his shirt just over his heart. It was beating crazy fast.
“There’s nothing wrong with my body,” I said. “I wasn’t born with clothes. We use them to keep warm. I’m warm in here. Does looking at me like this offend you?”
“No.”
“Good. I want you to look at me, Thallirin. I want you to see me for the woman, not child, that I am because I don’t want to turn into one of them. The infected. I’m not saying I’m ready to have sex right this minute, but I’d like us both to be okay with the idea that it could happen. Maybe soon?”
He shook his head slowly.
“No.” The word was more of a tormented plea.
“Your reaction is hurting my feelings. I’m trying not to let it, but I’m starting to feel like there’s something wrong with me.” I looked down at myself. “I know I’m a little underfed, but we have more supplies now, and I’ll fill back in. My boobs were never really big.” I shrugged and met his gaze again. “In that department, what you see is what you’ll probably get for life. But I think I look pretty normal.”
“You are perfect.”
The way he said it heated my cheeks a little, but I pressed on.
“So, it’s truly just the age thing again?”
He averted his gaze for a second, and I sighed.
“I thought we went over this already. A few days or weeks isn’t going to miraculously change me. Eighteen is just a number.”
He shook his head without looking at me.
“Fine. But remember that if I go out there in a few days with a stitched leg and move too slow and get bitten, you’re the first one I’m going after.”
Annoyed, I went back to his bedroom and crawled into bed. I spent most of the day there. Naked and sleeping. Once I woke to a bowl of soup next to me, which I promptly ate. Near dark, I felt well enough to venture out again. I used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair. I felt human.
Still shunning clothes, I went to look for Thallirin. He was sitting on the couch. No lights. No TV. Just sitting there.
I flicked on the nearest lamp.
“You okay?” I asked.
He glanced at me then went back to staring at the dark TV.
“Please dress, Brenna.”
“I will if you can look at me and tell me that my nudity is offending.”
He fisted his hands and remained quiet.
I moved closer to him, standing by his knees.
“Will you let me try something?” I asked.
He nodded, not even questioning what I wanted to try. I modestly sat on his lap, draping my legs to one side and hooking my arm around his shoulder. His back twitched under my fingers.
Heart thundering in my ears, I gently turned his head toward me. I vaguely recalled kissing—well, licking more than kissing—him last night and liking it. I needed to know if that had been a real emotion or a drunken one.
Slowly closing the distance between us, I brushed my lips against his. A jolt of pleasure darted through my stomach at the same time he stopped breathing. His lips were firm and warm as I brushed mine against them once more. Heat continued to spiral inside of me, and I daringly opened my mouth to graze his lower lip with my tongue. He groaned. I didn’t stop. I nipped and nibbled until, with a growl, Thallirin’s arms wrapped around me.
He opened his mouth, and his tongue met mine. All thought fled at the contact.
He leaned over me, taking control and claiming what he’d known was his since the beginning. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I made a small sound of satisfaction as I dug my fingers into his hair. He was gentle yet demanding. Ridiculously strong while also achingly tender with each subtle touch.
Just as quickly as it started, it stopped. I found myself alone on the couch with Thallirin sitting in the far chair.
“Will you dress now?” he asked, his voice a tormented rasp.
Numbly, I reached up and touched my lips. All of me felt tingly and on fire. I’d never been more turned on in my life. What I’d felt during last night’s drunken kiss had only been a liquor-muted shadow of what I now felt.
I wasn’t broken forever. With Thallirin, it seemed I was whole and, more importantly, very willing.
Panting, I studied him for a minute. His pupils were dilated and the tips of his ears were such a dark grey they looked