My skin prickled, and heat washed through me from my arm. It felt different than any other IVs I’d ever gotten.
“I feel strange,” I said, my voice surprisingly deep.
Blackwood nodded. “I popped a sedative into the solution tokeep you calm. Today isn’t the day for hysteria or acting out, and besides, I thought you might remember something more about last night if you relaxed.”
He pulled a chair up closer to me and shined the light in my eyes again.
“This solution is just one of Bendict’s passion projects. I confess, it hasn’t been tested yet, but I’m going to observe how it affects you and make a note of it.”
“You’re testing a new drug on me? Is that ethical?” A ridiculous question considering how often they did so, but I was panicking. Strangely, my body didn’t feel that way at all. His words should outrage me, but instead, I felt nothing. No, not nothing... I felt hot. My clothes were harsh and uncomfortable on my skin, and suddenly all I could think about was taking them off.
“It’s not unethical... People care more about animal testing than humans these days, anyway. This isn’t a new drug; it’s just a new combination. It’s no big deal... unless you want me to get that stray cat from the chapel and test it on him?”
“Gravy? How’d you know about Gravy?” I asked.
Blackwood pushed the hair back from my sticky forehead. I was sweating. I felt like I was burning alive.
“Because I know everything about you, Katarina. You were the first patient I referred here to Hallow Hall. You might say I’m invested in your recovery. About last night?—”
“I’m too hot, I can’t breathe,” I muttered, and tugged at my sweater, but the IV was still in my arm, and it hurt. I flopped back on the bed.
Blackwood frowned and glanced down at his notes. “The sedative should just relax you, make you feel good and willing to answer anything I ask you.” He kept reading his notes for a moment before raising his brows. “Ah, is that what it is?” He wrotesomething down in small black scribbles. “Too many dopamine agonists? Maybe an interaction with the antipsychotic.”
I reached out and grabbed his hand, and he jolted, shocked into looking at me.
“I feel strange,” I confessed in a rush.
His pale cheeks reddened, and he gave me the once-over. I became aware of how my body was moving. Fidgeting, and rubbing my thighs together.
“Tell me exactly how you feel,” he murmured.
“My skin hurts, like the clothes are too rough, and it’s so hot.” I squeezed my eyes shut. The awful truth filtered through my overheated brain. I felt turned on. Completely against my will and at odds with anything I’d naturally feel around this weed of a man, this monster who worked in Hallow Hall and did the bidding of the unholy trinity.
Blackwood flushed even more and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Doctor?”Knock, knock.A hard, urgent sound.
Blackwood tore his attention from me and stood. He put the clipboard over his crotch, though it was plain to see he was hard. A sharp feeling of disgust cut through my arousal.
Blackwood pulled the door open.
“Yes, what?” he all but barked at Sister Vera.
“There’s been an incident. One of the seniors has cut himself badly, and he needs to see you. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
Blackwood cursed and peered back at me. “I’ll return shortly, Katarina. Do not move from this spot.”
Then he strode out of the room. Sister Vera looked into the room and saw me. She took in my posture, the way I was writhing on the bed, and her eyes gleamed with judgment. Her face full of disgust, she closed the door.
Alone in the silence finally, I shoved my hand down the front of my sweatpants and found my pussy. I was wet. Pressing my fingers on my folds gave me a vague sort of relief, but it wasn’t enough.
I rubbed at myself inexpertly before giving up out of frustration. It just wasn’t enough.
“Don’t stop on my account, little stray. I was enjoying the show.”
Massimo’s deep voice sent me scrambling upward. He lounged against the closed door. He must have entered while I’d been attempting to get myself off.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “I’d ask what the hell you’re doing, but that seems pretty self-explanatory. I do question your setting, though. I wouldn’t have thought this room capable of turning anyone on.”