Part 41 (2/2)

”And now to warmth,” she declared, and warm, firm, naked male bodies with handsome faces, beautiful blue eyes, charming smiles and mouths that could utter sweet words, she did not say.

”To warmth,” Lavinia agreed. ”Until we see you again, farewell, my friend.”

Valentine nodded to Lavinia and Franka.

It had been beautiful, as she knew it would be. It had been an honor, as she knew as well. It would be something, like Franka, and she was certain Lavinia, Valentine would never forget.

But now it was done and time to go home.

Time to get warm.

Time to celebrate not only what had just occurred but much more.

It was time to celebrate and continue to nurture what was growing between her and...

Not just a body.

Not a trifle.

Not her companion.

With Laurent.

Franka I was pacing my room, the only illumination the fire that was also providing warmth.

My feet were bare, but not cold. No, I was far too stimulated to even think of cold feet.

I should be in bed.

But the quickening inside had not died down. I felt like I had too much energy. As if I could run around the palace again and again (like Noc did nearly every day for reasons he stated were, ”keeping fit,” whyever anyone would do something like that).

And I was just bursting to tell someone all that had occurred and just how beautiful it was.

Unable to stop myself, regardless of the fact it was late, I knew in my heart he wouldn't mind, I dashed to the door, opened it and hastened down the hall to Noc's room.

I knocked. Not loudly, I didn't want anyone to hear.

Seconds later, I did it a little louder because Noc surely was sleeping and I did want him to hear.

I was still doing it when the door flew open.

The firelight was illuminating Noc's room as well, not to mention the lamplight from the hall.

And thus I saw quite clearly that he was s.h.i.+rtless, wearing a pair of loose, lightweight trousers with a string tied under his navel to hold them up.

At the sight of all of it (though I had to admit, my eyes got stuck on his flat stomach, the ridges that defined it, and the trail of thick, black hair that led from his unusual sleeping trousers to his navel), my mouth went dry.

”Baby, you okay?” Noc asked.

I jerked my eyes up to his face, saw his hair mussed and fought the urge to lift my hands and smooth it.

Or muss it further.

With effort, I stayed focused.

”The ceremony was tonight.”

I was standing in the hall and then I was not.

Noc grabbed my hand, yanked me into his room and closed the door. He didn't hesitate to guide me straight to the fire to stand in front of it so it could warm us both.

Once he got us there, he also didn't hesitate to draw me near to him and say, ”I know. That's why I asked if you're okay. You look...” his head tipped to the side as his scrutiny on my face intensified, ”wired.”

”Wired?”

”Jazzed. Hyper. Agitated. Edgy. Alert.”

I leaned closer to him. ”I do think I am all of those, Noc. But in a good way.”

He continued to study my face. ”So it went okay?”

I nodded fervently. ”It was...I was...”

How to explain the unexplainable?

There was no way except understanding Noc would listen and do so closely even if I couldn't find the right words.

Thus I sallied forth, ”I was very anxious. I did not wish to have anything of hers but the word 'absorb'...” I shook my head. ”That concerned me the most. To have her inside me in any way...” I didn't finish that thought but Noc's expression told me he understood what I was communicating so I carried on, ”But it was...I felt her and...and then it was me, it was what's inside me...” Again I couldn't finish so I pulled slightly away, lifted up my hand and whispered, ”Here, I'll show you.”

I focused on the quickening inside me and that was all I had to do before I felt it surge up my spine, through my frame, tingling in my scalp and fingertips and the blue sparks drifted up lazily from my palm.

”Gotta say, sweetheart, as freaky as that is, it's still f.u.c.kin' cool,” Noc muttered, and I looked from my hand to his face, now illuminated in blue, making his eyes even more extraordinary, his gaze riveted to my palm.

”It sparked red when it happened,” I shared, and he looked to me. ”When Valentine gave the magic to me. It was her. It was Mother. I felt her. The ugliness. The darkness. But it was me,” I lifted my hand, the blue still sparking, ”that forced her out. Took over. See?” My hand rose another inch. ”That's just me. No red. All blue. It's all mine. And look, Noc,” my hand rose further but my voice lowered with reverence, ”don't you think it's beautiful?”

He only glanced back to my hand before his gaze again caught mine.

”Yeah, baby,” he whispered. ”It's f.u.c.kin' gorgeous.”

I smiled at him.

He smiled back and his attention drifted again to the sparks.

”Can I touch it?” he asked, and instantly I closed my hand and the magic disappeared.

Noc returned his eyes to me.

<script>