"There are different kinds? You never mentioned that before."
"Well, different potencies is probably more accurate. I've made some interesting observations since I've learned to feed without killing. I actually feel kinda stupid for not figuring this out before. But I've put a lot of thought into this these last couple days and I think I've come up with a workable system.
"Ok teacher, I'm ready to learn." Lauren smirked.
"Ok I mentioned before, that feeding during sex is the most potent and long lasting chi. Both parties are highly aroused and I don't have to waste as much energy holding them in a thrall to keep them compliant. So Baby, I will do everything in my power to reserve that experience for only you. The exception being if something totally bizarre or unforeseen happens, like I'm badly injured and stuck on a deserted island with a bunch of random Fae, or trapped in a caved-in coal mine or whatever." Lauren rolled her eyes and giggled. "Hey, I need to have some sort of escape clause if I'm facing eminent death. And if something weird does happen, I will be counting on you to work hard to be ok with it, and that we talk it out. No suffering in silence and building resentment."
"Deal."
"The next best chi is if at least one of us is aroused, either me or the uh, let's say chi donor." Lauren chuckled at the new euphemism. "Now, I get that if the 'donor' is turned on, the chi is more potent. But there have been a couple times I've grabbed a quick non-sexual 'snack' while I was on my way to see you – which means I was horny to begin with." Lauren giggled as Bo gave her an extra squeeze. "I don't know how it works, but if I'm turned on and the donor isn't, it still makes the chi a little more potent."
"Maybe your arousal affects how the chi is metabolized, for lack of a better word."
"Oooh, the benefits of having a hot brilliant doctor for a girlfriend!" Bo gushed. Lauren chuckled in amusement as Bo kissed her forehead.
"So anyway, that's the kind of feed I had last night. I got my sexy on because of you, and the donor was only thralled enough to be happy and compliant. So, I will only engage in this kind of feed if you are there to get me worked up. Turning me on is a privilege reserved for you, ok?" She punctuated her promise with a sweet slow kiss.
"Deal." Lauren said with a smile; she could feel her insides fluttering with new hope.
"The weakest, least potent chi is completely non-sexual. I basically just grab someone, use a little energy to thrall them then just suck their chi and that's it. I don't even have to kiss them, I just need their mouth open a little. And obviously I don't have to use the energy to thrall them if they are helping me out voluntarily. Since it's not practical to take you with me all the time I feed – unless you really want to, but I figured you'd have better things to do – the non-sexual feed will be my main source. But since it's not as potent, I'm going to have to tap a lot of 'donors' to sustain myself. I can also use it for small injuries, or to partially heal a moderate one till I can get back to you to finish me up. So I might be out cruising for food a lot more often, but I swear that whenever I feed alone, it will not be sexual, except for the 'eminent death and trapped' escape clause, of course. Is that something you can live with? Can you trust me to feed only non-sexually when I'm by myself?"
Lauren felt like she was floating. "Yes Bo, I will trust you to feed without sex when you're by yourself." This is going to work. I can feel it.
"Thank you sweetie, that means a lot." Infectious smiles were growing on both of their faces as they felt their hope swell. "Ok, I also have a Dyson question. Obviously sex with Dyson is off the table because sex with anyone other than you is off the table. But how do you feel about a non-sexual feed? Like if we're on a job and I need a quick boost to keep my energy up. If you're not comfortable with that, its ok and Dyson will be off limits completely. I just want to know where you stand."
Lauren thought for a moment before answering. "Bo, I realize that it should be perfectly reasonable for you to feed non-sexually off of Dyson, but I might need a little time to wrap my head around it. So I would appreciate it if you try your best to avoid that for now. I hope someday it won't be a problem for me. Let's just try to get used to these new ground rules first and see how it goes, ok?"
"Absolutely sweetie. So for now, no Dyson whatsoever, and we can revisit that in the future. Ok, so just to be clear, I have to know…" Bo swallowed hard. "If I follow these rules would you be able to, in good conscience, consider me truly faithful and monogamous?" Bo's voice suddenly grew timid. "If you need time to think about it, that's ok."
Torrents of tears streamed down Lauren's face, yet her emotions were bordering on euphoric. "Yes. Yes I think I can. I'm almost scared because it seems too good to be true. But I think it would work!"
Bo was momentarily surprised that her relief and elation suddenly caused a wave of tears to spill down her own cheeks. She squeezed Lauren tightly, pressing her cheek to her girlfriend's forehead. "Thank you. Thank you, my love!"
After a few moments of just holding her girlfriend tightly on her lap, Bo cautiously asked, "Lauren, what about the stuff we talked about yesterday? We cleared the air on a lot of misunderstandings, but it also proved that we have stuff to work on if we're ever gonna be able to make this work."
"Yeah, I know you're right. I guess I have a lot of homework to do to try and let go of some of my inferiority complex." Lauren said with a sheepish smirk.
"And I have got to freakin' pay attention so I don't reinforce those feelings. So, we both need more general self-awareness all around."
"Agreed."
"And we need to make it a priority that if either one of us feels neglected or alienated or have otherwise bad feelings, we have got to say something before it festers!"
"Yes. Small but frequent lesbian processing is much better than marathon lesbian processing following an implosion." They both shared a small fit of giggles.
"So baby…are we calling off the break?" Bo shyly asked.
Lauren wiped her eyes and let out a loud chuckle as if to say 'you had to ask?' "Yes, Bo. No break…for now…"
Bo raised a single questioning eyebrow.
"It's just the cautious pragmatic scientist in me wants a probationary period!" They both chuckled hardily and Bo wasn't the least bit disappointed by her girlfriend's caveat, since she knew they would make it work.
"But otherwise, yes, I think this is doable. I think it will work. Oh Bo, I'm amazed and so touched by how much thought you put into this, and I'm ashamed I was willing to give up so easily."
"Lo, sweetie, you've just made me so happy – so please, no apologies, no guilt! …Baby, look at me. I need you to hear me say this." Bo locked eyes with her girlfriend. "I am in love with you and only you. To the best of my ability, I promise that no one will ever touch my lips but you. No one will ever undress me but you. I will only feed non-sexually when I'm alone." Her voice began to crack. "And I will never make love to anyone but you. My body and heart are yours alone. You are all I want, and you're more than enough for me. And I love you."
Lauren's eyes began watering yet again as soon as Bo started reciting her promises, and by the time she finished with 'I love you' the tears were freely flowing and Lauren was trying to stifle small sobs. She reached out to pull Bo into a desperate embrace, and the dam finally broke.
In between fervent kisses Lauren simply whispered her mantra, "I love you, Bo. I love you, I love you so much."