Page 82 of Princess of Pride
He arches one brow. “You wouldn’t have known you’d react that way. Have you ever exercised vigorously?”
Now he wants to shame me for my lack of cardio? I turn my head away.
“Have you?” He squeezes me.
“No. Happy? I walk and do yoga.” I’ve done those things a handful of times. For a girl who used to ride regularly, I’ve become a sloth.
“That is my point. You may have a condition and haven’t been aware of it because you’ve never overexerted yourself.”
I glower. Being humiliated after my first time having oral sex was not at all how I imagined it. “If you don’t let me up, I’ll scream.”
“And who do you think will come for you? No one—unless I allow it. And right now, the only person allowed to come in here is my doctor.”
“You’re overreacting. At least let me sit up.”
He gives me a hard stare then lifts my upper body and tucks me against him on the couch, his arm firmly over my shoulders.
“Gee, thanks.”
“If we leave this room, people will see you. There will be more talk. I assume you don’t want that. Only Lorna knows about what happened and to bring the doctor to myoffice discreetly.”
“Lorna knows what we did?” My entire body sizzles.
“Not the details. Just that you passed out.”
“I’m sure she can guess.” I eye his mussed, wavy locks. “Fix your hair. You look a mess. You never look a mess.”
His brows lower, and then he runs his hands through his hair, looking sexy as ever while I sit here ghostly, I’m sure, in a wet slip, no bra, no panties. I can’t imagine what my hair looks like.
Hate him.
“Put your suit jacket on,” I bark.
His eyes widen at my bossiness. “Why?”
“It’ll look better. You couldn’t have done anything sexual with me if you’re in all your clothes.”
Amusement flickers across his face. “Only one of us needs to be naked for me to violate you.”
I close my eyes, ignoring how his words stir things in me that I want to pretend don’t exist. “If this is what happens every time we’re sexual, I’m never doing it again.”
He snorts. Snorts! Implying I can’t control myself when it comes to him. As if I can’t say no. Lachlan is about to learn an unfamiliar word.
But in the back of my mind, worry creeps in. What if somethingiswrong with me? What if I can’t ever have sex? What would that mean for life and this marriage? Will Lachlan end it? Do I want that? And my parents… What will they do if he returns me as defective?
20
A FOUNTAIN OF TEARS
I roll over in bed. The plush covers rustle with the movement and the doctor’s humiliating diagnosis from last night replays in my waking mind.
Hyperventilation during an orgasm or intense sexual activity can reduce the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain, which may cause a person to faint.
That, along with the fact that I was drugged at the airport, endured high levels of stress, and didn’t drink enough water, were all contributing factors.
Lachlan was relieved it wasn’t my heart or my blood pressure. He truly seemed to care. But then I heard his speech to Wes about investing in the people who work for him. I imagine I fall under a category labeledthepeople I own.
Of course, Lachlan, being the control freak that he is, issued rules for our sexual activity.
