Chapter 20 Isaac #3
He slips into scrubs before wrapping Isaac in a towel and gently rubbing him dry. Soft terrycloth grazes sore nipples and sensitive skin, and every so often, Alpha presses the inside of his wrist there too, leaving an invisible claim.
When Isaac is dry enough, Alpha pulls scrubs over him with careful hands before turning to Elias, wrapping him in a towel, and scrubbing another through his hair until it fluffs around his face.
By the time they’re dressed, their ruined clothes sit in a heap at their feet, still carrying scents no amount of rinsing would hide.
There’s a basket lined with plastic for used scrubs in the corner, no doubt used to contain the scents of bodily fluids and emotion from passersby on the way to the hospital’s laundry room.
Isaac throws Elias’s jeans, shirt, and sweater into the bag and follows it with Alpha’s very expensive shirt and wool pants.
Hopefully, they can find someone to salvage them.
He tosses in the otter socks, pulls the bag out, and ties it in a knot at the top.
When he looks up, Alpha has a grin that makes his eyes crinkle. “Thanks. I really liked those socks. I’d hate to have to leave them behind.”
“Izzy’s really good at solving problems,” Elias volunteers, throwing on his sneakers. “Causing them too, but—”
“Hey! I am the epitome of restraint and forethought.” It’s actually quite true, given he restrains himself a lot of the time when he’s thought of all the interesting things he’d like to do. Just for Elias.
“I’ll look forward to seeing that in motion.”
“Alpha, our place is on the other side of the Park—we could go there? Or…” Elias offers.
Their place is a disaster, but no time like the present to let their Alpha see what he’s getting into.
Alpha freezes for a moment, like he hadn’t considered where they were going to go after this, and just the idea that he hadn’t thought about it is as concerning as where they could go.
“My apartment isn’t—” he shakes his head, frowning. “I don’t want to take you there. And I don’t think your place is good either. I don’t want to lead anyone to your den.”
“Who is going to be interested in our little place?” Isaac asks. He and Elias are about as uninteresting as it’s possible to get. He’s an accountant for Goddess’s sake.
There’s a loud commotion in the hallway, and the door opens. “It’s Dr. Merritt. I’m sorry, but I have to let the other staff in? The shift change is over and—”
The cubicle’s door squeaks when Alpha opens it. Hefting the bag in one hand, he scoops Isaac up under his knees in the other.
Isaac squeaks, locking his legs around him like a koala.
“Little Mouse, hang on to me, please. My wolf is—” Frosty winter scent flows out with an aggression that makes him whimper.
It’s meant to scare away anyone who gets too close, and it works.
By the time they take it out the door and down the hall, passing Dr. Merritt, several nurses and technicians have pulled the necklines of their soiled scrubs over their noses and turned their eyes away.
The nice doctor follows them back into an empty med bay, where Isaac expects to be put down. Instead, Alpha drops the bag so he can throw his other arm around Elias’s shoulders.
“Thank you for your time, Dr. Merritt. Is there anything I need to know for Isaac’s care?”
The doctor’s eyes go wide, but he hands Elias a bottle of pills and a handwritten note.
“Those are anti-anxiety meds. Just in case, I put a list of symptoms to watch for, and it includes some for each of you as well. I also included my personal cell number. I wouldn’t normally do that except, as Luca likes to remind me…we’re family.”
“Gideon is your mate?” Alpha looks surprised, and his wintery scent turns soft and then a little embarrassed. Isaac wonders why. “Well, then. Thank him for me. We should go.”
“I’ll tell him you said hello.” Dr. Merritt reaches into his pocket and hands Elias a set of metal keys and two cell phones. “I think you’ll need these. And please call or text if you have questions or concerns.”
“Thank you…” Alpha hesitates, nose pointed toward the waiting room. “Is the waiting room full? You mentioned another patient.”
“We cleared it out a few minutes ago. You can get out without any problems. Security is also on to make sure your visit here goes unnoticed.”
Alpha is surprised again, and his shoulders relax under Isaac’s arm. “Thank you, Doctor…Finn. I am in your debt.”
“No need for that. We’re family. I’d like to see Isaac in a week if you’re feeling up to it. I expect things will be fine, but—” He guides them to the ER exit and presses the red button to engage the security doors.
“Thank you. I’ll be here. Sorry for being a bother…” It occurs to Isaac that he is probably responsible for the doctor’s interesting evening, and that he’s still standing here long after his shift is over for him, especially since he’d had to work injured.
“Not a bother at all, Isaac. It’s my job, and one I really enjoy. I’m glad you feel better.”
“Bye!” Isaac waves as Alpha turns on his heel without any further niceties, exiting through the dim lighting of the ER. How they could get any work done with the lights so low is a mystery, but at least they aren’t hurting his sensitive eyes.
The air outside is cold on his bare feet, and it’s Elias’s warm hand on his ankle that sends ribbons of warmth up his calf, grounding him under the starry sky.
They stop beside a vintage car, nice enough to be in his in-laws’ showroom. “Holy crap, Eli. Your dad would love this car!”
Alpha chuckles. “So I hear. Elias, in the back or the front? Which is better?”
“I’ll take the backseat, so Isaac can see you drive for himself,” Elias adds with a lascivious waggle of his eyebrows to make his point.
Elias climbs in and puts the bag of clothing on the seat beside him.
By the time Isaac has been buckled in and Alpha has the heat on high, the engine is warmed up and rumbling under them.
The vibrations add to his low-level arousal that bursts into a low simmer when Alpha’s forearms flex as he shifts into gear and accelerates the car through a yellow light.
“Alpha, so hot,” Isaac purrs. What? It needs to be said. Aloud. And often.
“Connall,” Alpha murmurs with a shy half smile.
Oh. Alpha is giving Isaac his name. Like a gift. “You don’t like Alpha?”
“I love—” Connall’s cheeks flush. “But I’d also like to hear you both say my name, too.”
“Connall,” he and Elias say at the same time.
“Thank you,” he says with a shiver. Shifting gears, he turns away from the park toward the freeway. He’s driving like he has a destination in mind, and he’s lost in his thoughts.
After a few moments, Isaac feels Elias’s hand on the back of his neck from behind them, and it soothes the anxiety Isaac can feel creeping up in the quiet car. He’s never been one for silence, too worried about being alone with his thoughts, and Elias knows it.
It gives Isaac courage to reach out a hand and cover Connall’s hand on the gear shift.
“Where are we going?”
“My safe house, for now.” He says it like it’s a done deal. It’s surprising, then, when he asks, “If that’s okay?”
Something warms around Isaac’s heart, and when he feels a responding squeeze to his neck, he grins. “It’s perfect. Lead the way.”