“I just want to help,” Jace says. His voice is soft and soothing, calm. Like he’s really worried about my well-being. He’s probably concerned about the pregnancy.
He reaches for my hand and gives it a soft squeeze. The gesture is my undoing.
“You can’t help. The hormones are intolerable,” I say. I glance at him, praying he understands what I’m saying without having to elaborate. Could this be any more humiliating?
“Oh,” he says slowly, like it’s starting to connect. “You’re horny?”
My cheeks must be red because the car feels a hundred degrees hotter. I’d roll down the window, but the last time I did that, months ago, he got snippy. Instead, I reach for the thermostat and adjust the temperature.
“I wouldn’t put it quite like that,” I say. He makes it sound crude. It’s not like I’m prowling the town for a man. Hell, I haven’t even bought a vibrator to satisfy my desires. Maybe I should. That would at least help me sleep. But I worry the men inside the house, the guards, might hear me.
There’s a silence that follows. I’m not sure if he doesn’t know what to say or has decided it’s best to refrain from speaking any further. After all, he is my boss.
* * *
“Olivia, how are you doing?” Doctor Morgan asks.
I’m situated on the uncomfortable beige bed in the exam room, with the crunchy paper tucked between me and the fake leather.
“Fine,” I say.
Jace stands beside me, eager for the ultrasound.
“I’m sure you must be excited to see the baby. Do you two want to know the sex?” Doctor Morgan asks. She’s barely looking at my chart. Instead, her attention is on preparing the equipment. She squirts a nice glob of jelly goo on my belly.
At first, it’s cold, but the discomfort is quickly gone. Well, most of the discomfort. I had to drink a ton of water before the appointment, and my bladder is about to burst.
Is this a cruel pregnancy test? See how long a pregnant woman can hold her bladder before exploding?
“Yes, we’d like to know the sex,” Jace says.
The doctor moves the ultrasound wand across my abdomen, bringing the little nugget into view on the screen. “How have you been feeling?” Doctor Morgan asks.
“She’s had trouble sleeping,” Jace says, answering for me.
I eye him strangely. He doesn’t need to speak for me.
“That’s not uncommon. If anything, later in your pregnancy, you’ll find it’s harder to get comfortable. How about your hormones? Have you noticed any changes in your desire for sex?”
I want to die.
Is it possible for the doctor to stop talking? I don’t answer, and Jace takes it upon himself to respond for me.
“She has seemed moody lately,” Jace says. “She mentioned being horny.”
“Those were your words! Not mine.” I can’t believe the nerve of him. I could kill him!
The doctor smiles warmly as she continues with the ultrasound, oblivious to my humiliation. Or maybe she’s used to couples bickering during appointments. “It’s completely normal and quite common to have an increased sex drive during pregnancy. It’s healthy and natural to have sex while pregnant, and there are plenty of positions that you can experiment with to make sure the mother is comfortable.”
I swear I’m dying of embarrassment, and Jace doesn’t say a word.
He smiles and nods, like he’s listening, practically taking notes. Is he enjoying this brand of humiliation directed at me? He doesn’t appear the least bit embarrassed or uncomfortable.
How is that possible?
I’m going to kill him later!
The steady rhythm of a heartbeat pulse through the internal speaker.