Elunara paced back and forth. "I don't have to ask if you're sure, but you have to give me everything, every little nuance."
"It was like taking an arrow to the chest."
After near an hour, Elunara sighed. "I need to train you better."
"Sorry, momma" Lydia fidgeted.
"Not your fault." Elunara sighed. "We'll find the bastard... and when I get my hands on him..."
Bradly walked in the door with a groan.
"What's wrong, hon?"
"Bryan AGAIN." Bradly wiped his mouth. "I tried, yet again, to go over there and break up with him, and find myself..." He shuddered. "I'm going to bed." He stomped past and slammed the door.
Lydia and Elunara just stared at each other. "I'll go talk to him." Lydia slid off the couch.
"Come in." He sat up. "Lydia!"
She quietly closed the door behind her. "I came to check on you."
"Ugh, this is getting out of hand, damn it." He flopped back. "After my discussion with you, I thought that maybe I had a handle on things. But the second he opens that door, and wrapped his arms around me, my brain shuts down."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she ran her fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, I brought this on you."
With a sigh, he fiddled with her hair. "Maybe. I don't know. At first, it was kind of fun. Something new to try. But then my emotions got muddled, and I thought that... maybe if I took a break from both of you, I could figure out what I wanted. Instead, I never got to the conversation with Bryan." He sighed. "Then you were so busy with Darguni, I didn't want to interrupt... I finally, FINALLY got a needed break from Bryan when he became obsessed with that stupid statue, and I realized... I realized that I just don't feel anything for him. I was taking momma's ideal of a sensation, and I didn't mind the experiment, but I still consider myself straight. Even if I couldn't have YOU, I want women."
"That's very strange." Bending down, she kissed his forehead. "Maybe you're with him out of guilt or loneliness."
"Certainly not loneliness. I'd rather be alone forever than have to suck another dick." He groaned.
"I don't mind sucking dick." She considered. "I rather enjoy it."
"Now is not the time to make me hard, Lydia." He warned. "In any event, I wondered if I stayed because I feared my mother's wrath... but even she thinks this whole mess is weird. I know Jerry and Louis are practically momma's oldest friends, but even then I'm not worried about pissing them off. I just don't know why Bryan does this to my brain."
She licked her lips. "I know I should be more concerned..."
"Hm?"
"But now all I can think about is getting my mouth on you."
"Gods!" He tugged himself free of his pants. "Do you see what you do to me?"
Bending over, she licked the length of him. "You should see what you do to me." She whispered. Standing up, she shoved her skirt to the floor.
He reached out and ran his fingers through the soft hairs, and to the folds below. "Oh, Sweetheart, you're soaked." He groaned, and he slipped a finger in.
She climbed into the bed, her legs on either side of his head. As she licked him over and over, he tugged her hips down and buried his face in those dripping folds. Groaning, she slipped her mouth over the tip, and began to work her way down over him. He licked at those beautiful pink folds, his fingers slipping down inside of her. He searched for that spot he knew would make her crazy, rubbing his way through, until she writhed in his grasp. When she clamped down, he let go of himself into her mouth.
Lydia sat up with a gasp. For a moment longer, Bradly licked at her dripping center. Shivering, she dislodged herself. "Stop that!" She laughed.
He tugged her down. "Gods, how much I've wanted to get my hands on you again."
"When I've gotten my second wind..."
He climbed out of bed and finished undressing. Naked, he climbed on top of her. Grinning, he tugged her shirt off and tossed it in the floor. "You. You are what I want."
Lifting her arms, she grinned. "Take me." She whispered.
Groaning, he joined their mouths together, sucking and nipping at her lips. Wrapping his body with hers, he buried himself inside of that wet heat. Together, they rocked and bucked their hips, making him slide in and out of her, as her legs wrapped around his hips. Desperation had him ramping up his speed; desire had him struggling to maintain the time. At last they shivered and shook, letting go together.
He cuddled her in his arms. "I've missed this so much." He murmured.
"I'm sorry." She snuggled down into his arms.
"No. No, I totally get it. You've been busy with your husband and your babies, and I've been trapped in confusion hell. My every waking moment has been taken up by some lunacy or another. I've been trying to find the time to be with you, but..." He sighed.
Lydia popped up. "Sorry!" Yanking her clothes on, she bolted up the stairs.
With a sigh, he scrubbed his hands through his hair.
The next day, Lydia leaned against Elunara as they sat on the couch. "Thank you for letting me stay home today. It's becoming exhausting."
"Everyone needs a break. Besides, I have to finish up some commissions so I can get my measurements for my suppliers. Most of my work is at home today." She pointed at the door. "Get that, will you?"
"Yeah sure." Lydia yanked open the door. She froze, before slamming the door and running upstairs.
Concerned, Elunara sat her board down. It was a moment of indecision, if she should go after Lydia, or check the door. Finally, she opened the door and blinked.
"Uh, hey. Darguni said it was ok if we came over for a few minutes." A group of soldiers were standing on the porch. "We all feel really bad about what happened the other day." Patrick frowned.
"We've all taken turns whacking Warren in the head." Becca added.
"Believe me..." Warren sighed. "I've got bruises." Rubbing the back of his head, he sighed. "I was trying to pick on Darguni, I had no idea..."
Elunara sighed. "Come in. Wait down here." She headed upstairs. "Lydia..." She sighed.
"NO!" Lydia hid behind the bed.
"Sweetheart..." She stooped down in front of Lydia. "I know you're scared, but this will help."
"No, please." She whimpered.
Elunara sat down. "Sweetheart, you need to learn how to deal with people. I don't feel like you feel, and maybe, just maybe, we can teach you how to absorb and block appropriately. Don't think of this as some humiliation, think of it as a learning experience. They don't know that you can follow their emotions. You can start your child's life off from a good place."
"What?"
"Think about it. You can read them. In a way they don't know exists. If they give you a negative emotion, you can shove them out. You can learn to control how much you pull in, even when it's all aimed at you. You can know, exactly who you really SHOULD protect your child from. Mothers everywhere would PAY for that kind of ability."
"But..."
"Let me be your spine. Come on, let's get your babies, and I'll teach you a new skill."
Meanwhile, Patrick glared at Warren. "Your stupidity has the wife of our friend hiding in her bedroom."
"Gods, I didn't mean it." He groaned. He crossed his arms. "How was I to know he had a dinky leg?"
"You know... why haven't we tried to be nicer to Lydia?" Becca bit her thumbnail. "I mean, even when everyone treated her like Darguni's sister..."
Patrick shrugged. "She always kind of hid behind them. Even when she was doing all that singing, and we went to her concerts and things, she would hide afterwards. I tried to be nice, but she kinda acted like I was trying to pull a mean prank on her."
"Yeah." Robert frowned. "I'd say hi, and she'd glare at me and ask me what I wanted."
"I guess you guys don't know." Aaron sighed.
Everyone turned and looked at him.
"She was born with dinky legs too. Both of them. I knew her before Elunara healed her body. Most of the girls in this city were complete and utter shitheads to her. I freely admit that I was mean to her too. It's kind of ironic that Gingy is her friend now, because Gingy was the main one who helped everyone ruin Lydia's life. She's terrified of people with just cause." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Kids are horrible."
Warren buried his face in his hands. "Kill me now."
Everyone looked up at the door opening. Elunara came out, one baby on her shoulder, her hand holding Lydia's. Lydia had her face buried in the other baby on her shoulder. They reached the bottom of the stairs. Elunara whispered something to Lydia. Lydia nodded.
"Ok, we're going to try this again." Elunara smiled.
Everyone shoved Warren forward at the same time; he nearly fell over with it. "I want to apologize again for upsetting you." He rubbed his neck. "I was trying to tease Darguni, in that stupid ways that guys do... I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, honest. Guys say really stupid shit to each other, I swear it." As Lydia continued to stare at him, he shifted uncomfortably. "Look, I had no idea he had a bum leg. I would have never said anything if I had. He's kinda cool, and if you let me, I'll make it up to you, I swear."
Lydia looked at Elunara, who leaned over and whispered. Lydia closed her eyes and struggled to maintain her breathing. After nodding to Elunara she took a step forward. "He..." Her throat closed up on her. "He..." She whimpered.
"I really didn't mean to be a complete douchebag." Warren frowned.
"He is sincere." She whispered.
