?"
David smiled. "Or something, but he's very knowledgeable in this area."
"And what is this area we're dealing with?" I persisted.
David leaned towards me and lowered his voice so the women at the front desk couldn't overhear us. "What you described was certainly not normal."
I snorted. "I don't know. It sounds like it's right up your alley."
The doors opened and a gentleman stepped into the waiting room. He wore a black overcoat and black shoes. Beneath the coat was a dark blue suit without a tie, but clean and pressed to perfection. His bespectacled eyes swept over the room as he swept his broad-brimmed hat off his head.
I straightened. "Mr. Gardi?"
He hurried over to us. "Miss Combes, I presume."
I smiled and held out my hand. "I'm not Livingstone."
He returned my smile and shook my hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Ruth's told me so much about you." He fingered his hat and glanced around us. "Could I possibly see her?"
I stood and dropped our purses onto the seat. "Sure. Just-" David coughed into his fist. I rolled my eyes and gestured to him. "This is Mr. David Dives, my boyfriend."
Gardi turned to David. His face fell a little, but he stiffly bowed to him. "Good evening."
David stood, smiled and returned the bow. "Good evening."
Gardi turned to me. "Now if you'll show me to Ruth."
I swept my arm towards the hallway. "This way."
Gardi followed behind me as we clacked our way down the empty white halls. His deep, reverberating voice broke the silence like a knife through butter. "Your friend seemed eager to meet me."
I shrugged. "David's a little odd."
Gardi arched an eyebrow, but a sly smile played on his lips. "Is he? I hadn't noticed."
We arrived at Ruth's shared room. She was awake, and her eyes lit up when her gaze fell on Gardi. "Doug!"
He rushed forward and grasped one of her hands in his. "Ruth! What happened?"
She smiled and shook her head. "I guess I forgot to eat my Wheaties this morning."
He took a seat on the stool and returned her smile. "I suppose this means our date is off for tonight."
He shook his head. "No. We'll have it right here, and th
en I'll take you home." I took that as my cue to leave, and retreated back to the waiting room.
David was back in his seat with a furrowed brow. I plopped myself beside him and sighed. "Looks like we can go any time. Mr. Fancy-pants offered to take her home."
David continued to look straight ahead without speaking. I noticed his cute little nose twitched, so I pinched it between two fingers. He started back and pulled himself free from my pincer grip.
"Careful on the nostrils! They're delicate instruments!" he scolded me.
I arched an eyebrow. "Why were they instrumenting so fast?"
David's face fell and he glanced in the direction of Ruth's room. "Did you notice anything strange about your friend's boyfriend?"
I shrugged. "Only that he must be rich to be taking her to places in that suit."
"Nothing else?" he persisted.
I frowned. "Was there something else I was supposed to see?"
"No, smell, but you've told me all I needed to know." He stood and offered me his arm. "Now how about we go home and get some rest for ourselves."
I snorted, but accepted his arm and let him pull me up. "I have a feeling rest isn't what you're looking for."
He grinned. "Perhaps not, but it does involve home."
"And a bed," I added.
David chuckled. "Perhaps, but let's go."
Puer met us by the limo. "Dr. Ficus says he isn't accepting patients, or consultations, this evening, but would be glad to see you tomorrow in the early afternoon."
David shrugged. "I guess that settles our evening, and tomorrow afternoon."
We had a short detour to pick up my car from the company garage, but in an hour we were both back at the wolf mansion. Puer prepared a quick bite on a platter, and David picked it up and led me upstairs to our bedroom. He set the food on the foot of the bed and plucked a piece of thinly sliced ham from the pile of meats.
I took a seat beside the food and watched him pace the floor as he munched away on his delicacy. "You're pacing."
"My feet are thinking," he quipped.
I arched an eyebrow. "It's about Ruth's boyfriend, isn't it?"
He nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. I can't quite put my finger on the problem, but there was a problem with him."
I fell back atop the covers. "Next you're going to say he's the reason she has anemia." David paused and stared straight ahead at a wall. His lips were pursed. I lifted my head and frowned. "You're not going to say that, are you? People just don't give other people anemia."
"Nor do people have white mist float out of their mouths when they're unconscious," he pointed out.
I sat up and shrugged. "Maybe it was the lighting in the place. I should complain to the owner about that dark dungeon he makes us poor employees use while he sits at home goofing off all day."
David turned to me. His mischievous smile slipped onto his delicious lips. "I keep myself busy."
I snorted. "With what?"
David took the platter off the bed and set it on the vanity. He glanced at me through the mirror, and I noticed his eyes held a tinge of yellow. "With thinking how I can best please you."
I frowned and shoved the last of my food into my mouth. "You can please me by putting that tray back."
He half-turned to me and removed his shirt. "I think I have a better plan."
My pulse quickened. I scooted to the head of the bed as he strode over to the foot. There was a noticeable bulge in his pants and his muscles stretched and expanded. That familiar scent of lust washed over me. I breathed deep and shuddered. My body broke out in a thick sweat. I grasped the covers as he crawled onto the bed. My swollen breasts pushed against the front of my tight shirt.
My mate reached me and set his hands on either side of me. A feral grin graced his lips as his yellow eyes swept over me. His voice was deep and lustful. "Mine."
He leaned forward and caught my lips in a passionate kiss. One of his hands roamed up my side and cut away the buttons of my shirt. My breasts pushed the shirt open and strained against my bra. His hand cupped one of my breasts, and I groaned as his fingers massaged my luscious mound.
He broke our kiss and left a searing trail of more of them down my neck. I moaned and squirmed. His hand slipped down and sliced open the side of my jeans. My thick thighs bulged out, and he toyed with the tingling skin. I slipped my back onto the sheets and he covered himself with me.
His hands were everywhere, groping and teasing me. Every tantalizing touch heightened the hot ache inside me. Every slip of his finger against my bare flesh reminded me I was his to dominate, to do with what he pleased, and what pleased him pleased us both. I reveled in his caresses, his wonderful, teasing love-making.
One of his fingers slipped into my underwear. He brushed against my sensitive bundle of nerves. Pleasure shot through my body and made me jump. I clenched the sheets and shuddered.
"Oh god," I whispered.
He lifted his head. Those beautiful yellow eyes gazed down at me with a burning light. His lip curled back to reveal sharp fangs and a lustful grin. "Yes," he growled.
He took me then with a wild passion that only lovers can experience. Our clothes were thrown aside. The time flew by in a passionate haze of lust. His lips were everywhere, tasting me and loving me. I arched into his hot mouth even as his hands danced across my trembling flesh. His hands touched me and teased me, exploring every curve and mound. My body was on fire. My mewing sounds echoed off the walls. I moaned and panted. Our sweat-soaked bodies rubbed against each other in a terrible friction that heightened our pleasure, yet did not satisfy it.
He took me swiftly and forcefully. Every thrust of his swollen manhood was a shock of pleasure to my trembling body. His grunts filled my ears even as my cries grew to chants of lustful need.
"Yes. Oh god, yes. More. Please more."
He penetrated me again and again. My breasts rubbed against his hard chest, sending tingles through my body. I squirmed and thrashed beneath him. My body ached for completion, for a finish to this lustful dance that I hungered for, yet wished to end.
He pushed faster and faster. The world faded until all I knew was him inside me. I panted and groaned. My body strained against his delicious, frenzied love-making. I needed him. I ached for him. Only he could fulfill this burning desire inside me. Only he could take me and make me his.
"Yes. Oh god, yes," I chanted. I reached up and grasped his head in my hands as he took me with a wild passion. The tremors of orgasm teased my body. I stroked his hair and moaned. "Take me. Make me yours all night. Again and again." I felt the rushing wave of satisfaction. My eyes widened, but I saw nothing. There was only him and the rising waters of sweet, sensual orgasm. I leaned my head back and groaned. "Oh god. Faster. Just a little more. Please take me." My body twitched and strained. "So close! Yes! Take me! Yes! Yes! Yes!"
My orgasm swept me away on its lustful waters. My wet walls clamped down on my mate. He grunted and thrust hard and deep into me, spilling himself deep into me.
He collapsed onto the bed beside me. I wiggled into his warm chest and sighed. He wrapped his arms around me, and together we fell into a deep, wonderful sleep.
4
It was a long, fun night, but the next morning I dragged myself from the sheets and slid onto the floor so my face was smushed against the carpet on my side of the bed. My whole body ached and my hair was a mess. The sheets shifted and a mischievous face peeked over the edge of the above directly above me.
"Going somewhere?" David teased.
I glared at him. "No, and it's all thanks to you."
He bowed his head. "My pleasure, and yours."
I rolled my eyes and flipped over so I lay on my shoulder blades. "You're really not helping my career, you know that?"
He chuckled. "Sleeping with the boss isn't helping your career?"
"No, and it's not helping my body, either." I clenched my jaws and righted myself to stand on my feet. A few bones in my back popped, along with an ankle, knee, and something
in my hip. "If this keeps up I'm going to fall apart."
He sat up. The sheets pooled around his waist and lap, and tempted me to pull them away. "You should rest in bed."
I snorted. "I don't think I'm going to find any rest in your bed, so I may as well go to work and get some sleep at my computer." I grabbed my clothes and strode to the closet. "Besides, aren't you forgetting something?"
David watched me like a hawk watches its prey. "I don't have to remember anything but you, my mate."
I flung on some clothes and sighed. "You have your appointment with your mysterious doctor this afternoon, and I have to see how Ruth made it home last night."
David's humor fled and he pursed his lips. "I haven't forgotten, but there's something I want you to do for me."
I paused and turned to him with an arched brow. "What's that?"
He caught my gaze and kept it. "I don't want you to be alone with Ruth's boyfriend."
I snorted and turned away. "Jealousy doesn't suit you."
I heard him slip off the bed and walk over to me. He set his hands on my shoulders and leaned his lips close to my ear. "This isn't about jealousy. There's something wrong with him, and I don't want you alone with him until I figure out what."
I patted his hand and sighed. "All right, if it makes you feel any better I won't. Anyway, I'll see you later."
I grabbed a bite to eat off the platter of overnight food and drove to work. I passed by the entrance to Ruth's cubicle. Her chair was empty. I plopped down in my own seat and pursed my lips. The minutes ticked down to time. She didn't come.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. A groggy voice answered the ring. "Hello?"
I blinked and pulled the phone away from my ear. The number was definitely Ruth's. I put the phone back to my ear. "Ruth?"
"Hey, Dakota. What are you doing up this early?"
I furrowed my brow. "Early? Work started a few minutes ago."
Ruth groaned and I heard a creak of a bed. "Could you tell the fat guy that I won't be in today. I'm just not feeling myself."
I pursed my lips, but nodded. "Sure thing, and I'll come by during lunch to see you."
She snorted. "You'd never make it here and back at noon traffic."
"Then I'll see you after work," I promised.
"Sounds like a date. Anyway, I gotta go do-um, stuff, I guess."
"You have to go eat," I reminded her.
She chuckled. "Sure thing, Boss. Anyway, bye."