Page 28 of Ruthless Beasts

“One hundred and forty-two,” Mercer offered, because of course they could see it. They were all giants, and I was severely height-impaired.

“I hate you.”

He shrugged it off as we entered the room, and the nurse had me take a seat on the table. She put a cuff on my arm, measuring my blood pressure. It was shockingly normal, considering the amount of stress I was feeling right this second. All eyes were on me, watching, waiting, expecting answers I didn’t know how to give, and I knew the minute she left, questions would flow.

After asking a few questions and taking a few notes, she took out a paper gown. “Put this on, opening in the front. Everything off, this goes over your lap.”

Hole, please swallow me now.

She whistled as she left, unaware of the fact I was literally turning redder than a tomato. I didn’t want to turn my head to the side, but the weight of three sets of eyes were heavy against me. When I finally looked, not a single one of them were amused.

“So if I didn’t get that call about an appointment, how long before you were going to wait to tell me?” Adam crossed his arms over his chest.

“And what does why choose mean?” Mercer added.

“I didn’t know this was this type of appointment.” Ace looked a little pale. “Why did no one tell me?”

“Yeah, well, we’re all a little confused, too,” Adam replied.

“Can you all just…” I used my finger and twirled it, trying to get them to turn around.

With a huff, Adam turned, and the others followed. He was facing the wall when he spoke. “You know, if you’ve seen one naked body, you’ve seen them all.”

“Actually, I don’t find that to be tru—“ Adam elbowed Mercer in the side.

I struggled to remove my clothing in a rush, tucking my underwear and bra into my shirt before folding it into my pants, as if Adam hadn’t bought me the underwear with the other clothes he provided me. Still, underwear on a hanger and underwear I’ve worn just felt different. “I am not comfortable with any of this.”

“Neither am I,” Ace mumbled.

“Why are we here again?” Mercer asked.

“If I have to be here, so do you.” Adam grumbled. “Can we turn around?”

I adjusted the paper cloth over my lap. “I’d rather you not, but if you must, and for the record, I didn’t ask any of you to be here. That was your choice.”

They all turned around, skimming over me sitting lamely in a paper gown, about to go through the most mortifying experience of my life, with them to witness. I couldn’t hold the panic at bay any longer. Until we reached this point, I could pretend like none of this existed, but now? All their eyes pierced me, seeing me in a way that was completely demoralizing, and why hadn’t the ground opened up and sucked me in? Why was I here with them? My chest tightened, my fingers shook, I couldn’t keep my legs from bouncing up and down as I struggled for air.

“Breathe, Belle,” Adam barked, but I couldn’t. All I could do was look at my socks, the only piece of clothing I still had on, and wonder what would happen when we left here. What would they do with me? How would they dispose of me now that I was useless and used?

A hand gripped mine, squeezing it, and when I looked up, I was shocked to see Ace. The roughness of his voice put all my focus on him. “Find one good thing and concentrate on it. You can do that, can’t you?”

Could I? I wasn’t sure when my thoughts and emotions were everywhere and anything good I once had had been gone from my life for some time yet. I closed my eyes, focusing on the feel of his touch, of a hand holding mine, something I hadn’t had ever in this lifetime, and let my breaths deepen until they slowed, and the panic receded.

The knock at the door made me jump, but he only tightened his grip. The handle jiggled, the door opened, and the doctor walked in, stopping two steps in with her hands on her chest. “Oh my. There is a lot of…” Her eyes traveled over each of the men crammed into the space. “The nurse warned me you had an unconventional relationship.”

When she said unconventional relationship, Ace raised a brow, confused. I would not explain it to him. It was the cover I used so they could all be in here, and I didn’t have the energy for more lies. Instead, I offered, “They could leave.”

“Oh no. They are fine. Excuse me.” She squeezed by Mercer's looming frame. “Do we know which one is the daddy?”

All the men paled, like my reality just now hit them. Before I could speak though, Adam’s strangled voice spoke. “I am.”

“Lovely.”

“Yeah. Lovely,” I muttered.

She pulled a tray out that had been hiding in a corner, with equipment on it, and my nerves began to rapid fire. Ace squeezed my fingers, and it was odd having him offer me comfort when I thought he hated me. His brows pinched. “What are you doing with that?”

She dried her hands from where she stood at the sink, then snapped on gloves. Looking over her shoulder, she answered him. “Just a typical exam.”

---