Page 33 of Crown of Flame

“My touch receptors are fine if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s not what I’m asking,” I reassure him.

I lower my hands down his torso gently, feeling the grooves of his chest.

I move down to his abdomen.

“I mean do you feel anything from that?”

He shakes his head in confusion.

“Do you want me?” I ask.

He hesitates, then nods.

“See, as far as you’ve been taught, your kind reproduces asexually,” I tell him. “That means you’re able to break off a piece of yourself and create an entirely new being, like I said.”

“I suppose.”

I watch his mouth and wish I could see it moving as he talked. I wonder whether the flames inside his rocky armor would burn me.

“But I think you’re different because your kind isn’t supposed to have these kinds of desires.”

“I already knew I was weird, but thank you for confirming that.”

“No! That’s not what I mean at all.”

I drive my finger into his chest, then move my fingers slowly up and down. “I think you might reproduce sexually.”

I place extra emphasis on the last word.

“Maybe that’s why you’re afraid to let me go,” I continue. “Because you feel possessive over this body. You want it for yourself, and nobody else.”

He looks down at me and exhales deeply, producing a jet of fire.

He can’t deny the effect I have on him.

“Can you explain what you mean by ‘sexually?’”

I shake my head.

“How about I show you instead?”

Standing on the balls of my feet, I bring my hand around his shoulders, then move my mouth toward his.

This had better not kill me.

To my surprise and utter delight, his rocky mouth moves with mine and his fiery core doesn’t burn me.

I can feel my heart pulsating, my need hopefully a bit more clear to him now.

“Now, why don’t we test my theory?”

I lead him inside the hovel, hoping above all else that I’m right and that I can survive this pain that nearly drags me under.

12

CINIS