@@@@@But watchinghim suffer because of my body's
@@@@@But watchinghim suffer because of my body's limitations? Not that
He closed his eyes againHis thick black lashes were wet with tearsI could see them glisten
Oh, go ahead,Mel sighedo whatever you need toI'll… step into the other room, she added
dryly
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled myself closer to him until my lips touched his
He curled his arms around me, pulling me tighter against his chestOur lips moved together,
fusing as if they would never divide, as if separation was not the inevitable thing it was, and I
could taste the salt of our tears
Something began to change
When Melanie's body touched Jared's body, it was like a wildfire–a fast burn that raced across
the surface of the desert and consumed everything in its path
With Ian it was different, so very different, because Melanie didn't love him the way I didSo
when he touched me, it was deeper and slower than the wildfire, like the flow of molten rock far
beneath the surface of the earthToo deep to feel the heat of it, but it moved inexorably,
changing the very foundations of the world with its advance
My unwilling body was a fog between us–a thick curtain, but gauzy enough that I could see
through it, could see what was happening
It changedme, not herIt was almost a metallurgical process deep inside the core of who I was,
something that had already begun, was already nearly forgedBut this long, unbroken kiss
finished it, searing and sharp edged–it shoved this new creation, all hissing, into the cold water
that made it hard and final
And I started to cry again, realizing that it must be changing him, too, this man who was kind
enough to be a soul but strong as only a human could be
He moved his lips to my eyes, but it was too late
You're staying with me
“Eight full lives,” I whispered against his jaw, my voice breaking“Eight full lives and I never
found anyone I would stay on a planet for, anyone I would follow when they leftI never found
a partne