Page 9 of Ivory Crown

“No, it’s okay. If it’s important, let’s do it now.”

“Alright.” He nodded, then turned toward me. “She should probably go to the hospital for regular check-ups.”

I stepped forward, a scowl forming on my lips. “She’s been feeling unwell lately,” I interjected smoothly. “I don’t want her stressing out more than necessary.”

Dr. Byrd looked at me for a moment, his gaze sharp. Then he nodded once, all business. “I’ll make sure she gets everything she needs here,” he promised.

Satisfied, I leaned against the wall, arms crossed over my chest. This was my world, where I pulled the strings. And right now, I was pulling them to keep Jade safe—safe from my family, safe from Caruso, safe from the world.

And I was keeping our baby safe too.

“Okay, Jade,” Dr. Byrd said, his voice pulling me back to the present. “I need you to undress from the waist down for me.”

My eyes flickered to her as she hesitated for a split second before unbuttoning her jeans. She slid them off with as much grace as one could muster in such a vulnerable position. My gaze lingered on the curves of her hips, the smooth expanse of her skin now bare in the soft light filtering through the blinds.

“Here,” Dr. Byrd said gently, handing her the edge of the duvet. “Cover yourself with this.”

Jade took it, draping it over herself, and lay back on the bed. I watched every motion, my throat tightening slightly at the sight of her vulnerability. This was a side of her I protected fiercely—from others, and from myself.

“Can you spread your legs for me?” he asked, his tone professional as he donned his gloves.

She complied, and I knew this wasn’t the time or place, but damn if I didn’t feel a surge of possessiveness seeing another man touch her, even if it was for medical reasons. When he applied lube to his gloved fingers and carefully inserted them inside her, her body tensed, and she let out a small groan, her eyes locking onto mine.

“Good, just relax,” Dr. Byrd instructed calmly.

But relaxing was the last thing I could do. Seeing her like this, in my bed, under someone else’s touch, stirred something primal within me. I wanted to claim her, remind her who she belonged to, even as I stood silent, a specter in the room.

“Everything seems normal here,” the doctor murmured more to himself than anyone else, his focus never wavering from his task.

I forced myself to stay still, to not react. But inside, my blood was boiling, thoughts racing with dark, hungry desires that both repulsed and enticed me. Jade’s eyes were still fixed on me, and I wondered if she could see the storm brewing inside me, if she knew the effect she had—even now, when we should be thinking only of our child’s health.

“I’m going to use a speculum now,” Dr. Byrd said as he removed his fingers from her.

Jade’s eyes widened slightly at the instrument he held up – a duck-billed contraption that looked more like a medieval torture device than anything meant for medical purposes. But she nodded, biting her lower lip in trepidation.

“Okay,” she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

I ran a hand over my face, my fingers pressing into the tension knotting my forehead. I watched as Dr. Byrd carefully inserted the speculum, his movements slow and deliberate. Jade’s breath hitched, and again, she turned her gaze to me.

The raw vulnerability in her eyes was like a punch to my gut. It was always there, underlying everything she did, but seeing it laid bare now was almost too much to bear. I stepped closer to the bed unable to resist any longer.

“I’m here,” I told her quietly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. Her fingers curled around mine tightly. Whether it was out of fear or comfort, I didn’t know.

The moment stretched on, an eternity packed into minutes, until finally, Dr. Byrd finished his examination. He peeled off his gloves with a snap, breaking the tension.

“Everything looks good, Jade. We’ll keep monitoring closely,” he said, his words somehow managing to pierce the thick atmosphere that had settled around us. “I’m going to take a swab and send it to the lab for culture tests. This is just a standard procedure to ensure there are no infections that could harm you or the baby.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Jade replied, her voice steady despite the ordeal.

“Of course,” he nodded, then turned to me as he finished up. “Dante, can I have a word?”

“Sure,” I answered curtly, my gaze lingering on Jade for a heartbeat longer before following him out.

“Take your prenatal vitamins, and I’ll be back next week to check on you again,” Dr. Byrd instructed Jade, his professional tone masking any concern he might have harbored. “But I recommend going to the hospital for an ultrasound sooner rather than later. Just to be safe.”

“Understood,” I said, my voice a low growl that didn’t quite mask the protective edge. The last thing I wanted was for Jade to feel any more discomfort than necessary.

Dr. Byrd nodded, giving Jade one final reassuring smile before he started to pack his things.

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