Free Give Me Desire (Reason Series) by Zoey Derrick Page B

when I get home. Actually, I'll ask Celeste to show you the FaceTime app on your iPod. We can video chat tonight, if you'd like."
    My heart patters a bit at the thought of seeing him again when we talk tonight, and I smile wide.  
    "Good. Alright, I wish you luck with the rest of your appointment, and I will talk to you soon."
    "Okay, bye."  
    "Bye," he says.
    The iPad beeps twice and he's gone.  
    Within a matter of seconds Dr. A. is back in the room.  
    "Thank you. For letting him call and join us." I say to her.  
    "You're welcome," she says and smiles.  
    I hand her back the iPad and she sets it down behind her. "Shall we finish this up?"
    I nod and lie back down.

TWENTY-ONE
    After about ten minutes, she's done doing whatever she needed to do down there. It didn't hurt exactly, but it was very uncomfortable.  
    "Everything looks fine. You're closer to eighteen weeks along and everything looks great."  
    I sit up. "Can I ask you something?" I say and blush.  
    She shakes a little in silent laughter, and an all-knowing smile spreads across her lips. "Of course."
    "I'm wondering..." I can't seem to find the words I want to say.
    "You're wondering about sex?"  
    Oh, God, is it really that obvious? The idea has crossed my mind once or twice over the last couple of weeks. I nod slowly, certain I've turned cherry red at this point.  
    "Don't be embarrassed, Vivienne. It's a perfectly natural question to ask, and every expectant mother asks the same question. The answer is yes, you can have sex."  
    I let out the breath I’ve been holding. "Can I ask you something else?"  
    "Anything, Vivienne."
    "I'm not sure I want to know the answer to this, but I have to know..."
    "The answer is no. When you came in the last time, I was deeply concerned about it too, so I checked almost immediately. There were no signs of trauma to indicate that."  
    I feel a tear streak down my face. I’d wanted to ask before I left the hospital two weeks ago, but it wasn't something I felt comfortable enough to ask. I’d healed so fast that I wasn’t sure I would have noticed if Riley had succeeded in...  
    I can't even think the words.  
    "Thank you," I say quietly.  
    "Have you talked to anyone yet?"  
    I shake my head.  
    "It would probably be a good idea if you-"
    "No, I don't want to talk to someone. I don't remember much about what happened to me, and I don't want to relive the memories that I do have over and over again while someone analyzes me. My past is my past. I can't change that fact. And I truly seem to be better about my reactions to certain things." I take a deep breath. "Andrew, the man outside, for example, doesn't scare me. Neither do Red or Connor, for that matter.  
    “Mikah is cautious, sometimes too cautious, but he'd figured out a lot of my triggers before. I've talked to him about it. Even a little bit about my past with Riley." I cringe internally at the name. "What happened with my mother is old history."  
    She is watching me carefully. "You're a strong woman, Vivienne. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently. I admire your courage and even your determination. But know that we can't always solve things on our own."
    "I know, and Mikah has offered the same thing. I really just think that I've managed to process this all on my own, in my own way. Something I've always done."  
    She nods. "Okay then. I will leave it be, but know that I'm only a phone call away. If you need me for anything, all you have to do is call."
    I smile and nod. "Thank you."
    "You're welcome. How's your shoulder? And your wrist?"  
    I smile again at the change of subject. She knows when to stop, and I really like that about her.  
    "They're great. I don't have any problems moving my arm, and my wrist has been fine since I left here."  
    "Good. I will allow you to stop wearing the brace.” Considering that I haven’t been wearing it, until this morning, I try not to smile as she continues. “If you can, I'd recommend some