Shadowed(140)

“I felt your hands on me—your fingers—brushing my hair away from my face, stroking my neck.”

“You what?” His voice was slightly strangled. “Are you serious?”

She frowned. “Of course I’m serious. Why would I make something like that up? You even moved my hair…or something did anyway. How did that happen?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I was just standing here, thinking how much I wanted to touch you, thinking that I wanted to move your hair so I could see your face…” His eyes widened. “No…it can’t be.”

“Can’t be what?” she asked impatiently.

“Don’t move.” He looked at her intently, his silver eyes narrowed to slits. “Just stand there for a minute and don’t move.”

“Stand here and do what? What are you…?” Suddenly, she felt his fingers again, stroking over the side of her face and cupping her cheek. The sensation was as real as though he was actually touching her, yet, he was still standing across the room. “Reddix?” she whispered, putting a hand up to her face. There was nothing to feel, but she still had the sensation of invisible fingers stroking her skin.

“Did you feel that?” he asked hoarsely. “Gods, Nina, please tell me you felt that.”

“I felt…something. An invisible hand cupping my cheek?”

“That was no invisible hand—it was my whisper fingers. I Touched you, Nina. I actually Touched you.”

She knew at once what he meant and her heart started to pound.

“Quick,” she urged. “Do it again.”

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. “And describe what you feel.”

Nina closed her eyes obediently and clenched her fists at her sides, waiting. What would he do next? Could this really be happening? Could he really…

Then a gentle finger was sliding around her nipple, tugging it playfully and making her moan with surprised pleasure. Her hand went to her breast involuntarily and her eyes flew open.

“Reddix?”

“I can tell you felt that.” He grinned at her, one eyebrow arched rakishly. “How did you like it?”

“It feels amazing,” Nina said. “But what does it mean?”

“It means…” He took a deep breath. “I think it means my Touch Sense has finally turned itself around. It’s not inverted anymore.”

“So then your RTS…?”

“Is cured, if I’m right.” He closed his eyes. “Hold on a minute—let me concentrate. The people in the suite next to ours were having a fight earlier and I could ‘hear’ everything they were feeling. So let me just…” His voice trailed off, and Nina could see the intense look of concentration as he focused on the people in the next suite.

“Well?” she asked after a minute, unable to help herself anymore. “What do you feel? What do they feel?”

“I have no idea.” When he opened his eyes they were glowing with excitement. “It’s gone—it’s all gone. I can’t feel or hear any emotions anymore but my own.”

Nina shook her head in wonder. “That’s amazing. But how…?”

“I think you did it.” Coming forward, he took both her hands in his. “A pure heart and healing hands,” he murmured, leaning down to brush his lips gently over her fingers.

“I don’t see how I could have,” she objected. “I mean, I didn’t do anything on purpose…”

“Yes you did—you gave yourself to me. Don’t you see, sweetheart?” he asked. “You always had the power to mute my RTS, but just now when we were making love, when you opened yourself to me so completely…” He shook his head. “I don’t know how, but I felt something shift inside me. Somehow you healed me, Nina. Your love, your generosity and willingness to give yourself even when it hurt…you healed me.”

“And so then…that means…” She was almost afraid to say it, afraid to voice her hopes out loud.

“That means you’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.” Reddix pulled her close and enveloped her in a bear hug that nearly took her breath away.

Nina didn’t mind, she nuzzled close to him, pressing her face to his strong throat and breathing in the warm, spicy scent of his skin.

“Oh, Reddix,” she murmured, loving the feel of her bare breasts pressed to his broad chest. Though they had just finished making love, she felt her body reacting to his, making her want him all over again. Maybe the bonding fruit was still in her system. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered breathlessly, rubbing herself against him like a cat.