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)
“I’ll try,” Nate said doubtfully, as he followed Teetsook back into the bedroom area. Honestly, he didn’t have many positive thoughts in his head.
“Think of a positive memory—the fresher the memory the better. That can help as well,” the old man counseled him, when Nate was standing beside the sleeping platform, about to cup Lan’ara’s cheek again.
“Uh…okay.” Nate frowned. Because of the way he’d lived his life for the past five years, he didn’t have many positive memories to draw on either. Not any recent ones, anyway.
That’s not true, whispered a little voice in his head. What about the way Lan’ara held you last night?
Well, that was certainly a positive memory. Cupping her soft cheek, he remembered her reaching out her arms to him and saying, “Can I hold you?” And then the softness of her breasts and the sweet, soothing way she carded her fingers through his hair…
“Good…good! She is stirring, see?” Teetsook said, nodding at her. “She is taking the nourishment you offer her.”
Nate opened his eyes and saw that Lan’ara was indeed blinking her eyes and beginning to stir on the bed.
“More—give her more!” the old man ordered. “Concentrate—feed your mate what she needs!”
Desperately, Nate reached for more good memories. He thought of the way Lan’ara had lowered her gown to let him look at her lovely, full breasts…and then he remembered how beautiful she’d been in the shrine, when she pulled up her dress and let him watch her petting her soft little pussy until she came so hard…
God, he didn’t know if this was the kind of “positive” emotions he ought to be sending her, but the memories of that morning were the best ones he had to work with.
Lan’ara moaned again and then her eyes fluttered all the way open.
“Oh, Nate,” she murmured, reaching up to cover his hand with her own. “I feel your need for me.”
“Hey, sweetheart—how are you?” Nate stroked her cheek and looked down at her anxiously. “Are you feeling any better? You fainted in the woods—scared the ever-living fuck out of me!”
She smiled weakly.
“I’m fine. I was just hungry, that’s all.”
“I didn’t know I was supposed to be feeding you,” Nate said remorsefully. “I mean, with positive emotions. Teetsook here explained it to me.” He nodded at the old man who was watching Lan’ara alertly.
Her eyes widened when she saw him.
“Oh—are you a Forest Dweller?”
“That I am. And you are a Freelon—you are very welcome to my domicile, Honored One.” He bowed, his bald head bobbing with the gesture.
“He heard me calling for help after you fainted,” Nate explained. “He’s also the one who told me how to bring you back. I’m so glad you’re okay, sweetheart!”
Impulsively, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek. The longer he was with her, the more strongly he felt for her. And she looked so lovely and helpless lying there, he just couldn’t help himself for going in for a second kiss.
Lan’ara seemed to feel the same way because, to his surprise, she turned her head so that his lips fell on her mouth instead of her cheek. Then she reached up and put her arms around his neck to pull him closer.
Nate was surprised but not at all displeased. In fact, the soft press of her lips made his whole body light up with desire. Forgetting they weren’t alone, he gathered her into his arms and kissed her more passionately, loving the sweet taste of her mouth.
This exchange seemed to heal Lan’ara even more than the positive thoughts and emotions he’d been trying to send her. She moaned and moved restlessly in his arms, tugging at him eagerly and deepening the kiss.
“Well, it’s clear the two of you need to be healing each other.”
The low, gruff voice surprised Nate so much he broke the kiss.
“Oh, uh sorry—that was rude,” he said, nodding at Teetsook. “Don’t know what came over me.”
“Yes, please forgive us,” Lan’ara said softly. “We didn’t mean to exchange private emotions so close to you, Forest Dweller.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Honored One.” Teetsook bowed to her again. “In fact, please accept the use of my humble abode. For tonight, I will sleep with the trees.”
“Oh, but we don’t want to kick you out of your own place!” Nate objected.
“No, no—all is well. I spend many nights among the Singing Trees,” Teetsook told them. He looked at Lan’ara. “Your fated mate told me that the two of you were in your Claiming Period. May I ask what part you are in?”
She blushed, her pale lavender cheeks going a deeper shade of purple.
“We have only just begun and are still in our Holding Time.”
“May I suggest that the two of you move on to the Touching Time?” Teetsook said. “Please feel free to use my sleeping platform and my collection of healing oils to do so.”