“That doesn’t make us twins,” Doc said dryly.
“We’ve slept together, so I guess it’s for the best that we’re not.”
Doc snorted, the tension in his shoulders easing. He disappeared through the front door and, from the sounds he made, opened and shut his car trunk. Moments later, he was back with a massive first aid kit.
Ottis gaped. “Why is your kit so huge?”
The alpha coughed. “Some might even say it’s not big enough.”
“You didnotjust turn that into a sex joke.”
Doc’s eyes crinkled. “I serve as a medic on some of my friends’ rescue missions. This kit covers everything I might need in the field, for creatures of most sizes.”
It was completely unnecessary for two bullet graze wounds, but Ottis wasveryimpressed by the spread of supplies.
“It’s big enough for me,” he blurted.
The warmth in Doc’s voice soaked into Ottis’ bones. “I could tell by how wide your eyes went.”
“That’s because my eyes are bigger than my hole,” said Ottis’ mouth. “Ugh! Just... Ignore me. Please.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I would like to listen to you for as long as I can.”
“I’m never going to crawl out of my hole of shame,” Ottis moaned. “Which is totally not the hole in my ass.” Then Ottis looked down, and saw Doc’s still-bloody wound. His embarrassment faded. “Crap. Do you think... I could patch up your wound? It can’t be easy to reach your arm at that angle.”
Doc grinned behind his mask. “Of course.”
The shopping cart wheeled into the living room, its cargo basket lined with soft blankets. Ottis brightened.
“Hey, new friend! We haven’t had time for introductions yet, but we’ll get there soon. Right now, I need you to watch Marcie for a bit, yeah? You’re a great cart.”
The cart squeaked its wheels excitedly. When Ottis placed Marcie in its cargo basket, the cart carefully brought her around the living room, showing just a fraction of its usual excitement.
“You’re doing so great,” Ottis said.
The cart flipped its wheels happily.
Ottis looked back at Doc, who was smiling with his eyes.
“What do you think?” Doc said.
“I’m liking the cart. I think it was a good idea to bring it back.”
“Me too.” They grinned at each other. Then Doc peeled off his shirt in a glorious display of flexing muscles, and Ottis couldn’thelp staring. Doc reached over and gently shut Ottis’ mouth. “Up. Let’s rinse out these wounds in the bathroom.”
“Right.” Ottis got to his feet, feeling inadequate next to Doc, with how thin he was. Except Doc traced his knuckle up Ottis’ belly, rumbling low in his throat. “You like how I look,” Ottis said, surprised.
“Of course. I would like to taste every inch of you.”
That made Ottis feel so special, too.
Doc squeezed the back of Ottis’ neck. He herded Ottis to the nearest bathroom and made him hold out his arm under the shower, gently washing his wound with soap and water. Then he used the gentlest water pressure to rinse it clean.
Ottis did the same for him, his fingers careful on Doc’s raw flesh.
“You’re used to seeing wounds,” Doc murmured as he dried them off with clean paper towels.
Ottis shrugged. “When you have eight alpha brothers getting into scrapes and comparing wounds like they’re measuring dicks, it kind of becomes...”
