Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Come here, little bird.”
Hesitantly, Molly settled on his lap.
“Yes?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Are you all right?” Torus asked her. He cupped her cheek in his big hand. “Please don’t let that drunk female ruin our special day together.”
Molly looked down at her hands.
“I’ll try not to. It’s just…she said out loud the things I think about myself sometimes,” she admitted in a rush. “I mean, that I’m not thin enough and that I have too many freckles…”
“Your curves are beautiful!” Torus protested. “You’re an Elite—a goddess! And as for your freekles…er, freckles—I love them.” Lifting her hand, he pressed it to his mouth, placing many little kisses on it. “Every…last…one of them,” he murmured as he kissed.
Molly felt her cheeks getting hot with a blush.
“Really? I’ve always been kind of self-conscious about them.”
“Do you know what we Kindred call them? Goddess kisses,” he told her. “They make you special and perfect and beautiful, Molly. The most beautiful female I’ve ever seen.”
Molly blushed harder but couldn’t help smiling.
“Thank you,” she murmured, looking down.
She couldn’t help wondering why her Kindred boss—who was now her husband—seemed to feel so much for her, (though she was careful to keep her wondering behind the mental wall she’d built.) If anyone had asked her a few days ago what Commander Torus thought of her, she would have said he didn’t think of her at all. But she couldn’t doubt his sincerity—she could feel it coming through their TET link when he spoke to her.
She supposed it was just a mystery she might never understand…
21
MOLLY
The rest of the reception went quickly and—thankfully—without any further incident. Molly was almost able to forget the unpleasantness caused by her drunk coworker and before she knew it, she and Torus had changed out of their wedding clothes and into more casual wear and were headed to the Docking Bay with Commander Sylvan.
“That was a beautiful Joining ceremony,” Commander Sylvan remarked as they walked along. He and Torus were both slowing their pace so Molly could keep up, which was nice. “And very real-looking too,” he added approvingly.
“Thank you. Molly and I have agreed to do everything we can to appear like a ‘real couple,’” Torus rumbled.
“You’re doing an excellent job,” Sylvan told him. “The way you were looking into each other’s eyes and staying so close to each other during the whole reception—I would have sworn you were actually a Bonded pair.”
“The TET device helps,” Molly offered, smiling shyly. She touched the tiny clear chip at her right temple reflexively. “I can really hear Torus’s thoughts and feel his feelings. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Commander Sylvan looked interested.
“So do you think it does a good job of mimicking a real Soul Bond?” he asked.
Torus frowned.
“It’s hard to say, since I’ve never had a Soul Bond with anyone before. I think the communication might be lacking something—some depth maybe. But speaking as someone who has never been Bonded, it feels quite real to me.”
“Excellent!” Commander Sylvan looked pleased. “Those are prototypes, you know and they’re very valuable. Their circuits are made from Lovicium—a very rare element that’s extremely hard to acquire. So please be careful with them.”
“We will,” Torus assured him.
By this time, they had reached the Docking Bay. Torus’s ship was parked near the front—it was much bigger than the other Kindred shuttles in the large, open space.
“Have fun at your honeymoon destination,” Commander Sylvan told them. “We put you in a bungalow on the beach. Unfortunately, we don’t have any built to Jorgen Kindred size,” he added, speaking to Torus. “But this particular one was built with Twin Kindred in mind and there are high ceilings and a big bed, so you should feel comfortable.”
“Thank you—I appreciate you considering my size when you chose our accommodations’,” Torus said, nodding. “I’m sure Molly and I will be quite comfortable there.”
“Enjoy your stay,” Commander Sylvan said. “Go out and visit as many tourist destinations as possible—let the human Press see you together. And be sure to act as though you’re deeply in love every minute.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Torus put an arm around Molly’s shoulders and she leaned against his side instinctively. She couldn’t help thinking that she’d never been with any man who made her feel so completely safe and protected. It wasn’t just Torus’s size and strength, either—it was the feelings of caring and protectiveness she felt coming from him, like a warm current that was always on.
“Of course I want to protect you, sweetheart. Didn’t I just swear a vow to guard you with my life?” he sent.
Molly realized she’d been projecting her thoughts again. She really had to work on that!
“Don’t worry about it too much,” Torus sent through their link. “That thought was fainter, at least. I think you’re getting better at keeping your thoughts behind the wall. It’s just going to take a while since you seem to be a natural projector.”