Arrow Inferno
Chapter 126: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… The calm before the storm!

***

Ryan heard them before they entered the Villa. He heard Deloris' laughter and wanted to go meet her but didn't want a repeat of what had transpired with Stan so he stayed put. When the door eventually swung open, Jeremy entered first, followed by Deloris, and then the rest. Ryan simply stared from his perch on the windowsill. He noticed that Dr. Sanders sniffed the air tentatively before stepping fully inside.

"Ryan..." The Deloris opened her arms with a delighted grin. "Come here, baby. We won't bite."

"Speak for yourself." Stan drawled, earning himself an elbow from Jeremy. "Ouch." But he didn't even flinch. His amused gaze remained on Ryan.

"You must be enjoying it here." Deloris drew a grinning Ryan into a warm motherly hug. "You look great."

"I'm enjoying it very much." Ryan sighed, hugging her back. "I've missed you."

"Same darling. Same." She gushed. "Everyone says hi. Your mother says to tell you she's missed you and needs to hear your voice more." Deloris added with a frown and then laughed at the guilty look that passed across Ryan's face. "I'll call her," Ryan promised as he stepped back to shake Dr. Sanders' outstretched hand. He dipped his head respectfully at Mama Cora and said hello to Michelle. "Please use the room to the left." Ryan directed.

As the doctor and his nurse moved to the designated room and everyone else made themselves comfortable in the plush couches, Stan approached Ryan.

"Hey." He said softly.

"Hey." Ryan looked wary.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Stan said quietly. "Can I please get that hug now?"

"Sure you're not going to freak out?" Ryan muttered.

"Trust me...you would have known by now if I was going to." Stan gave the most roughish grin and then reached out to draw Ryan into his arms. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Then he was picking Ryan off his feet and swinging him around to delighted laughter from his friend's mate.

"Hey dickhead, put him down before you make him dizzy." Jeremy gave a mock growl which got drowned in Ryan's laughter.

"You have the most jealous mate." Stan chuckled as he finally set Ryan down and flopped into the seat beside Jeremy. "Here..." Jeremy patted his thigh, indicating that Ryan come sit on his lap. But his mate shook his head.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Ryan said but the longing in his eyes showed how badly he wanted to do exactly what his mate had asked. "I'll sit right here." He sighed, sitting beside Deloris. The way Jeremy looked insanely hot in those jeans and clingy V-neck t-shirt, Ryan didn't think he could get that close to him and not jump his bones.

"So...tell me what's been going on here Ryan?" Stan asked but then quickly shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no don't. I don't wanna know. Why don't I rather tell you guys what's been going on back home since y'all left on that motor..." Ryan's face heated up so fast Stan trailed off. "Well, well, well...pretty telling colouring I must say..."

"Stan..." Jeremy growled warningly but couldn't suppress his own telling smile. His eyes locked with Ryan's. And the heat in Ryan's eyes as he watched him watching him sent a delicious tingle up the alpha's spine.

Stan didn't miss the heated look that passed between his friend and his mate. With a smirk, he changed the subject. "Okay, so I've finally decided to grant Admiral Mathias his wish. The man has been bugging me for years. I've agreed to train his new recruits. I'm to train them with one Lieutenant Commander Ty Wesley, who is the youngest Lieutenant Commander in the history of this country."

"The youngest huh?" Jeremy chuckled. "He must be badass."

"Oh, he is." Stan grinned, deliberately flashing his unnaturally long canine teeth. "I asked for a dossier on him so I've read all about him. He's good. He had better not show me attitude though. 'Cause if he does, I'm going to have a great time breaking every bone in his body and ending his career."

"Aw come on, you two are supposed to be working together as trainers, not enemies." Jeremy laughed. "I don't think he'll give you attitude."

"Just saying." Stan chuckled. "Phillip and I met with..."

**

Ryan tuned out Stan's voice. He was sitting beside Deloris who was listening to what Stan was saying. Ryan watched as his hands, which were in his lap, shook. It was almost as if he was an addict having withdrawal symptoms. Jeremy was right...something was definitely not right. He'd told himself whilst he showered and ate that he was going to exercise some control and endure whatever examination that Dr. Sanders wanted to conduct. Jeremy had explained that he'd only asked Mama Cora and Deloris to be around as backup because of the nature of his powers. If during the examination, things overwhelmed Sanders, the other two could step in and hopefully save the day.

That was thoughtful of his mate, Ryan couldn't help but think. His only problem was that he wanted his mate like never before. He needed to have sex. And the urge was getting stronger by the minute. Maybe it was because they hadn't had sex since he'd woken up that morning. Ryan tried to distract himself with other thoughts but he just couldn't seem to reel himself in. What made it even more difficult was the fact that Deloris, who he respected massively, was sitting right beside him. Mama Cora was also a respected old lady in the Pack. Ryan really couldn't go getting all slutty with his mate as he was dying to, in the presence of those two.

"Hey, are you okay?" Deloris reached out to cover Ryan's trembling hands with hers.

"Want the truth?" A soft whimper escaped Ryan as need slithered through his veins.

"Nothing but." Deloris looked closely at Ryan and gasped at the clear struggle going on inside those intense green eyes. Ryan was definitely not alright. Even his skin felt hot to the touch, almost as if he had a fever. "Ryan?" "I'm..." Ryan took deep breaths and leaned the back of his head against the headrest of the couch. "I'm not okay." He whispered shakily.

"We're ready, Alpha." Dr. Sanders said from the doorway to the room the examination was to be conducted.

"Look at me, Ryan," Deloris demanded, ignoring Jeremy who had moved to where they sat to crouch before Ryan. She waited till Ryan opened eyes glazed with hunger to focus on her. "Now breathe." The warlock held Ryan's hands between hers and began to recite some words silently.

In no time at all, Ryan began to feel some warmth spreading through him. With it came a sense of calm. Suddenly the urge to have sex wasn't so bad. He still wanted Jeremy but it didn't feel as if he'd die if he didn't have him right then as it had felt like earlier.

"Better?" Deloris asked when she felt Ryan's erratic breathing even out.

"Yes. Thanks." He grinned and leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. Then he stood up and turned to Jeremy who'd also gotten to his feet. "Coming?"

"No." Dr. Sanders said quickly. "I'd rather the alpha stays here. I'll let you know if I need you." He told a scowling Jeremy.

Jeremy couldn't stifle his growl. "If you think I'm staying away from my mate, you have another thing coming, Sanders."

"It's not the best time to be by his side, Jeremy," Deloris said softly. "Sanders won't get an accurate reading. I'll be with him. And I'll call you when it's necessary."

"And at what point would you say it's necessary?" Jeremy rasped, wrapping his arms around an amused Ryan.

"I will know when it is." Deloris smiled as she watched Jeremy kiss Ryan right in front of them. "In fact, why don't the two of you go somewhere and leave us to work?" She looked at Stan conspiratorially.

"Go where?" Stan asked with mock innocence, making Deloris roll her eyes.

"Anywhere but here." She responded dryly. "Go for a walk, a run, or better still, take the chopper for a spin or something."

"Go," Ryan whispered to Jeremy amidst kisses. "I'll be fine."

"Call me when you need me," Jeremy whispered against Ryan's moist lips.

"Come on Alpha." Mama Cora grunted. "With the way we all know he's feeling, he'll be summoning you in the next sixty seconds." She drawled, making Ryan blush. "Wait for Deloris' signal and not your mate's. The doctor can only do his job if you cooperate."

"Alright." Jeremy agreed reluctantly, kissing Ryan one last time. He waited till Ryan and Deloris entered the room where the examination was to take place before turning to Stan.

"Come on buddy." It was obvious the alpha was glad to have his friend around. "So what is it going to be?"

"How about a walk?"