Chapter 5
Lincoln made it forty-five minutes after Shayne’s unexpected visit at the hospital before he found someone to cover the remainder of his shift.
At any other time, he might’ve felt guilty for his shoddy attendance the past two days.
Since he was usually the one covering for everyone else, Lincoln decided he was due a little time off.
When he experienced a hint of doubt over that excuse, he added his lust to the list. Scrubs and a thin lab coat didn’t go far toward hiding the erection left behind by Shayne’s impromptu visit.
The moment he’d let Shayne know he was free, his presence had been demanded at Plethora nightclub.
Lincoln didn’t bother making time to change clothes, proving Shayne was indeed a sickness.
Although Lincoln had been inside the popular night spot a few times in his life, it had been years.
The line spilling out the door made him wonder if he’d ever find Shayne.
As if they were physically connected, Lincoln’s gaze landed on the other man the moment he stepped inside.
It was almost funny. He didn’t notice anyone else sitting at the table until after he’d claimed the empty seat at Shayne’s side and he’d tasted the lips he couldn’t stop craving.
He blinked in surprise at the number of eyes staring at him. Lincoln expected Grady. After all, that’s who’d talked Shayne into going out in the first place, but the other four men were new.
“Hello,” Lincoln said, feeling out of place, and sounding even more so.
It wasn’t an unusual position from him. Lincoln never felt as if he fit in anywhere.
Unfortunately, his awkwardness tended to appear closer to standoffish to most people.
Thankfully after a quick nod, acknowledging his greeting, everyone except Shayne lost interest in him.
It was on the tip of Lincoln’s tongue to tell Shayne exactly what that knowledge did to him—how no one looked at him and saw him.
Shayne’s body was amazing. His heart was twice as gorgeous.
At the moment, Shayne’s outer shell was a little worse for wear.
The man looked like hell. He almost said as much, but his brain shut the dumbass comment down before it left his lips.
Shayne was obviously an amazing friend to have since he was damn near killing himself for a reason Lincoln didn’t fully understand.
“As your doctor, I can’t condone this. You should be in bed right now. ”
Lincoln couldn’t look away as Shayne’s eyes flashed with mischief. “So you’re my doctor now?”
“Fine,” Lincoln conceded. “As a doctor, I really think you need some sleep.”
“Nope,” Shayne said, sounding as exhausted as he looked, but still sexy as sin.
“You had it right the first time.” Snagging the hem of Lincoln’s shirt, Shayne drew him closer.
“You are my doctor, and we should be in bed right now.” He was a dangerous man.
Every word falling from Shayne’s amazing lips drove Lincoln insane.
Lincoln was almost certain he hadn’t stayed hard for so long at one time in years.
“Resting,” Lincoln reminded Shayne, before accepting his kiss.
The mixture of beer and turned on male exploded across his taste buds.
Shayne was delicious. Lincoln swore the entire room held its breath as Shayne toyed with Lincoln’s bottom lip.
By the time he released it, Lincoln almost chased after him until he remembered they were in public.
Now wasn’t the time. None of those reminders meant a damn thing to Lincoln’s body. It was on fire.
“If you insist, you can do all the work.”
“Hmmm,” Lincoln mused aloud, hoping to buy some time. He couldn’t let Shayne see how tempted he was to take him up the challenge. “How about we get you to bed now and see how things go from there? My guess is in about…” He checked his watch. “…an hour, you’ll beg me to find your meds.”
Shayne pushed to his feet. “Oh, there’ll be begging involved, but not from me, and not for meds.” Before Lincoln could respond, Shayne caught Grady’s attention. “I’m going to catch a ride home with Lincoln. My ribs are killing me.”
A hint of worry clawed at Lincoln. He searched Shayne’s features for any sign he was in more pain than he let on. Other than the frown marring Shayne’s brow, there was nothing.
“Yeah,” Grady said, pulling Lincoln’s attention his way. “I think I’m about done with this too.” He cast a quick look around, adding, “If I can find Henley, I’ll be right on your heels.”
Lincoln skimmed the crowd with his gaze, as well, before realizing how fruitless an endeavor it was.
In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure if he could recognize Henley if he saw him again.
He’d barely spared a glance for either man earlier in the evening.
If it hadn’t been for meeting Grady once before, he might not have recognized him either.
“Oh, fuck.”
Shayne’s low curse sent Lincoln’s brain into overdrive.
His gaze snapped to Shayne’s face. Instead of finding a pained expression, as he’d been expecting, Shayne’s features were tight.
Following the line of his stare, Lincoln spotted a scuffle taking place at the edge of the bar.
Lincoln’s first thought was of Henley. It turned out he did recognize him after all.
Horror stopped him from being too pleased with himself.
Henley had some guy in a headlock. Shayne’s curse didn’t do the scene justice.
“That’s one big bastard.” Lincoln didn’t mean to say it.
Henley was holding his own, but damn. Apparently, when Henley picked a bar fight, he didn’t mess around.
The guy’s arms were the size of tree trunks.
Lincoln’s observation seemed to snap Grady and Shayne out of their shock.
They both sprang into action before Lincoln had time to react.
For someone plagued with injuries, Shayne was fast on his feet. Flipping his gaze to the ceiling, Lincoln sent up a quick prayer before going after Shayne. If they got out of this without going to jail, it would be a miracle.
Only the fact they’d played together for years and practiced alongside one another several times a week, explained how Henley held Alex in check.
On a good day, Alex outweighed Henley by a good sixty pounds.
Every one of those ounces was solid muscle.
Even though alcohol and rage fueled Henley, it was only a matter of time before Alex wore him down.
No way in hell was Shayne going to let that happen.
Pain slowed him, and Grady beat him across the room.
Shayne was almost thankful since Grady took a solid elbow to the ribs as a way of thanks for his interference.
If Shayne didn’t know better, he’d think Henley did it on purpose.
Two hefty bouncers tried interceding, but the combined strength in this confrontation was having none of it.
Shayne hadn’t seen what started the fight.
He didn’t need anyone to explain it to him.
In his heart, he’d known coming here tonight would lead to this.
When Alex hadn’t shown, Shayne had hoped they’d actually pull through without incident.
He’d gotten distracted. Henley and Alex had been poised on the edge of explosion for a while.
Adding Grady to the mix made the situation volatile.
The way Grady looked at Ryker…Well, that shit was downright confusing.
It was also a lit match to a pile of kindling brewing too long.
Grady pulled Henley off Alex before things escalated to murder.
Seeing his chance, Shayne snagged Alex, lifting him off his feet while pinning his arms. The curse leaving Shayne’s lips had more to do with the massive pain shooting through his midsection than the situation.
Players were a hotheaded bunch. Any other bar fight would’ve landed most people a night in jail.
Luckily, Grady’s badge smoothed their exit.
It did nothing for the tempers of the two men they were muscling out the door.
“Bastard was trying to slip something into Ryker’s drink,” Henley spat the moment they hit the sidewalk outside.
It was possible he’d made the claim more than once, but Shayne was having a hard time hearing anything over the pulse pounding in his ears.
Even with Alex somewhat compliant with Shayne, he wasn’t making things easy.
When his vision darkened around the edges, Shayne realized he was in real danger of passing out due to his protesting ribs.
“Don’t be fucking stupid,” Alex shot back. “Ryker knows damn well I’d never pull something like that.”
It wasn’t until everyone’s head swiveled in Ryker’s direction that Shayne realized the man had followed them outside.
His closed expression didn’t bode well for Alex’s defense.
Rocking back on his heels, Ryker shoved his hands in his pockets as he eyed Alex in silence.
There wasn’t an ounce of emotion marring the man’s beautiful features.
Shayne wondered what it said about him that he was more concerned with checking out Lincoln’s reaction to being within touching distance of one of the world’s hottest men.
Lincoln stood shoulder to shoulder with Ryker.
His gaze never left Shayne’s face. The concern etched in the other man’s features somehow made Shayne feel guilty and ecstatic at the same time.
Shayne forced his eyes away, focusing on Grady instead.
The guy looked furious, making Shayne uneasy.
Grady was always the one in control. He was the level-headed one.
Right now, he was staring at Alex in a way that had Shayne stepping away from him in case Grady sprang.