Her back arched in a reflexive way when he ran a finger over her nipple. She didn't try to hide the soft giggle that escaped her lips at the action. Though part of her wanted to roll over him and start round two, she was equally comfortable just laying here and talking with him. It felt nicer than she expected, as some of the bravado and confusion fell away, replaced by real communication.<br/><br/>What she wanted was a complicated question, even with the sex aside from the rest of it. Turning off the primal side of her brain meant that Lane had to rifle with the things she felt, which was a difficult task for most people, but even more so for an empath. She had gotten 23 years of practice, so she no longer struggled with the issues of feeling others emotions without consciously doing it, or becoming overwhelmed by the strong emotions of others. It made her more introspective than most, and a naturally good listener. She possessed a knack for calming people and setting them at ease. The problem was, she was the one that felt calm and at ease. Lane had literally just met this guy, and yet she did not feel stranger or embarrassed about being in bed with him, wrapped in his arms in such an intimate way. It felt oddly right. Which, of course, cued her insecurities to set her mind racing, at least a little bit.<br/><br/>It was also made her think about his predicament. Some witches with empathic tendencies became healers, both of the mind and body, because they could use their abilities to transmute pain and trauma into something else once they had absorbed it. Scientists would likely call it the alchemy of energies, something he would no doubt ask her about if she shared more about it. For a moment, she pushed those thoughts aside, and let her mind work that concept over on its back burner.<br/><br/>"You don't know me as well as you think you do, Professor, if you think I'm worried about becoming collateral damage in your mission." A smile grew upon her lips as she responded and it was equal parts playful and sincere. The nickname was one she wanted to try, though she had earlier thought he looked like a hipster, the last few hours had changed that perception. He was more bookish and well-studied, so it seemed deserving. "Maybe you should have studied up on me more, because ending up in the middle of other people's problems is sort of my thing. I can't help it, I care too much."<br/><br/>Though her words still held an air of humor and facetiousness to them, it was obvious there was truth there as well. James was not the first lost soul seeking help to wander into her shop, not by far, nor was he the first she had offered to help. Lane had a heart of gold, which meant she gave of herself at most opportunities to do so. It also meant she had been burned a few times. That was her strength, though, the ability to take the pain and move on, truly the role of an empath in this world.<br/><br/>"And I'm not naive enough to think that book isn't bound to me in a way. You use it, I'll probably get pulled into whatever you do, whether you intend it or not." She said, as if it was a statement of fact.<br/><br/>She shifted then, her eyes darting to the offending area on his thigh and then back up to his eyes. "I might be able to help with that, just temporarily."<br/><br/>Her gaze narrowed on him and she got that curious look in her eyes. "I'm an empath. I can take on the pain and suffering of others and more or less use a little emotional alchemy to transmute it. I've never tried with something like...that, but I'd be willing to try. "<br/><br/>She sighed then, because it felt like a heavy offer, one she needed to be clear about. Lane moved a bit closer, pressing her body against his in a way that was more intimate than sexual. The voices in the back of her mind echoed that this was all too much too soon. This was not her boyfriend or a guy that was in love with her, this was just some random man that knew her ancestor, and she was about to offer up both her help and her abilities to him. She hushed those insecurities, forcing them back into their box.<br/><br/>"I'm just--I can help you. Either with that or with the other thing. I want to help you. It feels like the right thing to do." Her words held conviction. It hung between them a beat longer than she expected, so she picked it back up.