"I mean I seriously felt that. Not like I had a penis or anything, but every touch and lick sent shock waves of pleasure through me too."
"Oui. I know," he said with a grimace, tugging the sheet back into place. It was better they finish this conversation. "That's why it's called shared pleasure. Only life mates experience it."
"So you felt that every time you kissed and caressed me?" she asked with amazement.
He nodded.
"Well, damn," she breathed, and then suddenly reached out and pinched his nipple ... hard.
Cale barked in startled pain and stared at her with amazement. "What did you do that for?"
"Sorry," she murmured, patting his arm with a frown. "I just wanted to see if I would feel your pain too."
"No, it doesn't work that way," he said dryly, rubbing the spot.
"Huh. I wonder why not."
Shaking his head, Cale now tugged the blankets all the way up to his armpits in case she was tempted to try other experiments, and said, "The point is we are definitely life mates. Only life mates experience the shared pleasure." Reaching out, he caught her hand, and added solemnly, "I love you, Alex, but I understand if this all seems sudden, and you have some doubt in my feelings for you. That's okay. You don't have to trust just in me, Alex. Trust the nanos instead until you learn to trust me."
Alex stared at Cale silently, her mind whirling. This was all happening so fast, and she wanted it to slow down. The rest of her life was at stake here, and she'd have liked more time to think, but knew she didn't have that luxury. Marguerite had explained that she had to make her decision soon, that they couldn't allow her to leave with the knowledge she had until she did. The woman had said Alex didn't have to agree to the turn right away, but she did have to decide before she'd be allowed out of the house. It was to protect their people. They hadn't kept their secret all this time by letting just anyone know about them.
Alex knew Cale was waiting for an answer, but it was so hard. She thought she loved Cale, or she was definitely headed that way. The man was gorgeous in her eyes, and considerate, and smart and sexy and the sex was to die for ... and he was right, they did work well together and balance each other out. But she'd thought Jack loved her too. She would have staked her life on it that he had. And now was terribly afraid she might be making another mistake if she said yes.
On the other hand, her mind argued. The other choice was to never see Cale again. Ever. No more kisses, no more laughing with him, no more amazing sex, no more of his exasperated attempts to help her when she was determined to prove her independence.
Alex was teetering between a yes and a no when a knock sounded at the door. She practically leapt off the bed, saying, "I'll get it."
She heard Cale sigh behind her and knew he was disappointed at the interruption, but she was rather relieved to have an excuse to put it off. She opened the door with a small smile that turned into an "o" of shock as she saw Sam standing in the hall. They hadn't let her see her sister since her arrival almost twenty-four hours ago, insisting it would be better to wait until she was done with her turn and felt ready for it. Now Alex stared at the woman before her and just gaped. Sam had filled out. She was no longer Olive Oyle but had some curves to her, and her eyes no longer dominated her face but set it off. They were even arresting, with the silver tint now coloring them. On top of that her hair was healthy and shiny and her skin seemed almost to glow with good health and happiness. She was a perfect Sam, almost stunning.
"Well?" Sam asked with a grin. "What do you think?"
"Oh my God!" Alex screeched and caught her up in a hug. "You look gorgeous."
"I feel gorgeous." Sam chuckled and hugged her back, and then added, "And that damned ear infection is finally gone too."
"Really?" Alex asked, pulling back to peer at her. Sam had been suffering recurring ear infections for quite a while. It had been very worrisome for Alex and Jo, who had been concerned it might be a symptom of an underlying and more sinister problem.
"Really," Sam said with a happy sigh, and then glanced past her to Cale and frowned. "I came at the wrong time, didn't I? They said you'd been thinking since you got here and were going to give Cale your decision when he woke up, but you haven't yet, have you?"
"Are you reading my mind?" Alex asked with a frown.
Sam gave a laugh. "No. I can't do that yet. But Cale isn't looking happy, and I can tell-"
"He'll be fine." Alex glanced back to Cale, and said, "I'll be right back," as she pushed Sam away from the door and stepped out to join her. She pulled the door closed, and then whirled to her sister. "What do I do?"
"About what?" Sam asked uncertainly.
"Do I accept being Cale's life mate or not?" Alex said impatiently, and her sister frowned.
"Marguerite said you love Cale," she said finally with confusion.
"She told me that too," Alex admitted with a sigh. "And I'm pretty sure I do."
"Then say yes," Sam said at once, sounding relieved.
"But what if he doesn't love me?" Alex said with distress. "He says he does, but so did Jack an-"
"Oh, honey," Sam interrupted with a sigh. "Jack was an ass. Cale would never do to you what Jack did."