by Nina Pierce
Merenith turned her gaze back to the flames. “I didn’t grow up with my birth family like you, Jahara. The school taught me everything I needed to know. I loved the girls there as if they were my birth-sisters. The teachers loved us like a true Dame would love her own birth child.” Merenith stared pensively at the fire. In the six months they’d been together, Jahara realized the woman had never spoken of her upbringing.
“Really, it’s not so bad.” Merenith’s voice lilted into a false cheerfulness. “Besides, you already know what to expect. You came with me during foaling season. It’s a lot like that.” She drained the last of the burgundy liquid.
“Those mares looked particularly uncomfortable. I remember a lot of grunting and kicking and blood. Lots of blood.”
Laughter bubbled from Merenith. “Oh for goodness’ sake, Jahara, if anyone was listening to you, they’d never know you were a skilled healer.” She stood and collected the empty wine bottle and glasses. “Blood? That’s the last thing that should be upsetting you.” Merenith stared down at her, the humor gone from her face. “What about the men and everything they’re expected to do? That gets a little intimate, Jahara.” Merenith walked into the kitchen.
“Well, it won’t mean anything if that’s what’s worrying you.” Jahara jumped up and followed her lover. “I mean…it’s just one or two times. Rutting. Nothing emotional. And who knows, there may be genetic advances in the next year or so with sperm that make them viable again for artificial insemination or better yet … cloning.”
Merenith looked doubtful. “Whatever. I’m not sure why it’s even bothering me.” She reached for a glass to sanitize, but it slipped from her hand and shattered in the basin. Blood seeped from a jagged cut on Merenith’s palm. When Jahara reached to help, Merenith pulled from her.
“I’m fine you don’t need—”
“Mer, don’t be silly.” Jahara took the woman’s hand in hers and let the warmth of her healing power flow through her, surrounding their hands in its soft white light. The flow of blood from Merenith’s hand stopped, the ripped flesh came back together, and the scab repaired instantly to healthy skin.
Jahara brought Merenith’s healed palm to her lips, gently kissing the spot where the glass had torn her flesh. “Mer, it’s not like I’m the least bit attracted to men. I mean there’s nothing about them that’s the tiniest bit sexy. All their sex organs dangling about.” Jahara nibbled at her jaw. “Nothing like a woman’s soft, silky skin hiding her vulnerability.”
“We’ve barely had a chance to get to know each other. And I guess I’m a little…”
“Jealous? Of a man?” Now Jahara laughed.
“It’s happened.”
“I don’t believe it. Those rumors of men and women living together outside the law? How could that possibly be true?” Jahara toyed with the rings on Merenith’s fingers. “They’re just children’s tales meant to frighten. No more real than the desert horseman or the bloodthirsty animals of the night. They can’t be true. There’s no reason a woman would give up all we’ve worked so hard to build.” Jahara waved her hand around her beautiful home. “Men are only good for physical labor and breeding. Why would any woman choose to make a life with that? The plague may have decimated the male population, but it gifted us with so much.” Jahara kissed Merenith’s healed palm. “The power to heal, to communicate with animals.” She kissed her long fingers, working off one of Merenith’s rings studded with small jade stones. “The power of telepathy, telekinesis, visions and intellect. We have so much. Women are meant to be their own leaders. Now have you ever met a man with any of those gifts? Especially intellect?”
Merenith giggled a nasally laugh. “No, I can’t say I have. Not in all the time I spent at the Garden or in my years since.”
“There won’t be anyone else, Mer.” Jahara slipped the ring onto her finger. “This is my promise to you.” She wiggled her fingers, showing off the ring.
“I can’t hold you to that.”
“Do you not want me to have this?”
Color crawled up Merenith’s cheeks. “I would be honored for you to wear it. At the very least you can claim you are promised.” She shrugged. “It does make the breeding a little less demanding and the breeders do stay away from those who are claimed.”
“Well, then it’s decided. I’ll wear your ring. I’ll do anything to avoid the breeding obligation and keep the men from me. But really, can you imagine there’s a man on earth willing to have me longer than it takes to impregnate me?”
They both laughed at the absurdity of her question.
End of Excerpt
Thank you for reading A Touch of Lilly
It’s very hard to truly express my gratitude toward my readers. There is nothing more thrilling than pouring my heart and soul into the creation of worlds and characters and discovering my readers have fallen in love with them as much as me. Thank you all for buying and reading my books. It’s because of you that this writing gig is so much fun!
Nina
If you enjoyed A Touch of Lilly, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.
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Author’s Bio
USA Today Bestselling author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.
Eventually, reading about alpha males and the journey to find their happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to pen her own stories of fated loves and soul mates. Nina’s discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, it’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heartwarming aroma of romance.
Nina resides in New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-eight years. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with their three grown children, one love-sick son-in-law and a cute-as-a-button grandson.
Nina enjoys hearing from her readers. You can reach her at [email protected]. You can also keep up with all her newest releases on her website http://www.NinaPierce.com or by following her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/NinaPierce and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NinaPierce
Other books by Nina Pierce
Blind Her With Bliss
Deceive Her With Desire
Cheat Her With Charm
Dangerous Affairs
Shadows of Fire
Invitation to Ecstasy
Maid for Master
Mating Bonds
Bonded Souls
Bonded by Need
Healer’s Garden
Divine Deception
Ripe and Ready
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Blurb
Glossary
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Reviews
Excerpt from Healer’s Garden
Reader Thank You
Author Bio
Other Books by Nina Pierce
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