A/N Double update, I know. I feel that I've been neglecting this story. How was the chapter? Let me know what you think.
Grasping the mini paper cup, I emptied the handful of pills into my mouth. Handing me a glass of water, I took a sip before swallowing. Leaning back against my bed, Erik sat scribbling something onto my medical chart.
It's been another week since finding out I was pregnant, and so far things were starting to go back to a new routine. I would wake up, take my pills, eat my breakfast and then undergo whatever tests the doctors here had planned for me "Alright. Today you'll be starting your exercises" nodding my head, he placed the clipboard into the metal holder at the end of my bed "follow me"
Sitting up, I push the blanket off of my legs before swinging them over the side. Taking a deep breath, I pushed with the palm of my hands. Hoping down from the bed, my feet pressed flat against the linoleum floor. Feeling my legs wobble, they soon gave from under me. Gasping from the impact and chilling cold of the floor, Erik rushed to my side "Are you alright?" he asked cautiously before helping me back up.
"Yes" I said while keeping hold of his hands. Standing in my white gown, the floor below my bare feet felt foreign. It's been two weeks since I've been able to stand and walk around "I'm alright. I just haven't been up in a while"
Letting go of me, I stood still as Erik walked over to the one of the cabinets. Hearing the creak of the metal draws, he came back holding another white uniform; thin long pants and shirt "Here put these on" taking them, I stood looking at Erik before he turned around to give me privacy. Taking off my gown, I put on the new free moving clothes.
"I'm finished" turning back around, he took the gown from my hands and placed it into a basket. Resting his hand against my lower back again, he guided me a few steps forward on my clumsy feet until I was more stable
"If you get dizzy, tell me. I'll bring you back here to rest"
Nodding my head, I felt alright for now. Besides, I don't really want to get back into that bed. Guiding me down the series of corridors. We eventually stood outside a single door labelled 'ROOM 36' "Ok" announced Erik before swiping his I.D card "we're here"
Stepping through, the room on the other side was large and blank besides a large piece of running equipment centred in the middle. Scattered around it were several monitors attached with different coloured cords and leads. On the right side directly in front of the machine, is a boxed shaped room meant for observation; as it had several computers and technical equipment inside. A large panel of glass was placed on the front of the box room wall, so you could see out to the large machine "What is this for?" I asked.
"This" he said pointing to the large machine "will allow you to run. It's to keep you as physically healthy as possible. And I'll be keeping track to make sure you're not exhausting yourself in the process. If we don't do it properly like this, it could harm the baby" nodding my head as he explained, the door behind me closed shut.
Watching Erik walk over to the machine, he waved me over. Pointing to the spot on the long rectangle platform, I moved to stand on the leathery type conveyor belt. Fumbled with cords and leads from the several monitors, Erik began to place them on specific spots on my body. Once he had finished, he walked over and into the observation room in front of me.
Standing as I looked around some more, I couldn't help but feel as if I were a lab rat. Attached to several machines, watched through a glass window and tested for my endurance and health. It all felt very odd and very wrong.
Casting my site to peer through the glass window, Erik clicked a few buttons before speaking through a microphone, as a wiring noise started to sound "I'm going to start you off on a slow pace. I'd like you to move along with it. Once you are comfortable we will move on further" nodding my head, the belt below me started to run backwards and I was forced to walk in order to not fall off of the end.
Walking slowly, I didn't have to move very fast to keep up. It was quite nice as my legs got to stretch. Continuing, it must have been ten minutes when I noticed the machine speed up and I was walking quicker. Keeping up easily, my body was slowly starting to become exhausted and a sheen of sweat began to form on my brow.
Walking at the same pace for an hour or so, it felt like eternity as my calves started to burn as well as the souls of my feet "You're doing good Amelia" praised Erik from the boxed room. Looking up, I placed my hands on my hips.
"How much longer will I have to do this?" I asked, my voice wavering my lack of breath and energy.
"For another hour or so I'm afraid. I have to log your exercises to make sure your maintaining your goal…but don't worry. The pace for today will remain the same" nodding my head, I sucked in a breath and continued to walk along with the wiry noises of the machine, as well as the faint beeping of my heart from the observation room.
Once the hour had ticked by, rather slowly. I couldn't help but find relief in the dying speed of the machine "You're done for the day" announced Erik as he came to stand beside me. Feeling him take off the several leads from my sweaty body, he asked "are you feeling okay? You're not dizzy are you?"
Shaking my head "No. I'm just tired…and sore" I said with a puff of air. Bending over, my hands rested on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. I didn't realise two hours of fast exercise could get me so winded. Listening to Erik's voice, it had started to drown out from the thumping noise of my heart echoing into my ears.
"-Tomorrow we'll do the same pace. After that we'll start to move up" noticing my bent position, Erik stopped and tugged at my wrist. Resting his fingers on my pulse, he looked down at his watch "your pulse is high. Breath through your nose, not your mouth" following his instructions, I could feel my racing heart calm down "that's it. Nice deep breaths"
After I had calmed down, Erik had taken me back to my room. Welcoming the site of my comfy bed, I had almost forgotten that he was still behind me "Here" turning around from the sound of Erik's voice, I looked down to see him holding a fresh night gown. Nodding to his left "take a shower. I'll have your food ready before you get out"
Taking the clothing from his hand, I stood and watched as he walked out of the room. Standing for a few seconds in silence, I suddenly felt lost before snapping out of my trance. Making my way over to the adjoining bathroom. It was nothing much. On the left side were just a few half walled stalls and thin bronze shower heads with taps. While on the other side were toilets and sink basins. No mirrors.
Picking a stall, I turned the faucet and felt the warm water run down me with a slight haze of steam. Reaching out with my hand, I felt the water pelt down onto my palm. Looking around I knew there was no one here, but I still felt as if eyes were watching me. Staring at the open entrance from the showers to the other room, I frowned before stripping myself of my sweaty clothes.
Stepping into the warmth of the shower, I washed my skin and hair with the soaps provided. When I had finished, I didn't suppose anyone would mind if I spent a few more minutes. It felt so relaxing as it took the pain and ache away from my muscles. Wrapping my slender arms around my chest, I stood facing the faucet as the water dripped through my long, brown hair and down along my body "Amelia" jumping, I spun around to face Erik as he stood only half a meter away from me. His brown eyes never leaving my own "you weren't answering me"
I shifted under his gaze. I didn't even hear him come in "I'm sorry. I must have-"
"It's okay" he interrupted. Feeling self-conscious as I wasn't wearing anything, I took a step back as he reached toward me with his right hand. Watching him, I went to ask what he was doing when I realised he wasn't reaching for me, but the bronze tap behind me. Hearing it squeak, the water stopped flowing and I shivered as I began to get cold from the lack of warmth. Grabbing a towel from one of the metal trolleys against the white tiled walls, he wrapped it around my shoulders; not at the least phased my nakedness.
Biting a chunk of the hard, dry meat that I held, I chewed with force before swallowing. The taste bland and tangy. Looking over my shoulder, I watched as Erik sat in the same chair with the same blank look on his face "You don't have to stay" peeking up, his eyes snapped onto mine "your always sitting here with me. Watching me" I said with a tilt of my head.
"You don't want me here?" he asked with a grin.
Shaking my head "That's not what I meant…I just. You might want to do something else, rather than sit here" watching him, he stretched his fingers before standing up and coming closer to me. Wheeling the portable table along with my dinner tray away from my lap, Erik sat on the edge of the bed.
Hearing him sigh, he reached out with his hand and tucked a strand of brown hair behind my ear. Roaming his eyes along my face and down my body, I could feel the heat of his piercing gaze. Feeling his fingers linger against my lower cheek, my eyes wanted to flutter closed as the contact. What was he doing? Flicking my eyes, I felt his fingers roam along my neck.
Locking his eyes with mine, he went to pull when I grabbed his hand "Don't go" I said just above a whisper. Keeping my eyes on his brown ones, I tugged him as if to reassure him.
"I have to leave. You should be asleep" he replied, not taking his eyes off of me. I listened as his voice was low and gruff, his words laced with something I didn't recognise.
"They won't know" tugging his wrist, he leaned forward from his position on the edge of the bed. Feeling the warmth of his breath brush against my face, I realised how close he was to me. How easy it would be to reach up and kiss him. Shifting the hand I had clutched, his thumb brushed past the skin of my warm flushed cheeks. Tracing his finger from the heated apples, it wandered to the corner of my mouth before running across my bottom lip and stopping in the centre. Watching his eyes as they concentrated on his own movements, I felt as his thumb pushed against my teeth gently. Opening my mouth, his thumb had slipped through before brushing against my tongue.
Tickling, my mouth curved into a smile as I let out a small girly giggle which made him look at me. Removing his thumb, the palm of his hand clutched the side of my face quickly before his firm lips crash against mine. Feeling them move with a slow and heated passion, I was confused as I didn't know what to do. Deciding to mimic his own movements, I leaned in further as everything around me started to disappear into a sort of bliss. It wasn't until his tongue had found its way into my mouth that I squealed and pulled away.
Leaning against the bed, Erik gave me a squinted look of frustration before it completely disappeared in a matter of seconds. Straightening up, his tongue rolled around in his mouth as he briefly looked around the room. I couldn't tell if he was worried someone had seen us, or that I had pulled away. Either one was quite worrying.
"I'm sorry" I said. I didn't know why I was apologising. I just had a feeling that something was my fault.
Turning to face me on the edge of my bed, he gave me a brief smile "Don't be sorry…I didn't mean for that to happen" getting up, he straightened himself and his tie. Brushing his fingers through his jelled back, black hair, his eyes roamed along my legs as the fabric of my gown had wandered up. Reaching down, he grabbed the hem. Pulling it down, I couldn't help the slight shiver that run up my spine as his knuckles grazed against my thigh "It's time you go to sleep. It's been a very long day"
Nodding my head, Erik had pulled back the thick covers and helped me get under. Rolling to my side my head rested against the pillow as he pulled the blanket up to my shoulder "Thank you" I said politely as he tucked me in nice and warm like.
His finger trace against the side of my face to push a few bits of hair away. His voice was low as he mumbled something in Russian "Я бы не поблагодарить меня пока нет. Вы и у меня есть игра, чтобы играть" (I wouldn't thank me yet. You and I have a game to play)