Chapter 17

• “You can't lie to your mate, Lorey. I can feel you, even if what you’re saying sounds honest. I am what you need, and you’re what I need. Fate made it so. When you strip everything else away, and it’s just us, here and now, with no one else to think about ... we need each other to feel sane. To stop this eternal agony and emptiness, we’re both harboring. We don’t need to pretend it’s any other way. There should never be lies between us.” We both stand in hopeless silence as he gets up to stand too, towering over me by at least a foot, yet we’re still at least three apart. He doesn't hesitate and closes the gap, pulls me to him by the waist, gently, his touch searing my skin through my clothes, and I can’t deny that I do need him. I can’t fight it.
• Bringing his forehead to mine, he places us together, so his breath fans my face impulsively. I close my eyes and inhale his scent. Our connection only drives home that we are meant to be like this. It’s familiar, safe, and home. Where skin touches, amazing things happen, and the energy which sizzles between us is incomparable. Lighting my body on fire, and I burn to be joined entirely to him, aching with a need that makes my legs turn weak. For the first time since this began, I’m at peace instantly, and every pain and torment, all the confusion I’ve been through, quiets to absolutely nothing. Just him and me, and a sharing of every feeling. Highlighting the peace we can find in touch.
• We both let go of our held breath and exhale in unison, as though finally finding where we need to be for a moment of serene. A second of calm in the stormy sea that has been thrashing us around since I awakened.