Page 47 of Heart of a Villain

Sayeda glanced behind Tayler, who was a couple of inches shorter than she was, but she felt like the smaller one. No one was looking in their direction, wondering why she’d commanded all of Tayler’s attention. Even Gage didn’t seem concerned as he strapped Grey into his booster seat.

She picked at her palm with the nails on her index and middle finger. “I’d like to…uh…get tested. Is that something you can help me with?”

“Of course,” Tayler said. “I’m guessing you’d like to keep it out of our in-house medical facility?”

“Would my information be secure?”

“Not even Julien can access it without your permission.”

“Then we can do it that way.”

“Is this precautionary, or do you think something is going on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are you sexually active?”

“Technically? No. The last time I, uh, had, uh, sex was with Adrían.”

“Since you’ve been in Sweden?”

“No. Since the last time I saw him.”

“Ten years ago. Okay.” Tayler, brows wrinkled, cocked her head to the side. “And you haven’t been with anyone since?”

“No.”

“What about before Adrían?”

“Adrían was my first.”

Tayler scanned her face. Then, her brows relaxed. “Has there been a time since Adrían that you might have been exposed to sexual activity, even if you didn’t want it?”

She barely nodded.

“Have you been tested since?”

“Fifteen times.”

“How long ago did it happen?”

“Two years ago.”

“And the tests have been consistently negative?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me more about why you want to get tested now,” Tayler continued. “Just so I know the best way to help you. No judgment or anything.”

“Because,” she glanced again, and all the cars were gone except for Gage’s and Ayesha’s, “I think I want to make love to Adrían. I haven’t had any…feelings like that for a long time. A long time. Then, something happened, and I thought they died completely. But Adrían gives me…sparks. I don’t want to hurt him by not being sure.”

“Is this more about hurting him, or do you think that you’ll one day finally reach a point where a negative result will help you feel less…grungy?”

Her head momentarily fell.

Tayler’s hand warmed her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”

“No, no. You’re right. I know what the tests say. I know, statistically, it’s improbable, but I’m afraid that how much I want Adrían won’t translate to the ability to enjoy being with him the way I used to. It’s not even a love thing. I just…need him.”

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