...kind of

Jenny flushed deeper than she ever had before. The genie--and now, it became clear with inescapable certainty that Natalia was a genie, and somehow, somehow Jenny had still been in denial about the implications--looked and her and smiled gently, kindly. Above all, knowingly. Because Jenny now understood that the bonding process, or the wish to be telepathic, or something, had changed the nature of their relationship and Natalia knew her better than anyone. The vision had been as if her deepest, darkest desires had been unlocked.

Natalia knew and understood Jenny better than Jenny did.

The implications were vertiginous and Jenny screwed her eyes shut, huddled against it all and waited for the world to stop spinning.

"Breathe, Jenny," she said, laying a startlingly warm hand on her mistresses shoulder. Forehead to forehead, she repeated herself. "Breathe. It's going to be okay. There's always a moment when it sinks in. This will pass."

"I...I don't want this responsibility."

"There's no responsibility."

"But, I could..."

"Yes, or you won't. Honestly, I think you will, but not for some time. But whatever you choose, I will always love you."

Naked before her own ambition, Jenny needed that vote of confidence and let out a breathy bark of gratitude. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, mistress. Loving you is my nature. I cannot not love you." She tilted Jenny's face up, and their lips met. When they broke away, Natalia said, "Because of that, because we're bound, it will be unsatisfying for you to have me as your only lover. Sooner or later, you're going to want someone who challenges you. Should we look for her now, or do you want to focus on self-gratification first?"