Free AFTERGLOW by Catherine Coulter

out, the pain damping everything.
    "I know," the voice said, "just hang on."
    What was that about the moped being stoned?
    She moaned again, feeling tears sting her eyes.
    Suddenly the movement stopped, and she was aware of being flat on her back on some sort of moving table. There were voices and faces peering down at her.
    "In here," a woman's clear voice said.
    The table stopped, and there was a man leaning over her. "Do you understand me, Miss?"
    She licked her lower lip. "Yes," she said.
    "Where does it hurt?"
    "My stomach."
    The face was gone, and suddenly she felt her clothes being pulled off.
    "What the hell! Chelsea!"
    It was David's voice, blank with surprise. He was leaning over her now, and the other man was gone. "What happened to you?"
    "Stoned," she managed. "Moped."
    She heard the first man tell him about her stomach.
    Suddenly she felt cool air on her chest. Dear God, they were stripping her in front of David. She yelled, "Stop it! Don't you dare take my clothes!"
    "Chelsea—" David's voice was low, soothing, immensely professional, and she hated it "—I've got to examine you, and I can't do it with your clothes on. Now, just hold still and relax. All right?"
    "No!" She tried to get up, but strong hands were on her shoulders, pressing her down. "Get away from me!"
    "I won't hurt you," David said, holding her as gently as he could. Damn it, he had to get her calmed down. "Please, Chelsea, hold still!"
    She was panting, the pain jabbing at her, making her want to yell. "Get out, David! You're not going to see me with no clothes on! Get out!"
    There were several moments of pandemonium.
    David drew a sharp breath. He leaned over her and took her face between his hands. "Listen to me!" He held her head until her eyes focused on his face. "No more of this damned nonsense, do you hear me? I am a doctor and you are now a patient and you're hurt. If you don't hold still, I'm going to belt you. You got that, Chelsea?"
    "I don't want you to," Chelsea said.
    "I don't give a damn. Now, will you hold still and try to act like a reasonable adult?"
    "I hate you."
    "Good, just hold still and try to cooperate." Oh, Lord, David thought, finally releasing her. "Your belly hurts?"
    "Yes."
    "I'm going to check it out now. Don't move!"
    David straightened and took a needle from Elsa, who was standing beside him. "Chelsea, you're going to feel a little prick. I'm just taking some blood."
    She didn't really feel anything, just a bit of odd pressure. "My stomach," she whispered. "It feels numb and hot at the same time."
    "I know. Just hold still." She heard him say something about crossing and typing, and something else about a crit.
    Chelsea felt her shorts and panties being dragged over her hips and down her legs. Her sneakers made a silly thumping noise when they hit the floor. She closed her eyes, feeling more humiliated and embarrassed than she ever had in her entire life. And she hurt.
    She gritted out, "The jerk was stoned! I was plotting, David, but it wasn't my fault. I was out of the way!"
    "I know. Don't worry now." David saw the pool of blood on her belly and motioned quickly to Elsa. Gently he swabbed away the blood. He saw the puncture mark immediately. There had been something sharp on the moped and it had gone into her just as if she'd been stabbed. But how deep? That was the important question.
    "Chelsea," he asked, "does this hurt?"
    "Yes," she whispered, flinching away from his fingers.
    She heard a woman's voice saying crisply, "Blood pressure 110/80, pulse 145."
    She saw David's head very close to her stomach. "Relax, Chelsea," he said, not looking at her. As gently as he could he probed the wound, trying to find the base. He hoped nothing vital had been penetrated. He didn't think so, but he wasn't certain. He said to the nurse, "Get an IV going now."
    His mind was sorting through options as he straightened and took out his stethoscope. He listened to her heart and lungs. Suddenly he heard her moan, and he