“But Pippa…” Saylor croaked.
“You are very sweet to worry about your friend. Pippa knows I am here. She’s asleep at Koa’s while I’m making my rounds. She understands my job requires me to examine male and female patients,” Zale said.
“But I’m her friend.”
“So are Aspen, Giana, and Brooklyn,” Max pointed out. “Zale gives each of them a full exam once a year and prescribes birth control. We’ll talk to him about that when you’re better.”
Staring at Max with wide eyes, Saylor processed that other Littles had said something about seeing Zale for medicine. She hadn’t even considered that he took intimate care of all the Littles.
“Saylor, we’ll talk about the future later and what you and your daddy wish to do. Right now, I’m worried about the sound in your lungs. If you don’t wish me to treat you, Max can take you to an urgent care,” Zale told her. His tone was kind and understanding.
Was it really any different to have Zale examine her than if she went to a stranger? He looked very concerned about her. Some random doctor at the urgent care in town would treat her and move on to their next patient in a flash. She released her strangle hold on the covers crunched up in her hand.
“Please?” she whispered.
“Thank you for letting me help,” Zale told her. “Your daddy’s going to stand right here and hold your hand. If you need me to stop, squeeze his fingers and he’ll tell me.”
Saylor nodded. She snaked her arm out of the covers and shivered. Max’s warm hand engulfed hers reassuringly.
Zale uncovered Saylor’s chest and listened to her lungs. When her cheeks burned with embarrassment, she hoped Zale would assume she had a fever. Zale was completely professional and efficient.
“It’s official, Saylor. You have the same thing everyone else does. I need to take your temperature and blood pressure to be safe in prescribing medicine. Max, how much does Saylor weigh?”
Saylor let out a strangled “Eep!” at that question. Max wouldn’t know that. She definitely hadn’t shared that information with him.
“One-twenty to one-thirty,” Max guessed.
Staring at him in disbelief, Saylor wondered how he knew that.
“No mystery, baby. I carry you around all the time. Roll over on your tummy for Zale,” Max urged.
She followed the directions automatically as she digested the fact that he could pinpoint intimate information about her so easily. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zale pull out a box and a tube of something. He opened the box and withdrew a plastic container, which he opened to reveal a thick thermometer. She wasn’t putting that in her mouth. Saylor buried her face in the pillow.
“Have you set up Saylor’s nursery yet?” Zale asked.
“No. I have a bunch of things on order. They’re coming next week. I hoped the team would help me put the furniture together,” Max said.
“Of course we will. I’ll leave all these supplies with you as well so you can start your medical kit. You’ll need to monitor Saylor’s temperature every two hours until her fever breaks.”
Max placed his enormous hand on her back tethering Saylor in place. “Hold still, baby.”
Zale shifted the covers to reveal her bottom. Immediately, Saylor pushed a knee into the mattress to turn over. Max’s restraining hold kept her on her tummy. She froze as Zale parted her buttocks. Before she could put the pieces together to know what he intended, Zale pressed a lubricated finger into her bottom. Instantly, she bucked, trying to get away. Max added another restraining hand on her lower back.
“You’ve been drinking cold water, Saylor. We won’t get a correct temperature in your mouth,” Zale told her as he gently twisted his inserted finger to lubricate her tight passage. “Besides, this is the most accurate way to take your temperature. Your daddy will always use a rectal thermometer.”
She froze as he pressed that thick tube into her bottom. Despite her attempts to clench her bottom cheeks together, the cold glass probed deeply into her tight passage. “No!” she wailed and then coughed.
“Sh, little girl. It’s okay. Max, grab one of the throat soothers from my bag. They’re in the front pocket and wrapped in small plastic bags. Pull out several. Those will help with Saylor’s cough,” Zale instructed.
“Give her one now?” Max asked a minute later.
“Definitely.”
“Here, baby. Open your mouth,” Max said.
Opening her mouth, Saylor watched as Max put something that looked like an oversized candy ring into her mouth. A sweet, soothing flavor filled her mouth. She swallowed and felt the mixture coat her throat, calming the burning sensation slightly. Sucking happily, Saylor relaxed slightly. This did make her throat feel better.
Max stroked her hair out of her eyes. “Good, huh? Zale is a pretty good medic. He’s tough as nails with us, but he’s super good with all the Littles. They all love him.”
