I tie the robe tighter around myself and walk around the privacy curtain, not looking at them as I make my way to the examining table, which has been adjusted. The stirrups have been pulled out, and I realize to my horror that they’ll have a perfect view right between my legs.

I hesitate, and Dr. Chambers, who has donned a white robe, moves to the table and smiles at me. It’s not a warm smile. In fact, I wonder if he’s got an erection under that robe just thinking about what he’s about to do. At how he’s about to humiliate me.

“Up on the table, Ivy. You’ve done this before, I’m sure. You should have been having these checks annually. It is a father’s duty.”

“My father could be quite soft on his daughters,” Abel says.

“That’s too bad. I keep a tight leash on Maria. That girl has a wild streak, but I believe I keep her in check.”

Wow. I actually feel sorry for Maria suddenly. I don’t want to think about her having to submit to anything like this. I don’t want to think about anyone having to.

My face burns as I tug the knot at my waist tighter and make my way to the table. I climb on, sit facing the door as I take a deep breath in, then lie back.

Get this done.

Get it over with.

That’s all I have to do.

I set my feet in the stirrups and make the mistake of looking across the room at where Abel and the other asshole are sitting back, watching as if I were a show on a stage. Which I guess in a way I am.

“Very good,” Dr. Chambers says, coming over to me.

I shift my gaze up to the ceiling as he moves my hands from the knot of my belt and sets them on either side of the table. I clutch the padded edges as he undoes the knot and opens the robe, exposing me wholly as he widens the stirrups.

Dr. Chambers clears his throat, and I feel his fingers low on my belly. “Not a promising sign,” he says. “When they shave all the hair, you have to wonder for whom.”

“I swim,” I say. Not that it’s any of their business if I want to shave every hair off my body.

“Quiet,” Abel snaps.

Dr. Chambers touches two of the bruises on my belly but doesn’t comment. I wonder if he thinks Abel beat me and that it’s perfectly fine.

He moves to stand between my legs and pulls the table on wheels closer.