Fascinated with each, Bubbling Water wandered among them. “Oh, you"ve got work to do today, don"t you? I"m sorry. Let"s go, eh?” Kissing me on the nose, she stepped out the door.
Throughout the week she stayed at my side, going where I went and helping with whatever I was doing. At night, I insisted she sleep in the next cot or next room. Wanting to stay beside me, she nodded glumly. By the end of the week, of course, the whole Empire assumed we"d sought the Infinite through our joining. Being the Matriarch Water, she could couple with anyone she wanted—except possibly the Emperor. While I very much wanted her body, I felt reluctant. I value the beauty of her spirit, which happens to live in the temple of a goddess. We didn"t spend all our nights apart. One night Bubbling Water couldn"t s
