“No, no,” she blurts out. “I think my period’s coming next week.” The heavy sigh that follows, the quiet sadness in it makes my stomach roil. “Are you disappointed?”
My teeth grind when I hear it. Her damn mother still terrorizing her from the grave.
I’ll wait as long as it takes for Lilith to become pregnant. And if it doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, I’ll be just as content exploring other options.
What I won’t tolerate is anyone hurting her. Even if it’s a dead bitch.
“Lilith, I seem to remember telling you disappointed is one of those words you don’t use on yourself anymore.” I work hard to keep the anger out of my voice, the emotion I would’ve unleashed on her mother if she were alive. “And just so we’re clear, no, I’m not disappointed, sad, or upset. If anything, I see it as a challenge, and I live for those.”
“Good. If you said you were, I’d have to give you a full-on biology lesson.” Hearing her sass me again soothes the ugly hate curling in my chest. “Because, correct me if I’m wrong, it should be obvious to a doctor that having the biggest cock doesn’t mean you’ll knock me up on the first try.”
“The biggest one?” I pick up on the shift in her tone and go with it. If she’s happy, I’m happy. “Compared to who?”
“Oh, quiet.”
Since our conversation is winding down, I pull on my hoodie, sling my backpack over one shoulder, and log off the computer, ready to swing by the storage unit now that Lilith sounds okay.
“Lilith, about what I said earlier, I mean it. You could never let me down.”
“I believe you. You’re the best man I’ve ever met.”
The best man wouldn’t be out there murdering people. The best man wouldn’t hide things from her.
A dark cloud descends over my bright mood when I remind myself that soon enough, I’ll have to come clean.
I’ll explain myself. Will do my best to rationalize my actions.
I’ll be respectful, loving, and careful. Earn her trust and heart all over again.
Without letting her get away from me.
“Listen, I’ll be even later than I thought.” I head for the exit. “Don’t wait up for me. I’ll let myself in.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I’ll wait for you. But…” The pause has my brow furrowing. “In case I do fall asleep, you have my permission to wake me up. With your mouth. Or your dick. Or the stethoscope.”
Jesus Christ.
I can already tell my stitching job is going to suck tonight.
29
ALARIC
“Almost done,” I tell Fraser from my place at his feet as I work on his third wound. “Hold still or I’m sewing your eyes shut next.”
“Mmm.” Barely conscious, he whines through the duct tape. “Mmm.”
It’s been like this the whole time I’ve been here. He passes out, stirs, jerks in his seat, then makes pathetic sounds.
All the while, I’ve been ignoring him, sliding my needle through his cheek first, his abdomen second, and finally his thigh.
As predicted, I’ve been sloppy. But I’m pleased with how fast I’m wrapping things up.
Faster means giving my future patients a better chance of survival.
It also means getting to Lilith’s at a decent hour.
If only this bastard would stop getting on my last nerve.