Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Lan’ara frowned.
“You know, I do remember thinking that Nate’s negative emotions weren’t quite as draining as they had been before we uh…before we were intimate this last time.”
She blushed as she spoke but the priest was matter-of-fact.
“There is no shame in intimacy with the one the Goddess has set aside just for you,” he told her. “I can sense your thirst for your mate-to-be’s seed. You must drink your fill.”
“Uh…what?” Nate looked back and forth between them uncertainly.
“I’m simply saying that the two of you must worship each other’s bodies,” the priest said. “In this way, Lan’ara can slowly build the barrier that she can raise or lower at will. That way, if you are having painfully negative emotions that might drain her, she can protect herself. That should allow the two of you to stay together and eventually to Bond.”
“How long must we wait?” Lan’ara asked. She cast a shy, sidelong glance at Nate. “I hunger for my human in more than one way, Your Holiness.”
Nate felt a surge of desire.
“I’m hungry for you too, sweetheart,” he growled hoarsely.
But the priest frowned and shook his head.
“Let me caution you to take things slowly. If you Bond too fast, there will be a price.”
“What price?” Nate demanded. “I don’t want to hurt Lan’ara!”
“Actually, it is you who would be hurt—or rather, weakened—nearly to the point of death,” the priest warned them. “It’s a matter of restoring balance. For the entire time the two of you have been together, you have been taking from Lan’ara and she has been giving of herself in order to heal you. The emotional energy balance between the two of you is vastly unequal.” He raised both hands, one held high above his head and the other down low, by his waist to show the inequality.
“I understand that,” Nate said humbly. “But are you saying that if we Bonded now, the balance would be restored—things would be even again?”
“Yes, it would, but in the process, all of the healing and energy you drained from Lan’ara would be sucked out of you and restored to her,” the priest cautioned. “She would feel fine. But you would be drained—maybe for just a few days but possibly for much longer.”
“Drained how? I don’t want to hurt Nate anymore than he wants to hurt me!” Lan’ara exclaimed.
“It wouldn’t affect his physical or mental health—just his energy levels,” the priest explained. “He would feel extremely weak and tired and be unable to move or do things for himself—such helplessness can be difficult for a large, healthy male. As I said before, it’s better for the two of you to take things slowly—restore some of the balance between you through physical pleasure before you attempt Bonding.”
“We understand,” Lan’ara said, bowing her head.
“Yeah, we get it.” Nate nodded.
He was disappointed because he wanted to be Bonded with Lan’ara—to have the Soul-deep connection that she had told him so much about. But on the other hand, he was relieved—they didn’t have to be parted! They could stay together—they just had to take things slow.
“Take your time, my children,” the priest said to them. “When you are eventually ready, your Bonding will complete the barrier in Lan’ara’s mind and also completely cure your PTSD, Nate. It will heal both of you, but it cannot be rushed.”
“Truly?” Lan’ara’s eyes were shining as she looked up at the priest. “All we have to do to heal both of us is Bond?”
The priest nodded firmly.
“Exactly so.” His voice softened. “I know the two of you do not wish to be parted and I am here to tell you, you don’t have to be. The Goddess made the two of you for each other, so yes—all you have to do is Bond…in the fullness of time, though. Not right away.”
Nate felt like his heart might burst. Turning to Lan’ara, he took her hands in his.
“Sweetheart, you’re what I want—all I want,” he said hoarsely. “You’ve saved me so many times and I’m so in love with you. But this has to be your decision. If you want the two of us to Bond—”
“Of course I want to Bond with you!” Lan’ara threw her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, from the moment we started Dream-sharing!”
Nate crushed her to him and buried his face in her hair, breathing in her warm, feminine fragrance. Gods, he loved her so damn much! He couldn’t wait to make her his completely. He knew they had to take things slowly, but right now, he just wanted to feel close to her.
“Come on,” Lan’ara whispered in his ear. “Let’s go to my suite so we can be alone together.”
Nate rose to his feet, pulling her up with him.
“Lead the way.”
“Thank you so much, Your Holiness,” Lan’ara said to the priest, who nodded gravely and smiled.