Curing Doctor Vincent (The Good Doctor Trilogy Book 1) (17 page)

“Elaine, what is wrong? I didn’t upset you did I? I just
wanted you to have a memento. I’m sorry.”

“No. No, it’s not that.”

Part of me screamed inside to walk away. It would be the kinder
thing to do. Or would it?

The more the decision raced through my head, the more I
couldn’t contain the emotions.

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. I savored
the feel of his embrace and cursed myself for teetering on the verge of a
breakdown when he was the one who would be destroyed.

“I love you, Elaine. It wasn’t part of the plan, but I do.”

I was wrong. Neither one of us were going to make it out alive.

The tears flowed from my eyes. Why did life have to be so
unfair?

If he truly meant it when he said he loved me, then I had
to give him a choice.

I wiped my arm across my face, clearing the tears.

“Elaine, did you hear me? I said I love you.”

Could I speak without hyperventilating? Was the truth
worth throwing away any hope of love with him? Regardless, my love for him was
great enough to let him decide. I refused to be another Lydia.

“Xavier, if you were me and your father had a terrible
secret that would turn your life upside down, take you away from everything
normal you’d ever known, would you want to know? I had a happy childhood, you
know. That monster was a wonderful father. But to learn of the monster meant I
had to lose my father and the illusion of my life. If you were me and you had a
choice, would you choose to know or not to know?”

He kissed my forehead. “This wasn’t the response I was
hoping for when I told you I love you. I guess it depends on how much you value
truth.”

“And you… Do you value truth over all else?”

“Yes. I’m a scientist. A cure is nothing more than a
discovered truth. An action to get the desired reaction. I spend my life
seeking truth.”

“So, you would give up the fantasy?”

“Elaine, what happened? How did you end up here? Patrice
called me to tell me you were here and acting strange. As soon as my meeting
ended, I came.”

“Thank you, but could you please answer the question?” I
sniffled.

He brushed a stray piece of hair out of my face. I should
have been mortified, losing my composure, but the pain I felt for him was too great.

“I’d want to know the truth.”

I couldn’t hold it back. The words burst forth. “You didn’t
kill Samantha.”

His features soured. “That’s sweet of you to say, but I
was there, Elaine.”

“Yes. You had sex with her, but you didn’t kill her.”

“Elaine…”

“Just hear me out.” I knew I sounded hysterical and by the
look on his face, I must have looked it too.

“It was Charles. He killed her. He had been molesting her
as a child.”

“What?” Anger brewed behind his confusion.

“It was his hypnotic suggestion therapy—he merged
two events. There were two separate instances. You slept with her. But you were
placed on her dead body. They drugged you. They knew as a juvenile, you’d never
go to jail. They let you take the fall.”

His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. I would give
anything to never see him this way. Never see the pain he was about to feel. “They?”

More tears gave way. “Charles and Lydia.”

“That’s impossible. Why are you doing this?” He backed
away and crossed his arms.

“I debated telling you. Part of me wanted to leave and
never have to see this look on your face. God. But I love you and I have to
give you a choice.”

“I didn’t meet Lydia until I was in college.”

“I know, but she knew who you were. Your adoption, the
early admission to college, it was all part of the plan. They wrote the
screenplay for your life to meet their needs and documented all of it. It was
an experiment. It was Charles who drafted the production and Lydia perfected
it.”

His arms crossed tighter over his chest.

“But don’t worry, she got Charles before she died. She
poisoned him.”

“Elaine, none of that happened. Let’s go get you some
help…” He grabbed for my arm.

“No.”

I turned and raced back up the hill, pulling the key from
my pocket.

“Elaine… Please…” He chased after me.

I stomped up the stairs. I placed the key in the door just
as his arms circled around my waist and started dragging me away from the door.

“Elaine!” This time he shouted, anger pouring from him.

It didn’t matter, the door gave way and I fell through the
door, pulling him with me.

I bumped the desk and the coffee cup of death clanked
against the table.

“It’s all here. Every detail. Right there in those books.”

His anger dissipated, replaced with bewilderment as he
stared at Lydia’s photo sitting on Charles’s desk.

The tears returned and I realized that dealing with an
angry Xavier would’ve been easier.

“I’m so sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.” I
walked to him and grabbed his arm.

He remained silent, shifting his gaze around the room. He
didn’t acknowledge me at all.

I let go of his arm. A few steps later, he stared at his
wedding picture, as though he were trying to recognize the people in the photo.
He picked up and examined it with careful scrutiny. His words were far too
calm. “How did you know about this place?”

“Last night, Miriam gave me an envelope and a cryptic
message about not being able to carry the burden. She said she could see that
you loved me.”

I had hoped that would have provoked some type of
affirmation of his earlier declaration, but nothing.

“I didn’t know the address was the same as of the gallery.
Xavier, I am so sorry.” He set the photo back in its place and pulled out the
chair, moving almost in slow motion. His face revealed no expression.

“Xavier, I love you. No matter what you find…”

He didn’t look at me. “Elaine, I think I need some time
alone. You can have Pierre take you back to the house.”

I covered my mouth with my hand to trap the escaping sob. “I’m
sorry.”

He didn’t acknowledge me. Instead he opened a drawer and
began sifting through the contents. I pulled out the key and the information
written by Lydia and sat them on the desk. His eyes scanned my actions but he went
back to his task without comment.

I turned and pulled the door shut behind me, clutching the
necklace he’d given me in my hand.

I ran to the bottom of the hill. Pierre was waiting. He
opened the door for me and mumbled something in French, which I took as
question—Would Xavier be joining us? I shook my head, but he pulled out a
cell phone to confirm.

Moments later he opened the driver door and started the
engine.

The rain poured and there was nothing that could ease the
heartache I had for the doctor…and me. Once more I had sacrificed everything I
loved for truth. And all I could think—was it really worth it?

Chapter
Twelve

Control

Lightning flashed through the leaded glass panes of the
large sitting room that opened to the foyer. The place it all began, what felt
like a lifetime ago, but had only been a week. Pierre started the fire in the
oversized hearth before he left me alone. It was that time of year when the
days ran hot and the nights cold. The rain only added to the chill. After
soaking in the spa tub, I settled into an oversized chair in the great room. I
pulled my robe tight over my nightgown and waited for Xavier.

My stomach ached from nerves and I worried I’d never see
him again. Would he blame me? The messenger didn’t always fare well. Would he
hate me for telling? Or would he simply be too embarrassed to face me? Either
way, everything was over. I waited, legs curled under me, and a cup of tea in
hand.

Too preoccupied to read or do anything else, I had fallen
asleep and was awakened by a loud thud and a cold breeze. I jumped out of the
chair, knocking over the china cup, and made my way to the door.

Xavier kicked off his rain soaked shoes. His drenched hair
plastered to his forehead and his clothes were soaked. I moved behind him and
grabbed the collar on his jacket, urging it over his shoulders. He didn’t say a
word.

I expected him to push past me to undress in his room, but
he continued there in the entrance way, leaving the clothes in wet heaps on the
floor.

I helped undo the buttons of his shirt. He neither asked
me to stop nor encouraged me. Inside, I wept with happiness for his return and in
sadness for the pain he felt.

In one final tug, his boxers hit the ground and he stepped
out of them. He stood naked. It wasn’t the time to admire how truly beautiful
he was, he needed comfort.

“Let me go make you a cup of tea.” I turned, but he yanked
my arm, pulling me back to him. With me held tightly against his chest, he
walked forward, forcing me to stagger backward. The backs of my legs hit the
couch and he leaned over me.

He reached for the belt on my robe. His lips brushed my
neck as he pushed the robe off my shoulders. He groaned, but said nothing else.
Backing away, he turned me until I leaned over the back of the couch. Was he
going to fuck me? Was he testing his limits? No matter what he needed, I would
be there for him.

Hands cupped the outside of my thighs and grabbed my panties
at my hips and dragged them down my legs.

His hand slipped between my thighs, spreading my legs
slightly. A finger slipped between my folds. If he was testing to see if I was
wet, he wasn’t disappointed. His cockhead pressed against my warmth and with a
grunt, he buried himself inside me. I heard him suck air through his teeth before
he stilled.

He pulled out then slid back in. But that was his only
moment of hesitancy. He thrust in and out, then leaned over me so that the
sounds he made in his throat echoed in my ear. He pushed on my shoulders every
time he entered me. This was his catharsis. We weren’t making love; we were
affirming he was alive.

His movements grew frantic and he pounded harder, burying
himself to the hilt on each thrust. I moaned at the power in his hips and how
deep I felt him like this. His lips latched onto my neck and he sucked and
kissed as his crescendo grew.

Soft gasps escaped my lips with each impact.

I held onto the back of the couch, weathering the storm
that was Xavier. He cried out and with one last, deep thrust he held and pulsed
with release—jerking and filling me with each shudder. He didn’t move for
some time, staying still inside me. His heavy breath and the crackling fire
were the only sounds.

He pulled out, and turned me to face him. He took my hand
and led me up the stairs and down the hallway. He paused in front of the room I
stayed in, but continued on.

Around the corner were two large double doors. I squeezed
his hand tighter as he opened them. The biggest bed I had ever seen sat on the
far side of the massive room. A claw foot tub took the corner of the room. He pulled
me gently into the room, until I stood at the foot of the bed. The thin straps
of my gown slid from my shoulders, and then he picked me up by my waist and sat
me on the bed. He mounted the bed, prowling toward me, and urged me in the
direction of the headboard.

I worked to steady myself as he stalked toward me.

“I’m sorry,” he said as his mouth covered mine.

He pushed me back and opened my legs.

I didn’t fight him. He ran his fingers back and forth
through my wetness. He slipped a finger into me and with his thumb, held me
open for his inspection.

He added a second finger and began driving them in and out
of me. He moved up my body, with his hand remaining between my legs.

He pulled his fingers out and brushed them over my clit
and then buried them in me once more.

He moved faster, resting his palm against my clit. He
dipped his head and wrapped his lips around one of my nipples. He sucked and
flicked his tongue across the tip while he rocked his fingers in and out. He
shifted and encased me with his body. His movements became fast and deep, as he
buried his face in my neck and kissed his way from my shoulder to my ear.

He increased the pace. Faster and faster he fucked his
fingers in and out of me. He shifted his angle so that he reached deeper and
hit just the right spot.

My legs stiffened. I grasped his back hard, digging my
fingers into his skin.

His mouth covered mine and he swallowed my scream.

Through gritted teeth I moaned as euphoria embraced me. My
back arched; I clutched him tighter and felt the flood of liquid escape.

His fingers still moved fast, but they made wet sounds
every time he entered.

“Xavier…”

He placed soft kisses all over my face as I came back to
earth, then one lingering kiss on my lips. He jumped out of bed, pulled back
the covers, and covered me with them, before climbing in beside me.

He held me against his naked body and let out a sigh.

I reached up and touched his face. Asking why he was upset
was pointless. I wanted to know what this all meant. Did he need to forget? What
would happen tomorrow? So I said nothing, but gave him comfort with my touch.

He wrapped me tight in his embrace as though I might get
away. I savored the feel of him.

He ran his hand through his hair. “It was all a lie. I’m
such a fool.”

I cupped his face. “You’re not a fool. You were a child. They
took advantage of a child to explain away their own depravity and to play their
sick game. You’re not a fool. You’re a victim.”

“I’ve never been a victim, Elaine. I don’t know how to be
one.”

“Then don’t be one now. Don’t let them win. Don’t let this
break you.” I kissed him softly.

“I was broken before. I feel like this time, I shattered.”

“I’m willing to help pick up the pieces.” I grabbed his
hand, then held and kissed it. “You know, and please, don’t hate me for saying
this, but had your life been any different, my sister would probably be dead,
along with a thousand more, and more in the future. You can’t change what
happened, but you can choose what happens now.
”

“I can’t stop thinking about it. About how I should have
known.”

“I can understand. I still have the same thoughts about my
father.”

He locked gazes with me—so much turmoil behind his
eyes.

Now was the moment of truth. Did he mean what he’d said
when he said he loved me, or was it something he just didn’t understand?

“Shhhh… Let’s not waste any more time. My flight leaves in
the morning. Let’s leave the past in the past.”

He lifted my leg over his hip and slid into me.

The surprise must have shown on my face, because he
paused. “Are you OK?”

“Yes, I guess I wasn’t expecting you to be…ready…so soon.”

He laughed and thrust in harder. “Don’t get used to it. I
think my body wants to make up for lost time with you.” He kissed me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he rocked in and out
of me.

Small groans escaped his lips along with sighs of
contentment.

He increased his pace and buried his face in my neck. I
moved my hand to the small of his back and caressed the muscles that tensed and
relaxed with each penetration.

He nipped at my throat. “If only I had met you in another
life…” Moan. “I could have been…” He held me to him as he shook. “Oh God… Elaine…
I wish…” He released on a shiver and groan.

“Shhhhh…we can talk about it tomorrow. Just savor it.”

He placed soft kisses along my jaw and wrapped his body
around mine. “As my queen demands.”