Club X-Dare (Siren Publishing Allure) (10 page)

“Yeah, are you okay?”

“Frank gives me a headache. I think he purposely ignores the blueprints just to see me a couple of times a day.”

“Can you blame him?”

“You are not funny,” she replied, taking her phone off her hip and flipping it open. “Hello.”

“Mrs. Bell. This is the Grandview Furniture Company. We located another blue living room set, and we had it shipped down to us. Will someone be home in say, half an hour?”

“I will be home.”

“I am glad to hear it. My people will see you then.”

“Thank you.” She turned to Condor. “I learned to keep my phone on vibrate because when it rings everybody seems to tune in to my conversation. I guess we need to go home, and I will give you a tour later.”

“Make that phone call first.”

Aino took the slip of paper out of her pocket and dialed the number. “Hi, my name is Samantha Bell, and I was wondering if the doctor was taking new patients? I just moved into this area.”

“When would you like to come in?”

“Whenever. My schedule is flexible.”

“Actually, we had a cancellation for two thirty, could you come in then? Otherwise we are booked up solid for a month.”

She put her hand over the phone. “Today at two thirty.”

Condor nodded, and she said, “That would be fine.”

“Good, please get here around two so you can fill out all the necessary paperwork.”

“I will see you at two.” She hung up the phone and groaned. “I hate going to the gynecologist. Do I have to?”

“Yes, and if you don’t I will go home.”

“Don’t threaten me,” she said in an indecipherable tone that reflected humor but carried an undertone of anger.

“I am not threatening you. I’m worried about you. Cancer scares me.”

“Okay, I’m going. Let’s go home before I miss the furniture guys, and then you can take me out to lunch, deal?”

“Sounds good to me, I’m starving.”

“I could have made breakfast, I just didn’t think of it. I have some sunflower seeds in the car.”

“With or without the shells?”

“With.”

“I think it takes more energy to eat the things than you get nutritional value out of them. I will have a piece of toast when we get home,” he said as they got in the car.

The drive between the club and the condo was at best five minutes, and Aino parked the car just as the truck pulled into the driveway. “Wow, quick half hour.”

They got out of the car, going to unlock the door. Condor waited for the movers at the door as Aino quickly cleaned up the living room, piling the decorating items in the closet. She had wanted to vacuum the floor, but there just wasn’t time as two men came in with the sofa. “Where would you like it?”

“I want the sofa against the far wall. Put the loveseat against the wall nearest the door. Just bring the tables in. I will figure out how they go.”

“You got it,” the man said as they lowered the sofa onto the rug. They were in and out in fifteen minutes, and Aino set up the tables where she thought they belonged.

Condor frowned. “That side looks too empty.”

“I have an entertainment center to go there, but I haven’t put it together yet. Maybe you can help me later?”

“I think I could manage that.” He glanced at his watch. “Damn, it is almost twelve. Where did the morning go?”

“I don’t know. How about we skip the toast and go out. There is a little buffet around the corner that is supposed to be excellent.”

“You want to go to buffet at prime lunch time?”

“It is twenty-five dollars per person to get in. The food is good, but it is not cheap.”

“Ah, smart lady. Let’s go check it out.”

Aino changed into something less casual and locked the house back up.

As she had predicted, the restaurant was busy, but not packed. Condor paid at the door, and they walked over, sampling the buffet. The food was elegantly laid out, fruit, seafood, and meat cut to order. The second section was filled with rice and macaroni dishes. Aino lifted a pan cover and groaned. “Oh, paella, I love this stuff.” She grabbed a second dish and loaded it up with the rice, sausage, and fish.

“Are you really going to eat all that?” Condor asked in surprise.

“Yes, I am hungry. I can eat when I feel like it.”

“Good, then give me a spoonful.”

She dropped some on his plate, and they went to their table. A waitress came over. “Would you two like something to drink?”

“Two seltzers with lime,” replied Condor.

Aino threw her a dark look, and she smiled, hurrying away from the table. “What was that about?” Condor asked.

“It was to notify her that she was not welcome to make a pass at you. She was checking you out as we walked across the restaurant, and the moment she came over, she checked us for wedding rings. I guarantee that if you walk back up to the food bar she will come over and say something.”

“No way.”

“Try it.”

Condor got up, walking back to get a bowl of lobster bisque and a spoon. As Aino had predicted, the girl walked up to him. “I was wondering if you and your sister needed anything else,” she asked in a soft voice filled with question.

“My sister, huh? Why do you think she is my sister?”

“I just assumed. Is she?”

“What if she is?”

“Then I get off at seven, and I would love to go get a drink or something.”

“Sorry, she’s not my sister, and you should be more careful who you try to pick up. I’m a little out of your league.”

The girl stared at him and with a belligerent huff, stomped away. He walked back to the table and bent to give Aino a kiss. “Good call. She made a pass at me.”

“Little bitch should be careful who she messes with. She is out of her league.”

Condor sat down, laughing. “That is exactly what I told her. That is why she is so mad.”

“Great minds think alike.”

A different waitress brought them over two glasses of water, and Condor asked, “Sorry, could we get bottles of water with the caps still on?”

“I guess, Jen said that you wanted seltzer. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you say to her? She is mad.”

“I explained that this woman is not my sister and that Jen was not welcome to make a pass at me. We would appreciate the sealed bottles of water very much,” he replied, cutting off the conversation with a pleasant smile.

The waitress took the hint and carried away the glasses, bringing them back bottles. “Let me know if there is anything else,” she said before walking away.

Condor sighed. “It is really bad to think that she spit in our glasses, but I just couldn’t help but think it.”

“Yeah, me, too. Let’s eat.” She dug into the plate, frowning slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m dreading this. What if something is actually wrong?”

Condor shrugged. “If something is wrong, then we deal with it together. Okay?”

She nodded and tried to enjoy her food, but the closer it got to her appointment time, the more nervous she became.

They walked into the gynecologist’s office a little before two. The woman at the front desk made a copy of Aino’s insurance card and gave her a pile of forms to fill out. She sat answering questions with Condor leaning over her shoulder. “You are lying,” he said.

“No, I am not. It was not pain.”

Condor glared at her. “You are here to get checked, if it hurt, you should tell her.”

Aino checked the last two questions with a no and signed the form, handing it back to the receptionist. She was surprised when a few moments later she was called inside. “Can he come with me?”

“Yes, the doctor has no problem with men in the room. Your form says that you are not married though. Is he your boyfriend?”

“Yes, and he wants to be there with me.”

“Fine.” She walked them into the back and showed Condor into a room. She handed Aino a cup. “Please follow the directions for proper urination on the chart and put the cup in the wall slot. Then we can get a weight and height on you.”

“Thanks,” Aino said, taking the cup. She hated leaving urine samples because she always managed to pee on the cup and on her hand. This day was no different, and she wiped the cup off before putting it in the slot and washing her hands.

When she came out another woman was waiting. “Hi, you must be Samantha. I am Vera, Dr. Sealman’s assistant. Please step up onto the scale.”

“Hi, I prefer to be called Sam or Aino,” she said, stepping up and standing straight to have her height measured.

“Aino, that is an interesting name.”

“It is a nickname.”

Vera noted her height and weight, showing her into the room. She handed her a white paper gown and smiled. “Please take everything off and then slip this over yourself, opening in the front. I will be back in a few minutes to get your blood pressure.” She turned to Condor. “Hi, I am Vera. Are you Aino’s boyfriend or husband?”

“Condor and boyfriend.”

“I think it is nice you are here with her. Be back in a minute.”

Condor waited until she had closed the door and groaned. “Why am I getting interrogated? Would you bring a stranger with you?”

“I don’t know. I have never brought a man with me to the gynecologist before.”

Condor watched as she got undressed and then began to check out the charts on the walls. “Hey, this stuff is cool. It gives pictures and little titles. That is what you look like inside?”

The door opened, and he laughed as Vera came back in. She took Aino’s blood pressure and made note of it, setting up the equipment for a Pap smear. The assistant walked out, and Aino hopped up to sit on the table. Condor stuck her feet in the stirrups. “Hey, how about a quickie before the doctor comes in? You are in the perfect position.”

Aino slapped him on the shoulder. “Stop!” she growled through gritted teeth. “This is not a time when I want to be aroused.”

“Why not?”

“That metal thing is called a speculum, and she is going to put it inside me and crank it open. I don’t want to be turned on.”

He leaned and kissed her, not hearing the door open.

The doctor cleared her throat. “Would you like me to come back?”

Aino grimaced as she turned and shrugged innocently. “Sorry.”

“I am Cynthia Sealman, please call me Cynthia. My assistant told me that you like to be called Aino. Are you interested in mythology?”

“No, actually I named her that. I am into mythology. I am her boyfriend, Condor, before you ask me.”

“I already knew you were here. When was the last time you had a Pap smear, Aino?”

“About two years ago.”

“Do you do home breast exams?”

“Yes.”

“Any medical or other problems that are not on the form?”

“No.”

“I’m a little concerned about your weight. Are you aware that for your height you are close to fifteen pounds under standard?”

Condor grinned. “I told you so.”

Cynthia threw him a sour glance and looked back as Aino mouthed the words
screw you
. “Well, why don’t you lie back and let me examine you. Condor, why don’t you have a seat? I have found that men tend to react strangely in here. If you pass out, you are on your own.”

“I am not going to pass out. Thank you. I would rather watch.”

“Is that okay with you, Aino?”

“Fine.”

She examined her breasts. “Any tenderness or discharge?”

“No.”

“Any children or miscarriages?”

“No.”

Cynthia pulled up a rolling stool and adjusted a small light to shine where she wanted it. “I am going to begin with a rectal exam. Let me know if I am hurting you.”

Condor smirked at Aino, looking over the doctor’s shoulder as she inserted a gloved, lubricant-covered finger into Aino. She closed her eyes, hating the entire ordeal. The doctor probed her and then removed her hand, snapping off the glove. “Everything feels fine. Now I’m going to examine your vagina and cervix for any abnormalities. Do you every have odor, discharge, or pain during sexual relations?”

“No.”

“Yes!” Condor said. “Tell her.”

The doctor gave her an encouraging smile. “Yes to which question?”

Aino sucked her cheeks into her mouth, glaring at Condor. “Look, I tend to be a little hot blooded, and I have a vivid imagination. I spend all day working around sweaty construction workers and come home to dream about being with Condor. We live on opposite sides of the state, and when he is not here, I usually take steps to remedy my desires if they get too overwhelming. I didn’t this time, and after almost two weeks of being without, when we had sex the climax was slightly painful. It was not a big deal and hasn’t happened since.”

“I presume that by hot blooded you mean that you are easily aroused?”

Condor couldn’t help but laugh as Aino turned red. “I think she is always aroused.”

“Oh, shut up, Condor.”

Cynthia raised her eyebrows in disapproval of their conversation. “Consider yourself lucky. Some women don’t know what being aroused is. Are you a construction worker? I thought your application said club manager.”

“We are building another club around the corner from here, and I am overseeing the construction and interior design,” replied Aino.

“Really, that sounds interesting. I saw the construction. What club is it?”

“X-Dare,” Aino replied with hesitation.

Cynthia’s complexion seemed to darken with the name. “Oh. I have heard of your club. I have a few patients who belong.” She slid the speculum up into Aino, making her grimace at the cold metal. “Did that hurt?”

“No, it is cold.”

“Oh, sorry.” She glanced behind her shoulder at Condor. “Do you work at X-Dare also?”

“I own the X-Dare just outside Orlando. Aino and I are partners in the new one. Why?”

She was silent for a moment as if weighing her thoughts. “I probably shouldn’t say anything, but it really upset me to have a seventeen-year-old girl come into my office with torn rectal muscles. She said that her boyfriend fisted her after having someone show it to him at X-Dare.”

“I obviously don’t know who her boyfriend is, but if he was inside X-Dare, then he was at least twenty-one. We have strict policies for members, and if you aren’t a member you don’t get in. I would need more details to find out why something like that happened, but you can learn about fisting on the Internet. It doesn’t mean that you know the proper way to insert your fist. If anyone at the club wishes to learn a technique, there are people trained to show them. We have a completely color-coded system to signify who has been trained in what things and is qualified to do them properly. I am mortified that something like that happened, but it was her boyfriend’s fault, not the club’s. If anything, he should be aware that it is a dangerous thing to do if you don’t know what you are doing.”