Taboo by Empress LaBlaque

Author:Empress LaBlaque
Format: epub

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Later that evening, Trace got a frantic call from the center. A terrible fight had erupted among the men, and several were badly injured. Concern filled his face as he paced the grounds holding his phone to his ear. Attempting to instruct Jasper, his assistant, was futile. Periodically, Trace yelled, as Jasper seemed too hysterical to understand his instructions. From the stress in Trace’s voice, Jasper hardly contained his own composure.

Finally, Trace hung up the phone. He stroked his forehead, then sat quietly on his cot to meditate. Occasionally, he stroked his chin and sighed, but he said nothing. Seeing him distraught touched my heart. I wanted so badly to comfort him. When I reached out to him, I discovered the ground surrounding his cot was covered with daddy longlegs.

Trace didn’t seem worried about them. However, I was deeply concerned. I paced nervously, watching the spiders as they walked freely about. When it seemed they were crawling on my body, I asked softly, “Let’s move your cot, okay?”

While frowning, Trace lifted his eyes. “Why,” he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just need a few moments to think, before I call Jasper back.” He gazed through me absently. “You don’t mind do you, Nandi?”

Not wanting to appear insensitive, I replied, “No, I understand. You need to sort things out. I want to sit near you, but I’m deathly afraid of spiders.” With my last words I grimaced, then reached for the bug spray.

“What?” Trace searched the grasses around his cot and his eyes softened. “You aren’t afraid of a little spider, are you?”

Now, holding a can of insect spray, I stood silently.

Trace threw his hands in the air. “Nandi, they only eat vegetation and wood decay. They don’t eat people.”

“Do they bite?” I asked, with my hand poised on the spray nozzle.

Trace scratched his head. “Yes, it’s possible. I guess.”

“Well,” I started to drench the ground with spray. “I don’t like spiders.”

While I sprayed, Trace sputtered. Finally he reached for the can. “Nandi,” he coughed, waving his hand to fan the spray. “Please give me the spray. I know you’re afraid, Kitten. But give me a moment, okay?”

I felt like an insensitive heel and gave Trace a fragile smile. Taking my thumb I pointed toward the shore, then backed out of the shelter we’d put together earlier. “I’ll just—walk—down by the water.”

While Trace sat meditating, I walked along the beach and waded through the clear water. The sun was setting, and the day had been spectacular. There was no way I wanted it to end. Everything about Trace made me happy. At this point, Trace wasn’t taboo in my book, and I didn’t care what Dee thought. If her heart felt as light as mine, she’d burst from glee.

I wished for her happiness, but she was a miserable wretch. Would she ever meet Mr. Right? Would she ever venture out? She was happy being second or third, but I wasn’t. It must have been a self-esteem issue.

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