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She glares at me, pissed that I read right through her. Siân gives a little, finally taking the food without any more fighting. I continue to feed her until soon the plate is empty. Taking a napkin, I wipe her mouth and then clean up the food that spilled all over her clothes.
“There. Now, don’t you feel better? You were wasting away, and I don’t like that. You need to eat.”
“Why do you care?”
With my finger under her chin, I force her to meet my eyes. “I’ve told you. Your safety, even your health, is important to me. Don’t ever starve yourself again.”
Siân is about to speak but is cut short when Helga enters the room.
“Signor Russo. Il dottore è qui.” Mr. Russo. The doctor is here.
13
SIN
“A doctor?” I look at Christian for an explanation. His face is strangely blank. Did he know about this? “I don’t feel sick.”
“She isn't that sort of doctor.”
“What sort is she?” I don’t like this. I don’t like the sense of needing to be on my toes all the time, either, waiting for the next surprise. It’s exhausting in body and spirit.
“You’re going to be checked over by a doctor specializing in fertility.”
At first, it doesn’t register. “Why do I need that?”
“To ensure you’ll be able to carry my children.”
I know better now than to think this is a joke. He rarely jokes, anyway. “And what if I can't?”
“You're young and healthy. There's no reason you won't be able to, I'm sure.”
“But what if I can’t? It happens. Sometimes women go around without knowing they're infertile for years until they try to get pregnant.”
He nods slowly. “Which is why we're going to the trouble now of ensuring that isn't the case.”
“What difference does it make?”
“Don't be a child.” His brows draw together, his mouth set in a scowl. “You know it's important.”
“I know you think it is.”
“In our world, it is. End of story. You don't have to like it. But the rules must be abided.”
“I never agreed to any of these rules.” And now, I have to submit to yet another violation. “Will you abandon me if the doctor says I can't have children?”
He blows out a huge sigh. “It's not worth getting into this since that's not going to happen. Now come on. It's rude to keep her waiting.”
“I wouldn't want to be rude,” I say sarcastically while twisting my neck mockingly.
“Keep up that bratty attitude and see where it gets you.” He snickers almost cruelly. “Never mind. You like that too much. I wouldn't want you to think of it as a reward rather than punishment.”
“Go to hell.”
“I have no doubt that's precisely where I'm going.” As always, there's no fighting his grip on my hand. I think I'm beginning to understand the mentality behind breaking a captive’s spirits. I know that in the end, any effort I make will be useless. He's always going to catch me, then find some new way to degrade or humiliate me once I'm caught. It's easier to avoid it, which means behaving myself, which is exactly what he wants.
We reach a bedroom I've never seen before, but I'm not particularly interested in looking around once I catch sight of what’s clamped to the footboard: a pair of stirrups. “Oh, no,” I whisper, shuddering.
Of course, a man wouldn’t get it. “What?”
“Let's just say there's not a woman in the world who looks forward to a gynecological exam.” I shiver and turn away from them.
A middle-aged woman emerges from the attached bathroom, chuckling softly. “Not to worry,” she murmurs, smiling. “I'll be as gentle as possible.” In her arms is a towel that she spreads across one side of the bed. We watch as she opens a leather bag and lines shiny metal tools along the towel’s length.
Before she's finished, she glances up at Christian and smiles. “You can go now. It's best if the patient can enjoy privacy during these examinations,” she insists, her Italian accent thick.
I'm glad for that, anyway, even if being left alone with a stranger who's about to look inside me is the alternative.
“I don't think so.”
Her smile falters slightly. She seems kind, patient, and thoroughly thrown off balance. “Mr. Russo, I can appreciate your desire to guard this lovely young lady, but I can assure you your concern is unwarranted. I've performed this routine examination more times than I can possibly count. Things will move faster and come more easily if you aren't present.”
“That's not going to happen. I'm not leaving her alone.”
It's a game of verbal tug of war, and I'm in the middle. My gaze ping-pongs between them. Has Christian finally met his match? It might be worth going through this exam alone if it means watching him sulk away in defeat.
She lifts her chin. “I didn't need to come out here on short notice. I'm performing this examination as a favor to the family. I can just as easily leave if I'm going to be disrespected.”
