“Fine,” he mumbled. “I’m just—”

“Ehlena, hand me the ammonia—”

“Whatsthatfor—” Blay’s vision went checkerboard.

All of a sudden, something that was the nostril equivalent of a sucker punch brought him back to attention. As his eyeballs came online, he got a close-up of Manny’s big hand and a cracked-open pill.

“Hit me with that again,” Blay stammered.

Annnnnnnnd whfff.

He stood straight up. “That’s magic.”

“Glad to be of service,” Manny said as he ditched the sinus slapper.

Over on the patient bed, Qhuinn held out his arms. “I’m waiting for a proper hello.”

Blay rushed across and dropped his mouth to his mate’s. The feel of soft, warm lips made his legs go unreliable again.

“What happened?” he repeated. “And how do you get that out?”

“I suggested I could just give it a pull,” Qhuinn muttered, “but I got shot down.”

Manny propped open the door with his hip. “Yeah, I mean, just because you have half a dozen critical structures and veins in that area, what the hell. Give it a yank. In a non-sterile environment with no backup. Suuuuuurrrrrre. What medical school did you go to?”

Qhuinn flipped the guy the bird.

The surgeon returned the favor. “And Blay, to answer your question, I am going to remove it in the OR. Ehlena’s prepping everything. Jane’s going to assist. We’re ten minutes out.”

“Why is he not bleeding to death?” Blay stared down at his mate. “Why are you not passing out from blood loss?”

“Do you want me to?” Qhuinn winked. “You could totally have your way with me then, you know.”

“You let me have my way with you anyhow.”

“This is true. On that note, how’s now sound?”

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Manny said dryly. “But we need to make sure the removal is done carefully and in a place where if something goes wrong, I can fix it. Now if you boys will excuse me, I’m going to scrub up.”

As the human left, Qhuinn reached for the front of Blay’s shirt and grabbed on in desperation.

“Should I call him back in?” Blay took that hand and cradled it between his own. “Do you need—”

“You’re looking good tonight—”

“What?”

The hand in his returned to the shirt—and released the top button. “You just look so good. And you smell nice. And I want to touch you…”

As Qhuinn licked his lips, those blue and green eyes started to twinkle in that way they did when things were taking a turn into naked territory.

“Qhuinn.”

“Yes?”

Blay pointed to the knife. “You’re not getting horny with that sticking into you.”

“You don’t think so? ’Cuz I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about that. And mmmm, sticking things into people.”