Dangers of Love (The Scottish Billionaires #5) - M. S. Parker Page 0,37

around Thanksgiving?”

“Yes,” she said slowly.

“One of them mentioned that there had been a woman who’d disappeared while they’d all still been in Iran. That was me.”

The doctor’s face drained of color. “Please tell me this isn’t–”

“No,” I assured her quickly. “No, they didn’t rape me. But that’s why things were so crazy around my last period. I was taken on my way to the airport and was held for six days before I was rescued. It was after that that I had sex.”

“The man in the waiting room?” she asked.

I nodded, a different sort of blush stealing into my cheeks. “He’s one of the men who saved me.”

“I am so glad you’re okay.” Her voice was tight, and I suddenly realized that she was trying not to cry.

“Thank you.”

After a beat, she was back to professional mode. “My recommendation is that we remove it now, and after we get the test results, we can discuss if you want me to reinsert it. If that’s the case, you can decide when you want to schedule that appointment.”

It took me a beat to figure out that the last part of her statement referred to what I chose to do about the pregnancy if my test was positive. I’d have a different set of timetables if I decided to terminate than I would if I chose to have the baby. I really hadn’t consciously let myself think that far ahead yet, and I didn’t want to until I knew for certain and talked to Eoin.

I kept my response noncommittal. “That makes sense.”

When I went back out into the waiting room after everything was done, I found Eoin sitting in a corner chair, pretending to read something on his phone while the expression in his eyes was far away. I wasn’t surprised. He had a number of reasons to look dazed, this current circumstance just one of several.

I barely took two steps before he was on his feet, all at once totally present and focused on me. My stomach clenched, surprising me with the intensity of my desire to touch him. To have him touch me. Not necessarily in a sexual way, just the need to feel his presence in a tangible way.

He must have felt the same because he took my hand, his fingers tightening around mine, and didn’t let go until we were getting into the car. He started it but left it in park as he half-turned toward me.

“Are you okay?”

I was surprised – and a little pleased – that his first question hadn’t been about when we’d get the results from the blood test.

“I am. Apparently, my IUD…” I searched for the right word, “moved.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

I hitched a shoulder. “It’s not common, but it does happen from time to time. We’re supposed to…check after our periods, but I didn’t get a chance to because that was the day I was kidnapped.”

If I hadn’t been watching him so closely, I might’ve missed the tightening of his jaw when I mentioned my kidnapping. Not once did I see, however, any sort of disgust or anger or annoyance.

I knew a lot of men didn’t even like to think about the female reproductive system outside of the ways it affected them, but Eoin just listened. I was grateful for it, especially since I’d been a little nervous about telling him such private things. Our areas of intimacy weren’t exactly progressing in a traditional manner.

“It wasn’t because we…” He gestured between us. “I mean, I didn’t do this to you, did I?”

I shook my head. “No, it most likely happened during my period.”

The relief on his face told me how worried he’d been about that. This time, I was the one offering comfort. After a moment, I kept going.

“Since we don’t know for sure yet if I’m pregnant, Dr. Rhimes removed it. She’s put a rush on the blood test so we should have an answer later today. If I’m not pregnant, I’ll schedule an appointment to have another IUD put in. If I am…”

I let the sentence trail off because he didn’t need me to say what would happen if I was. We’d have a different sort of talk between us then.

“All right.” He kissed my hand and released it. “Do you feel okay?”

“I do.”

“Then I was wondering if you’d like to come with me to see my new place.” He didn’t look at me as he said it, and I knew he was trying for nonchalance, but