Forgotten Read online

  “The bio-chelation chemicals do not flow into the pool until they sense there is one within in it who is in need of cleansing,” Cerulean explained in a soft voice. “You must therefore strip and climb into it in order to be immersed in its purifying waters.”

  “Strip? I have to strip?” Kate looked at the dark hole in the floor mistrustfully and crossed her arms over her breasts. “Uh, can’t I have a bathing suit to wear or something?”

  “This one is afraid that may not be,” Cerulean said regretfully. “Every inch of your skin must be bathed in the waters of Purification in order for the treatment to be effective.”

  “Okay, well…Can I at least have some privacy? I mean, I don’t need you guys watching me while I do this for it to work, right?” Kate cast a glance at Rone and he knew what she was thinking—she didn’t want him seeing her naked. Never mind that he had seen and touched and tasted every inch of her sweet, luscious body in the past, she couldn’t remember a bit of it and so she was shy, all over again, just as she had been when they first met.

  He would have been happy to give her the privacy she asked for, although it hurt his heart to do it, but he didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone to get into that strangely ominous stone hole all by herself. The thing reminded him of an empty, toothless mouth, just waiting to be fed and there was an odd, chemical tang in the air around it that burned his sensitive nose.

  The Celestial, however, appeared to have no such misgivings.

  “This one will be pleased to grant you privacy,” he/she said bowing obsequiously. When you have stripped, simply climb into the pool. It will sense your presence and begin to fill. Remember, though…” He/she leaned forward and pointed two long fingers for emphasis. “Whatever you do, you must not leave the pool until every inch of your skin has been bathed and the water has drained, taking the fear toxins it leaches from your body with it. Do you understand?”

  “I think so.” Kate nodded. “Take off my clothes, get in the pool, and don’t get out until it drains. I can do that—I’m a strong swimmer.”

  “Perhaps in water, you may be.” Cerulean gave her a pitying look. “However the Purification chemicals are something else entirely. But keep calm and do not let fear get the better of you and all will be well.”

  That sounded ominous to Rone but Kate was nodding again, clearly eager to get into the pool and get on with the process.

  “Got it,” she said confidently.

  “Very well. Then this one will leave you alone. I will come again later to see how your Purification went.” Cerulean steepled his/her long blue fingers together and made a deep bow. Then the Celestial turned and flowed smoothly out of the Purification Chamber, disappearing through a small wooden door on the far wall.

  “Well?” Kate looked at Rone who was standing there. She had her hands on her blouse, clearly ready to take it off. “Aren’t you going to go too?”

  “I don’t think so,” Rone growled, frowning. “I’m sorry if you’re feeling shy, Kate, but there’s no way I’m leaving you alone to crawl into a strange hole and be covered with the Goddess alone knows what kind of chemicals.”

  “I don’t want to take off my clothes in front of you!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms protectively over her breasts. “And don’t tell me again how you’ve seen me naked before—I know you have but I can’t remember it so it still just makes me really uncomfortable.”

  Rone felt the hunger stir in him again.

  “I haven’t just seen you naked, baby—I’ve licked and kissed and caressed every inch of your body,” he growled. “From the crown of your head to the tips of your toes, there’s no place on you that I haven’t tasted and stroked. But fine—I’ll turn around. Will that make you happy?”

  “I guess it’s better than nothing.” Kate glared at him, her cheeks flushed.

  For a little while there, when he’d joined her in the shadowed part of the hall, Rone had almost felt like they were growing closer. Now he felt the distance open between them again and sighed inwardly.

  She doesn’t trust me, he thought. Doesn’t trust me because she doesn’t know me—not anymore.

  But there was nothing he could do about it right now. Nothing but try and keep her safe and hope that the treatment of the pool worked and his mate would remember him soon. He turned silently, giving her his back, and waited.

  * * * * *

  Kate waited until he had turned around, showing his broad back and shoulders, before she started undressing. God, this was awkward! She kept hearing his words ringing in her ears— I’ve licked and kissed and caressed every inch of your body, he’d said. Had he really? She supposed that since they were married he must be telling the truth. But still, it set her nerves on edge and made her heart pound uneasily to hear him saying it out loud.

  We must have been a really kinky couple, she thought to herself as she shed her clothing. I wonder what other things I let him do to me… Then she decided that didn’t bear thinking about.

  When she was down to nothing but her birthday suit, she walked over to the lip of the pool. She stood there for a moment shivering—it really was cold in here without clothes—and wondering how she was going to get down into it. There was no ladder that she could see—no way to climb in or out of the deep stone hole. She had no wish to jump—it looked like a long way down and she could just see herself twisting an ankle. She supposed she could scramble around until she was holding onto the lip of the pool and then just let herself drop but it was still going to be a three foot drop to the stony floor of the pool below—she wasn’t looking forward to that.

  As if he was reading her mind, she heard Rone’s deep voice behind her.

  “Do you need help getting in?”

  “No. No, of course not,” Kate said hastily. She turned her head and saw that he still had his broad back to her but his head was half-turned to speak. She wished she had something to cover her back—she hated having her scars exposed like this!

  “Are you certain? Don’t hurt yourself just because you’re too proud to ask for help, Kate.”

  “Don’t be silly,” she said defensively, sitting down on the lip of the pool—damn, the stones were cold on her bare behind! “I can get down all by myself, just fine. And besides, I couldn’t touch you anyway even if I did need your help—which I don’t. That’s the whole reason I need the fear toxins leached out—remember?”

  He sighed deeply. “I just thought I could wrap my sleeve around my hand so that our skin didn’t touch and lower you down that way.”

  Kate thought about it for a moment but then she imagined herself dangling from his hand, naked and with everything on display, as he lowered her into the pool. No—she had no wish to do that. It would be better just to scramble down herself somehow.

  “No thanks,” she said, trying to keep her voice light even as she was turning to grasp the lip of the pool and trying to inch down slowly. “I’ll…be…fine.” Her voice sounded a little strained since she was trying to get down into the vast stone hole but she thought she managed it all right. Finally she was hanging from the edge of the pool with her toes dangling several feet above the bottom.

  Well—here goes. Letting go of the edge, she let herself fall, trying to land lightly on her feet.

  She did land but not exactly lightly. She stumbled on the rough stones and went to her knees, scraping them both raw.

  “Ow!” she gasped involuntarily.

  Immediately, Rone was at the lip of the pool, looking down anxiously.

  “Kate? Lalli? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine!” Kate stood quickly and did her best to cover herself with her hands. “Look, do you mind? I’m still naked here, you know.”

  “You’re not fine.” His nose wrinkled. “I smell blood—where are you bleeding?”

  “I’m not—” Kate looked down at her knees. Sure enough, there were trickles of blood running down her shins—she must have hit the stone floor even harder than she’d thought.

  “Come back