Astrid sighed at the look on his face. Kindness was so far beyond his comprehension that he couldn't even understand why she wanted to make him smile.
"Because you deserve one."
"For what? I haven't done anything."
"You live, Zarek," she said, stressing the words, trying to make him understand. "For that alone, you deserve some happiness."
The doubt in his eyes stung her.
Determined to reach him, she "conjured" herself a pair of white shorts and a blue tank top, then helped dress him in a pair of black jeans and a T-shirt.
She led him toward the "dream" crowd.
Zarek was silent as they walked up the stairs that led to the old-fashioned boardwalk. He tensed visibly as people brushed too close to him. She had the distinct feeling he was one step away from uttering a vicious putdown.
"It's okay, Zarek."
He sneered at a man who came too close. "I don't like for anyone to touch me."
And yet he didn't say anything about the fact that she had her arm hooked in his.
It made her melt.
Smiling to herself, she took him to a small stand where a lady was selling hot dogs and cotton candy. She bought an extra large bag and dug out a handful of the light, fluffy pink sugar, then offered it to him.
"Here you go. One bite and you'll know what ambrosia tastes like."
Zarek reached for it, but she moved her hand out of his way. "I want to feed this to you."
Fury snapped in his eyes. "I'm not an animal to eat from your hand."
Her face fell at his words and her good humor was instantly dampened. "No, Zarek. You're not an animal. You're my lover and I want to care for you."
Zarek froze at her words as he stared at her lovely, sincere face.
Care for him?
A part of him snarled in anger at the idea, but another, alien part of himself jerked awake at her words.
It was a hungry part of him.
A yearning part. Needful.
A piece of him that he had sealed off and abandoned so long ago that he only vaguely recalled it.
Pull away.
He didn't.
Instead, he forced himself to lean down and open his lips.
She smiled a smile that burned him even as the strange sugar evaporated inside his mouth.
She placed her hand against his cheek. "You see, it doesn't hurt."
No, it didn't. It felt warm and wonderful. Joyful, even.
But it was a dream.