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)
“Any womb will do,” Dark growled, finishing his brother’s thought. “So they’ve been known to kidnap females from all over the fucking galaxy.” He frowned. “Don’t know why they don’t just use Gestation Tanks, the way we Dark Kindred do.”
“Because it’s against their religion,” Light answered. “They believe an embryo must be implanted in a living female’s womb to be considered a viable person when the child is born.”
Dark shrugged.
“Well, you know more about it than I do. I didn’t even know their third sex was called bas’lat. I just know they’re fucking dangerous.”
“Wow…there’s so much I didn’t know!” Lili murmured. “It sounds fascinating…and kind of scary.”
“Not if you take proper precautions,” Light assured her.
Just then a chime sounded from the front of the ship.
“That’s the proximity warning—we’re nearly to the Mother Ship.” Dark looked up at her. “Do your feet feel better now, little Lili?”
“Yes, thank you.” Lili smiled at him. “My feet and my heart feel better,” she added.
The Dark Twin frowned.
“I didn’t massage your heart, though,” he pointed out.
“I think Lilibet means that she feels soothed,” Light interpreted for her. “Haven’t you heard the humans talking? They speak as though the heart is the source of their emotions. So she’s saying that you calmed her heart when you rubbed her feet. Is that right, Lilibet?” he asked, looking down at her for confirmation.
Lili smothered a smile.
“Yes, that’s true,” she said, nodding. “The way you cared for me made me feel better—safe and protected and calm,” she told Dark, thinking it was important to name all her emotions, since the two of them were still trying to find their way through their own new feelings.
“Good.” Dark nodded confidently. “Now I know what to do if your eyes start leaking again—it means your heart is hurting and I need to rub your feet.”
Lili couldn’t help laughing this time—it bubbled up and came right out her mouth before she could stop it. Soon she was laughing as hard as she’d been crying just a few minutes ago.
“What?” Dark frowned. “Did I get it wrong? Should I rub some other part when your eyes leak?”
“No…no…” Lili shook her head but she couldn’t stop laughing long enough to explain. It seemed like all the emotions she’d had that night were bubbling over. Well, at least they were coming out as laughter instead of tears this time, she thought.
“I think maybe you’re oversimplifying Lilibet’s emotional responses,” Light said thoughtfully. “I’m sure there are other things we can do when she produces tears to make her feel better.”
“Well, whatever I did to make her laugh, I’m glad I did it,” Dark said frankly. “Her laughter makes me feel happiness for some reason.” He raised his eyebrows curiously. “Are emotions catching that way?”
Finally Lili caught her breath and managed to stop laughing.
“They can be, I guess—if you’re sensitive to the emotions of the people around you,” she said, swiping at her eyes. This time they were watering with laughter, not tears, which was nice.
Dark shook his head.
“Before we met you, I never felt like I was catching any of the emotions of the people around me. I must only be sensitive to your feelings, little Lili.”
“I feel the same,” Light said, looking down at her. “Why is that, I wonder?”
“I don’t know,” Lili said honestly. “It’s nice, though. My ex didn’t care if I was happy or sad or what, as long as I would clean the house and give him sex.”
“Your what?” Dark had been heading for the cockpit, but now he turned back, frowning.
“I think she means her ex-mate,” Light said, looking at her for confirmation. “Remember, the humans don’t form soul bonds like Kindred do. They can break their ties and leave each other at any time.”
“But this male—this ex-mate of yours—you said he demanded that you be his domestic slave and give him sexual gratification?” Dark probed. “Did he hurt you? Do I need to teach him a lesson?”
Lili shook her head quickly.
“No, no—Mitch was an asshole but he was never abusive. Just lazy and stupid and really unhelpful,” she added. “Anyway, I’ve been divorced for a long time now—I’m just saying it’s nice to be with men…er, males, who care how I feel.”
“But don’t human men care how a female feels?” Light asked, looking perplexed.
Lili sighed.
“Not as often as you’d hope. Think about that guy who attacked me—he didn’t care that I was terrified and disgusted by him. He just wanted to…” She trailed off, feeling sick all over again.
“Don’t think about it, Lilibet.” Light squeezed her shoulders comfortingly. “And please don’t talk about it—you’ll stir Dark up again. He has a…very strong urge for vengeance,” he added, nodding at his brother who was glaring angrily.
“Sorry.” Lili took a deep breath. “I’m okay, really,” she said to Dark. “I was just saying that some men don’t care what a woman wants as long as they can get what they want from her.”