though he wished it had been made to
connect once the Elite family gave their blessing. Then, and
only then, would Glory become a Larson.
Larson. He had not deliberated on the fact that his surname
had been given by his human stepfather. Although very similar to his Lo-ans’rel father, Lorcán, the signification that passed with the name was completely
different. That entailed another problem. I set out to reunite Healers and
humans. Maybe humans have accepted us, but it’s up to my family whether they
want that human interaction again. I only hope with my brother here that it
means change is coming.
“Are you all right?”
Glory’s question pulled him from concentration, and he glanced down to where he
had gripped the balcony wall.In realization that his knuckles hurt from
holding so tightly, he let go to flex his fingers.
“Sorry. I’m in my own
world sometimes with all the things I need to do.”
Glory nodded in
understanding. “One day at a time, as my mother used to tell me.” She was
silent a moment before asking, “How’s Ashpin doing?”
“Adjusting
after a death in the family. He’s
searching for his father, so I’ve invited him to come with us to Lord
Gracie’s.”
“You think he can
help?”
“Lord Gracie has
access to things a normal person wouldn’t. He’ll know.”
“Oh,
really?” Glory gave him an impish
grin. “And does he know when you’re planning to kiss me?”
“That’s not—” But her
lips were already to his, silencing his tongue. Nostrils flared, taking in all
her essence. “Not fair,” he said once they drew apart. “I want to do this right.”
“You already have,”
she whispered. “We’re not children anymore, Keith.”
The touch of her hand
sliding down his thigh induced a rush of excitement. With ears laid back, he
released a deep-throated rumbling. Pulling her close, he tested her response to
his animal-like behavior. The slight vibration transferring to her body seemed
to take her by surprise. He allowed her to pull away, then watched with satisfaction while she pressed against him again.
“Are you…purring?”
That maple-brown gaze stared up at him.
“Is it such a
surprise, being what I am?”
“No.” She reached up
to draw his face to hers. “Just better.”
Their embrace was
magic in itself. That deep yearning to caress what his imagination had conjured
was not to be disappointed. The wide neckline of her nightgown allowed easy
access to slip both hands under and abandon all material until only her creamy
flesh pressed up against him in the night air. She returned the motion, feeling
her way beneath the fabric of Lo-ans’rel clothing to disrobe him. Having
moved inside, they found the drapery of canopy bed satisfying, as it shielded
them from the chill and concealed their intake of love and release.
To the energy kindling
in the air, Nature responded. On cue, a sudden spark of growth tore through the
plants and vines beneath the balcony area. It groped its way up the balcony
wall, spilling over until it dripped with the desire to release bloated buds.
When it did, white blooms burst from unfurling, crimped leaves with an orgasmic
puff of yellow-stemmed cores beaming uncannily into the candlelight. Then it
slumped, hunkered together in clusters of white and green, its energy spent.
The same went for the two sprawled overtop crumpled covers, the seeds of love
extinguished into each other.
They lay facing one
another, with little strength to move except to trace a finger over the
Healer’s shoulder tattoo. The burning desire had fled, but the prince welcomed
the cool touch to his skin. With eyes closed, his mind visualized what her
finger drew.
He had nearly
forgotten the mark kept hidden under his long-sleeved shirts. Interwoven arcs
crossed in a knot, gray-black over pale flesh. He heard her sigh and looked
upon her relaxed beauty to take in her expression.
“It’s beautiful,” she
said.
“If words could override
its meaning, I’d
connect once the Elite family gave their blessing. Then, and
only then, would Glory become a Larson.
Larson. He had not deliberated on the fact that his surname
had been given by his human stepfather. Although very similar to his Lo-ans’rel father, Lorcán, the signification that passed with the name was completely
different. That entailed another problem. I set out to reunite Healers and
humans. Maybe humans have accepted us, but it’s up to my family whether they
want that human interaction again. I only hope with my brother here that it
means change is coming.
“Are you all right?”
Glory’s question pulled him from concentration, and he glanced down to where he
had gripped the balcony wall.In realization that his knuckles hurt from
holding so tightly, he let go to flex his fingers.
“Sorry. I’m in my own
world sometimes with all the things I need to do.”
Glory nodded in
understanding. “One day at a time, as my mother used to tell me.” She was
silent a moment before asking, “How’s Ashpin doing?”
“Adjusting
after a death in the family. He’s
searching for his father, so I’ve invited him to come with us to Lord
Gracie’s.”
“You think he can
help?”
“Lord Gracie has
access to things a normal person wouldn’t. He’ll know.”
“Oh,
really?” Glory gave him an impish
grin. “And does he know when you’re planning to kiss me?”
“That’s not—” But her
lips were already to his, silencing his tongue. Nostrils flared, taking in all
her essence. “Not fair,” he said once they drew apart. “I want to do this right.”
“You already have,”
she whispered. “We’re not children anymore, Keith.”
The touch of her hand
sliding down his thigh induced a rush of excitement. With ears laid back, he
released a deep-throated rumbling. Pulling her close, he tested her response to
his animal-like behavior. The slight vibration transferring to her body seemed
to take her by surprise. He allowed her to pull away, then watched with satisfaction while she pressed against him again.
“Are you…purring?”
That maple-brown gaze stared up at him.
“Is it such a
surprise, being what I am?”
“No.” She reached up
to draw his face to hers. “Just better.”
Their embrace was
magic in itself. That deep yearning to caress what his imagination had conjured
was not to be disappointed. The wide neckline of her nightgown allowed easy
access to slip both hands under and abandon all material until only her creamy
flesh pressed up against him in the night air. She returned the motion, feeling
her way beneath the fabric of Lo-ans’rel clothing to disrobe him. Having
moved inside, they found the drapery of canopy bed satisfying, as it shielded
them from the chill and concealed their intake of love and release.
To the energy kindling
in the air, Nature responded. On cue, a sudden spark of growth tore through the
plants and vines beneath the balcony area. It groped its way up the balcony
wall, spilling over until it dripped with the desire to release bloated buds.
When it did, white blooms burst from unfurling, crimped leaves with an orgasmic
puff of yellow-stemmed cores beaming uncannily into the candlelight. Then it
slumped, hunkered together in clusters of white and green, its energy spent.
The same went for the two sprawled overtop crumpled covers, the seeds of love
extinguished into each other.
They lay facing one
another, with little strength to move except to trace a finger over the
Healer’s shoulder tattoo. The burning desire had fled, but the prince welcomed
the cool touch to his skin. With eyes closed, his mind visualized what her
finger drew.
He had nearly
forgotten the mark kept hidden under his long-sleeved shirts. Interwoven arcs
crossed in a knot, gray-black over pale flesh. He heard her sigh and looked
upon her relaxed beauty to take in her expression.
“It’s beautiful,” she
said.
“If words could override
its meaning, I’d
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