Instructing the Novice Read online

  Lone usually considered himself a patient person but now his patience was at an end.

  “Lizabeth?” he called, knocking hard on the fresher door. “Lizabeth, come out now. You’ve been in there long enough and we need to talk.”

  He was going to get to the bottom of this no matter what.

  Lizabeth jerked guiltily when she heard the pounding on the bathroom door. She had known she would have to talk to Lone at some point but she just didn’t feel like she could face him right now. He would want to talk about what had happened between them—would want to know why she hadn’t told him she was having a needing attack.

  And she didn’t know what to say.

  Why did I do that? Why did I kiss him? It’s so inappropriate—so wrong.

  So liable to get her hurt. A memory from her past flashed up—Arturo laughing, his dark eyes filled with admiration. Lizabeth pushed it back down again.

  She looked down at the white gown she was wearing, now stained all down the front with the amber nectar that flowed sluggishly from her red and swollen nipples. Her breasts ached fiercely and she had tried to squeeze them, hoping to get the nectar flowing more freely and relieve some of the pressure.

  But though it flowed until her gown was stained, it still wasn’t enough. The ache was so great she could hardly stand it but it wasn’t as painful as the humiliation and uncertainty of asking Lone to help her again.

  Still, there was no putting off this confrontation any longer. Taking a deep breath, she rose from the side of the vast marble tub where she’d been sitting and fastened the black vest again, though even the touch of the soft fabric hurt her sensitive peaks. Lifting her chin, she opened the door of the bathroom and stepped out into the luxurious bed chamber they had been given.

  “All right,” she said, using her best courtroom voice. “I’m here. What do you want to talk about?”

  Lone scowled at her.

  “You know damn well what we need to talk about, Mistress. You’re in need.”

  Lizabeth thought about denying it but really, what was the point? They both knew she was having a needing attack and that she couldn’t help herself.

  “All right,” she said, lifting her chin. “I am in need. What about it?”

  “What about it?” Lone looked more upset than she’d ever seen him. “Look at yourself, Lizabeth!” he exclaimed, gesturing to her. “Your breasts are swollen—you must be in excruciating pain. Why haven’t you asked me to help you?”

  “I…I didn’t want to,” she said but now she had to look away, unable to meet his gaze. “Didn’t want you to help me.”

  “Why? It’s not that you don’t want my hands and mouth on you,” Lone growled softly. “That’s what I thought at first. But I smelled your desire during the oath ceremony. I tasted the wetness of your pussy. So why?”

  “I…it’s not appropriate,” she said at last, fumbling for an explanation. “I’m your boss, Lone. And besides, I didn’t want you to feel like you had to help me like you did the…the first time.”

  “You think I felt obligated to help you?” he demanded. “That I didn’t want to do it?”

  “Well, from what I’ve read about loners, I thought you might not,” Lizabeth shot back, glaring up at him. “I know that often Twin Kindred without a twin don’t have sexual feelings for anyone. I thought you might have been disgusted…repulsed…”

  “What?” Lone ran a hand through his hair, an expression of disbelief crossing his strong features. He stepped forward and took her by the shoulders, looking earnestly down into her face. “Lizabeth,” he said hoarsely. “How could you think that? How could you think that anything about you would repulse me when I…” He shook his head, looking away for a moment, a muscle bunching in the side of his jaw. “Did I give you that impression?” he asked at last. “The first time I helped you?”

  Lizabeth bit her lip.

  “Not exactly, no,” she admitted. “But you’ve always been such a nice guy—so helpful and uncomplaining. I was sure that even if you didn’t like…doing what you did, you would never have complained or showed it. You have too much consideration for my feelings to do that.”

  “You’re right,” he said savagely, releasing her suddenly. “I do have too much consideration. All this time I’ve been giving you space, letting you keep your distance. And this is what happens.” He stabbed a finger at her. “This isn’t the only needing attack you’ve had since the first one, is it?” When she didn’t answer at once he leaned closer. “Is it, Lizabeth?” he demanded in a low growl.

  “No, all right?” she exclaimed. She couldn’t believe she was having a fight with her sweet, good-tempered assistant. Where had the soft-spoken, self-deprecating Lone gone and who was this angry, passionate stranger in his place? It was like she’d only seen the Light Twin part of his personality before this and now the Dark Twin half had come out in full force.

  “All right…” The muscle in the side of his jaw was tensing again. “So how many have you had? I thought the antidote was supposed to take care of it.”

  “The antidote didn’t help a damn bit,” Lizabeth admitted recklessly. “As for the needing attacks, well…” She took a deep breath. “It’s been pretty much constant for the past two weeks.”

  “What?” Lone nearly exploded. “How have you been dealing with this? Don’t you know you could have permanent damage if you don’t get yourself cared for?”

  “Yes, I know that. And I know my own body,” Lizabeth snapped. “I’ve been using a breast pump and…and that’s how I’ve been dealing with it,” she finished quickly. God, she’d almost admitted she’d been using a vibrator as well. Thank goodness she’d caught herself before she blurted out that bit of embarrassing information!

  “A breast pump doesn’t have strong enough suction to draw out the nectar,” Lone said, frowning. “I know for a fact that several unmated females who were affected by the Xi-46 compound tried and failed to control their nectar production that way.”

  “Well, it helps some, anyway,” Lizabeth said defensively. “And if I hadn’t lost the one I brought with me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.”

  For a moment Lone looked angry again…then a sadness filled his eyes that made her heart ache.

  “Was it really that distasteful to you, Lizabeth? Letting me help you?” he asked, his deep voice quiet.

  “No…no, of course not,” she said hastily. “But Lone, you’re my assistant not…” She cleared her throat. “Not my lover.”

  “Why should that have anything to do with it?” he asked, frowning. “You’re in pain, Lizabeth—you’ve been in pain for the past two weeks. I’ll ask you again—why didn’t you ask for my help?”

  Her past whispered to her, speaking of that old pain that she’d tried to bury, but Lizabeth pushed it away.

  “This is ridiculous.” She threw up her hands. “I don’t have to justify myself to you! I’m your boss.”

  “No, right now you’re a female in need,” he countered, frowning. “And you’re going to do yourself an injury or have permanent damage to your breasts if you don’t let me help you now.”

  Lizabeth thought with longing of how good his warm mouth felt on her swollen nipples… of how desperately she wished the ache in her breasts would go away. But her pride rose up in her, as well as the bad memories, and she couldn’t give in somehow…she just couldn’t.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest—and then wincing and drawing them back immediately. God, even the lightest touch hurt like hell now!

  “No, you won’t. Look at yourself.” Lone took a step closer and pulled open the long black vest, baring her swollen nipples. “You can’t go on like this, Lizabeth. I won’t let you go on hurting yourself!”

  Lizabeth gasped and tried to pull the vest closed but he wouldn’t let her. Instead he got both her wrists in one big hand and held them over her head in an iron grip.

  “Lone,” she gasped, struggling against him. “Lone, w