Page 100 of Primal God

“He’s the head of anesthesia.”

“Two, are you sure surgery is needed?”

“I am.”

“Fine. Three,” I give him a cheeky smile. “Do you ever wear your scrubs around the house?”

“Why? Do you want to play doctor,minha vida?”

My cheeks heat at the use of my nickname, but I nod. “Yeah, I think I do.”

He laughs. “Noted. Now, I’m going to sign your arm and leave before I have to hide an erection in these scrubs.”

He moves to the other side of the bed and pulls a small marker from his pocket. He gives me a small wink after he writes his initials above my wrist.

“See you in a few, Lilith.”

I’m still smiling when an older, portly man enters.

“Ms. Wolfe, I’m Dr. Gerald Barnett, and I’ll be your anesthesiologist today. I understand you’re having surgery on your right wrist.”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m going to sign your arm, and then Marilynn will bring you back.”

He signs my arm just above Dimitri’s signature and is gone a moment later. Marilynn must be waiting just outside the curtain because she strolls in.

“Last chance to use the restroom before we go back.”

“I think I’m good.”

“Okay, then let’s go.”

She helps me put on a white surgical bonnet over my hair. I feel silly, but it looks like everyone is wearing them. She unlocks my bed and wheels me through a set of double doors. Dr. Barnett waits outside of a room and steps aside so Marilynn can push the bed inside.

The OR suite is super white and sterile looking, which I guess is the whole point. There are a few people in the room that don’t pay me any attention. To them, this is just another day. To me, it’s scary and a bit overwhelming.

I take in a calming breath.

I can do this.

I trust Dimitri.

Marilynn says, “Lili, we’re going to have you move from this bed to the surgical table.”

“Sorry my boobs are all over the place,” I say with a laugh as I move to the table.

“Nah. We’ve seen it all, honey. Okay, now scoot just a bit higher until your head is on the pillow.”

I do as she says and take in another calming breath, which, honestly, doesn’t help as much as I’d like.

Dr. Barnett says, “Okay, Lili. We’re going to start a drip in your IV that will help you go to sleep. Your eyes are going to start feeling heavy any moment?—”

20

Dimitri

Lilith is fully under anesthesia when I enter the OR suite. She looks so fucking helpless and it pulls something deep in my chest. Mostly because I know I’ve been avoiding her the last few days. And I know she knows. Fuck. But I can’t be around her when I don’t know how to solve the problem that was brought to my attention. The problem of getting her out of the fucking marriage contract…

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