Healer (The Healer Series) by B.N. Toler Page A

back moistened with sweat and his energy was off the charts. In a most unexpected move, he pulled energy from me. My body lifted to his, involuntarily, and suddenly, he pushed back, his energy slammed me back into the bed again. He continued this several times and each time I would melt into him, my body evaporated by his, only to be poured back out again. My body was his and under his complete control. With one last major pull, I thought I would pass out, and suddenly, he pushed hard and fast, and he released into me, moaning my name. Flooded with sheer ecstasy, I was a puddle of a young woman that had just been undone. He lay on me, panting, his head positioned on my sternum so that his mouth was millimeters away from my breast. His hot, moist, breath tickled my nipple, sending shocks though my body.
    All of a sudden , all of the happiness, fear, excitement, and joy bubbled up inside of me and I burst into tears.
    “What ’s wrong?” Thomas asked, sitting up quickly. “Did I hurt you?” Panic in his voice.
    “I’m just so happy.” I smiled though my tears.
    “So am I, sweet girl,” he whispered, kissing me gently, while he rubbed away a tear with his thumb.
    We lay for some time , silent, wrapped around one another in the mess of sheets. The lake was still, flat as glass, as spouts of fog drifted across it like ghosts. No words were needed. I felt his energy—soft—calm. Safe. It was the happiest moment of my life.
    W e went swimming, and held each other in the warm water, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking. I shifted the day to night and blanketed the sky with stars, the moon bathing us in its light.
    “You’re amazing,” h e smiled, gazing into the sky. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” he confessed as he kissed me gently.
    “Do you have plans tomorrow?” I hoped he would come over and spend time with us.
    “I have something to take care of,” he said in a distant way, and his expression seemed odd.
    “Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, just something I have to do.” He kissed my shoulder. “You. Are. Amazing.”
    “Was it….” I paused, looking for the right word, “good?” I finished.
    He kissed me gently. “It was amazing. Thank you,” he whispered.
    “For what?”  
    “For picking me.”
    “I prayed it would be you.”
    “We should agree on something , though, Aldo.”  He kissed my shoulder again. “This was amazing—”
    “ Agreed!”
    “Not what I meant.” He grinned.
    “Oh.”
    “ I think it’s time for me to be on my own for a while. You know, separate from Lucas.”
    “So come to Virginia with us.”
    “Virginia?”
    “Yeah, Virginia Tech.”
    “Oh, college.” He nodded like he had just remembered. “I forgot about that. No, I can’t. I need to be on my own.”
    “So, you won’t be able to come and visit me there?” I fought the urge to cry.
    “Well, wh at if you come with me?”
    I stare d at him for a moment, unsure of how to react. “I don’t think Lucy would let—”
    “You ’re eighteen now,” he interrupted me. “Lucy can’t tell you what to do anymore.”
    I pull ed away from him. “Yeah, but what about my brothers? I can’t leave them.”
    Thomas took my hand and kissed each finger gently, pulling me back to him. “They’ll be in college. Busy with girls and frat parties. They won’t even notice you’re gone.”
    I turned my face from his, hurt by his words, as if he thought I meant so little to them.
    “I’m sorry. That came out wrong.” He shook his head. “Look, I’ve fought this, the idea of being with you for this reason in part. I knew the day would come when we would have to separate. I can’t do that now. I need you.” My heart melted with his words.
    “Couldn’t you come with us and heal?” I was still trying to figure out how to have the best of both worlds, Thomas and my family.
    “I can’t , Aldo. I need to go, and I want you with me. Please say you’ll go with me.” He kissed my neck, his lips soft as