And true to his word, he hadn’t pushed her formore. She couldn’t count how many orgasms he’d given her that day—with his hands, with his tongue—but not once did he press her for sex.
“You are beautiful, female,” he rasped. “Maybe it isIthat wishes to drawyou. You want to give me the tablet?”
She flushed at his compliment. She wasn’t used to them but he gave them to her readily, whenever he could.
“No,” she whispered, smiling, feeling a little shy at the prospect of him drawing her.
“You want to give me a kiss then?” he purred. “If you will not give me your tablet.”
Thatshe could do.
She rose to her knees and crawled over to him, sprawled on his back. She kneeled next to his head and leaned over, brushing his lips at a slight angle, smiling into it.
She didn’t know if she’d ever smiled so much in her life. She didn’t think so. It felt like a lifetime of smiles had all emerged over the past few days.
When she pulled back, his eyes blinked open and he reached up to stroke a strand of hair that fell between them. The way he was looking at her made her freeze—it frightened her actually—and she pulled away, scooting back before sitting down.
He didn’t say anything about her retreat, just leaned up on his elbow, letting silence fall between them.
Nervously, she tucked that same strand he’d touched behind her ear, wondering why she’d felt a sudden jolt of fear.
Because she’d seen his feelings for her? Right there, in his gaze?
He was so open about everything and she was…not. It was a difference between them that might never be bridged.
“I wanted to speak with you about something,” Cruxan said, after a lengthy long pause, his voice hesitant.
“Okay,” she said softly, swallowing. The mood had changed so suddenly, so swiftly, that she felt the tension just simmering under the surface.
“I must return toOtalatomorrow,” he said.
Immediately, Crystal looked down at the fur blanket, eyeing the grey and black and white hairs.
She’d feared as much.
She knew this would happen eventually.
So why did those words feel like her heart was being squeezed right out of her chest?
He continued, softly, with, “I want you to come with me.”
Crystal bit her lip, her fingers reaching out to trace the swirls in the fur, dread pooling in her belly. Dread so heavy that it made her feel nauseous.
“Luxiva,” Cruxan murmured after a long pause. Even her heart hurt atthatword. “Will you look at me?”
Stop being a coward, she thought. Cruxan deserved more than her complete withdrawal, so she swallowed her fear and met his eyes.
Gone was his amusement, the teasing look in his gaze. In its place was a guarded expression that Crystal didn’t think looked right on his features. She’d never seen it before. She never wanted to again.
She felt her answer rise up, choking her.
“I can’t,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”
Cruxan shifted ever so slightly, the move so small that she almost missed it. A slight bunching of his shoulders. That was all.
“Why?” he asked, his voice soft.
How could she even explain it to him?
