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)
“Kidnapped and nearly killed,” Torus said grimly. “If the Goddess hadn’t told me where to find her…” He shook his head. “I got there just in time…but I wish I could have made it there sooner.”
“It’s all right. I’m all right,” Molly said automatically. But she found her eyes were stinging. She swiped at them—she didn’t want to break down! “I mean, I will be all right, after I get some rest,” she amended.
“I understand what you’re going through.” Lizabeth Paige reached out and squeezed Molly’s arm gently. “I went through something very similar a few years ago,” she told her. “I was taken by a primitive, misogynistic tribe on another planet and the Goddess told Lone where to find me. He went into Rage and killed every man who was trying to attack me, but not before I suffered some fairly brutal torture.”
“Oh my God!” Molly looked at her with wide eyes. “That’s terrible!”
“It was an awful experience,” Lizabeth admitted. “But I don’t let it define me. And thanks to the Goddess—and to Lone’s patience—I was able to go through a healing process and make a complete recovery. I hope that you will, too.”
“I’ll do everything I can for her,” Torus wrapped an arm around Molly’s shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“I know you will.” The lawyer smiled. “Kindred are the most patient and devoted husbands in the known universe. Molly, I know you’re going to get through this.”
“I’ll be fine,” Molly said, agreeing with her. “I just…need time to process. That’s all.”
“Of course you do. So go back to Torus’s ship and try to relax. I’ll meet the two of you at the police station at ten. It’s better if you have your lawyer with you, just in case,” she added.
“Thank you.” Molly gave her an impulsive hug and Lizabeth hugged her back.
“You’re going to be just fine,” she murmured in Molly’s ear. “Just let Torus take care of you and try to take it easy.”
“I will. Thank you.” Molly smiled at her. Then she looked up at Torus. “Can we go now? I feel like I’m going to fall over I’m so tired and over-stimulated.”
“No falling on my watch,” he rumbled.
Leaning down, he swung her into his arms again and carried her out of the courtroom.
50
TORUS
Molly needed what the humans called “TLC”—a total loving connection—at least, that was what Torus thought the letters stood for. He wished she still had her TET device on so he could pick up on her emotions, but he would just have to manage without it.
He took her back to his ship and stripped her. Then he stripped himself and got both of them into the shower.
As the warm water rained down on them from above, he washed her gently—soaping every inch of her beautiful, freckled skin. He washed and conditioned her hair as well, making sure she felt clean all over. It seemed to him that washing away the events of the day was important—both literally and symbolically—and Molly seemed to agree because she made no protest but only leaned against him, letting him scrub her.
Afterwards, Torus dried her off and wrapped her damp hair in a thirsty-towel which left it dry and glossy in minutes. Then he fixed her a cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and whipped cream—ingredients he had purchased some time ago because he knew this was one of Molly’s favorite drinks.
He turned on the flame vid and they snuggled on the couch in their robes sipping chocolate and watching the flickering flames while soft, soothing music played.
“Oh, Torus,” Molly sighed, snuggling against his side. “How did you know this is exactly what I needed?”
“I’d like to think I know more than a little about you now,” he told her, stroking her hair.
Molly bit her lip.
“You knew a lot about me even before we got together though—didn’t you?”
“If you mean the dreams, then yes—I guess I did. At least, I knew what you went through with your ex-Mate,” Torus admitted. “Because I lived through it in the dreams.”
“Wait—you what?” she frowned. “What do you mean you ‘lived through it?’”
“Just what I said,” Torus told her. “I wasn’t watching you in the dreams—the way you watch a character in a vid. It was like I was you.” He frowned, thinking how to explain. “I know that sounds odd, but I saw what you saw…I felt what you felt. In a way I was you—at least in the dreams.”
“Oh, no—I’m so sorry!” Molly sat up, her brow furrowed in concern. “That’s terrible.”
“Yes, it was—but I’m sure it was worse for you,” Torus told her. “But I believe the Goddess sent me those dreams so that I could better understand you—so I could feel for you and care for you in the way you needed to be cared for. And to love you the way you need to be loved,” he added, stroking her hair away from her face. “Because I do love you, sweetheart—so much.”