AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re going to be just fine,” she murmured in Molly’s ear. “Just let Torus take care of you and try to take it easy.”
“I will. Thank you.” Molly smiled at her. Then she looked up at Torus. “Can we go now? I feel like I’m going to fall over I’m so tired and over-stimulated.”
“No falling on my watch,” he rumbled.
Leaning down, he swung her into his arms again and carried her out of the courtroom.
50
TORUS
Molly needed what the humans called “TLC”—a total loving connection—at least, that was what Torus thought the letters stood for. He wished she still had her TET device on so he could pick up on her emotions, but he would just have to manage without it.
He took her back to his ship and stripped her. Then he stripped himself and got both of them into the shower.
As the warm water rained down on them from above, he washed her gently—soaping every inch of her beautiful, freckled skin. He washed and conditioned her hair as well, making sure she felt clean all over. It seemed to him that washing away the events of the day was important—both literally and symbolically—and Molly seemed to agree because she made no protest but only leaned against him, letting him scrub her.
Afterwards, Torus dried her off and wrapped her damp hair in a thirsty-towel which left it dry and glossy in minutes. Then he fixed her a cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and whipped cream—ingredients he had purchased some time ago because he knew this was one of Molly’s favorite drinks.
He turned on the flame vid and they snuggled on the couch in their robes sipping chocolate and watching the flickering flames while soft, soothing music played.
“Oh, Torus,” Molly sighed, snuggling against his side. “How did you know this is exactly what I needed?”
“I’d like to think I know more than a little about you now,” he told her, stroking her hair.
Molly bit her lip.
“You knew a lot about me even before we got together though—didn’t you?”
“If you mean the dreams, then yes—I guess I did. At least, I knew what you went through with your ex-Mate,” Torus admitted. “Because I lived through it in the dreams.”
“Wait—you what?” she frowned. “What do you mean you ‘lived through it?’”
“Just what I said,” Torus told her. “I wasn’t watching you in the dreams—the way you watch a character in a vid. It was like I was you.” He frowned, thinking how to explain. “I know that sounds odd, but I saw what you saw…I felt what you felt. In a way I was you—at least in the dreams.”
“Oh, no—I’m so sorry!” Molly sat up, her brow furrowed in concern. “That’s terrible.”
“Yes, it was—but I’m sure it was worse for you,” Torus told her. “But I believe the Goddess sent me those dreams so that I could better understand you—so I could feel for you and care for you in the way you needed to be cared for. And to love you the way you need to be loved,” he added, stroking her hair away from her face. “Because I do love you, sweetheart—so much.”
“Oh, Torus…” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry I tried to break up with you. I didn’t understand—I thought you were just staying with me out of pity.”
“Never!” he swore softly. “You have too much pride and self-respect for me to pity you. Despite everything that bastard of an ex-Mate put you through, you kept trying—kept fighting. That’s why you came up to the Mother Ship in the first place. If you hadn’t, we never would have met and we wouldn’t be together now.”
“I don’t know about fighting—I was just trying to get away from him—from his influence,” Molly said.
“Well, I think he’s going to have a lot less influence now.” Torus didn’t even try to keep the note of grim satisfaction out of his voice. “What are you going to do with the settlement the jury awarded to you? Eighty-eight million US dollars is quite a lot, I believe?”
Molly laughed.
“It’s a hell of a lot—especially for someone used to living on a teacher’s salary,” she told him. “But the crazy thing is, I don’t really need it now. I mean, living on the Mother Ship is so affordable and everyone makes a living wage. Nobody has a mansion because everyone is living in suites, and nobody needs a fancy car because we have the tram system.”
“I suppose we could move down to Earth and you could live in the Earth equivalent of luxury,” Torus offered. He didn’t relish the thought of leaving the Mother Ship, but he would go if she wanted to.
But Molly shook her head.
“No, I don’t think so. I like it on board the Mother Ship—and I know you like it, too. People don’t stare at you nearly as much.”
“Well, that is true, but I can put up with the nosey humans if you want to live there,” he said.
