“Your chest, sir. Miss Aster believes you’re hairy there. I want to know for myself. I think it should be very funny to have this secret.”
I slid my hand up his stomach, tugging at the hem of his shirt to reveal his torso. He caught it, then flipped me onto my back, lurching over.
“What are you doing?” he asked. His eyes were serious.
“What do you mean?” I muttered. “I’m undressing you.”
“Precisely. You’re undressing me,” he said.
“And you’re complaining?” I asked. “That’s upsetting.”
A smile came and went and then his eyes were darker. “Svana.”
“Cyrus.”
“Whyare you undressing me?” he asked, voice soft.
“I… Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because… Because I want you to make love to me, sir,” I said.
“Youwhat?” He frowned.
“W-What do you mean I what?” I pulled my wrist from his hand. His fingers reappeared between mine. “I said I wanted to make… to make love to you. You need an explanation?”
He exhaled. There was a long silence.
“P-Please say something,” I begged. “If you do not wish to then just-”
“That’s, uh,” he said. “That’s a lot to ask, my love.”
“Oh.” Immediately, I reached to fix the disarray of my vest. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I just thought...” I climbed to my feet and hastily swept my skirt. “Just pretend I didn’t say that then,” I tried.
“But youdid,”he said. “You did say that.”
“Y-Yes, well. Then, just… Just excuse me while I go crawl into someone's grave. I saw a cemetery not far from here.”
He tsked. “It’s not… Svana, stop it. It’s not as though I’mrejectingyou.” He stood to collect my glove.
“Yes, you are,” I argued. “I said, “Cyrus, do make love to me,” and you...didn’t.”
“Yes, but,” he started.
“But what?” I asked.
“But…”
“Oh, God. Thereisa but!” I cried.
“But,” he emphasized. “Love making is a really big …step? Commitment? Er… Act. It’s a big whatever you want to call it, but it’s not kissing in the garden. It’s…”
“It’s what?” I whined.
“It’s more,” he said. “It’s everything.”
“How is it any more than youtaking careof me, except thatyourneeds are to be met, too?” He didn’t reply and I added, “I want…We’re friends, right? Maybe more and I want… I want to make you feel as you makemefeel.”
