The Surrender: Falling In Part 7

"I know they don't have a scale here, but I'm a bit concerned about your weight, Evelyn. You're quite thin. Do you diet?"

"Not by choice."

Dr. Sheffield stilled. Her gaze slowly met Scout's and understanding dawned. "When's the last time you've eaten, sweetheart?"

"We just had lunch."

"And before that?"

She swallowed. "The day before, when Mr. Patras offered me lunch."

"Do you usually only eat once a day?"

Tears of humiliation blurred her vision. Refusing to be ashamed of who she was, Scout looked the beautiful doctor in the eye and admitted, "When I'm lucky."

She closed her folder. "I see. Does Lucian know this?"

"I don't believe so. Are you going to tell him?"

She sighed. "No, I don't believe I am. Lucian's been my friend for many years. I think you'll find he can be difficult and demanding most of the time, but he's a good person. I promise to keep this between us if you promise to see me in another two weeks and have a little more meat on your bones by then. Fine dining's a vice of Lucian's so it shouldn't be a difficult task."

"Okay."

"Now, I was going to ask about your last gynecological exam, but I'm a.s.suming you never had one of those either."

Scout shook her head.

"Would you mind if I examined you quickly? I can't perform a pap, but I can at least see if everything looks healthy."

"Do I need to undress?"

"Only partially."

"Okay," Scout said and Dr. Sheffield stood to lock the door. Scout unb.u.t.toned her dress and the doctor directed her to lift her arms. Dr. Sheffield examined her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and Scout's cheeks flushed with heat. She explained how she should perform her own breast exams monthly and then instructed her to b.u.t.ton back up.

Once her gown was back in place, true mortification set in. Lying back, she lifted her skirt and Dr. Sheffield looked at parts of her no one had ever seen. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The doctor touched her there and Scout thought she'd pa.s.s out from embarra.s.sment. It lasted too long, but at the same time didn't take more than a few minutes.

Dr. Sheffield removed her gloves and tossed them into the wastebasket as Scout adjusted her clothes back in place. Looking at her, worry marred the doctor's otherwise perfect face. Her lips pressed together as she seemed to consider her next words.

"Evelyn, are you being coerced into this?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you here of your own free will?" she asked, as if the words pained her to say.

Scout recalled her mentioning that she and Lucian had been friends for a long time and understood her discomfort at asking such a thing.

"I'm here because I agreed to be. Mr. Patras didn't blackmail me or anything like that if that's what you're worried about. Why, is something wrong?"

"I hope you don't mind my saying this, but you do understand that he expects to be intimately involved with you, to my understanding."

Scout nodded. "That's why he wants me to have a physical. Am I sick?"

"No, sweetheart, you're not sick. You're a virgin."

Well, duh. "I know that."

Dr. Sheffield's little red mouth hung open for a moment, and Scout imagined this was likely the weirdest checkup she had ever performed.

"Does Lucian?"

"Well, no, but I don't see why that's any of his business." And it wasn't.

Dr. Sheffield rested her head in her hand and ma.s.saged her forehead. "Oh, Lucian," she mumbled to herself. Taking a deep breath she sat up, professional mask back in place and said, "Okay, all we have left is the blood work. How are you with needles?"

"Fine."

After her blood was drawn and capped off in neat, tiny vials, and the doctor had given her some reading material on birth control, which Scout would never read, they returned to the common area of the suite. Lucian was pacing by his desk and pivoted the moment they stepped out of the room.

"What the h.e.l.l took so long?" he demanded.

"I do a thorough job. Don't fret, Lucian, I'll bill you for every minute of it."

The doctor's charming demeanor was back intact and her finesse with Lucian soon had him calming down. Scout admired the way she could maneuver him with such unfaltering poise. The doctor collected her belongings.

"So far, everything looks good. I'll have the blood work back by the morning. You can call my office for the results. I'll be sure to leave instructions with my front desk."

"Thank you, Viv. I appreciate your promptness."

Dr. Sheffield paused for a moment. She turned to Lucian and cryptically said, "You know, Lucian, a little patience never hurt anybody. Sometimes things are worth not rus.h.i.+ng into."

As soon as the doctor left, exhaustion set in. Scout's s.h.i.+ft would've ended hours ago. She had been running nonstop for days and wanted to lie down.

Turning, Lucian said, "Let's go shopping."

Scout tried not to wince. Did this man ever stop?

Chapter 7.

Just a Kiss Scout's shoulders drooped as she wearily accepted her status for the next several days. Everything would be according to the wants and needs of Lucian Patras.

"Evelyn? Is something wrong?"

She sighed. "No. I just . . . I'm still in my uniform. My bag's still in my locker downstairs. I can't go shopping until I change."

He stepped closer and a wicked gleam set into his dark eyes. "I find myself quite fond of your little maid's uniform."

His finger reached out slowly and he gently caressed her cheek. Her breath filled her chest and held as his hand moved to her hair and removed a pin from her bun. It landed silently on the plush carpet. He removed another and then another, until her dark auburn hair was tumbling down her back.

Lucian sucked in a breath. "Evelyn, your hair . . . I had no idea it was so long." His hands lifted the wavy curtain and spread it over her shoulders. "It's beautiful."

His feet s.h.i.+fted and he stepped closer. He'd never been this close to her before. Her heart raced. She could see the shadow of hair beneath the tanned skin of his jaw, the fine fleshy line that outlined his full lips, the dark onyx flecks in his chestnut eyes. They were more deep ebony than black or brown.

His eyes appeared softer in that moment. Stunning. He had lashes so thick they were almost feminine. The dark crests gave his visage a pirate's sharpness as if his piercing eyes were lined with soot, making his penetrating gaze all the more menacing. His tanned skin was smooth. He really was quite striking.

His scent coc.o.o.ned her, made her slightly light-headed. Scout's lips parted as his thumb gently traced the plump curve of her lower lip.

"I'm going to kiss you, Evelyn."

Her pulse jumped as his head lowered. His palm sifted through her hair until he cupped the back of her skull. Chills skittered down her collar and underneath her clothing. A warm pinching sensation tickled her belly. It was like falling; frightening, but slightly more pleasant.

He pulled her into him. His breath coasted over her lips, warm. Barely making contact, his lips brushed over hers and her belly pulled tight. Scout's thighs suddenly felt oddly disconnected from her numb knees, and then his mouth was on hers.

Her eyes opened wide as his closed. She squeaked, as the kiss grew firm. His other hand trailed below her arm and around her back. He pulled her closer until her front was pressed into his, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s crushed against the hard muscle of his chest. Then his mouth opened.

Lucian's head tilted and the kiss became moist. She tensed as his tongue traced the seam of her slightly parted lips. He nuzzled her cheek and sealed his mouth over hers, his slowly opening and closing coaxingly.

His touch was gentle. Her arms hung lifelessly at her sides as his palm slid possessively low on her back. His teeth closed over her lower lip and her neck extended. Scout gasped and he took full advantage, plunging his warm tongue deep into her mouth.

Stepping forward, as if he intended to walk through her, his grip tightened. He tipped her head back and kissed the corner of her lips. The hand at her back ma.s.saged gently. His head tilted and his tongue was back at it again, licking deep into her mouth.

Suddenly, he tickled the roof of her mouth and her own tongue instinctively lifted, dueling with his. He groaned and chuckled.

"That's it, Evelyn, kiss me back," his mouth whispered against hers.

The touch of their tongues was warm and soft. They caressed one another, his battling for control. The kiss was more enjoyable if she let him lead. She also figured out that when her eyes were closed it was easier to concentrate. She lowered her lashes and let him take command of the kiss.

Her body heated. Fire churned in her belly and her breath grew shallow and rushed. She had no illusions about her purpose here, but her body's reaction to him confused and surprised her all the same. Lucian Patras would use her for his own s.e.xual satisfaction. She was perfectly aware of what that would entail. She'd been exposed to the act of s.e.x at a very young age, seeing many adults perform such acts with no regard to privacy or onlooking eyes.

What she was unprepared for were the sensations flooding her blood. Scout never expected her skin to feel so hot, so hungry, her limbs to grow weightless and too heavy at the same time. She was incredibly aware of her hips and the s.p.a.ce in between.

Lucian pulled back from her mouth and she found herself extending, chasing his touch. He chuckled arrogantly and she hated her need. His mouth worked over her jaw and down the slender column of her throat. He sucked on the flesh over her racing pulse. His tongue skittered to her ear and his breath tickled the hollow, sending chills up and down her spine.

"I cannot wait to get inside of you," he whispered over her warming flesh.

His palm slid down to her b.u.t.t and she froze. It wasn't the fact that he was touching her rear that had her tensing. It was the possessive way in which he held her. His hand had moved directly to the crease of her a.s.s and his fingers clamped down on her private parts where no man had ever touched her intimately before.

It was too much. He was overwhelming her and she was thinking outside of her head, constantly forgetting what she had been considering from one second to the next, as her body struggled to feel. Scout lifted her palms to his chest and pushed, but he only pulled her closer.

His tongue plundered her mouth again as he took from her with such ent.i.tlement. Her hands curled into fists. No matter how much she was aware of what she was permitting herself to become, actually giving herself over to what it meant hurt her pride.

The unsettling thought lanced through the warmth churning in her body and chilled her warming blood. Scout turned her face away and broke the kiss.

Lucian waited, his breath beating over the low curve of her shoulder peeking past the collar of her uniform. She hated herself in that moment. Hated what she was surrendering herself to.

A few days, she told herself, a couple of weeks at best. She'd do this thing, and then the position could be pa.s.sed along to the next pathetic charity case that stumbled into Lucian Patras's life.

He was a beautiful man. It wouldn't be difficult to give herself to him if she could just get off this moral cross. She was simply trading one t.i.tle for another, and then she'd set aside all labels and live a normal life.

This had to be better than homeless vagrant. At least one led to some sign of improvement in the end. All of this was the cost of her financial independence.

Scout turned in his hold and his grip on her loosened.

"I need a moment. I . . . I'm sorry." Get a grip, Scout! She turned away from him.

Stepping away, needing some s.p.a.ce, she caught her breath. He was silent, but she could feel him watching her. Her mind painted him as a giant, crouching behind her in a shrinking room. When his hands pressed into her shoulders, she flinched.

"You need to get used to my touch, Evelyn. I can't have you flinching every time I touch you when we're out in public."

Scout's arms wrapped around her waist protectively only to have his follow, the heat of his front scalding her spine. He held her wrists and slowly pulled her banded arms back. Ent.i.tlement. He was ent.i.tled to touch her. She was expected to surrender. His palm flattened on her torso and pressed until her back was flush against his front. Hands moved over her, caressing, feeling, mapping her every curve.

As his fingers tripped over the money belt fastened tightly under her gown and around her ribs he momentarily paused. She could sense him frowning curiously, but he moved on. His thumb grazed the underside of her breast and he continued on his exploration of her. Her breath hitched as he drew sensation after sensation from her untried body. His hands slid up her front until he was cupping her, holding her to him in a way no man had ever held her.

His thumbs traced over the protruding tips.

"Why, Evelyn . . ." he whispered, amus.e.m.e.nt laced in his voice. "You're not wearing a bra. Is this something I can expect on a regular basis?"

Her belly quivered and there seemed to be some fine thread connecting where he touched her and her lower body. He was like a puppeteer pulling her strings and commanding her body to do as he wished. He pinched her there, but it didn't hurt.

"Please . . ." Scout was confused and overwhelmed.

He squeezed. "Please, what?"

Her small hands covered his, still shaping her breast. "Please stop."

He froze. A chill filled the air and a moment later he released her and stepped away.

She couldn't face him. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered. "Next time will be better. You just took me off guard."

"It's fine." His words were terse and forced. They bit through her faltering courage and she s.h.i.+vered. "When you're ready, we'll go."

Go? Did he still expect to go shopping? She sighed. "I need to get my bag."

"I'll have it brought up."

"It's in my locker."

Scout had no doubt he could somehow manage to retrieve her things regardless of some measly locked metal box that held them, but she didn't want someone else handling her stuff. Everything she owned was in that locker.

She explained, "I'd rather get it myself."

"Fine." His fast concession surprised her.