A hand brushed my hair off my face. “You ready, sweetheart?” Liam asked.
I opened my eyes, meeting his gentle gaze. I nodded. “I can do it.”
He smiled. “I know you can, my brave omega.”
Gray took my hand and pulled me to his side, grumbling something abouteveryone else getting to touch me more. I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss before following Henry into the hospital.
Mandy greeted us at the door. “Are you feeling better?”
I liked that she spoke to me directly. I wasn’t used to that in medical settings. I nodded, finding my jaw tight with anxiety now that we were here.
“No, no need to get stressed,” Liam said, pulling me close. “We’ll be right with you.”
“I was notified that you all have clearance to stay in the room with Ms. Anderson. Do any of you have metal in your body?”
All the guys shook their heads.
“Good. You can’t have any clothing with metal on it either…” She eyed the metal zipper of their jeans.
“We’ll just take them off and leave them outside the room, then.” Bear stared her down, as if daring her to argue.
Mandy just grinned and pointed at a locker. “Be my guest.”
I looked on as Gray, Bear, and Henry stripped out of their pants, leaving their clothing, phones, and wallets in the locker.
“Maybe the MRI is okay if I get a strip show with it,” I said, grinning.
Then Mandy was at my side, and I resisted the urge to run away as she had me lie down on the flat surface.
Henry and Gray took off their sweatshirts and placed them over me, but Bear and Liam weren’t wearing sweatshirts. Liam stripped off his t-shirt and Bear did the same with his long-sleeved tee, leaving their bare chests exposed.
I cocked my eyebrow.
“Not letting you in there without my scent,” Bear huffed. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “Mine’s the best, anyway.”
I eyed all my guys in their mixed array of boxers, sweatpants, and bare chests, and felt warmth stir in my belly. I wasn’t sure if being turned on would make the MRI easier or not, but it seemed better than abject terror.
I rearranged the clothing around me until it felt perfect.
“Ready, kitten?” Liam asked, holding up the eye mask. I squirmed a little, secretly loving his pet name for me.
I nodded, and he slipped it over my head.
“Now, just imagine you’re lying in bed, and know that all of us are around you, keeping you safe,” he murmured.
Mandy placed the button in my hand and Liam eased in the earplugs. Hands gripped my feet and calves as I was eased into the machine. I had a brief moment of panic, but then someone squeezed my foot and I slowly released my breath.
The machine started up again, but this time I let myself sink into my guys’ scents. I could even pick out Henry’s fainter scent amongst them, more evidence that my omega was growing stronger.
The table beneath me grew warm as cool air blew on my face. Hands continued to stroke my calves as I was moved around in the machine. After a while, I found myself almost drifting off, my mind dreaming of all my guys surrounding me in the nest I’d dreamed of as a kid.
79
WESTIN
After the MRI, we were ushered into another waiting room while the doctor reviewed all the test results. This room had large armchairs and Liam pulled me into his lap, keeping a quiet purr going until I was half asleep in his arms. All my sleepy relaxation vanished the moment the nurse came in to bring us back to the exam room.
Dizziness assaulted me as we sat down, and I wasn’t sure if it was related to my symptoms or just a product of my anxiety. Liam and Henry sat down beside me, and Gray and Bear stood at my back. I chewed my lip, trying to emotionally prepare for any possibility. I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of hearing the answer or being told they had none.
