— Kaden — “What do you mean?” I asked.“I… My instincts are sharper than most. If I open my senses, I can get more. I don’t always control what I get or how much, but I can aim it a little,” Elaeya explained.“Is that how you saw my injuries?”“I didn’t see them, at least not with my eyes.”“What else did you see?”“I see…” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes getting out of focus again, her hand resting on my chest again. “I see that contact between us helps heal you faster.”“Does it?” I supposed it wasn’t a far-fetched idea if it was the distance that had caused it. “Does this help?” I pressed my lips on hers.Frankly, I could stop all life plans and just kiss her for the rest of my life. That sounded like an excellent retirement plan. I don’t remember being this obsessed with physical contact with a woman since puberty.She nodded, but didn’t break the kiss, so I slid my hands on either side of her hips and pulled her astride me. This was much better.The fact that half her back

— Elaeya —  When I turned around and looked at him, his eyes looked dark, his posture had changed, and I realized what this looked like. This is not what I intended. What did I intend?I didn’t think. I went on instincts. But why? There had to be a reason. In looking for that reason in my head, I got closer to him. It had to do with his situation. He needed to heal, and I suddenly knew that I both helped

— Kaden — I never realized how terrible my dating game was.What do people do? Where do they go? What do they talk about?And she was not helping me. Not one bit. But again, she probably didn’t know more than I did.

—Kaden —  When the phone rang this time, I woke up.I took it from the nightstand and gave it straight to Elaeya without looking at it. I was lying on my side with her nested in my arms, her face pressed against my chest.I could have slept a few more hours, at least.

— Kaden — I managed to dodge my sisters throughout the day. I’m pretty sure Jasmine was paying anyone she could to get tea on Elaeya, so I had to limit the access to my home from the staff, just so I could err on the safe side.A part of me wanted to think it would be easier after tonight, but I’ve never been strong on self-deluding.