A Wolf in Hiding - Charlie Richards Page 0,20

tipped the other into Elroy’s mouth while sliding his free hand under his shoulders. He lifted a little, making it easy for Elroy to take a swallow of water.

His bladder ached.

Quickly holding out the water, Elroy murmured, “Let’s do this.”

Nodding, Dermot took the glass and set it aside. “Relax as best as you can.”

Elroy opened his mouth, then squeaked.

Dermot had slid his second arm under his thighs and lifted him into his arms.

As soon as Elroy’s left leg swing from the pillow, a spike of pain speared up it. He hissed and bowed his head. His cast bumped into Dermot’s side, and he groaned through gritted teeth. Black spots danced across his vision, and he breathed noisily, fighting them back.

“Shit, baby. I’m so sorry,” Dermot murmured, his tone full of self-deprecation. “So stupid of me. I should have picked you up from the other side. Goddamnit!”

“S’okay,” Elroy tried to say, but he wasn’t certain Dermot could even understand him.

“Almost there,” Dermot encouraged. “Two more steps.” Then he asked, “Can you put the seat down?”

Through hazy vision, Elroy saw they’d made it to the bathroom, and Dermot was crouching beside the toilet. He lifted a trembling hand. Shock filled him at how rung out he felt just from that short trip.

“Never mind,” Dermot countered. “I can do it.”

Dermot straightened, leaned against the counter, and lifted his right leg. Using that knee, he knocked the toilet seat down. Then he carefully deposited Elroy upon it.

Groaning, Elroy didn’t even wait until Dermot had left. He released the clench he’d had on his bladder and let go. Even with the pain coursing up his leg, he still sighed with relief.

When the damp towel swiped across Elroy’s forehead, he almost jolted off the toilet.

Dermot’s hand on his shoulder steadied him, and Elroy felt the cloth again. “Easy, baby,” his lover murmured. “You’re okay. You’ll be okay.”

Elroy peeled open eyelids he hadn’t even realized he’d closed. “I’m still peeing,” he whispered, because he was, and he felt more than a little uncomfortable.

“And I’m taking care of my mate,” Dermot countered, massaging his shoulder with one hand while wiping the sweat from Elroy’s brow with the cloth. “That took a lot more out of you than we thought it would.”

Closing his eyes again, Elroy sighed deeply. His urine stream dwindled and stopped. He relaxed, realizing it was a damn intimate moment with his lover.

God, I have a lover again. One who will never leave me.

Elroy smiled.

“Feeling better?” Dermot asked softly.

“Yeah,” Elroy whispered back, not wanting to break the moment. Except, then his stomach grumbled.

Dermot chuckled. “Sounds like I should feed you.”

Peering up at Dermot, Elroy asked, “Mind if I brush my teeth first?” He furrowed his brows as he added, “Maybe I’ll just sit here until the painkiller kicks in.”

Nodding, Dermot agreed. “That’s a good idea. I’ll start breakfast. When you’re ready to brush your teeth, I’ll give you a bowl of water and a toothbrush.”

“You have spares up here?” For some reason, Elroy found that…surprising.

Dermot shook his head. “Nope. When Alpha Declan shared the news with my pack’s inner circle that I’d found my mate and he was here and injured, they picked up some necessities for you and brought them out.”

“Huh. Nice of them.”

Leaning down, Dermot pecked a too-short, too-soft kiss to Elroy’s lips before telling him, “We take care of our own.” Then he kissed him again, licking and nipping at his lips and tongue. “Just relax a minute and call me when you’re ready.”

Elroy nodded.

Dermot left.

For a few minutes, Elroy just sat and let his mind drift. He thought about how his life had changed. He wondered why he’d accepted everything—and Dermot—so swiftly.

Elroy had never believed in love at first sight, but that was what this had felt like. He’d had a head-over-heels crush on Dermot the second he’d seen him in the courthouse hall. That had been almost three months before Dermot had faked his death eight months ago. Learning of his death had gutted him, even though he’d never met him.

Then Kyle had accused Elroy of cheating with the man. While he’d denied it, which was the truth, he still hadn’t been able to stop himself from mourning the man. So Kyle hadn’t believed him, had stepped out himself, and they’d broken up.

Until the prior evening, Elroy hadn’t been with anyone else.

Was I unconsciously saving myself for my soulmate who was alive and waiting?

Elroy had never believed in such things before, but now that he knew paranormals existed, maybe Fate and