“Is that possible?” I asked. I’d never heard of a mate bond being “adjustable.”
“Let’s find out.” Izzy squeezed my hand again, then we found a spot to sit, facing each other, my hands in hers. She closed her eyes, and moved through our bond, stretching and prodding.
She spoke softly as she explored this connection between us.
“Lhorine was right, it really isn’t like other bindings, but… itisstill a binding. I can work with this.” She opened her eyes and looked at me, searching.
“So… what do we want it to be?” she asked me.
I shrugged. “I’d love to keep the deep connection we have, feeling each other. It pains me at times to sense your distress, but I’d still like to have all of that.”
“And I don’t mind the intimacy it brings. The soothing presence, the way itenhancesour times together.”
I laughed. “You mean the orgasms?”
“I do.” She shivered, eyes rolling up a little as passion swept through her. I guessed she was recalling some of our times together. “They’re amazing! Rook’s orgasms are sinful, but yours are… deep and meaningful.”
I smiled wider at that compliment, but also at how I didn’t even care anymore that she’d compared me to another man. I was enough, for me and for her, and it didn’t matter what any other man did.
“Okay,” I said, “so we keep the orgasms. Anything else?”
“I think…” She was slowly coming back down to earth after reliving those steamy memories. “It’s a matter of the imperative. We can keep everything except the part that makes ushaveto be together, the demand for sex, the need to be close.”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “Sounds perfect.”
She returned the smile. “Let me give it a try.” She closed her eyes and reached back into our bond.
I didn’t know how difficult this might be, but Izzy was a fast learner and could conquer pretty much anything when she put her mind to it.
“Yeah,” she mumbled. “There it is…”
Something shifted, and suddenly everything inside me… eased off.
“Oh… wow!” I breathed.
“I know, right?” Izzy said with a laugh as she opened her eyes. “It feels so much… lighter, freer.”
“But still so close and… perfect.” I was running out of words to describe this rather stunning sensation inside me. The bond was there, Izzy was there, deep in my soul, but as a known and comforting entity. There was no demand to be close to her, no forced anything. It was all joy and ease and liberty.
“Thank you,” I whispered reverently.
We both leaned in and kissed softly. It wasn’t an imperative, just what wewantedto do.
Oh, yes… I was definitely going to enjoy this!
And for the first time, possibly in my entire life, I felt completely unrestrained and truly happy.
“Oh wow… what was that?” Izzy breathed as we parted. “Your soul just… lit up!”
I laughed. It bubbled up out of me so freely. “I feel great! For the first time… I’m living for myself. I don’t serve anyone, don’t have to worry about anyone else’s demands or expectations. I’m bound by nothing except love, and I feel so… alive and joyful and free!”
Izzy laughed with me.
But then her mirth died off.
My words had hit a chord. All of my shackles had fallen away, but Izzy was about to put on some of her own, willingly accepting a huge responsibility.
“Remember,” I whispered to her. “We’re going to do thistogether. This was what you wanted. And you won’t be alone. We’ll form a government of the people, a ruling council. Not everything will be on you.”
