Page 69 of The Great and Terrible

Yes!Do it.

His nostrils flared. “But I won’t.”

“What if I ask nicely?” I rocked against him, wrenching a ragged moan from us both. His strength. His heat. The perfection!

Birds squawked overhead, and he stiffened. “I would hate myself later, but I’d say no. I’m not in a position to form an attachment.”

“Good thing I’m not asking you to attach.” But wasn’t I doing just that? A kiss—or more—without any kind of connection meant less than nothing. A momentary pleasure with only enough fuel to fan the flames of discontent. I had no desire for that. With him, I wanted more. To be valued. Seen.Known.

He dipped his chin. “Whatareyou asking, princess?”

I opened and closed my mouth. Because I didn’t know!

“Exactly why I won’t risk kissing you,” he stated, not hiding his disappointment.

The denial hurt as much as it soothed, and the incongruity confused me. Though it shouldn’t, I supposed. At the moment, I felt as if I were two separate people. The girl from Kansas, and the woman in Hakeldama. They craved different things.

“This is probably for the best.” He released my wrists but didn’t back away. “My kind never experience a happy ever after.”

The low, husky admission struck a chord deep within me. His kind. Meaning the royal guard or a citizen of both HakeldamaandEarth?

I glided my palms up his muscular chest, offering comfort of my own. “You could come with me.”

He closed his eyes, as if he couldn’t bear to face me. “I can’t.”

I told myself to let the subject drop. Putting pressure on him wasn’t smart. Or honorable. But a question tumbled from me, anyway. “Can’t or won’t?

One second passed. Two. Three. When Jasher opened his eyes, his mask was fixed in place, but still he didn’t look at me. “Will you consider staying in Hakeldama?” he asked in lieu of an answer.

“No.” I refused to lie. No matter how much part of me longed to stay with him, to explore the lives of my parents and aid their people, I wouldn’t. My loyalty belonged to another. “I won’t abandon my father.”

“I understand.” He hesitated only a moment more before he removed the compass and returned the leather strap to my neck. He fingered the ornament, saying, “Keep this with you for now. I like seeing you wear it.”

“Jasher,” I croaked.

He exited the water, leaving me more confused than ever, shaky and sad.

Reprieve over.

CHAPTER 17

THE MONSTRA

Jasher and I bedded down inside a cabana with Leona and Patch sleeping nearby. He wore pants; I wore a shirt. The best and worst combination. I luxuriated in the crook of his arm, warm and safe as I dozed on and off, knowing I would forever yearn for more nights like this.

But one after another, rainbow birds arrived in flocks, covering the surrounding roofs and shattering my sense of tranquility. “Jasher,” I whispered, giving him a little shake. I hadn’t forgotten his face-eating warning.

“They won’t harm us,” he muttered, rolling us to our sides, becoming the big spoon.

Okay. All right. “I trust you.” I also liked him more than I should. Without a doubt, I would forever miss the Tinman who’d seemed to find his heart.

When morning arrived, bringing a lovely golden glow to the oasis, Patch and Leona went swimming. I remained tucked into Jasher’s side, feeling more refreshed than I had in ages. Not even sore muscles nixed my smile as I stretched. But a thought did. To the City of Lux we must go.

I sagged into the ground, my attention dropping to the forever key. My ticket home. If it did what Iris claimed, theGuardian must desire it more than a political prisoner who had no designs on his throne. All I needed was a chance to explain matters and pay for my passage.

I slid my gaze to the irresistible Tinman, and longing shivered in my chest. He slept on his back. With his eyes closed, his usually harsh features soft with sleep, he appeared so boyish and innocent, sublimely at peace.

Soon, we would be forced to say goodbye. I’d have to say goodbye to Nugget, Patch and Leona, too. Friends I’d come to love. Depression knocked, seeking entrance. I barred the door.

---