While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 The Burner Phone

The room was thick with silence.

Dorian’s hand was still in the drawer. The pistol was still in his grip. Veyra stood frozen by the bathroom door, wrapped in nothing but a thin towel, her wet hair dripping onto her shoulders.

She had just stepped out of the shower. Her skin was still flushed pink from the hot water. The towel barely reached mid-thigh. Her legs were bare. Her collarbone was exposed. She felt naked even though she was technically covered.

Dorian’s eyes moved over her. Just for a second. Then he looked away.

He turned his head sharply, like he had been burned. His jaw tightened. His hand finally came out of the drawer, empty. The pistol was gone. He had tucked it away.

"I didn’t hear you knock," Veyra said. Her voice was hoarse. Her throat was still tight from the shower, from the crying, from the rage.

"You didn’t lock the door." His voice was clipped. Controlled. He was looking at the wall. At the window. Anywhere but at her.

She blinked. She had been so upset after Eleanor’s words, after smashing the shampoo bottle, that she had forgotten to turn the lock. Stupid. Careless.

"Right," she said. "Sorry."

Dorian cleared his throat. He took a step toward the door. His movements were stiff. Like he was forcing himself to walk normally.

"The doctor will be here in five minutes," he said. "Dr. Harrison. He needs to examine you. And Lily."

"Okay."

He walked past her. Close enough that she could smell him. Cedar and something clean. And then he stopped.

She saw his nostrils flare. Just slightly. He was breathing in. The scent of her. Soap and shampoo and something else. Something that was just her.

He stood there for a moment. His back was to her. His shoulders were tense.

Then he walked out of the room. The door closed behind him.

In the hallway, Dorian leaned against the wall. He pressed his palm flat against the cool surface. He exhaled. A long, hot breath. The breath he had been holding since he saw her standing there in nothing but a towel.

His heart was pounding. He could not remember the last time his heart had pounded like that.

He pushed off the wall and walked away.

Inside the room, Veyra stood frozen for a moment longer. Then her brain caught up with her body.

Oh Gosh.

She was wearing a towel. A small towel. Her hair was wet. Her skin was flushed. She looked like she had just stepped out of a romance novel cover.

He must think she was trying to seduce him.

Her face went hot. She pressed her hands to her cheeks. They were burning.

"I need to explain," she whispered to herself. "I need to tell him it wasn’t on purpose."

She locked the door. Turned the deadbolt. Pressed her forehead against the wood.

She stayed there for a full minute. Then she pushed off and got dressed.

Jeans. A sweater. Thick socks. Something that covered everything. She blow-dried her hair and pulled it back into a tight ponytail.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was still pink. Her eyes were still red.

She looked like someone who had been through something.

She took a breath. Then another.

A knock came at the door.

She opened it.

Dorian stood in the hallway. Dr. Harrison was beside him. He carried a black bag.

"Mrs. Thorne," Dr. Harrison said. "I’m glad to see you’re in one piece."

"Thank you for coming," she said.

She stepped aside to let them in. Dorian followed. His eyes did not meet hers. She could not look at him either.

Her face was burning again.

Dr. Harrison set his bag on the dresser. He pulled out a stethoscope. A blood pressure cuff. A small penlight.

"I understand you had quite an adventure tonight," he said. "Swimming in a lake. In the dark. While pregnant."

"It wasn’t my smartest moment," Veyra admitted.

"No," Dr. Harrison agreed. "But it was brave. Now let me check you over."

She sat on the edge of the bed. Dr. Harrison wrapped the cuff around her arm. Pumped it up. Watched the gauge.

"Your blood pressure is elevated," he said. "Not dangerously. But higher than I’d like."

"The stress," Veyra said. "From the kidnapping."

Dr. Harrison nodded. He pressed the stethoscope to her chest. Listened. His expression was neutral.

"Your heart rate is also elevated," he said. "One hundred and twelve beats per minute. That’s quite fast."

Veyra seized the opportunity. "The fright," she said. "I was very frightened. For Lily. For myself. For the baby."

Dr. Harrison looked at her. Then he looked at Dorian.

Dorian was standing by the window. His arms were crossed. His face was unreadable. But his jaw was tight.

"How long ago was the rescue?" Dr. Harrison asked.

"A few hours," Dorian said.

Dr. Harrison’s eyebrows rose. "And her heart rate is still over a hundred?"

"Adrenaline," Veyra said quickly. "It takes a while to wear off."

Dr. Harrison did not look convinced. He turned to Dorian.

"I’m not overly concerned," he said. "But she should rest. No stress. No excitement." He paused. "And no sexual activity while she’s still in this state of heightened arousal."

The words hung in the air.

Veyra’s face went crimson. She could feel the heat spreading from her cheeks to her neck to her chest.

Dorian’s composure cracked. Just for a second. His eyes widened. His mouth opened. Then he caught himself.

"Of course," he said. His voice was slightly strained. "I’ll make sure she rests."

Dr. Harrison nodded. He packed up his bag. "I’ll check on Lily now. Then I’ll be on my way. Call me if anything changes."

He left.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify