Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

“A week or so,” I hedged. “Just a lot of nausea and fatigue at this point, though. I haven’t vomited in a few days.”

“Good. And you’ve been keeping your fluid intake high?” I nodded. Jace had forced Gatorade and water on me for the past week. “Perfect. This bug has been one that likes to linger, but you should be good in a few more days hopefully.”

She popped on her gloves and told me to sit back, doing the breast exam first. I grimaced as she felt me up, my boobs feeling tender and sore.

“When was your last period again?” she asked casually as she felt around my areola.

“I haven’t had one in over two years. The implant stopped them after about twelve months.”

“No spotting during that time?”

“Nope. Not a single drop in two years.” And I hadn’t missed it the entire time.

“Scoot down for me and we’ll get your smear done, then we can exchange the implant for you,” she requested, and her nurse started putting everything on a little tray for her easy access.

I scooted my ass down to the edge of the table and put my feet in the stirrups. I was glad the sheet was still over my lap so I didn’t have to see her face as she examined me. The speculum went in and I tried not to tense up, knowing from experience it only made it more uncomfortable, but it was cold and metal and I couldn’t keep my ass from clenching as her gloved hands touched my inner thighs.

I felt her doing her thing, then she was lifting her head. “You’re sexually active, right?”

“Yes,” I said, drawing out the word because there was something about her tone that had me suddenly on edge.

“Only one partner?”

My eyes widened. “I’ve only ever been with my boyfriend,” I assured her. “We broke up for a few months, but we’ve been back together for like six weeks now.”

“And you’ve been having sex?”

I leaned up on my elbows, looking down at her with terrified eyes. “Yes. Why? What’s wrong? Do I have an STD? Oh fuck, I have an STD, don’t I?” Tears stung my eyes. “He said he wasn’t with anyone else while we were apart. Did he give me something—”

Her eyes softened, and she was shaking her head before I’d even started my freak-out. “No. Everything looks great down here. It’s just…” My heart was pounding, and I felt light-headed. “Sometimes the implant can finish early. Sometimes they are defective. Sometimes…”

“What the fuck are you saying?” I cried out, unable to take her hedging a second longer. “Spit it out, damn it.”

“Your cervix is soft and, with how sensitive your breasts were when I was examining them, I’m fairly sure you’re pregnant.”

I sat straight up on the exam table, not even caring that the speculum was still in me. “No! No way. You’re wrong. I can’t be pregnant. I can’t. You are wrong.”

“Just take it easy,” she soothed. “Let me finish up the smear, and then we can do a really quick pregnancy test.”

“I can’t,” I moaned as I let the nurse push me back onto the pillow so the doctor could finish her exam. “This is crazy. I’m not pregnant.”

The nurse patted my hand. “We’ll get you all sorted out,” she promised, her wise eyes full of kindness.

“I’m about to go on tour,” I muttered, not sure whether I was telling her or talking to myself. “I still haven’t decided if I even want to move in with my boyfriend yet. My dad and I are just now starting to have a normal relationship. What the hell am I going to do with a baby right now?”

There was a tap on the door just as the doctor was standing and I was closing my le

gs. The door cracked open, just enough for whoever was on the other side to speak. “Hey, Kin?” Gray’s voice called out, and I screeched. “Take it easy, I’m not coming in. We heard you yelling over here earlier, and Kassa wanted me to find out if you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” I shouted at him. “Go away.”

“You sure?” His voice sounded like he didn’t believe me, and I had to swallow the rising panic because he must have heard it. “Kassa is getting dressed. She can come in and sit with you if you need her to.”

“No!” I rushed to tell him. “No. You two go on. I still have to get my implant replaced.” The doctor opened her mouth, and I shot her a glare, cutting her off, mentally screaming at her not to say a single word about my potential pregnancy. There was no way in hell I wanted Gray Knight to find out I might be pregnant before I even had time to absorb that possibility.

“We’ll wait for you in the waiting room,” he assured me.

“No, no,” I told him. “You two just go ahead and finish what you need to do. I’ll call an Uber.”