Valorous(53)

“I can’t wait.”





Chapter 10





Early on Monday morning, Flynn drives me into town for my appointment. I told him I’m too nervous about seeing a doctor to drive, and thankfully he didn’t push me. Despite the travel mug of coffee he made for me, I can’t stop yawning. We were up really late “celebrating” some more and then the alarm went off super early so I’d have time to shower and mentally prepare for this appointment.

We spent the whole day in bed yesterday, getting up only to shower and eat before going back for more. So in addition to being tired, I’m rather sore, too, which has me dreading the appointment that much more. I can’t even think about our exciting plans for later until the trip to the doctor is completed.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he says. “I know it’s traumatic for you, and I hate the idea of you doing something for me that makes you so stressed out.”

“It’s not just for you. It’s for me, too. It’ll give us the kind of freedom all newlyweds should have.”

He shifts in his seat as if he’s uncomfortable or something.

I glance down to notice he’s hard. “That’s all it takes?” I ask with a laugh.

“All you have to do is look at me, and I’m hard. But when you talk about our sexual freedom… Well, I’m only human.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t wear him out completely yesterday.”

“He’s amazingly resilient. Can’t keep a good man down.”

I’m giggling madly by now as I engage in verbal foreplay for the first time in my life—and quickly realize I’m dealing with a master.

He brings our joined hands to his lips and nibbles on my fingers. “Yesterday was so much fun.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Tonight will be even more so.”

“I can’t imagine more.”

He has nothing to say to that, which leads me to wonder what he’s imagining. I know I’m a neophyte at all things sex, but I kept up with him pretty well until we finally fell asleep around four a.m. I worry about keeping him happy in bed. Will I be enough for him for the rest of our lives? God, I hope so. If he ever cheats on me, I’ll die.

My stomach aches when I recall the story he told me about infidelity on both sides when his marriage ended. He said then that giving his now ex-wife a taste of her own medicine hadn’t been his finest hour.

“What’s going on over there?”

I force a smile for him. “Nothing. Doctor jitters.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

“Yeah.” I tell him what he needs to hear, but the worries weigh on me and stay with me when we go into a big brick building. The office staff greets us with utmost professionalism, even if they stare at Flynn like starstruck girls. We’ve agreed that I should remove my ring while we’re there, so the news of our engagement doesn’t leak before we’re prepared to go public. My hand already feels naked without the gorgeous ring I’ve zipped into a pocket in my purse.

After I complete a medical history form, get weighed and have my blood pressure taken, I’m shown to a room and asked to take a seat. The doctor will be in momentarily.

I sit in one of the chairs, and Flynn sits next to me, holding my hand.

Thankfully, she doesn’t make us wait long. A knock on the door precedes the doctor entering the room. She is younger than I expected her to be, a true Southern California girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

“It’s so nice to meet you both,” she says, shaking our hands.

“Doc,” Flynn says, “you and the rest of the world know what Natalie’s been through in the past, but you should also be aware that this is the first time she’s been to a doctor since the night of her rape exam. She’s extremely nervous, which is why she asked me to be here.”

“Of course, I completely understand. Natalie, what brings you here today, other than the fact that you’re long overdue for an exam?”

“I… I’m interested in birth control.”

“Is this your first sexual relationship?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“And you’ve been using protection?”

“We have,” he says for me.

“Okay, that’s good to know.” She asks about my periods and if I’ve had any health issues, which, thankfully, I haven’t. “All right, then.” She retrieves a gown from a cabinet and places it on the table. “We’ll need everything off, okay?”