Page 22 of My Ogre Husband
I shudder. I don’t want to visit a doctor about this—it’s humiliating.
“Do we have to?” I whine, finally pulling away.
But Egorr’s voice is surprisingly firm. “Yes. We need to know if it’s serious, and how we can help you heal better.” Then his hand trails down and squeezes my butt. “The faster you heal, the sooner we can try again. Right?”
I sigh, which blows a lock of hair away from my face. “Fine. I’ll go.” He already knows exactly which of my buttons to push to get what he wants. Of course I want to try again. I want to show him that wecanfit, if we just work at it.
Egorr leans down to kiss my forehead, then realizes the bacon is burning and quickly hurries back to the stovetop to take it off. I sit at the small chair Egorr got for me, and he brings breakfast to the table.
Mornings here are the best.
“Sorry you’re missing work today,” I say, reaching across the table to rub the top of his big hand. He flips it over so he can twine our fingers together.
“It’s no problem. Really.”
Once we’ve eaten, we snuggle on the couch until it’s time to head to the doctor’s. I’m nervous as we get into the car, and I don’t look forward to explaining exactly how we ended up here.
Egorr glances at me as we drive. “I’ll be with you the whole time,” he says as we pull up to a red light, and he rubs my knee. “If you want that.”
I grip his hand. “Yes! Please don’t leave me.”
He chuckles and puts on the gas as the light turns green. “Don’t worry. I’ll never leave you.”
I don’t know if it’s what he intends, but I can almost hearforeverbehind his words, and it gives me more confidence for what lies ahead.
Finally, we’re in the doctor’s office. Egorr checks us in at the front desk, and then we sit down to wait.
The room is full of other monsters—a pregnant gargoyle, a swamp monster with a slimy swamp child, and on the far end, a large dragon who seems to have a cold. Every single one of them stares at us when Egorr wraps an arm around me, as if a mythical creature has stepped into their midst. I shrink back against his side, not used to all those eyes on me.
“It’s all right,” Egorr murmurs into my ear as he leans my head against his big chest.
I don’t think anyone is going to hurt me, but I like hiding in his side anyway so I can avoid their curious looks. Right now, I feel too vulnerable. Toohuman.
Finally, the nurse comes out and calls my name. She doesn’t hide her surprised expression as Egorr takes my hand and leads me through the door.
We’re deposited in one of the clinician rooms, and the nurse asks me to take off my pants and put on a hospital gown. Once I’m appropriately dressed, I lie down on the padded table. I already know this is going to be painfully awkward.
“Don’t worry.” Egorr rubs my hand where he sits beside the table. “I’m here.”
Eventually, the doctor joins us. She’s almost human-sized, but much taller thanks to her furry faun legs and black hooves. She has two small horns poking out of her hair, and a little tail flicks behind her as she introduces herself to us, shaking my hand and then Egorr’s.
“So tell me what happened,” she says, sitting down on a stool at the foot of the bed.
I swallow hard. “Well, I was a little too excited…”
“This is my fault,” Egorr interrupts. “I should have gone slower.”
I shoot him a chastising look, but he just shakes his head. I don’t want him to take this on himself, but I guess I can’t stop him now.
The faun doctor waves a hand at both of us. “It’s no one’s fault. These things happen.” She smiles at me. “Are you doing a trial marriage, then?”
I’m surprised by the personal question. “Yeah. I just moved in a few days ago.”
“Well, see? You couldn’t have known. This is all new to you.” She gently taps my knee. “Can you open your legs for me, Maddie? So I can take a look?”
I blush madly as I part my knees and let her peer under the hospital gown. She brings out a light and examines between my thighs, making a littlehmmsound.
“A perineal tear,” she pronounces, sliding her stool back. She taps my knee once more. “You can close up.”
