Page 16 of If The Fates Allow
“I was born…”
It was her turn to laugh openly. “Are you mocking me?”
“Most certainly,” he replied. “Now, open your mouth.”
It was always the same thing. They wanted to see if there was something constricting her throat. A growth in the inner lining of the mouth. Anything they could attribute her breathing issues to other than asthma.
“In addition to Mr. Abernathy, I saw two physicians when I was younger, and they also checked my mouth and throat. There’s nothing there. I have asthma, and that is all.”
He stared at her, his eyes narrowing as if she were between the hairs of a crossbow. The doctor very much did not like being told no. “Open your mouth, please.”
“I assure you I have a completely normal—”
He gripped her chin, catching her off guard once more. “Openfor me.”
The demand gave no room for thought, nor did his strong fingers forcing her jaw open. Eyes wide, and taken aback, she obeyed. There wasno fighting, no fussing. The muscles in her jaw simply went lax, opening for him as ordered.
“Ah, is that how it’s to be?” His deep voice dropped an octave, and scanning her throat, his tongue darted out to lick his lips. “I think you take great joy in being contradictory.”
The swipe of his tongue across that perfectly formed full bottom lip nearly had Willa groaning. The movement was so very chaste, yet the most carnal thing she had ever witnessed. A throbbing heat speared low in her belly, and she squirmed, unable to hold still.
“But if that’s how you wish to proceed with our sessions, then I am ready and more than capable of rising to the challenge,” he continued, this time grazing his teeth over said lip. “In fact, I feel as though I might rather enjoy it.” His gaze rose slowly to meet her own. “I think you will, too.”
Staring at him, something tugged at the heart buried deep in her chest. It burned hot and fast, the pressure of its heat squeezing her very soul.
Noah released his hold on her chin. “Don’t you agree?”
Agree?
Agree to what?
“Y-yes?” she stammered, wondering what in the world was wrong with her. Overheated. Yes, that must be it. She had simply become overheated while he examined her throat. Obviously, it was stifling in the room since Noah—Dr. Anderson—removed his coat directly upon arriving, and the heat was going straight to her head.
“Good.” Rising from the sofa, Noah returned to his bag left propped on one of the parlor’s end tables. “You have a small amount of scar tissue in the back of your throat. Can you tell me how that happened?”
“No?” She swallowed, not feeling anything. “I would often choke on my food when I was little, and then the whole episode would go straight into a breathing attack. Mr. Abernathy told me it was there, even though I don’t feel it. He said it was probably from overexerting myself while coughing.”
Noah made a rumbling noise, and she couldn’t tell if the sound meant that he agreed with the assessment or not. “Do you have scars anywhere else on your body?” he asked.
“No?” Why did she sound so unsure? It was her blasted body, and she would know if there were scars somewhere. “No.”
“Hmm, perhaps I should conduct a more thorough examination. We might need to bring your mother in to chaperone for this next part.”
Good heavens.
“Is that type of exam really necessary?”
“Yes, I think so.”
Willa nearly shouted in relief when Lucy barged in waving a piece of paper. “Mr. Richards is coming for a visit!”
“Why?” It was a stupid question. Willa knew exactly why. She had made the short list of possible wives. “I mean, when?”
“Father just received word.” Winded, Lucy paused to catch her breath. “In two days. He’s going to spend the afternoon with us.”
The zipper on Noah’s bag zinged closed with such finality that both she and Lucy turned to him. “I’m also scheduled to return in two days for a follow-up,” he said.
Lucy’s face fell. “Well, surely you can come on a different day?”
