Page 9

Ellie

I’d felt a bit pathetic letting Tommy smooth-talk his way into my condo after how we’d last left things. Honestly, it was the frustrating day dealing with bullshit and I was just horny.

And Tommy was really, really good at sex.

I basically told him that it was enough with running his mouth about his sexcapades.

Everyone was over it, and if he didn’t stop being stupid, he’d be out.

He was shocked that I was so blunt about it, but I was honest and that I was pissed that he said he cared for me, we’d been fucking for years , and he was making all of these headaches for me.

“I won’t be on your side of this, Tommy, nor clean up this mess.

Not when you thought you were doing it all behind my back.

So stop. Turn over a new leaf.” I sighed when he seemed horrified at the suggestion.

“Not being a slut. Shut your mouth , idiot. That’s why they’re all upset.

Start apologizing and shut your damn mouth at the hospital. ”

“Yeah, okay, I guess poker nights with my friends will be enough, and sneaking around can be sexy,” he grumbled with a pout.

I had got up to show him the door. I really had, but again… He was really good, in bed. And I just needed good sex. I honestly wanted more, but he was tired so when I could feel my legs again, I threw on a bra and escorted him out.

“Always the rule follower,” he teased, before giving me a quick kiss.

“Someone should be,” I threw right back.

The elevator opened right by the security desk and lobby, so that was really all I had to do.

I gave a quick wave to the guards and then pushed the button for my floor once Tommy stepped off.

I cursed when the elevator didn’t go right up, of course getting caught by someone else in my robe all sexed up.

And got the shock of my life as Dr. Clark was standing there shirtless, dripping with sweat, and bug-wide eyes as he recognized me.

It was like a damn drama scene that the door started to close again and we’d just stood there frozen, but then his hand shot out and caught the door at the last second. I barely registered what he said. Still hungry for fun and a bit more as my fangs itched to come out.

I was mortified at that more than him catching me dressed like this and clearly just having had sex. A shifter would absolutely be able to scent my current state.

And he was standing next to me like the most delicious meal I would never forget. Seriously, his body was glorious .

He looked mostly Korean with some softened features since his dad was British.

He was taller though, with broader shoulders.

Part of that was just being an Alpha wolf, but seeing his shirtless body was…

Words weren’t enough. Every muscle was defined.

Every dip was perfect, and the sweat running down his skin—I just wanted to taste it.

I mentally smacked myself, but then he gave me permission to use his first name since we were going to be neighbors.

I met his stunning bright blue eyes and for a moment wondered if he wanted me to say it while moaning and under him.

There was such heat in his eyes that—did he want to come upstairs with me too?

No, a wolf especially would care that I’d just been with another man. But they were predators and liked competition, right?

I shook out of my thoughts once the elevator door closed and I was alone.

But Dr. Clark didn’t leave me alone… At least in my dreams. That night all I saw was him and everything that we should never do as colleagues and if I wanted to keep my life peaceful.

I woke restless and hornier than before Tommy came over. I groaned. Now wasn’t the time to build up his ego by asking him to come around more.

The text from Joyce Monday morning asking for more trail mix with cute GIFs helped my mood. I grabbed a huge bag on my way out the door and brought it to her later when I had a break in my schedule.

“You’re a bit too addicted,” I teased her as I walked into her office after knocking.

“Not my fault this time,” she drawled and pointed to her right… To where Dr. Clark was standing. “I blinked and he gobbled my whole jar.”

“You make that trail mix, Ms. Reed?” he asked as he studied me. “It’s delicious. I’ve never had such a combination and—most trail mix is too healthy and not fun or too salty for me.”

“Which is why I make my own,” I admitted as I set a gallon-size Ziploc bag on Joyce’s desk. “I’ll add you to the list if you keep hooking me up with that kimchi. It’s perfect and authentic and really been hitting the spot.”

He nodded, giving me a too cute grin. “Mum always says that all containers are refillable as long as returned. I swear that’s the only way Mum hates people. She says those who are so cheap to steal containers aren’t redeemable.”

I laughed. She was like an Asian auntie I’d known when I’d been young and fled my family. “That sounds about right, and your mother is a gem. I’ll return the containers washed to you and with your own bag of trail mix. Don’t take Dr. Tai’s. She needs it since it’s the only way she eats some days.”

He frowned. “Yeah, I had to drag her down to the cafeteria—which is amazing by the way. I didn’t know hospital food could actually be good.”

“It’s because Ellie’s amazing,” Joyce bragged for me. “She changed it to be a set menu each meal to save money instead of a huge list of what we could order. That money goes into paying better chefs and—”

“Code 17 orange level,” the PA system announced. “All department heads meet at the emergency services conference room immediately. Code 17 orange level. All overtime approved and additional personnel requested.”

I was out the door before the announcement even finished. I had to yell at a few people to move out of my way as I was already on my phone.

“What’s the word, Ellie?” Dr. Alan Carpenter asked me as I reached the conference room. He was one of the few who could get away with talking to me like that.

Mostly because he’d been with me every step of the way making this hospital what it was.

“Earthquake hit in Asia. Not too bad but a heavily populated area and we have the most blood. The president gave permission to use us as their trauma center,” I told everyone gathered.

“And he’ll win big political points for it,” someone drawled.

Yes, of course, but Asia had been there for the US a lot over the years and this was how things should work.

“The administration is sending warlocks to open portals on both sides and military personnel to help EMTs and triage,” I continued. “I asked for anyone they could spare here to be lackeys. We can always use more runners to get more supplies from storage—the normal deal.”

“Did the president grant it?” he asked, knowing that had been a problem in the past.

“Yes, he’s seen the error of his ways,” I drawled. I glanced around the room. “Call in whoever you can. Get your schedules to the administrators’ offices. I want the next five days of non-pressing appointments rescheduled just to be safe.”

“I know it’s not normal, but I want Dr. Clark assessing any shifters coming in that they’re safe to be in the building,” Dr. James interjected, shocking all of us.

“I’ll explain his specialty more later, but our biggest problem the last trauma situation like this was too many shifters changing forms in the ER or surgical ward. ”

Dr. Carpenter and I shared a look, both of us vampires. It had been a problem last time for sure, but it always was. If there was a way to reduce that... I nodded. “If you think that’s the best use of his skills, do it.”

Everyone jumped to it, and I went to the main trauma entrance right as military vehicles appeared. I introduced myself and made it clear that I was the general on our side, so they needed to make sure to check anything with me.

The guy with the highest rank nodded. “The president was clear that you’re the boss, Ms. Reed. We’re not here for a pissing match but to complete the mission. Tell us how we can help and we’ll do it.”

“I want your best trained to be in charge of securing the portals. Last time, we had some problems sneak through and think this was a great way to get into North America,” I explained. “And my people are not trained for that, nor do I want them to deal with it.”

“The president was concerned as well which is why he only allowed this if our people were triaging on the other side,” he assured me.

“I knew there was a reason I voted for that man,” I said, relief filling me. “We also need runners. I can send them with the right people to get more of everything out of storage, but the campus is huge. So whoever you can spare that doesn’t mind taking orders from paper pushers and even janitors.”

“As long as you feed us along the way and they know where the bathroom is, my people behave well, Ms. Reed.”

Even better.

“We’ll handle the food,” I promised. “We have protocols for all of that.”

I could feel the powerful warlocks arrive which was when I fell into the background a bit. Dr. Carpenter arrived just in time to take over and work with them. The trauma bay was still getting ready to receive when we ran out of time. The moment the portal was opened, we had patients coming through.

I heard the PA announce that the portal was open and everyone basically needed to brace for impact. Dr. Clark arrived and accepted his role from Dr. Carpenter. The first trauma teams came out to receive and I caught a glance from Tommy.

“We called in everyone. Most already heard the news and were changing their days or heading right back,” he assured me.

“Thanks.”

Emergency services on the other side of the portal seemed to really have their act together too because most of what came through was ready to go right into trauma bays. Nothing was minor or anything that couldn’t be handled in the field for later.