Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Stop my heart?” Raak looked at her blankly. “That can really happen?”
“In this case, yes.” Silki nodded seriously. “If it is any consolation, it will not be painful at all. In fact, you will be dying of what is basically a pleasure overload,” she added helpfully. “Yes you will, yes you will.”
“So I’ll orgasm to death,” Raak said dryly. “What a fucking way to go—literally.” He laughed harshly.
“You see why I didn’t want to tell you,” Silki said earnestly. “It’s not a pleasant choice, no it isn’t, no it isn’t. And as one of the Unbondable and a male without a soul, there’s no possible way you’ll want to do this. So—”
“Oh, I’m doing it all right,” Raak interrupted her. “I’m absolutely doing it if it’s the only way to save Kara.”
Silki’s dark eyes opened wide with surprise.
“I had assumed…that is, a male without a soul…”
“I may not have a soul but I still have a heart,” Raak said roughly. “And I’d rather have it stop while I was curing Kara than let it keep beating while she…” He swallowed hard. “While she dies.”
“But—” Silki began.
“You can’t tell her,” Raak interrupted. “Not a thing now and not a thing afterwards. In fact, I want you to examine my body and pretend to find some genetic defect—some weakness that carried me away, so she doesn’t feel guilty or bad about my…” He swallowed again before he could go on. “About my death.”
Silki looked shocked.
“But I cannot lie to a patient. No I can’t, no I can’t!”
“She won’t be your patient anymore at that point because she’ll be cured,” Raak pointed out. “I mean, this will cure her—right? It’ll make her all better, no questions asked?”
“Absolutely. Yes it will, yes it will.” Silki nodded vigorously. “It should reverse the flow of her essence and rebalance her system as long as she bites you at the right time and holds the bite long enough.”
“I’ll make sure of that,” Raak said grimly. He nodded at the clear bubble where Kara was still lying with the colored wisps swirling around her. “Is this almost done?”
“It has been finished for some time, yes it has, yes it has,” the little Tolleg admitted. “I simply wanted a chance to speak to you in private about Kara’s diagnosis.”
“Well, you’ve had your chance—now I’ll take mine,” Raak said firmly. “You’re going to let Kara go and not tell her any of this. I’ll take her back to my ship but we won’t undock—I want you to be there for her the minute she calls for help. Understood?”
“I understand, yes I do. Yes I do.” Silki nodded vigorously. “But, Raak…” She leaned forward, the large eyes troubled. “Are you quite certain this is what you want to do? That you want to sacrifice yourself for Kara? Are you sure, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,’ Raak said firmly. “I love Kara and I’m damn well going to save her—no matter what it takes.”
Even if the cost was his life.
Thirty-Two
“Are you sure this is the only way?” Kara looked at him uncertainly. They were back at his ship in the sleeping quarters together and Raak had just told her about the only treatment for her cure.
“I’m sorry, baby girl,” he murmured, cupping her cheek in one big, warm hand. “I know you were saving yourself for bonding. But, well, this is the only way—the only way to reverse the flow of your essence and stop all this pain you’ve been having.”
Kara winced as another bolt of agony/need struck her. She was willing to do almost anything to end this wretched cycle. But to let him change the color of her eyes…
“I know it’s hard,” Raak said again, echoing her thoughts. “To let me change the color of your eyes like this.”
“I don’t mind that so much,” Kara interrupted him. “It’s just…what will happen afterwards? Will you leave me? Take me back to the Mother Ship and forget me? I know I shouldn’t be so needy but I don’t want you to do that, Raak.” She looked at him pleadingly. “I don’t want to never see you again after we make love.”
“Kara, baby…” The big Unbondable shook his head and Kara thought she saw a flash of sadness in his silver-ringed eyes. He took her hands in his. “I don’t want to leave you,” he said earnestly. “I’m not looking to change the color of your eyes and then send you home in disgrace. I want to be with you forever, baby girl. I love you.”
“Oh, Raak…” Kara felt her eyes fill with tears. “I love you too,” she admitted. “I know it was foolish to let myself fall for an Unbondable, but I just couldn’t help it. You’re so sweet and kind and strong and you’ve been there for me from the very beginning. I love you, Raak—I love you with all my heart!”