I nodded, but I was thinking about what Daniil had said. There must be some kind of hidden door in that room. “Yeah, Ember said she loved him. He said he loved her.” Daniil’s face brightened in the room lit by lamps, so I shook my head. “Then they messed it up by saying they were screwed up. In essence still saying they weren’t ‘in love’ with one another. Really fucking wrong, if you ask me.”
Daniil shook his head in agitation but sighed, laying me down on the bed. “At least they said they loved one another.”
“Yeah, and they both agree that they,” I used finger quotes, “‘fit’one another.” I snorted and then yawned. “It sounded like they fit together perfectly in more than one way.”
Daniil’s lips quirked as I blinked sleepily at him. “It’s probably a good thing you were hunkered down on the couch like a frightened doe.” I scowled, because…well, that was just rude…and most likely true. And he had the nerve to grin, but he shook his head, pulling out my hair tie and set it on the table. “Those two together…let’s just say I did a double take. At the distance of the camera, at first, I thought someone had dubbed in you and me together, and I was looking at a phony frame.” His chuckled softly. “I understand why you found that all a little unnerving seeing them together before.”
I nodded, and my eyelids closed, feeling more tired than I ever had in my whole life. “Yeah. Very weird.” I snuggled down in the blanket. “I gotta be up at six o’clock for work.”
His lips brushed mine, but I was too tired to even kiss him back. Sleep took me under again.
A week later, I finally sat in Dr. Wisser’s office dressed in a gown that opened in the front instead of the back. I tied it closed, but I still kept the tiny little blanket over my legs. Daniil sat in the room with me flipping through a magazine in irritation while my parents waited out in the lobby—probably also flipping through magazines in irritation.
It had been an absolute chore even getting to the doctor, who wasn’t the woman my mom referenced a week ago. Daniil nixed that after running a search on the woman. Apparently, she had a black itty-bitty spot on her record for delivering a baby stillborn in her early years. Over dinner at my parents’ house on Wednesday, Daniil adamantly refused to let his child be birthed by her. Actually, he wanted me to use a midwife. He believed a child coming into the word should be done morenaturally.I just about smacked him that night at my parents’ house.
Mom interceded and spoke of the risks that could occur with using a midwife, and just because his late wife used one for all four of her children, it didn’t mean that I was going to also. There had been a lot of growling and glares going on that night, but I finally just stood up at the table and stated, “I’m not doing a damn thing natural. So, find a doctor you do approve of. And quickly. I know I should be taking those pills…” I snapped my fingers, “prenatal pills or whatever they’re called.”
Daniil seemed taken aback to realize I was behind on what I should be doing for our child and he finally agreed. So, now I sat in a doctor’s office posher than most millionaires’ homes—I was pretty sure the cabinet handles were actually gold plated—who Dr. Benedict from Donovan Hospital had referred us. Apparently, Ember or Grigori—not sure which—had called her and asked for the best OBGYN she could think of here in New York.
And Daniil wasn’t thrilled because, apparently, Dr. Wisser was a man…oh, no, the horror…and my parents weren’t thrilled because of the doctors cost…which Daniil barely glanced at. My insurance at work would never cover the cost of this doc’s fees, but apparently, he was the best. And since I wasn’t doing the midwife thing, Daniil got me the best.
And Dr. Wisser wasn’t late, either. I sure as hell hoped not with his fees. He strolled into the room—yes, strolled—looking very debonair in his white doctor’s coat, reading over what had to be my file since I practically had to write a damn book in questions about my previous health history. He had black hair like Daniil, but it was shorter and slicked back. I was pretty sure I saw a flash of green eyes as they skimmed my paperwork, his body in prime physical shape. And his face was very pretty for a man of around fifty—I tried not to snicker—right around Daniil’s own age. Though Daniil looked much younger than he did.
Daniil’s jaw clenched, and he shut the magazine with a snap, his attention slamming to me. “He is not touching you.” A blatant command, which had the doctor stopping in his tracks and glancing up, the door barely having time to close behind him.
“Daniil…” I murmured softly. “Remember, I chose you.” God, he was a handful.
Daniil glanced at the doctor, glaring at him, making the doctor freeze in his tracks, and getting a good look at who he actually was. The doctor’s jaw started to drop, obviously recognizing him, but Daniil didn’t seem to give a shit about that and asked him harshly, “Are you married or gay?”
I snapped a hand over my mouth, trying to hold back the laugh that wanted to erupt.
The doctor sputtered, “No.”
Daniil’s gaze came back to me, eyebrows raised, and he stated calmly, “He’s not touching you.”
Clearing my throat, getting control over myself as my irritation started to peak. “He’s the best. And that’s what you wanted. That’s what you get. So, if that means he has to put his hand up my crotch,” I held up a quick stopping hand when Daniil’s mouth flew open, “professionally, of course, then so be it. I don’t want a midwife. You don’t want to use the doctor my mom suggested. So here we are.” I pointed at the doctor. “The best.” I shrugged, lowering my arm. “He can’t help the way he looks any more than you can.”
The doctor cleared his throat, finally done composing himself and his obvious shock, also getting the gist of this conversation. “I assure you I am nothing but professional.” He cocked his head. “If it helps you…” And he started in on all of his recommendations. We already knew this, but I let him continue because it gave Daniil time to accept the fact that I wasn’t going to go through this all over again.
I kept my gaze on Daniil, letting him see I wasn’t going to be pushed around again. Daniil so wasn’t happy as he stared at me, then the doctor, and back and forth, his nose crinkling and his eyebrows together…but his eyes slowly went from spitfire mad to only slightly furious. That was an improvement. Finally, Daniil huffed out a breath, his voice deep, and asked me, “Are you sure you won’t pull a Grigori?”
I coughed hard, glancing at the doctor, who stood there quietly, actually seeming amused by this now. “Yes. I already said I chose you.”
Daniil crossed his arms, his tailored black jacket pulling at its seams as he glared at the entertained doctor. And then he stated bluntly, “I will watch everything you do. And if you so much as go near her clit, I will kill you.”
I gawked, gasping, “Daniil…”
“Hush,” he ordered me quietly, his eyes flicking toward mine, then back to the doctor. “Do you understand?” I was pretty sure I had never seen that look in his eye before. Even when he threatened me that very first morning. He was utterly serious, no smiles on his face right now.
Dr. Wisser’s eyebrows rose, and he stated, “I normally order the partner outside when I perform a pelvic exam, but I can assure you I won’t try to stimulate with Ms. Forter.”
Daniil rested back in his chair, staring at the doctor. “I’ll double your fee if you allow what I want.” He reached inside his jacket, withdrawing his long black wallet, and pulling out so much damn money, I was in shock. Especially, when he put the wallet back in his coat and there was still some left in it.
Dr. Wisser eyed the money Daniil had placed on the counter and then used a pen to delicately spread the bills apart. “You do realize it’s illegal to carry this much cash on you.”
“And your point?” Daniil stretched his legs out when the doctor stayed mute. “Do we have a deal?”
Dr. Wisser’s eyes were still on the cash—indicating he really wanted it, but he stated, “That’s up to Ms. Forter. She’s the patient.”
