“It has to be because I don’t know what pleasure feels like.Is it like a warm hug?I have started letting people hug me, and it’s nice.”
“It starts as a nervous feeling, and then it gets warm all over, right to the soles of your feet, and from there...it varies.”
“Ah.Thanks for that vague description.And here I told you your baby would look normal.You are mean.”
Jenn blinked.“It actually varies.Just like physiology.Some guys are bigger, some smaller, and some pay attention while others don’t.”
Vine felt understanding hit her.“Oh, right.Different.”
Her phone chimed, and Vine huffed.“See you later.Leave the ribs alone until this afternoon.I am hoping to be back by then.”
Jenn finished her waffles and nibbled at the grilled turkey bacon.“Give him Sable’s number in case you need anything.She still has your tracker and the portal charm.”
Vine smiled.“Get Ivy in on that if necessary for accuracy.”
Jenn blinked.“Right.”
Ivy wandered in sleepily.“Have fun with the squid.”
“I think he is more octopus.See you.”Vine waved and headed to the car that waited for her.
Time to see if she could heal and accept help.She had a problem with both.
The specific architecture let her know she was in the right place.The car pulled into a long drive and up to a house that looked like it was from a Japanese historical drama.
She double-checked the address and slowly got ready to exit the car when the door was opened for her.“Thank you.”
He nodded.“No problem, miss.”
She stepped out and balanced for a moment before walking toward the building.She was right on time and slowly stepped up to the raised walkway.The door slid open at her approach, and Kazuya’s assistant was there, looking very nervous.
“If you are going to tell me I don’t have an appointment again, I am going to hurt you.A lot.”
He bowed low.“I am so sorry for the inconvenience that I caused you.I am desperate to make amends.”
She cocked her head.“Are you really?”
“I am.Lord Kazuya explained that I had done damage.I wish to make amends.”
“Huh.Bring me a pebble.”
“What?”
She walked in and kicked off her shoes.“Bring me a pebble.Any kind of pebble.”Vine looked at him.“Now.”
He scrambled and did as she said.She stepped inside and leaned on a pillar that was set up for a sculpture.He returned in a minute and put three stones in her palm.
She chuckled, “Oh, you don’t want me to do all three.”She took a white stone and put the other two on the pillar.“Right.I am loading this stone with about thirty percent of my pain when I move suddenly.I don’t want to cripple you.So, you will carry this with you for one hundred fifty days.That is the time between my original appointment and now.So if you are apologetic, take the pain.”
Kazuya had come in and froze.
“This stone is going to fuse to you and remain there until the time is up, or you accept that not everyone is trying to get into Kazuya’s pants.”
She held out the stone that was now shining and shimmering.“Take it, and I will forgive you.”
The assistant blinked and slowly extended his palm.
“You have to take it.It’s pain.You have to accept it, or you can’t learn to move through it.”She smiled.“It isn’t that bad, is it?I mean, you were willing to relegate me to it to get in something pretty and hot, is my guess.”
