rtification. She couldn't bring herself to move
ith apparent calm, though his pulse wa
is voice steady but with an underlying
een them, loaded with meaning
s a doctor who'd see
d he had
just his clinical wa
positioned herself on the bed, bu
an said, his voice growing rougher despit
pered, her hands clutchi
m his body. His breathing had become slightly uneven, and when sh
he said softly. "F
ana squeezed her eyes shut and slowly
n saw her, his ja
swollen, clear evidence of th
tly, the words escaping b
body went rigid
tarily, including the inti
i-inflammatory cream from the nearby medical
the swelling," he mur
flesh, applying the cool cream with gentle circ
mortification, she felt herself responding-not
ite everything, despite the clinical setting, desp
smile tugged at the
while continuing his ministrations. "There are no other symptoms, no rashes
, his touch both clinical and intimate, watchi
nd removed his gloves, Alana q
he said, walking toward t
ts, desperate to escape the roo
out to flee, the door
, her expression shifting from mild an
doing here? When did yo
d. The woman's tone suggested fami
an replied casually, but there w
d between Stephan and Alana with growing alarm. "You exa
Alana like a
n't a
ver been
a finally found her voice, h
look at her, his g
aid I was
voice cracked with out
the real doctor-
u today. This is my son, and what he's done is
said, "I may not be a doctor, but I do have a
essly, "Stop talking nonsense! Tel
he looked at Alana. "Well, that would be q
tart fr
veal, immediately interrupted,
d. Even now, she was s
ately turned her
otect him. What exactly happen
face burning with embarrassment. "Could you please just give m
t the truth about what had happened between them, Alana wa
em suspiciously, clearly sensing un
y the way. Let me give you a th
nation, Stephan remained in the room, that in
rely too pleased with himself for someone who had j
er son, "you should wait outside while
ly, but as he headed for the door,
er was unmistakabl
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