Page 35 of The Tainted and the Tamed
“I had no idea,” was all she said in reply, then took a bite. Juice immediately ran down her chin.
Before he could stop himself, he reached out, catching her chin in his fingers and keeping the juice from dripping onto her deep auburn kimono.
He wanted to scold himself for making such an advance. But she and the apple made such a pretty picture. After only the moon’s beauty for company for so many years, how could he blame himself for wanting to grasp this beauty, too?
Chiyo, his mind reminded him.You cannot forget about her so soon.
But he did not hold Murasaki in desperation, the way he had gripped Chiyo. There was—what was that feeling?—hopein the act of swiping the pad of his thumb across her chin, then withdrawing it before anyone could stare.
Did that hope make it better? Did it make any of it right?
I’m too tired to think of right and wrong tonight.All he wanted to do was to give in—to feel something for a moment.Just for a moment—
“I—I don’t know how to address you,” Murasaki said, her gaze fixed on the partially eaten apple.
“Just Haru for tonight. Please.”
He wanted more than anything for her to agree.
She shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t think I can.”
“Ms. Mukai. I just want one night as a person. Please.”
If she noticed that he’d said “person” instead of a “regular person,” she chose not to comment.
“Alright,” she said at last. “What are we doing here, Haru?”
“Enjoying the last apples of the season,” he said, then bit into his own.
“And what happens after that?” she asked, her earlier shyness retreating to the periphery with incredible quickness. No more was she cutting her eyes up at him through her lashes, shy as a school girl; genuine steel backed her gaze now.
Ah. I’d forgotten this about women. They always wish to know what happens next.
“I don’t know,” Haruki answered frankly. “I don’t know what I can offer besides sneaking away from my quarters at night, hoping to meet you in the halls.”
“Is that what you’ve been doing?” Her brow arched slightly.
Haruki found his neck burying itself in his shoulders. He had to hand it to her. Once she’d made up her mind, she cast all politeness aside in an instant. “I suppose it is. What more can there be?”
“Don’t chairmen have wives? Children?”
“I can’t answer that.” He lowered his voice. “Please don’t say that word aloud here.”
“So I’m to pretend?” She returned her attention to the apple in her hands, the soft flesh already browning. “Are you married?”
“No.”
“But there must be someone.”
“Must there be?” He laughed softly. “You’ve seen what my days are like.”
“I’ve seen that you have a great deal of time on your hands at night. So much so that you can deliver medicine for the doctor.”
“When there is someone I wish to spend time with, I make an exception.”
“And I’m that exception?”
“Yes.”
