“It’s me, Kat,” said a voice that was very definitely coming from inside Lauren’s head. “Sorry to freak you out but I’m calling you on a Think-me—kind of a Kindred telepathic cell phone. I hope you don’t mind but it’s the fastest way to communicate—so much easier than schlepping down to the HKR building to talk on the viewscreen all the time.”
“No, I don’t mind,” Lauren said aloud. “Or should I just think back to you?” she thought.
“Either way works but the thinking is better if you’re not alone. Otherwise people are going to think you’re crazy and talking to yourself.” Kat sounded amused.
“I’m alone,” Lauren thought back, beginning to get the hang of the mental communication. “I’m hanging around my condo, about to turn in for the night.”
“Good! Perfect!” Kat sounded excited. “Then you might have a little time to get ready.”
“Get ready for what?”
“Xairn’s coming—Deep talked him into it.”
“He is? Oh my God!” Lauren’s heart started pounding. “Oh, I have so much to do!”
“Don’t get too excited yet,” Kat cautioned. “He told Deep he’s just coming to say goodbye.”
“What? But didn’t Deep tell him about your ‘secret weapon?’”
“He did.” Kat sounded sober. “But apparently it isn’t just the pain he might cause you during bonding sex that has him worried.”
“What? What else is he worried about?” Lauren asked, exasperated.
“The whole dominant/submissive thing.” Kat sounded as though she was trying to choose her words with care. “His, uh, natural urges seem to have him all tied up in knots.”
“It’s not really surprising, considering the things he saw the AllFather do to women,” Lauren sent thoughtuflly. “I think part of the problem is that he thinks he can’t be dominant without turning into his father.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Kat agreed. “But I also think he has the idea that you don’t want to be dominated.”
“But that’s not how I feel at all!” Lauren protested. “I mean, I wasn’t sure at first. It felt…strange to want those kinds of things. But now—”
“Now you’re going to have one chance to show him that you’ve changed your mind,” Kat interrupted. “So we shouldn’t waste time talking. Have you been eating the fruit I gave you?”
Lauren nodded and then remembered her friend couldn’t see her. “Yup. I started last night. And to be honest today I’m feeling kind of…strange.”
“You mean horny?” Kat’s mental voice sounded amused. “Yeah, bonding fruit will do that to you—remember I warned you there could be side effects. In a little while it’s going to really kick in. And listen, hon, you’re going to need Xairn to help you scratch that itch—don’t try to do it on your own. It doesn’t work—believe me, I tried.”
“So you’re saying that if I don’t convince him to stay and, uh, bond with me or at least make love with me—”
“You’re going to be in a world of hurt,” Kat finished for her matter-of-factly. “But don’t worry about that, Lauren. Think positive. You can do this, I know you can.”
“I hope you’re right.” Lauren took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare herself.
“I know I am,” Kat said confidently. “Now go get ready! He should be there at any minute.”
“Okay. Kat?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” Lauren wished she could give her a hug. “Thanks so much for helping me.”
“That’s all right,” Kat said cheerfully. “You can pay me back in cupcakes. Talk to you later!”
And with that, the connection was broken as suddenly at it had been established.
“God, I don’t have much time,” Lauren muttered, hurrying to change. She had told Kat earlier that she’d made certain arrangements in case Xairn ever did come home and buying just the right outfit was one of them. She hadn’t been sure when she was shopping for it that she’d ever have the chance to wear it. Now she couldn’t wait to put it on.
She stripped and then grabbed the red see-through outfit from the top drawer of her small dresser. She pulled it on quickly and then went into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror.
When she was looking for just the right ‘welcome home’ outfit, Lauren had considered many different styles. She’d tried on a lot of black leather and white lace but neither seemed to fit the bill. Finally she’d found the gauzy red top and pants combo at an upscale costume shop in downtown Sarasota. It was meant to be a harem costume straight out of the Arabian Nights and it suited her perfectly.