Page 14 of Ancient Rising

“Does the title come with more fabric?”

He sighed.“It could.We would discuss it.There would be more jewellery.”

“As long as my breasts don’t rattle it, I don’t care.I would prefer my armoured bodysuit, but I wasn’t allowed to wear it during the dig.”

“You have no objection to the skirt?It is fine woven and very thin, but this world doesn’t need layers.”

“I am irritated by the beads.I didn’t think they came down this low.”

He shrugged.“It is my own design.Some linen would not help.”

She shrugged.“If I can see actual designs that you would consider acceptable and if I may create a hybrid that suits me, that would be nice.”

“It has to appeal to me, but yes.Come up with some designs, and we will discuss their suitability.”

Harwin nodded.“That seems reasonable.We need to hammer out specifics.”

“First, you know you will have to take in nanites, yes?”

“Uh, yes.Janessa explained that, and then Kethen did.He was very amused.”

“Well, I transfused my blood into you, so that part has begun.”

“What?”

“They are in your bloodstream.I believe I mentioned that you had internal injuries.Time was a factor, so I donated my blood to the cause.They won’t activate to change you without a bite from me, so that should relax you.”

“I am suddenly liking these beads a lot.”

Ra smiled, and his eyes crinkled.“I am at the beginning of an appreciation for modern children of the house of Geb.When I was last there, my handmaids wouldn’t even speak to me, let alone make me laugh.”

“How many did you have at one time?”

“A few hundred.It was necessary for me to get what I needed.”

“Oh.That.Right.Well, we don’t know that I am the right flavour for you.You may need to seek someone else out.”

Ra stared at her, and a slight smile crossed his features.“I can get what I need from you.I tasted your pain.Pleasure is the other side of the coin.”

“Oh.Right.Sorry if it woke you.”

“I was already up.I woke when your blood unlocked the pyramid.”

“Ah.Right.Well, that’s it then.”

His lips twisted, and he leaned in to kiss her.

Harwin froze and felt like a bunny with an approaching predator.His lips looked like solid gold but were warm when pressed against hers.

She hadn’t been kissed in ages.She lifted her chin and focused on relaxing.He was big, but he wouldn’t crush her.He was going to take care of her and give her a home, like a lost puppy.A puppy with no world.

His tongue played gently but determinedly in her mouth, and she felt the first curl of pleasure since the week before the end of the world, and Ra wasn’t stopping.

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