Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Is a complete and total wreck,” Vicky said calmly. “But I’ll tell you what I told Kat—my girls are all right and that’s all that matters.” Summoning her courage, she crossed the bathing pool to stand in front of him. “You saved us tonight, Chain. Thank you for coming for me—thank you for saving me. You must have come the minute Kat’s message got to you.”
He frowned. “No, actually—her message that you didn’t hate me for being an M-Switch didn’t come until I was already down on Earth. Vorn and Liosh followed me there and told me just as I was about to go get you.”
“Really?” Vicky was confused. “But then, why did you come to me in the first place? Did you just…decide you wanted to see me again?”
Chain shook his head.
“Of course I did want to see you again—only I thought you had no wish to see me. I came because the Goddess told me to—told me through the T’lix-Kruthe.”
“What? How?” Vicky looked at him with wide eyes—could he be serious?
“Well, I was presenting it to the Kindred High Council…” Chain went on to tell her of how when he joined the two halves a bright light and loud music played. “And then the Goddess herself told me to get down to Earth and save you because the female she had given me was in grave danger,” he finished. He cupped her cheek in his big hand. “Victoria, I was so afraid I’d be too late,” he murmured. “Thank the Goddess I got to you in time.”
“Well I’m pretty grateful too. Grateful the, uh, Goddess was thinking of me.”
Vicky felt dazed as she said it. She wasn’t an atheist but after Kevin had left her, she had definitely questioned if there was a God. And if so, why had he let such an awful thing happen to her? Being abandoned and left alone after so many years of faithful marriage—it didn’t seem fair or right.
But if Kevin hadn’t left me, I’d still be living in a miserable loveless marriage, she thought. And I never would have met Chain. So maybe everything really does happen for a reason.
“The Goddess wasn’t the only one thinking of you,” Chain murmured. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the moment we parted.”
“I’ve been…thinking of you too,” Vicky admitted, her heart pounding. “Kat said you thought I hated you because you can jump into other people’s bodies. But I don’t, Chain,” she added quickly, looking into his eyes. “I think it’s an amazing ability—you saved my life with it tonight.”
“I understand you don’t hate me for being an M-Switch,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. “But then why didn’t you want to bond with me back on Priima Belle?”
“Well, I mean, we hardly knew each other—we still don’t know each other very well,” Vicky began, but then she realized she was doing what Chain had accused himself of back on Earth—she was being cowardly. “But that’s only part of it,” she admitted, lowering her gaze. “I also thought—and still kind of think—that I’m too old for you. I mean, in my culture, you almost never see a couple with our age difference and when you do, it’s always the man who’s older—not the woman.”
“But why?” Chain looked honestly mystified at this strange human vagary. “How could a male not be attracted to an older female who has life experience as well as beauty?” he asked. “How could he not want a female who knows what she wants and teaches him exactly how she likes to be pleased?”
His eyes went half-lidded as he spoke and Vicky felt a tingle go through her entire body. Still, she tried to keep her voice steady as she replied.
“I guess human men just don’t…don’t see it like that. They all prefer younger women.”
“Then they’re missing out,” Chain rumbled. He stroked her un-hurt cheek again and lifted her chin so that their eyes met. “Victoria,” he murmured, “I told you once that your beauty is ageless. Do you believe me now?”
Vicky bit her lip. “I…I think I’m starting to,” she admitted. “But I still think we should…should take things slow,” she added. “I mean, as incredibly attracted as I am to you, we still haven’t known each other very long.”
“True.” He nodded gravely. “What about if we start with me healing you?”
“Healing me? How?”
“The same way I healed you at your domicile,” Chain murmured.
“Oh! By, uh, licking me?” Vicky bit her lip.
“Exactly.” His voice was a low growl, as though he looked forward to it.
“Shouldn’t we…” Vicky cleared her throat. “Shouldn’t we get out of the tub, er, pool first?”
“Not necessary,” Chain told her. “Just hold still, my beautiful Victoria, and let me heal you.”
Vicky wanted to ask more questions but just then he leaned down and kissed her wounded cheek gently.