Polar’s back. The statement carried both amusement and a hint of excitement.

No shit, Sherlock. TJ answered his inner beast with a snippy retort, but he couldn’t help it. Just the scent of Donovan had immediate and undeniable effects on his body. His cock rapidly hardened, blood heated and pulsed in his body, and he couldn’t shake the delicious scent of the other bear from his olfactory senses. TJ’s pulse picked up speed and his mouth dried up, causing him to lick his lips.

Hell, just standing on the other side of the door from Donovan was enough to drive him to the brink of demanding lust.

He’d almost lost it the day before when he’d run into Donovan in the hardware store. The quick interlude just about snapped all of TJ’s iron clad control. The aroma had turned his bear into a raving lunatic with sex on his mind. As it was, he had to struggle to keep from trailing Donovan to the back of the store, climbing into one of the erected tents, and taking them both on a rough ride to paradise. Only the thought of voyeurs and a potential arrest stayed his hand. Well, that and the obvious gossip mill that would follow, bombarding him with questions day in and day out about such outlandish behavior for a physician.

He’d hurried out of there as if a posse were on his tail. Shame followed. He’d sunk to the level of running because he could no longer trust himself near the other shifter. A pretty damn pitiful excuse of a man he’d become.

If he were completely honest with himself, a small part of him was glad to see Donovan. Under other circumstances, he’d probably enjoy hanging out with Donovan now and again, though he doubted that would ever happen. His hunger was too immense, too consuming. And, the level hadn’t budged a single iota in the past few days.

He grappled with his raging libido once again, forcing himself into a calm state. After all, he was a doctor. Treating a patient. Nothing more than that.

Yeah, right.

Shut the fuck up.

TJ snatched the clipboard off the exam room door, read the name, and blew out a deep sigh. He scanned the notes on the paper and shook his head. Holy crap. Again? He collected himself and pushed through the swinging door. One glance at Donovan and his breath caught. Not just because of the handsome male shifter in his prime sitting on the exam table in nothing but a pair of shorts, but because he had several large, reddened areas over his body. They were swollen. A few hives added into the mix, making him look like an oversized partially ripened tomato after a particularly bad hail storm.

“What the hell happened to you?”

Donovan turned to meet his gaze.

TJ noticed the spot on his cheek which had caused enough puffiness to close part of his eye.

“Wasp attack.”

TJ’s mouth fell open. “Hiking?”

“No. Mowing the yard.”

TJ shook his head. He’d almost accuse Donovan of getting into trouble just to have an excuse to come in and torture him, but that didn’t seem to be the bear shifter’s way. Most likely he was an accident waiting to happen and living in the city all his years hadn’t prepared him in the least for the hazards of rural life. “Did you finish the steroids I gave you?”

Donovan nodded. “Two days ago.”

TJ narrowed his eyes, taking in the battered state of Donovan’s skin. “You’re a walking mess.”

Donovan’s shoulders dropped. “Yeah, tell me something I don’t already know.” He rubbed at a splotch on his knee.

“Stop scratching already.”