She could feel each of his footsteps as if they were ringing inside her head. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders at first, the contact sending a small shiver down her spine. Then, slowly, he slid them down to her upper back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her gown.
The position was even more intimate than before.
Standing like this, their bodies were almost touching. She could sense the heat radiating from him, the solid presence at her back, the subtle tremble in her own frame as her breathing had already begun to quicken.
"Relax, Mother," he whispered near her ear. "Let the mana flow naturally."
Olivia closed her eyes tightly.
A soft blue glow appeared around Julian's hands as he began sending a small amount of his mana into her. The energy was gentle at first, warm and soothing, like a slow tide washing over her consciousness.
