Parallel Fire by Deidre Knight

much about immortals, but I’m willing to bet you could use a few Band-Aids right now. I’ll be right back with my med kit.”
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    Gideon wiped the sweat and blood from his forehead. His lungs burned from breathing in all the ash and from the taxing battle. He couldn’t seem to get enough air. He briefly considered moving and started to push up to a standing position, but his body screamed in pain, so he decided instead to sit and wait for the doc. He was pissed at her for risking her pretty little neck, and he was damned impressed that she’d wade into battle with demons without a second thought. She was a red-headed Valkyrie, and a genius. Spraying the Keeper in the face with the extinguisher gave Gideon the edge he’d desperately needed to turn the battle. Even without the sword, the Keeper was an ass kicker. Only one thing bothered him. The Keeper shouldn’t have died. Not from a flank wound.
    Gideon had skewered the thing to help immobilize it, choosing the sweet spot: the nexus points of nerves that clustered on either flank of a demon. The thing’s hands blocked the neck, preventing beheading, but a shot to the sweet spot would result in momentary paralysis, giving him a chance to fell a killing blow. Except the strike finished the thing as effectively as beheading. It made no sense. And things that made no sense bothered him.
    He heard Meg’s approach as she muttered curses to herself. She carried a little black bag, like something a country doctor might have. She scowled at him and knelt by his side.
    â€œTake your jacket off, and your shirt.”
    He smiled and shrugged out of his leathers. “What ever you say, Doc.”
    â€œDon’t get too excited. This is a professional visit, not a social call.”
    The T-shirt was shredded and useless to him, so he pulled the tatters from his body. Meg might think this was a professional visit, but, judging by the way her pupils dilated and she licked her lips with that delicate pink tongue, he’d bet she was enjoying the view anyway. He felt a sharp stab of masculine pride. The doc liked him. He started grinning like an idiot, even though he felt like hell. “I have a small kit in the jacket pocket. I heal fast. That will help me heal faster if it’s applied to the wounds.”
    Wordlessly, she grabbed the jacket, removed the small, hard-shelled kit and opened it up. “Which one?”
    â€œThe cobalt-blue bottle.”
    She opened it and sniffed, then wrinkled her nose. “It smells like raw sewage. What’s it made of?”
    â€œThis and that.”
    â€œLet’s start with some cleaning. We can use this later.” She sealed it up, opened her own bag, and set up shop.
    Gideon watched as she ripped the seal off a small plastic tray, dropped in several gauze pads, and filled the tray with saline. Her movements were smooth, practiced, economical. He found himself both dreading and longing for her touch.
    â€œThis may hurt.” Much to his disappointment, she donned a pair of latex gloves. “I want to clean the wound on your head first.”
    She repositioned, leaning over him so she could better assess the wound. It gave him a spectacular view of her breasts and brought her body so close she ignited him with a slow, dangerous flame. She touched his forehead lightly, and her lips formed a slight, delectable pout. “The blood flow appears to have stopped. Amazing.”
    If he straightened just a bit, moved an inch or so to the right, he could capture those juicy lips and kiss away any frowns. “You have no idea.”
    She changed gears and moved back on her heels so she could give his chest and abdomen a better look. Her hand feathered across his bare skin and he shivered at her touch.
    The corners of her lips tilted up. “You’re ticklish?”
    â€œWhat can I say, Doc. You have the touch.”
    She colored slightly and turned away, keeping her eyes