Kor seemed to read my mind.
“We won’t be breaking theUnbreakableLaws,” he promised softly.“Iwon’t be breeding you.I’lljust be helping you.Please.”
I think it was that last “please” that did me in.Thatand the fact thatItrusted him and knew he wouldn’t hurt me.
“Well… all right,”Isaid at last.“ButIneed to take a shower first—I’mall sticky.”
Kor nodded.
“All right, but don’t take too long.You’realready in bad shape—Idon’t want you to getNectarPoisoning.”
“I’ll hurry,”Ipromised and scurried into the bathroom.
OhGoddess,Ithought, asIturned on the shower and peeled off my nightgown.WasIreally going to let him do this to me?WasIreally going to let him suck the nectar out of my swollen breasts.
It seemed thatIwas, and the realization brought equal amounts of guilt and relief.ButKorwas right—Icouldn’t let myself die just becauseIhad internalized all the judgment and guilt of everyone inBlackridge.ThePackwould be scandalized if they knewIwas having my first realHeatCycleat forty—and they’d be horrified if they knewIwas going to letKorhelp me through it—at least part of it.
But why shouldIcare what they thought,Iasked myself?Myentire time here they’d treated me as an outsider and an outcast.Noneof them even liked me andIdidn’t like them either.WhyshouldIlet them dictate my life now thatCarterwas dead and gone?
With those self-affirming thoughts swirling in my head.Irinsed off quickly in the shower and then wrapped myself in a big, puffy white towel.
I was going to letKorhelp me, butIwasn’t going to go any further than that,Ipromised myself.Iwasn’t going to die just to please the narrow-minded, judgmental people ofBlackridgePack.
AndIheld firm in that commitment…untilIwalked back into my bedchamber and foundKorwaiting for me.
FORTY
KOR
I could see the uncertainty inVivienne’slovely, gold-ringed eyes the minute she came back into the room.Ihad taken off my shirt and shoes but left my trousers on.
“Come here, baby,”Isaid, beckoning to her as she hesitated in the doorway.Shewas wrapped in a big, fluffy white towel which was barely closed over her breasts.Herlong, dark hair was loose around her bare shoulders and her eyes were wide.Shewas so beautiful it made me ache, andIdon’t just mean my cock, thoughIadmit that was half-way to attention just knowing whatIwas about to do.
But this wasn’t about giving myself pleasure—it was about easingVivienne’spain.
“Come her,”Isaid to her again and patted the place on the bed beside me.“Comehere and let me help you, sweetheart.”
At last, she came to me.Shescooted to the middle of the bed and then just sat there, stiffly, as though she wasn’t quite sure what to do.
“Come on,Iwon’t bite,”Itold her.“Areyou scared?”
“A…a little.”Shestill looked spooked.“Imean,Iknow we need to do this andI’min a lot of pain butI’mworried—what if…what if when you suck me, it feels like the pump?Whatif it hurts so badIcan’t stand it?”
The mingled fear and pain in her beautiful eyes twisted my heart.Icupped her cheek in my hand and looked into her eyes.
“Vivienne,Ipromise you,I’mgoing to go slow and easy,”Imurmured.“Ifyou want me to stop, just tell me andIwill.”Istroked her cheek.“I’llnever hurt you, baby—never.”
I saw her eyes soften and at last she seemed to relax.
“All…all right,” she murmured.“Itrust you,Kor.It’sjust…Ihaven’t had anyoneIcould trust in so long.”
“I know, baby.”Ithought of the awful things my uncle had done to her and swore to myself that somehow,Iwould make up for them.Forevery bit of cruelty he had given her,Iwould give kindness.Forevery injury,Iwould bring healing.Forevery pain,Iwould give pleasure.
It wasn’t an idle vowImade to myself.There’sa belief among manyWeresthat the rightAlphacan actually heal an injured or hurtOmegaorBeta.There’san old saying among us—“Thereis healing in the hands of the king.”
I didn’t know if that was true—I’dnever tried to heal anyone before.ButIwanted badly to healVivienneand to ease the terrible pain she was in.Isent a silent prayer to theMoonGoddess.Ididn’t know if she would approve of what we were doing—Viviennewas, after all, supposed to be off-limits.ButIcouldn’t imagine that she’d want any of her children to suffer.
“Come here, baby,”Isaid toVivienneand settled her in the crook of my arm.ThenIgently pulled the towel apart, baring her swollen breasts and dark red nipples.Therewas still clear amber nectar beading on their tips andIknew whatIhad to do.
