Page 35 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“It’s not just your face,”Lupinsaid proudly.“Thecellular restructuringIput you through worked marvelously.You’repositively radiant, and so veryripe.Honestly,I’venever seen such impressive results in a single session.Youmay be my greatest work of art, my dear.”

Noelle couldn’t stop staring and the images the viewer was showing her.

Is that really me?Really?Andwhat else had changed, under the surface?

Her nipples still tingled in the cool air.Herwomb pulsed with unnatural heat, like embers banked beneath the surface of her skin.Herwhole body was humming—trembling faintly with a kind of tension she didn’t understand.Itwasn’t arousal exactly—it felt like more than that, somehow.Herbody was telling her that she was fertile again, whether she wanted to be or not.

Lupin clapped his hands briskly, shattering her daze.

“Well, let’s get you dressed!Wecan’t have you parading around in the nude—there are modesty standards to be upheld, even in this facility.”

Noelle turned quickly, grateful for something to break the eerie fascination she had with her altered body.Butshe couldn’t find the outfit she’d taken off earlier.

“Where are my clothes?”she asked, looking around the arm of the spa chair where she’d folded her outfit earlier.

“Oh, those old things?”Lupinwrinkled his nose.“Itossed them down the furnace chute.Hideousfabric—most unflattering.Youshould thank me.”

“Youwhat?”Noellestared at him, aghast.“Butthose were my only clothes!”

“No need to worry.”Heproduced a small red bundle and handed it to her with a flourish.“Here.Trythis on.”

Noelle unfolded the garment slowly.

It wasn’t a dress—it wasn’t even a slip.Itwas a red silk negligee, barely long enough to cover her hips.

Noelle had half a mind to throw it inLupin’sface.Butthe cold air against her bare skin and the reality of havingno other clothingto wear stopped her.Grittingher teeth, she tugged the negligee over her head.Itslipped down her new, smooth curves like a second skin.Thenshe looked at herself.

The bodice was sheer, the fabric whisper-thin and cut low enough to show the soft curves of her newly firmed breasts.Thehem clung to her thighs and the thin silky cloth did nothing to hide the sensitive peaks of her nipples.Also, there was no bra—not even panties, she saw with dismay.

“This isunderwear,” she said, frowning.“Ican’t wear this out in public!”

“Nonsense!”Lupinexclaimed.“Youought to be grateful—it’s the latest style.Verydesirable.Thesilk is woven from the cocoons of theLoojamoth—exquisitely rare.Andyou look lovely in it.”

Noelle ran her hands down her sides.Theultra light silk felt undeniably sensuous and barely there—like she’d been wrapped in a whisper.

When she turned back to the holo-viewer, her breath caught again.

She didn’t just look young now.Shelooked…

Sexual.

Lush…curvy…ripe in the way of red-light temptresses and forbidden male fantasies.Shelooked like a woman made for sin.Wasthis the middle-aged teacher who had been almost too shy to letBrightandBurnkiss her on the cheeks under the mistletoe?Surelynot—the woman in the viewer was younger, riper…ready for sex.

Noelle took a stumbling step back.

Dios,Idon’t even recognize myself anymore!

“Much better!”Lupindeclared, stepping back to admire her.“Yes, you’re going to beverypopular at the auction—Ido believe you’ll fetch the highest price there.Comenow, let’s get you back to your cell before the evening meal.I’msure all that cellular stimulation has worked up an appetite.”

Still dazed,Noellefollowed him, the ultra-thin silk negligee clinging to her like mist.

Her feet padded softly over the metal floor.Herskin prickled, her insides still throbbing faintly from the treatment.Hercheeks were hot with embarrassment, confusion… and a strange, reluctant thrill.

She wasn’t sure who she was anymore.

But the men waiting for her in that cell?Theywere going to notice the difference.

And she wasn’t sure how to feel about that.