I tried to hold as still as I could, matching my breathing to Alexandre's deep and steady breaths. I closed my eyes and homed in on the soothing sound of his slow heartbeat and felt my body try to sync with his. My muscles relaxed and finally I felt myself drifting.
"Carys, I hate to wake you honey, but the only time my contact can fit you in is now. He's going to have to handle most of this himself to keep prying eyes away from it, so I need you to get dressed quickly, can you do that for me love?" Alexandre's gentle voice woke me and I groaned loudly. I was exhausted. I had barely slept and kept having nightmares about monster babies. I sat up groggily and Alexandre laid an outfit on the bed beside me. I barely looked at it, just started changing.
"This bra is really annoying." I griped, rubbing at my breast. Alexandre watched me for a second before replying.
"I don't think it's the bra, honey," He said with sparkling eyes "but I promise you don't have to wear it for long." He kissed me quickly and pulled me to my feet. "Time to go." He happily reported and rushed me out the door.
I was quiet all the way into the city, nervously twisting my fingers in my lap. Alexandre hummed along to the radio, which made me wish I could be happier about the whole thing. When he pulled into the parking lot of a tall building he gripped my hand suddenly.
"Carys, calm down. It's going to be ok." He kissed my temple, then handed me a pair of sunglasses. I readjusted my bra for the hundredth time and stepped out of the car as he opened the door for me.
The clinic was in a multi story building and looked nothing like a doctor's office. It somehow looked more like a fancy spa or resort. I thought we had the wrong place until Alexandre escorted me to the front desk to give the lady my name.
"Carys Rivers." He said proudly.
"Rivers?" I hissed at him.
"Ah, right this way Mr. and Mrs. Rivers..." The receptionist said and led the way down a shiny, bright hall.
"Mrs?" I nearly squealed.
"What, you don't like it?" Alexandre's eyes twinkled. "I figured you'd rather look respectable and all. Besides, I was hoping one day you'd take my name." He kissed my temple and I nearly fainted. The exam room we were lead to looked pretty much the same on the inside though, even if the outside was swanky. I stubbornly sat in a chair, refusing the exam table. Alexandre chuckled and scooped me up, sitting down on the exam table with me on his lap.
"This is really embarrassing." I complained, struggling to get free, but Alexandre held me still as the doctor came in the room. I blushed.
"Oh hello Mrs. Rivers, it's nice to finally meet you. Alexandre has told me quite a lot about you and how you two share his rather unique affliction. How fortunate you met! Now I'm to understand you think you may be welcoming another to your happy family? He pulled up a rolling stool and I noticed his name-tag read "Stein". I nearly had a fit.
"Dr. Stein, is it?" I choked back a strangled laugh and looked at Alexandre helplessly. His eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Ah yes, I get teased about that often, especially since my parents had the unfortunate audacity to name me Frank." He sadly shook his head.
"Really?" I squeaked, biting my lip to keep myself steady.
"No, but that would be neat, eh?" He laughed, "It's ok dear, relax. I'm not a stiff old bore." I giggled nervously. "Now, let's get this over with. All I need from you is a bit of blood today." I glanced at Alexandre again. I had never bothered to ask how well these kinds of things worked. He patiently extended my arm for me with a sigh.
"A shy one I see." Dr. Stein laughed and pulled a rolling table of needles and tubes towards him. Damn, I hated needles. I closed my eyes and looked away as he picked a wicked looking one up and rubbed the crook of my arm. I felt the elastic tie off my arm.
"Such a shame...the others lasted longer than you..." The nurse sighed in my ear. I would have been halfway across the room if it wasn't for Alexandre's iron grip on my arm. I still flinched as the needle went in, though Alexandre managed to minimize the movement. I felt the elastic release.
"Ok, all done!" Dr. Stein proclaimed happily holding a piece of gauze in the crook of my arm and wrapping it with self adhesive tape. "I'll be back in a few minutes with the results. We do a lot of testing in house these days for our clients, Mr. Rivers was kind enough to pay for rush results.." He winked at Alexandre as Alexandre released my arm. I curled it protectively to me as the doctor left the room.
"Imagine that, a vampire afraid of needles." Alexandre said, kissing my hair.
"The Nurse..." I replied fearfully, "I heard her and..." I squeezed my eyes closed as the tears trickled down my face. Alexandre froze.
"Oh my God Carys!" He swiftly turned me around. "I was so excited I never even thought! I'm so sorry! I.." He wiped away my tears swiftly and kissed me over and over. "I'm sorry, can you ever forgive me? I can't believe myself, I'll never forgive myself for this." He leaned his forehead against mine and I gripped him tightly. We were quiet for a few seconds as I calmed down.
"Do you hear that?" He suddenly asked me. I listened, trying to pick up on what he heard, at the same time, I did hear something, my stomach roiling, and I fled the room in a desperate search for a bathroom. When I came back, Alexandre exclaimed at my sickly appearance.
"We've got to get something in you that lasts more than a few hours." He fretted, placing a hand on my forehead.
"You do." I said and he gaped at me.
"Now's not the time for those kinds of jokes Carys." He scolded lightly, but I could hear amusement in his voice.
"No, not that." I sighed tiredly and sank into a chair. "One of the last meals I remember that didn't taste funny or bounce back up was the night I fed on you." A light-bulb seemed to off in Alexandre's head
"I wonder if it has to do with the fact that my blood has viral content, the same viral content in fact that yours does so your body doesn't reject it as foreign material?" He paced back and forth, thinking out loud. "Maybe this is another reason that vampire births are rare, maybe there has to be a connection, like the sire bond or just the father sticking around long enough to..." He stopped in front of me. "Come here." He commanded, lifting me up and placing me on his lap so I was straddling him on the exam table. "Drink." He commanded.
"Are you really sure this is the right place?" I asked, licking my lips hungrily.
"I do." He replied and I didn't wait for his further instruction. The sweet taste of floral tea filled my mouth as my teeth pierced his neck. He stifled a moan, but I felt the vibration in his chest and throat. I pushed his head further to the side to gain better purchase and Alexandre moved willingly. I felt his hips straining against mine as I greedily pulled at the tender flesh, encouraging the blood flow. Alexandre couldn't hide his next groan and he slowly leaned back, lowering us to the table. I pressed against him hungrily, and I could feel his body responding to my need, and that was how Dr. Stein found us when he came back with the results. He let out a low chuckle as I used my hair and mouth to hide the wound on Alexandre's neck while it quickly closed.
"Don't be shy on my account. I like to see a married couple with a healthy sex life." Dr. Stein joked. Alexandre elegantly righted us and turned slightly so that the injured side of his neck faced away from Stein and could heal without observation.
"I apologize for our unseemly behavior, doctor." Alexandre said sincerely, looking ashamed with his head turned.
"What? No! Do no such thing. It's that kind of behavior that keeps me in business. People that is. People making people, because I need people to practice medicine... What I should be saying is 'Congratulations!' and I hope you bring the little tyke to us, especially me, since I'm handling your medical cases because of the disease. Which you both do have by the way, and there's a very good chance the baby will too. But I couldn't see anything wrong with momma or baby in this first test, but we'll have to wait for the rest to come back in a few days. In fact, you both seem to be quite healthy, despite the uniqueness of your condition." Dr. Stein grinned widely and Alexandre clutched me to him, but I was just stunned.
"Can you tell how far along she is?" Alexandre asked excitedly and Dr. Stein started firing questions about my health, stuff I hadn't really been paying attention to, but it was obvious Alexandre had.
"Well, without knowing the date of her last period for sure, and without an ultrasound, the best guess I can give you is maybe five to seven weeks based on the blood test and information you have given, but don't quote me on that." He grinned. Alexandre looked at me reverently and I just stared at my midriff.