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“Fretted, fussed, and worried myself to death. Not to mention never let you try it, but that’s not the point.” She was pouting now, but she knew it was OK. Sometimes she had to, and Darian always grinned at her and nodded appropriately. They were like an old married couple. Even before the horror of the last twenty years, they loved each other that completely. Over time, they thought they’d lost each other, but when they were reunited, all those feelings and comfort with each other returned as if they’d never been separated.

Then, my dear, what is the point?

“How should I know?” She shrugged out of her clothes and flopped down on the bed, naked, exhausted and exasperated. “I’m just looking for a little sympathy and understanding here. That was our daughter you and Viktor just shredded to subatomic particles.”

You know I would never have agreed to it if there had been an unreasonable risk of her dying. Had we not tried, she would have died, anyway.

“And since when do you communicate with Viktor, anyway? He’s had a connection with me, but never you. Why now?”

Believe it or not, he’s a little afraid of you.

Nani was still for a moment, afraid she’d heard Darian wrong. Then she burst out laughing, clutching her sides after a while as she writhed on the bed. “Afraid of me? Viktor? I’d say you were out of your mind, but that would be cruel.”

You are a strong woman, Nani. You always have been. You’re thrown into an impossible situation yet again, and you’re off balance. You’ll find your place in this new world.

Her mirth died and her smile faded. “A place where I belong.” Her voice was quiet. “The only place I’ve ever truly belonged was by your side. I feel lost. Disjointed. Nothing makes sense.”

It’s a new situation. That’s all, Nani. You’ll be OK.

“You sound like you don’t expect to join me.” Nani tried not to let despair fill her. Darian would know if she were too distressed. They’d shared their minds almost continually since they’d been reunited, and he was much more talented than she. He knew her mind almost as well as he knew his own.

His sigh whispered softly across her mind.I admit, I don’t know what to think about the very man who put me in this position to begin with trying to save me. I don’t have much of a choice, though.

“No. Death would be preferable to where you are.” She tried to breathe through the sadness and grief filling her. She’d just gotten him back. To have him taken from her again was unthinkable. “I just…”

I know. She could almost feel him embrace her. His presence in her mind was warm and comforting, and she felt horrible about it. This might be the last few hours of Darian’s life, and he was comforting her because she was feeling sorry for herself.

“You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known, Darian.”

And we’ll be together again, Nani. Somehow, this will work. I know it will.

She lay there basking in the warmth of his presence. Her mind felt fractured by everything going on. It was as if there was no such thing as a “normal life,” and she was stuck in a living hell from which she could never escape. Even being back in her own body, while much better in some respects, wasn’t the relief she thought it would be. She was so used to being in control, the lack of knowing what was going on was maddening.

Do you remember the first time we made love?

His voice was a mere whisper in her mind. Darian always had a way of seducing her with the smallest things. She’d always loved that about him.

“We were underneath the garmon tree at Barron Lake,” she replied with a smile. “The grass was so soft it felt like amahariefur rug underneath me. Only the cool breeze coming off the lake tempered the sun’s warmth. I was nineteen, and you were twenty-four.” She smiled and shifted on the bed to put an arm under her head, her other hand resting lightly on her stomach. “We were both so anxious, it didn’t take either one of us long the first time.”

His sexy chuckle tickled her mind and spread a happy warmth through her torso. The mere memory of his skin sliding against her own sweat-slickened skin thrilled her beyond belief. She wanted to feel it again. Darian. Her first and only love.

I still remember how good your mouth tasted, Nani. I loved hearing your sighs as I kissed and touched you. You were so responsive -- that time and every time after.

“I always loved touching your chest. You always had such a beautiful body, Darian. You were perfect in every way I could ever imagine, but I loved the feel of your chest hair against my skin. Any part of my body. And your hands were always so strong and rough. A man’s hands. I loved for you to touch my body.”

The memories, and voicing them out loud to the man inside her head instead of speaking them directly to his mind, brought back sensations she’d thought long dead. Desire coursed through her, moistening her core and making her fingers and hands tingle in anticipation. Her heart rate increased slightly, and her breathing came a little quicker.

Still beautifully responsive, just like you always were. He sounded happy. If she could have seen his face, she was sure he’d have been smiling at her.Show me I’m right.

Nani blushed, but she brought her free hand to one breast and cupped it gently, feeling its weight. The fleshy globe was plump, but firm. Its nipple was already pebbled and standing out against the rest of her flesh. She circled her nipple once before bringing her finger to her mouth to wet the digit, and circling the same nipple again. The cool air against her damp flesh made her shiver, and her skin erupted in chills.

That’s it, my love. Feels good, doesn’t it?

“Almost as good as I remember.”

It will be better. You know it will. Touch yourself.

She spread her legs and brought her other hand from behind her head to the downy curls covering her sex. With tentative fingers, she delved into them to find her clit, which sent a jolt through her lower body, and she whimpered.