How You Take Me Read Free Page B

are driving me crazy. Sucking in a sharp, painful
breath, I press my ear to the door. There is the low drone of
Julian's voice, but I can't catch what he is saying. The door is too
solid, too thick. There is no way I can eavesdrop on their
conversation. I squeeze my eyes shut briefly, my throat and chest
constricting. What should I do? If I knock on the door, I will give
them fair warning and they will probably clam up straight away. I
will learn nothing, and will probably just be greeted with strained
smiles and awkward greetings. I should just put my hand on the door
knob, and open the door in one fell swoop, without warning. Whatever
words I hear in that fraction of an instant would at least give me a
glimpse, however tiny, into the truth of the situation. Better than
being plied and pacified with well-constructed lies.
    Putting my hand firmly on the gilded door knob, I count
silently to three. My fist tightens, and with a loud gulp, I wrench
the door wide open.
    “ ...I'm pregnant with your baby.” The words
fall from the woman's lips just as I enter the room.
    In that frozen moment, the three of us stare at one
another, unable to move or utter a single sound. My eyes dart from
the fair, blond woman to Julian, who looks shocked, furious and
totally wretched. He takes a step towards me, but I turn away from
him and take a long, hard look at the woman.
    What did she just say?
    Despite feeling that my fake, flimsy world was
collapsing all around me, I manage to take in the woman's appearance.
She is the complete opposite of me. While my hair and features are
dark, hers are light and fair. My build is slim and I hardly wear
any make-up, but this woman is all soft, feminine curves, with
artfully drawn brows, eyes and lips. Full large breasts, womanly
body with curvy, sexy hips. Unconsciously, my eyes trail down to her
belly. I heard what she said. Her words were clear and
unmistakable. She said she was pregnant, with Julian's baby.
    Stiffly, I turn to Julian. He doesn't meet my eyes this
time. What had he said to me just a while back, which now feels like
a lifetime ago? He said that he loved me and that he would never
stop falling for me. My vision grows blurry as the heat grows behind
my eyes. I can barely see clearly. I blink furiously. No! I
haven't been seeing clearly. What lies! Those were blatant, cruel
lies! What other lies has he been telling me?
    Why? Why, Julian? Why you?
    Julian seems to read the silent, tortured questions on
my lips. He reaches out his hand to me, to touch me, but I back
away. I stare at the woman, who is frowning at Julian and me. “Who
is that?” she asks sharply. “Is she...your latest test
subject?”
    My eyes and mouth round, and I back away, staring
between her and Julian. The woman lets out a short, mirthless laugh
which cuts me like a knife.
    “ Oh, my dear, so you really are the latest test
subject for his strange, sexual experiments. What's your name, or
are you just a number—to him? I'm Aleisha. Tell me, are you
enjoying yourself? Which is better for you, the machine...or the
man?” Her eyes shine with both amusement and hostility.
“Personally, I find the man way better.”
    I shake my head, my vision clouding rapidly. Aleisha
cocks her head at me, her red lips curved in a smile that doesn't
reach her eyes. There is a strange gleam in her eye. I don't want
to believe a single word she says, but there is just no way to
misinterpret her words. No way, no mistake. She had said it out
loud and clear. I can ignore all her taunts and mocking questions,
but I just can't block out that unequivocal statement she'd made at
the very moment that I'd barged in on them. That one sentence is
shredding every fiber in my body and breaking my heart to pieces. It
hadn't been meant for my ears. She had hurled those words at Julian
when she thought that she was alone in the room with him. They
hadn't expected me to come crashing in when she made that
declaration.
    How can I not believe? What can