Page 26 of Ancient Rising
“They will, but they are not the women you knew.”
“Whatever they are, I am going to help them settle.”
He tilted her chin up and kissed the tears away.“Sex has made you emotional?”
“It is the first true rest I have had in six years, so I supposed it was an emotional release that I hadn’t thought about.”She chuckled.“I needed it.”
“It is now my pleasure to provide you with that release whenever you or I need it.”He chuckled and kissed her lips.
She blinked and leaned up to him.“It’s going to wear me out.”
“No.I am quite confident that it will not.”
“Well, as long as you are confident.But how do you know?”
“Because your lust is rising again, and I have only kissed you.”He smiled and stroked her cheek.
She relaxed against him and sighed as the warmth and oils in the water relaxed her.“When will people start arriving?”
“Three weeks.”
“How long will the archaeologists be here?”
“As long as you like.They are enjoying themselves and asking me frequent questions.”
“I also would like to hear the explanations.”
“Then, get some rest and relax, and you can join us.”
“Wait, so I can’t join you if I don’t rest?”
“Correct.You push yourself.That is no longer necessary.If you push yourself, you and I will have a chat, and no one will see you until you are rested again.”
“Why are you concerned?”
“You are in a new evolution.I need to keep you under strict observation until you are complete.”
“What happens then?”
“You have the world at your feet, so anything can happen.”Ra rubbed her back and murmured against her temple.“Now, rest.Tomorrow will be taxing, and you still need to eat.”
“Taxing?”
“This is not a one-time event.You will rest, you will change to fit me and change to fit the future I have for you, and our coupling will become easier if more intense.”
She sighed and leaned against him.“Maybe I can introduce the word quickie into your vocabulary.”
He sighed.“Maybe in a few decades, but you have remarkable stamina, and I want to be there for every gasp and tremble.”
Harwin dozed off.“Me, too.”
* * * *
Ra waited until shebreathed evenly and bathed her gently, careful of all the marks he had left on her.They were already healing but still hot pink against the pale gold of her body.The gold was darkening, and he smiled.The elders were all blood drinkers, but they were able to give their mates more than the younger generations.More life, more power, and more affection.The elders were made more emotional so that they could care for those around them, but it also made losses agony.Dozing through grief was a default, but looking down at Harwin, Ra could sense his craving for the health and prosperity of the beings around him.Harwin was his jewel, his queen.When he imagined a consort, it was a strong, emotional, but amused woman who would stand at his side and not fawn over him.Harwin suited him perfectly.Her world was gone, and he was going to make sure that she found as much to live for as he did.