The Patient Is a Shark [Shape-Shifter Clinic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

By the time Wynter arrived, dressed, he was sipping his second cup of coffee and Rainer was wiping gravy off his own plate with a piece of sourdough bread.

“I’m sorry to hold you up. I wish I’d thought to leave one of my plates in the car, then I could have taken the food with me to eat as we traveled,” Wynter apologized.

“You may not have thought of that, but the chef did.” Rainer held up some paper plates and polystyrene coffee cups.

“Oh good.” Wynter filled a plate for herself and poured coffee into a to-go cup, while Quinn made himself a third cup of coffee and Rainer served himself more food and coffee.

Quinn looked at the food still remaining on the platters. “Wynter, are you sure that’s enough for you? There’s more left.”

She seemed undecided then took another scoop of mushrooms and another hash brown.
Aha. She is hungry and has been trying to save money by not eating. I thought that.

Wynter took one of the paper napkins and a pen from her purse and wrote,
Thank you so much for your kindness and provision for me. I am most grateful. Wynter Hall.

Quinn nodded. “They’ve been a wonderful help. Let’s go.”

Rainer insisted on holding Wynter’s breakfast as well as his own second course, and Quinn hurried ahead to open the car doors for them. Five minutes later they were saying thank-you and good-bye at the gate into the intercom there and then were driving back toward the highway and St. Louis.

* * * *

Quinn had listened carefully as Rainer had encouraged Wynter to tell him about her childhood, and they’d both talked a little about their own. As he’d spoken, Rainer had also hinted that he was part of the BDSM world, as a sub. Quinn was curious to know whether Wynter knew anything about BDSM. He waited until the road was clear, with very little traffic, so he could watch her face in the rearview mirror as he spoke.

“Have you ever been to a BDSM club, Wynter?” he asked her.

He was pleased to see the faintest of blushes cross her pale cheeks.

“Actually I went to a bachelorette party that was at a BDSM club. There were a couple male strippers. A Domme tied one up and whipped him while the other one gave the bride-to-be a lap dance. It was—interesting.”

“Interesting how?” asked Rainer, the very question Quinn wanted answered. Rainer had been a wonderful help and companion the past few days. The man was very perceptive and seemed to know what to do and say instinctively in every circumstance, which was a tribute to his character and personality.

He flicked his gaze up to the mirror just in time to see her rest her head back against her pillow. She appeared to be thinking. He liked that. He liked the idea she was prepared to dig deep into the question and answer it fully and carefully instead of just giving a meaningless answer off the top of her head.

“I think, for some people, pain is freeing. It sets their spirit free to explore different ways of thinking and being. As people we’re all very different with our own wants and desires and needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to happiness. No magic set of circumstances that make everyone content.”

“And what would make you content?” Quinn asked softly.

“Until I hurt my knee I was content. I had the beach, and a job that paid enough for my needs, which were pretty simple. Right now I can’t wait until my leg is healed again. But I can see that a measured amount of pain might be kind of fun. Certainly that was the consensus of opinion at the bachelorette party.”

“Did you wish you were being tied up and whipped?” asked Quinn, watching her face again.

“I wouldn’t mind trying it with someone I trusted. Not now, but after I’m healed. It certainly added to the sex last night when you held my hands so I couldn’t touch either of you. That really did enhance the experience. It really made me focus on what you were both doing to me.”

Ah, so she did like that. Good.

“Rainer, what would be your ideal BDSM scene. Let’s pretend I was going to make a scene with you and Wynter. What would you want?”

“Wynter naked for a start.”

“And both of you men naked as well.”

Quinn kept his attention on the road while they all laughed. They were on the Interstate, and since it was still early and they were not near a town, the traffic wasn’t heavy and was moving fast. But today’s drive was a hell of a long one, and he needed to ensure he did not get snarled in traffic or blocked in behind some of the huge trucks. Although most of the trucks were traveling quite fast. Once they approached a hill, that’d all change though, so he needed to be constantly checking as far as a mile ahead to ensure he was in the correct lane at all times.

“Seriously, Rainer, tell me what you and Wynter might like.”

Again Quinn watched as Rainer slid his cell phone into the top pocket of his shirt. As well as constantly watching over Wynter, Rainer took his role as navigator seriously, too, constantly checking the traffic updates to warn him of any potential problems. Mostly they took the bypass roads around any big towns, but they needed to be aware of problems in case there were issues that would impact their journey, and it was Rainer who maintained watch on the road news updates. Quinn was impressed by the man. The more he knew of him the more he understood what a genuinely nice person he was through and through.

“Okay. Let me think. Handcuffs of course.”

“Fluffy pink ones,” teased Wynter.

Quinn was watching the road again but sensed Rainer turn in his seat so he could see Wynter better.

“For you, of course. I’ll go for a more masculine denim-blue padding on mine.”

Quinn couldn’t help smiling. He concentrated on driving but listened as the two people he was hoping to make his subs planned out a scene. From time to time it was wild and crazy, but they were laughing and happy, and that was so important for Wynter, to take her mind off her pain.

Finally Rainer said, “Right so we have me chained to the ceiling of the room, naked, and Quinn is whipping me with an eighteen-strand flogger. You’re lying on the bed, cuffed hand and foot—”

“—with fluffy pink fur cuffs,” interjected Wynter.

“Yes, with fluffy pink fur cuffs, and you’re naked except for the strawberry edible body paint we’ve smeared all over you and which we’re about to lick off.”

“And then you both fuck me,” Wynter finished.

“Have you ever been fucked by two men at once, Wynter? One in your cunt and one in your ass?” asked Quinn, flicking his gaze back to the rearview mirror to watch her reply.

This time her flush was much darker, and she smiled.

“No, but it’s something I hope you’ll both do. Maybe even tonight.”

“Tonight?” Rainer’s voice was filled with lust.

“If you were on your side, so there wasn’t too much pressure on your knee, maybe we could,” said Quinn.

“I wouldn’t mind some extra pain from the knee, for that.” Wynter’s voice was just above a whisper.

Rainer cleared his throat and said, “I could give you a few extra pain pills, but are you sure that’s what you want? I mean, I want it, but—”

Wynter sat up straighter and leaned forward. “Quinn, Rainer, I don’t know why but I’m drawn to you both. I want you both so much every minute of the day. It’s all I can think of. Maybe it’s because we’re together in a car for a long journey. Maybe it’s because I find your scents so enticing, so memorable, special, different. I don’t know. But I do want you, very much, and I’ll look forward to you both taking me tonight. That is…if you both want to.”

“I want to. Wynter, I care for you more than I could ever have imagined I would care for someone I’ve known less than a week.” Rainer leaned over the seat and held out his hand to Wynter.

Quinn kept his head facing the road so wasn’t sure what they did, maybe just touched hands or something, but the emotion was thick in the car, and he knew both of them were sincere. The lust was so strong his cock was trying to drill its way out of his jeans. He wiggled a little in his seat, spreading his legs wider apart, but it didn’t seem to help. He wanted to fuck Wynter, too. They had to be so careful of her, but she was so patient and strong mentally he couldn’t help but admire her. And she was damn sexy as well.

* * * *

Everyone was quiet for a long while after that. Rainer had the hard-on from hell. He’d loosened his jeans and tried to give his equipment more space by opening his legs, but all his cock wanted to do was get inside Wynter. She was so sweet. Inside she was tough and feisty, facing pain and difficulty with a deeply mature attitude. He longed to hold her and make the pain go away so she could be happy again.

The thought of double fucking her with Quinn was almost enough to make him come. Oh, how good would that be, the two of them working together to give her the best orgasm of her life. And likely the best orgasm of his life, too, as a bonus side effect.

By the time they stopped for gas, he was hungry again. “Shall I find us a snack in the cool packs or picnic basket while you’re getting gas?” he suggested.

“Why not put them in the backseat with me, and I can get us some food while we keep going. It’ll save time,” suggested Wynter.

“Won’t you be too crowded with them there with you?” Rainer worried that she’d be in even more pain than she was already. She was so uncomplaining, but he knew her leg hurt her all the time even with the pills he was giving her.

“I can sit in my seat properly while I sort out the food, then put the containers on the floor and lie down again after we’ve eaten.”

“If you’re sure.” But he would watch to check she wasn’t putting too much stress on that knee.

He watched her walk to the ladies room. She was so brave, moving slowly, her body absolutely upright, but he knew how much it must be hurting her. As soon as Quinn got back from paying for the gas, he hurried into the men’s room himself and followed Wynter back to the car, hurrying so as not to hold them up. Quinn had already set the cool packs and picnic basket on one side of the backseat, leaving her space to sit with her leg stretched out. There was just enough room for her to slide between the basket and the cool packs.

“Oh, well done,” he said. Quinn grinned and closed the door behind her. Rainer jumped in the car quickly and pulled out his cell phone. There were no turnoffs for hours yet, but he checked the traffic website to make sure there was no construction or anything on the next part of the route. “The road’s all clear. No construction or road closures,” he said.

“Good.”

“Oh, wow, there’s enough food for an army here.”

“Good. I’m starving,” said Rainer. It seemed like forever since they’d eaten breakfast, even though it was only a bit over four hours.

Rainer turned in his seat to watch Wynter delving into the containers, unwrapping foil parcels and generally having fun. That was good. He was hungry enough to eat just about anything, but she was obviously enjoying choosing their snacks for them, so that was great.

Finally a paper plate was handed to him with a cold cooked chicken drumstick, a slice of cold meatloaf, and a scoop each of potato salad and coleslaw. A cob of corn completed the meal. “You’re right. It’s a feast. I’ll feed this one to Quinn and keep the next one for myself.”

“Rainer, tell me about where you grew up. You both know I’ve lived up and down the coast, and I know Quinn has a farm, what about you?”

Rainer handed Quinn a forkful of potato salad and said, “Typical Middle America and therefore completely boring, I’m afraid. My dad worked in an office and Mom was a teacher’s aide in an elementary school. She deliberately chose the job so she could be around for my sister and me before and after school and on school vacations. I didn’t want to spend years and years at college, so I worked a few different jobs before training as a personal care attendant. When I saw the advertisement for the shape-shifter clinic, it sounded like such a wonderful idea that I wanted to be part of it. I can’t imagine anything better than shifters being treated by a doctor who truly understands them.”

“And now someone is trying to stop that,” said Wynter.

“Oscar’s cousin George. I don’t understand what’s wrong with the man. When their grandparents died he was given the shares and money and Oscar got the property, but he seems determined to take the clinic away from Oscar,” said Quinn.

“Maybe there was no money left in the investments?” Wynter suggested.

Rainer shook his head. “No, Oscar had that checked, and although he can’t know for sure George didn’t blow it all on gambling or something, there was plenty of money there at the time they inherited. I think it’s likely spite. He wants it all.”

Rainer just didn’t understand George. At times it seemed the man was almost insane, threatening them. Somehow he’d circumvented the wolves’ security and found out Wynter was going to the clinic. How did that happen? It’s not like she’d made a big deal about it.

“Wynter, did you tell people you were coming to Thorne House Clinic? How did George know about it?”

“That’s just it. I didn’t tell anyone the name of the clinic. I don’t live with a community of shape-shifters, and no one knows I’m a shark. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you say to a casual acquaintance!”

“The wolves seemed pretty upset someone had found out,” said Quinn.