when you’re not using it.”
I bit my lip; this was a fairly permanent move for Rachel. She and her daughter would pretty much need to stay here for years—at least until the baby grew up enough to control her ability.
Rachel paced the floor of her new home like a tiger in a cage. This is SO UNFAIR. By the time she’d gotten down to the new house, her pelvis hurt from the baby’s weight and she desperately needed to pee.
Gah. Being in her mind was like a Public Service Announcement for birth control. If this was what pregnancy was like, why would any woman have a second child? First child, I guess I could understand—babies were cute and most women wanted one at some point. But the first-timers didn’t know what they were getting into. Once someone had been through it, though, she had no excuse. Maybe there was some sort of hormonally-induced amnesia involved in the process.
Trevor cracked up and reached for my hand. I take it we’re not going to be starting a family any time soon?
I leaned against him and closed my eyes. I’m pretty sure reading Rachel’s mind has withered whatever maternal instincts I may’ve had.
Maddie, you’re exhausted. Trevor’s concern wrapped around me, along with his arms. Until Trevor mentioned it, I hadn’t noticed how tired I was. I guess I hadn’t recovered physically, yet. He looked at the others. “I’m taking Maddie home.”
We left as Drew and Ellen argued over how to set up the watch schedule.
I took what I thought would be a quick nap. When I woke up, it was dark. Trevor vaulted up to my loft when he sensed I was awake.
Hungry?
Oh, yeah.
He’d brought back dinner for us while I’d been asleep; it was still warm. The sharp scents nearly made me drool. I savored the little chunks of veggies in the marinara sauce that enveloped the bow-tie pasta. The flavors and textures played a symphony in my mouth. Trevor always had a big appetite, since his ability burned thousands of calories every day. I usually tried to eat small portions—I didn’t want to put on weight like my mom had. But now, I was ravenous. Food was more than fuel—it was edible freedom.
I opened my eyes after reveling in the tang of garlic butter on a slice of thick-crusted bread. Trevor watched me, nearly laughing out loud. I could feel how much happiness he got from my joy, and his pleasure made me happier. A feedback loop of delight built between us.
Dessert?
The simple cups of chocolate pudding each had a dollop of whipped cream on them. They were standard-issue dining hall desserts—I’d never bothered to have one before tonight. Trevor held out a spoonful to me and suddenly pudding became… sexy. I held his gaze as I took the spoon between my lips and removed the pudding with a slow move of my tongue.
Trevor flared with red energy as he watched. Is this okay? His concern played against his lust, trying to figure out what was best for me.
I nodded to him, picked up the other spoon and leaned in to give him a bite, getting a little smudge of chocolate on the side of his face as I did so. I kissed it off. An invisible finger brought another pudding blob to my mouth, deliberately smearing some across my lower lip. Soon we were laughing and kissing and getting pudding everywhere.
We connected as pure energy, igniting together in a beautiful explosion. The sense of wholeness—of peace and joy—filled us both.
You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, I told him.
Trevor kissed me tenderly, sending such intense waves of love to me that I felt like my heart would burst. We drifted in mentally connected bliss until I fell back to sleep.
CHAPTER 7
“Still under house arrest.” Trevor normally didn’t mind staying behind the walls of Ganzfield, but now he had a goal.
I wrinkled my nose. Beats the other kind. Besides, the whole marriage thing was on hold. Coleman still had my emancipation documents—the ones we would need to do grown-up things like get married—or be
I bit my lip; this was a fairly permanent move for Rachel. She and her daughter would pretty much need to stay here for years—at least until the baby grew up enough to control her ability.
Rachel paced the floor of her new home like a tiger in a cage. This is SO UNFAIR. By the time she’d gotten down to the new house, her pelvis hurt from the baby’s weight and she desperately needed to pee.
Gah. Being in her mind was like a Public Service Announcement for birth control. If this was what pregnancy was like, why would any woman have a second child? First child, I guess I could understand—babies were cute and most women wanted one at some point. But the first-timers didn’t know what they were getting into. Once someone had been through it, though, she had no excuse. Maybe there was some sort of hormonally-induced amnesia involved in the process.
Trevor cracked up and reached for my hand. I take it we’re not going to be starting a family any time soon?
I leaned against him and closed my eyes. I’m pretty sure reading Rachel’s mind has withered whatever maternal instincts I may’ve had.
Maddie, you’re exhausted. Trevor’s concern wrapped around me, along with his arms. Until Trevor mentioned it, I hadn’t noticed how tired I was. I guess I hadn’t recovered physically, yet. He looked at the others. “I’m taking Maddie home.”
We left as Drew and Ellen argued over how to set up the watch schedule.
I took what I thought would be a quick nap. When I woke up, it was dark. Trevor vaulted up to my loft when he sensed I was awake.
Hungry?
Oh, yeah.
He’d brought back dinner for us while I’d been asleep; it was still warm. The sharp scents nearly made me drool. I savored the little chunks of veggies in the marinara sauce that enveloped the bow-tie pasta. The flavors and textures played a symphony in my mouth. Trevor always had a big appetite, since his ability burned thousands of calories every day. I usually tried to eat small portions—I didn’t want to put on weight like my mom had. But now, I was ravenous. Food was more than fuel—it was edible freedom.
I opened my eyes after reveling in the tang of garlic butter on a slice of thick-crusted bread. Trevor watched me, nearly laughing out loud. I could feel how much happiness he got from my joy, and his pleasure made me happier. A feedback loop of delight built between us.
Dessert?
The simple cups of chocolate pudding each had a dollop of whipped cream on them. They were standard-issue dining hall desserts—I’d never bothered to have one before tonight. Trevor held out a spoonful to me and suddenly pudding became… sexy. I held his gaze as I took the spoon between my lips and removed the pudding with a slow move of my tongue.
Trevor flared with red energy as he watched. Is this okay? His concern played against his lust, trying to figure out what was best for me.
I nodded to him, picked up the other spoon and leaned in to give him a bite, getting a little smudge of chocolate on the side of his face as I did so. I kissed it off. An invisible finger brought another pudding blob to my mouth, deliberately smearing some across my lower lip. Soon we were laughing and kissing and getting pudding everywhere.
We connected as pure energy, igniting together in a beautiful explosion. The sense of wholeness—of peace and joy—filled us both.
You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, I told him.
Trevor kissed me tenderly, sending such intense waves of love to me that I felt like my heart would burst. We drifted in mentally connected bliss until I fell back to sleep.
CHAPTER 7
“Still under house arrest.” Trevor normally didn’t mind staying behind the walls of Ganzfield, but now he had a goal.
I wrinkled my nose. Beats the other kind. Besides, the whole marriage thing was on hold. Coleman still had my emancipation documents—the ones we would need to do grown-up things like get married—or be
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