Page 19 of Offering Herself to Darkness

Nora felt like her heart was going to pound right out of her chest. The way her boss was looking at her was making her feel all flushed and giddy—like a thousand butterflies had just taken flight inside her stomach.

No, not boss—he’s my husband now, she reminded herself.

She could have no doubt that he really was “feeling for her” as he put it. There was no faking the emotion in his silver eyes or the tenderness in his touch when he cupped her cheek.

“Ellana,” he rumbled and she felt the sweet nickname like a dart in her heart. “Hidden Joy”— that was what he’d called her. It must have cost him a lot to admit that he was feeling emotions since they were so strongly discouraged by his culture. And yet when she looked into his eyes, she couldn’t doubt that he really was feeling.

Before they got carried away, he called Commander Sylvan on a holo-projector. After he explained the situation, Sylvan smiled and nodded.

“I’m so glad you’ll be able to help, Commander Xarex. You can have a long-range shuttle and I’ll instruct the Mother Ship to fold space for you to the Primus Nine system. There’s one thing…”

He cleared his throat, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

“Yes? What is it?” Xarex asked.

“Well, I know the two of you are on your ‘honeymoon’ as the humans call the special period right after a Joining, but I must urge you not to consummate your relationship tonight. As you know, having Bonding Sex could lead to a pregnancy and it isn’t safe for pregnant women to fold space.”

“You’re correct.” Xarex nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you for the reminder. We’ll be sure to avoid intimacy tonight.”

“A smart move. You can always seal your Bond once you come back from collecting the Healing Flower.” Sylvan nodded.

Xarex thanked him again but Nora found herself feeling just a little disappointed. Earlier she would have said that sex was the last thing on her mind. But now, after sitting in her new husband’s lap and hearing him tell her how he’d been infatuated with her from the first moment he met her while he kissed her so gently, she thought she might have been up for it.

Still, she didn’t want to risk a pregnancy scare. So it was probably for the best if they didn’t have sex that night.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything at all, she thought. Now that she had hope for Anna, she found she could concentrate on other things as well and she felt her libido returning.

As soon as Xarex ended the call, he looked at her and said,

“Well, that’s all settled. I guess we’d better get some sleep so that we’re fresh for our journey tomorrow.”

“I guess so.” Nora nodded. “I think I’ll just take a shower first.” She hesitated for a moment and then added. “Um…would you like to join me?”

His eyebrows shot up and he looked at her uncertainly.

“You wish me to shower with you?”

“Well…” Nora traced a finger down the buttons of the white tux shirt he still wore. “I know we can’t, uh, fulfill the contract we signed tonight. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything at all, right?”

A low growl of pure lust rose in his throat and his eyes were suddenly half-lidded.

“You don’t know how long I’ve dreamed of seeing you naked.”

Nora felt her cheeks getting hot, but it was with pleasure as well as embarrassment. Her ex had never gotten so excited about seeing her without clothes. In fact, he’d told her several times that he preferred to leave the lights off during sex because she didn’t arouse him anymore—(she’d been thinner at the beginning of their relationship.) So the idea of being with a man who actually liked her just the way she was made her feel hot and flushed.

“Yes,” she said lightly. “You can see me naked and I can see you naked too. Maybe we can even scrub each other. Does that sound like fun?”

A growl of lust was her answer and then Xarex lifted her off his lap and stood in one movement.

“Let’s go,” he said.

10

NORA

Despite knowing he liked her shape, Nora was still a little nervous about getting naked in front of her new husband. But she told herself not to be silly—Xarex had gone on and on about how he liked curvy women and he’d been especially complimentary about her curves in particular. So there was nothing to fear.

She started the water in the extra large shower stall and was glad to see that it had several shower heads so that neither one of them would get cold. There was a large bathing pool that might be nice to use too, but for now, she liked the idea of them scrubbing each other in the shower. Nora slipped off her dress but left her underwear on. It was a nice matching set—a lacy white bra and panties.

---