“What is?”
“Enhanced taste to go along with enhanced smell,” she replied, selecting several other treats with which to test her new ability. “Hey, can you have some early dinner brought to my room? I think tonight is going to be quite interesting.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Olivia had spent the remainder of her recovery evening testing her body for any other fun new senses she may have enhanced. Food, she discovered, was a whole new pleasure, the flavors and smells possessing so many more layers and depth than she’d previously realized. It was like developing tetrachromacy and seeing a million new shades of colors overnight, a whole new level of perception unlocked in an instant.
Tactile senses seemed to be slightly increased, but none nearly so much as her newly robust sexual sensitivity. She gleefully explored that new paradigm and rubbed herself to climax a few more times before bed, reveling in the feeling as her body rapidly assimilated the powerful new pigment. When she woke the following morning and examined her healing new art in the mirror projection, she realized things had changed, and not just the addition of new tattoos.
“Hey, what happened to my old tattoos?” she asked aloud.
“Your new pigment seems to have spread further than anticipated, inserting itself much more into your prior markings, forming new and previously undocumented rune formations.”
“I can see that. There’s new color. And look at the way it flowed from those connecting lines.”
“Yes, the new designs seem to have fully incorporated themselves with the overall network of Dotharian Runes. Allow me to provide an overlay for you.”
Her image shifted slightly, a faint version of her tattoos from the other day now layered atop her current art. The basic designs were still there, but it was clear looking at them like this that things had shifted. Her original artwork was altered, but there was something else as well. The Infala rune in the middle of her chest seemed to have grown and changed as well. It was all most unusual.
Olivia traced her fingers over the new runes that had grown within her old tattoos. Her stomach knotted momentarily, and she felt an uncomfortable dull throb in her head. Across the room a decorative vase tipped over with a thud but didn’t break.
Olivia’s attention shifted, the ache fading in a flash. “What was that?”
“I do not know. I did not register any seismic activity, yet the vase moved. I will run an analysis and report my findings.”
“Thanks. That was weird.”
“It was, yes.”
Olivia was glad the computer agreed with her. That meant she wasn’t going crazy. Something was up, only she didn’t know what. At least, not yet.
“Okay, I’m going for some fresh air.”
“I can provide fresh?—”
“It’s a figure of speech. I just need to get out. Go for a walk to clear my head.”
“I see. Enjoy your outing.”
“Thanks.”
Olivia dressed quickly, her clothes smelling fresh as the day she bought them, thanks to the sonic cleansing system. Shestepped out into the sunlight and took a deep breath, taking in the many new layers now detectable in the air, then began walking with no real direction in mind.
She’d strolled around for nearly an hour, enjoying the sights while ignoring the stares of the men all around. She had just walked past a low building when a shift in the breeze hit her senses like a lover’s caress.
I know that smell, she realized, the tingle in her belly flaring hard as Arkness’s impressive form drew closer, the lesser men nodding their respectful greetings as he passed.
She watched the man walk, his movements like those of a big cat, fluid and powerful, his musculature gliding effortlessly within his clothing, the sway of his bulge hinting at what was hiding below the waistband. He seemed lost in thought, but then his attention abruptly shifted, as if pulled by an invisible cord. He locked eyes with the human woman from afar, his stride faltering.
Olivia flashed a little grin, the heat in her belly pleasantly churning, slowly spreading lower, her clit swelling slightly of its own accord. She noted the way his manhood twitched within his trousers as if in response even from a distance.
“Hello, Olivia,” he said as he approached, inhaling deeply, an unexpected look of slight confusion in his eyes.
“Good to see you, Arkness,” she replied, his scent wafting over her like a warm embrace.
“I am glad to find you are well.”
Her grin spread at the memory of her body’s new responsiveness. “Quite well,” she said with a sly grin, her expression only adding to the poor man’s confusion.
