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I touch reen bruise on his jaw He leans into h so that I’ainst mine

“Elder,” I say, “you can’t keep on doing everything yourself ”

“Who else is going to stop Bartie? Who else is going to get the Food Distro back on track? Who else is going to help the Shippers get ready for planet-landing—after the scans shohether or not we even can planet-land?”

There’s a note of panic in his voice, and pain I want to tell hi will be okay, but I don’t want to lie I lean forward a fraction of an inch, and he leans forward, and I catch his eyes just as he starts to close in

I think, He’s going to kiss me

I think, Good

His lips bruise mine in their need, and when my mouth parts in a tiny o of surprise, his kiss deepens His ar the whole of ainst him His body speaks for him; he needs me

My arround up his arms, my

fingers trailing through the tiny hairs along his forearraze; his biceps are like rocks, pulling ainst him My hands dance across his shoulders and ers in his hair

There’s so him—it re him earlier today

My hands tighten, and I use ainst his One of his ar my hips closer to him

Elder breaks the kiss, and he peers intoaround in the grass by the pond Just like the Season But I don’t care This isn’t like that The Season was just mindless, emotionless, loveless movements But this is—

Elder reaches up and brushes a stray strand of hair froers clench againstme into another kiss

And I go to him

Sweeter, this tier