"I am nothing if not polite." He released my hand and sat cross-legged on the bed, then motioned for me to do the same. "Press your knees against mine."
"If a reaper's idea of sex doesn't involve more touching than this," I commented, "I don't think I'm going to like it very much. Especially given I'm naked and you're not."
"Trust me, our state of dress will not matter." His smile creased the corners of his eyes and made my heart do a happy little dance. "And I am not entirely sure this will even work—although there is enough Aedh in you that it should—so behave."
"I am yours to command."
"If only." Though his voice was bland, it held a hint of sadness that tugged at something deep inside. "Because you are still flesh based, we will have to take this slowly. Are you ready?"
I smiled. "You should know me well enough by now to guess that answer."
"True." A smile briefly lifted the corners of his mouth; then his expression became serious again. "Close your eyes and concentrate on nothing more than your breathing."
"That hardly sounds like fun."
"Stop talking and concentrate if you want to do this." It was softly said, yet held a note of iron.
I shut up.
"Now," he continued. "Let go of the awareness of all that is around you, until there is no sound, no scent, just you and every intake of breath."
Meditate, in other words. I closed my eyes and concentrated on nothing more than breathing in and out. My heartbeat began to even out, and a sense of peace settled around me. As the minutes slid by, my breathing slowed further, until I was on the edge of an almost trancelike state.
"Feel," he said, picking up my hand and placing it on his chest. His skin was warm under my fingertips, his heart a steady, strong drum. "The rhythm of my breath. Breathe in as I breathe out."
My fingers rose with every movement of his chest, so even though I couldn't hear his breathing, it was easy enough to set mine on a separate course to his.
"Now, feel my breath on your lips," he continued softly. "Let it run across your tongue and into your body. Let it fill you, become you."