Page 25 of Examining the Bond

Ziel: Did you wear sexy underwear?

I snort a laugh and reply.

What underwear?

I picked out my laciest thong in the hope Skylar might find out what I’m hiding underneath this skirt, but Ziel doesn’t need to know that. He knows way too much as it is.

After a bit of back and forth with him that helps calm my nerves, a nurse appears around the corner and calls my name. She’s the same one who gave me the injection yesterday.

An electric shock shoots through my system. My heart lurches as I get shakily to my feet, heat blooming around me.

“How are you doing today?” The nurse asks as she leads me down the hall to an exam room.

It’s across from the one I was in yesterday but nearly identical inside. Exam table, small desk in the corner, and a chair in the one opposite.

“I’m good,” I say automatically, not in the mood for small talk. For some reason, the temperature in the exam room is hotter than the lobby. That, or I’m having a hot flash like yesterday when I first saw Skylar.

“Good,” she says as I hop up on the exam table, her sweet, professional demeanor never failing. I keep my knees clenched together to avoid giving her a free show. “Did you notice any side effects from the injection you got yesterday?”

Side effects.

I think back to the shower last night, of how I fucked myself to the thought of Dr. Morales, and my face flames.

“Umm…” I’m not sure if the insane libido had anything to do with the injection. I might find the courage to bring it up to Dr. Morales when she comes in, but there’s no way I’m telling this beta nurse how I nearly crawled out of my skin last night. “No. No, I don’t think so.”

Her smile brightens. “I’ll let Dr. Morales know you’re here, and she’ll be in shortly.”

The second I’m alone, my pulse lurches, and I begin to wonder if I can shatter apart from nerves.

That, or combust from impatience.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SKYLAR

“Dr. Morales…” A voice at the door makes me jump, and I look up from my desk to see Mackenzie’s face peeking into my office. “Miss Saunders is ready for you in Room 3.”

She waves a familiar manila folder at me.

“Ah, yes.” I shove to my feet and cross to the door in a few steps, taking the offered chart. “Thank you.”

With a nod she disappears, leaving me alone. I stare down at the file in my hands, flipping to the cover page with Riann’s name and information on it. I’ve been both dreading this moment and desperately waiting for it ever since she left yesterday.

Now that it’s here, my nerves are on high alert. I haven’t been able to get her off my mind for a single minute.

The tiny logical part of my brain reminds me that it’s not too late to ask Dr. Martin to take over this case. At least thatway, there’s no chance of me losing my job if I accidentally do something stupid… like act on any of the impulses that have been driving my alpha instincts wild.

But the larger part—the part driven by my alpha urges—is pissed that I haven’t bolted out of my office and down the hall yet.

I need to see her.

The desire throbs in my chest, radiating through my bones. If I deny myself the chance to be close to her, I know I’ll only be hurting myself.

Before I can debate the issue any longer, I turn and march out of my office, my focus zeroed in on Exam Room 3 and the patient waiting for me.

The beautiful, mysterious patient who could very well be my mate in another life…

I curse internally, barely able to compose myself enough to knock on the exam room door. The smell of sweet, mouth-watering marshmallows spills out into the hall, wrapping around me, assaulting my senses. I enter before she has the chance to call for me.