Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“We have to comfort her. Think of what we saw on the Mother Ship,” Light told him. “Remember when we were observing human actions and we watched that mother comfort her child after he fell in the play area? His eyes were leaking too.”
“But Lili’s not a child,” Dark protested. “I mean, she’s small enough, but she’s a grown female—right?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Light insisted. “We have to hold her between us and make her feel safe and protected, the same way that mother held her child. That’s what Lilibet needs now—to feel safe and cared for.”
Lili wasn’t sure if she needed that or not, but a moment later she found herself sandwiched between two huge, muscular bodies with one long arm around her waist and the other across her shoulders.
“It’s all right, Lilibet,” Light murmured in her ear. “Everything is all right now. That male will never hurt you again.”
“He’ll never fucking hurt anyone again,” Deep growled. “I cut off his male parts and fucking burned them to ashes! But I should have ripped his head off!” His eyes were beginning to glow an ominous red again, Lili saw as she looked up at the Dark Twin. She felt a twinge of fear and shrank away from him as her tears dried up abruptly.
“Stop it, Dark—control yourself! Control The Fury!” Light admonished his brother. “We’re supposed to be comforting Lilibet and you’re frightening her instead.”
“Forgive me!” Dark closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. When he opened them, they were back to their normal dark purple color. “I’m fucking sorry if I scared you,” he said to Lili. “It’s just, thinking of that male—”
“Then don’t think of him,” Light ordered. He looked down at Lili. “Are you all right? Is there anything else we can do to make you feel comfortable and comforted?”
“We aren’t very fucking good at emotions, but we’re trying,” Dark added earnestly.
Lili wasn’t sure what to say. It was such a surreal position to be in—held between the two big male bodies—and yet she found herself oddly touched. These two had never experienced emotions at all until a few days ago and yet they were doing their best to calm her own turbulent emotions and make her feel better. And oddly enough, it seemed to be working. Sniffing, she swiped at her eyes.
“I…my feet hurt,” she said at last, since both of them were staring down at her expectantly. “I need to take my shoes off.”
It was true, she’d been standing and running and fighting for her life in the expensive Jimmy Choos all night and her feet were throbbing. Designer shoes were one of the few luxuries she allowed herself, but the sexy stilettos really weren’t made for all the action they had seen lately.
“You heard her,” Light said, but Dark was already off the couch—which was against the wall of the small sitting area they were in—and kneeling in front of her.
“Let me help you, little Lili,” he rumbled. Lifting one of her feet, he gently removed the four-inch heel. He brought the shoe closer to his face and examined it, frowning. “No wonder your feet hurt—how can you walk in these things?” he demanded.
Lili let out a watery laugh.
“They aren’t really made for walking—they’re supposed to make your legs look good,” she told him. “And in my case, they make me at least a little bit taller.”
“You are a tiny little thing,” Dark acknowledged. “I don’t blame you for wanting to be taller.”
He slipped off her other shoe and set it to one side. Then, to Lili’s surprise, he took her right foot in his enormous hands and began to rub and massage it.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that!” she exclaimed, trying to pull away.
Dark wouldn’t let her go.
“You said your feet hurt—let me help you,” he growled. Then he did something to his mechanical arm and the metal sheath over his hand began to warm and vibrate, just like it had in the club. He pressed his thumb to Lili’s instep, making her moan with surprised pleasure.
“Oh—that feels really good!” she gasped involuntarily. “But you really don’t have to.”
“He wants to,” Light told her. He still had one long arm around her shoulders and now he pulled her closer to his side. “Relax, Lilibet. Let Dark tend to you. It’s good for him to find a function for his enhanced hand other than killing.”
“Well…” Lili bit her lip uncertainly. She had always felt like feet were gross—whenever she had a pedicure, she gave an extra-large tip, just because she felt sorry for anyone who had to touch and handle feet all day.
But her foot was tiny in the big Kindred’s hands. And he didn’t seem to mind rubbing it. He wasn’t doing it in a weird, foot-fetish way, either. The look on his face was one of concern—he genuinely just wanted to make her feel better.