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When she’d sorted through his slides, her wonder at their diversity had slowed her task Though he seemed focused on wildlife and landscapes in the mountains, he didn’t limit himself to one subject matter She’d found city scenes, people, ani into streaks and surreal i at an alternative world, layered over this one

He co way She’d used a small, battery-operated projector to exaer scale, and found one of Niall, asleep in a field like this However, the field had been overlaid with another picture, lifeless bodies, broken and bloody, the aftered so the bodies cut a wide, noticeable circle around Niall, underscoring the contrast of his peaceful sleep with their not-so-peaceful death, a perhtened When he began h, she returned to her picnic basket She brought it to Niall, but he didn’t stir, so she retrieved her book and sat on the grass next to hiood position to watch Evan, and she wondered if Niall had chosen it for that reason No matter their occasional friction, there was an obvious, unbreakable tether between the but what he was, a powerful man, sure of himself, alpha in every respect Itor ordinary servants; a human had to be extraordinary to desire three centuries of service to a vampire But even for all that, the link between these tas unusual

Covering a yawn, she set the book aside She shouldn’t be tired, but the blocker she’d taken right before coue Today, a nap would have to count toward her two hours

She had no desire to pillow her head on a rock, though She considered Niall He’d worn those serviceable cargos that clung to his thighs, creasing around his groin His T-shirt ers wanted to touch

She wanted to lie next to hi to lie with them, as they had done in the bed, her in between them Vampires didn’t cuddle, not to her experience It was an unthinkable, nonperht be acceptable

Shifting closer, then to one hip, shethe mountain lion A part of her was afraid if Niall woke up she’d be in transgression of soiveable She’d never reached out to anyone for affection, closeness

She eased down next to hi it easy to lay her head on his shoulder, inch her body closer Putting a hand on his chest like a butterfly landing, she pressed her cheek to his shirt and inhaled his scent

If only our Master were here with us, she thought It would be perfect

What makes you think I’m not, yekirati? The responsein his sleep, put his arm around her

What does that hteinayies Your pronunciation was almost flawless Yekirati is "dear one" The resteinayi very precious to me, and metuka is "sweet"

Very precious to me It was a simple endearlanced down the pleasurable terrain of Niall’s body Evan wasn’t looking at her, was in fact still working on his notebook, but there was a light curve to his mouth

Do you still want to know about the first time Niall and I met?

Yes I would like that If it wouldn’t upset Niall She usually only thought in terht to qualify it, given Niall’s earlier avoidance of the subject Can I ask so else first? About your first kiss?

Possibly Ask, and we shall see