Page 48 of Rescued

“Yes, please forgive us,” Lan’ara said softly. “We didn’t mean to exchange private emotions so close to you, Forest Dweller.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Honored One.” Teetsook bowed to her again. “In fact, please accept the use of my humble abode. For tonight, I will sleep with the trees.”

“Oh, but we don’t want to kick you out of your own place!” Nate objected.

“No, no—all is well. I spend many nights among the Singing Trees,” Teetsook told them. He looked at Lan’ara. “Your fated mate told me that the two of you were in your Claiming Period. May I ask what part you are in?”

She blushed, her pale lavender cheeks going a deeper shade of purple.

“We have only just begun and are still in our Holding Time.”

“May I suggest that the two of you move on to the Touching Time?” Teetsook said. “Please feel free to use my sleeping platform and my collection of healing oils to do so.”

“Uh…what?” Nate wasn’t sure what was going on.

Lan’ara was blushing harder than ever.

“You are very kind, but we would not wish to impose in such a way.”

Teetsook pointed a stubby finger at her.

“Your energy is low, Honored One. You should not wait to take what you need from your mate—let him feed you and give you what you need tonight. I would be honored if you would bless my humble sleeping platform with your bliss.”

“Well…” At last Lan’ara nodded. “All right. We would be honored to accept your offer.”

“Good. I will leave whatever you may need on the table. And please help yourself to any food you want as well.” Teetsook bowed low and backed respectfully out of the doorway, almost as if Lan’ara was royalty, Nate thought.

“Uh, what was that all about?” he asked, looking at her. “Is he asking us to get busy in his bed? Isn’t that kind of strange?”

“He’s offering to let us bless his abode and his sleeping platform with our love,” Lan’ara said. “It’s not strange in my culture. And we will only be moving on to the next phase of our Claiming Period—the Touching Time.”

Nate could feel his cock starting to harden in the loose white trousers he wore.

“Is that the time when I get to touch you?” he asked, his voice coming out in a low, hungry growl. “I mean, with no clothes between us?”

Lan’ara looked up at him, her lovely purple eyes half-lidded.

“Tonight we may bare ourselves and hold each other naked all night long,” she told him. “But first I must do as the Forest Dweller recommended and make use of the healing oils. Come—help me off the sleeping platform.”

She put her hands on Nate’s shoulders and he lifted her down off the high bed and set her gently on the floor. They walked into the next room together to find that Teetsook had already gone. On the table were an array of items, including a box filled with stone vials plugged with carved wooden stoppers.

Lan’ara picked one of the vials out of the box and pulled out the stopper. Bringing it to her nose, she inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh of delight.

“Ah, warming pleasure oil! This will make for an excellent massage.”

Nate leaned down to sniff the vial and had to admit it smelled good. Kind of like cinnamon and some other spice he couldn’t name.

Lan’ara sniffed the other vials too and chose one more to bring with them. Then she looked up at Nate.

“All right—are you ready to begin?”

“Sure.” He shrugged. “But don’t you want to eat first? Look—Teetsook left you some of the blue nut stew he made. It looks weird but it tastes really good.”

“Not now.” She shook her head. “Right now I’m more hungry for positive emotions and pleasure.”

“If you’re sure you’re not going to faint again.” Nate frowned. “I was worried that maybe you have low blood sugar? Do you have hypoglycemia or something like that?”

She shook her head.

---