Chapter 7 #2
We pull into a large roundabout in front of a mansion that brings to mind the word obscene.
It’s absolutely massive, with two wings jutting out from a central structure.
It’s not tacky, though—there are pretty little shrubs and rose bushes in front, carefully trimmed hedges.
He does like things a certain way, doesn’t he? Everything has to be in its place.
So, where the hell do I fit into all of this?
I don’t have to wait long to find out. The driver opens the back door and holds out a hand to me, which I take as a signal to climb out.
Once that’s done, he leads me through the front door and into an entryway with an enormous iron chandelier in the center.
The floors here are marble, polished until they shine, almost slippery as I trot behind the man whose name I never learned.
Not that it matters. It’s not like I want to see him again.
He leads me up a sweeping staircase that curves in a semicircular shape, then down a long hallway. There are so many rooms. I wonder how many people live here. My entire apartment could fit into the entryway, easy.
At the end of the hall, there’s a pair of closed doors set in a wood-paneled wall.
It’s all very masculine, for sure, but also warm.
Almost comforting. I wouldn’t have expected that.
The few times I’ve imagined Lucian’s life outside of the club, I always pictured him in some cold, soulless penthouse suite.
“Come in,” Lucian calls out when the man knocks on the door. Just the sound of his voice brings everything flooding back, our entire last encounter. My confusion, shame, fear.
The driver steps aside to let me into the room, which I can tell at a glance has to be Lucian’s bedroom. But it isn’t the king-sized, four-poster bed that draws my attention at first.
It’s the woman standing next to Lucian at the foot of the bed, silent as I enter.
He never once mentioned anything about adding a woman. There are a lot of things I was expecting, but this wasn’t it.
He notices my apprehension, probably because I can’t take my eyes off her.
She’s older than me, probably closer to his age, and not exactly ugly but still not my preference.
I guess he decides to take pity on me. “Not to worry,” he says, clasping his hands in front of him.
“She’s a doctor. I brought her over to examine you. ”
I don’t know whether or not I’m supposed to speak, so I decide to keep my thoughts to myself. So he wants me examined. Like he’s not sure if I’m healthy, I guess. I would get insulted, but I’m too nervous. Being around Lucian does that to me.
He’s probably thinking about what he did, what he made me do. Will he want more of that later? Why else go to the trouble of bringing me out here? He could’ve had the doctor call me into her office.
“Don’t worry,” the doctor assures me with a smile. “It won’t involve anything you haven’t been through before, I’m sure. I need you to undress for me.”
I glance toward Lucian. Either he reads my mind, or he never planned on sticking around in the first place. He leaves the room without saying anything else or even looking at me. I can hear his footfalls fading down the hall as I take off my T-shirt.
She’s right. This is nothing I haven’t been through before. First, she draws a few vials of blood—when I look surprised, she only waves a hand. “To make sure your vitamin levels are where they need to be. You do look a little sallow. Do you get enough sun?”
“Probably not? I don’t know.”
She nods. “Your D levels could be low. You’d be surprised how many areas of our health are affected by the simplest things.” Right, and she’s completely bullshitting me right now. I’d never call her on it, like ever. I was taught to respect doctors.
Plus, she’s tied in with Lucian, which tells me she’s probably not the average doctor. Doctors don’t usually make house calls. God knows, I dealt with enough of them when Mom was sick.
After she takes the blood, the doctor has me lie back on the bed. A pap smear? But I’m supposed to believe this is all about my vitamin levels. As always, I close my eyes and wait for it to be over. At least she’s quick about it.
She asks me endless questions about my cycle and my last period, and finally, whether I’ve ever taken birth control.
“No, I never have.”
“I’m going to give you a shot today. Depo-Provera. Have you ever heard of it?”
Depo? “Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”
“Lucian requested I give you the shot today, but I have to administer a pregnancy test first.” There’s no question in her voice, and I know without being told, she won’t take no for an answer. Because he won’t.
She hands me a cup, and I go to the bathroom to give her a sample. After that, I sit on the bed and watch her work for a few minutes until she finally announces, “You’re not pregnant, so I can give you the shot today.”
“Terrific.” I accept the shot and tell myself at least I know I won’t get pregnant.
She gives me the shot in my upper arm and sticks a small band-aid over it. Then packs up her tools. “We’re all finished.” And that’s it. She leaves me alone, naked, except for the sheet she gave me to cover myself with.
What now? Should I get up and dress? Or am I waiting for Lucian? I’m in his bedroom. It makes sense that he’d want something from me.
It’s a big room, with what looks like a huge bathroom attached.
There’s another room next to it that looks like it might be a study or library, and one on the other side of the suite that might be a dressing room.
I want to get up and explore—anything to give me a glimpse of who he is—but Lucian’s footfalls freeze me in place.
Probably for the best. He wouldn’t love it if he found me snooping around.
“You’re still undressed.” He looks me up and down, buttoning his suit jacket. He even wears suits at home. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“No. I didn’t know…” I look down at my lap. He’s got to think I’m an idiot.
“Today doesn’t count.”
“It doesn’t?” Dammit. There’s a tight feeling in my throat all of a sudden. It’s a good thing, isn’t it? I should be crying in relief that my thighs won’t hurt again so soon.
“No.” A smile plays over his lips, but it’s over before I get a good look at it. “I won’t be fucking you today. Get yourself together and go. The car is waiting.”
Dumbfounded, I grab for my clothes and pull them on as he watches. The few glances I throw his way don’t tell me anything about what he’s thinking. He might as well be wearing a mask.
He doesn’t show me to the front door, but I find it on my own.