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He turns toward me.

“Before I asked you to see the cultivation. I was looking for a reason to come to your room.”

“You needed a reason?”

“I thought you might be tired of hearing about trees.”

“I wanted you to kiss me last night.”

He looks up from the letter.

“I didn’t know.”

“I nearly said something. Then you left.”

“I thought you wanted me to go.”

I laugh, a little unhappily. “We’re going to have to get better at this.”

“I’m not leaving now.”

He’s turned toward me, his knee almost touching mine. For days I’ve been wondering how to get him this close. Now I can’t think of anything to say.

Daurek glances at my mouth.

I lean toward him before I can lose my nerve. He meets me halfway.

His mouth is warm. That surprises me, though I’ve held his hand and felt the warmth beneath his bark. The kiss is brief, almost cautious. By the time I close my eyes, he’s drawing back.

I open them again.

He’s watching me as if I’ve been asked a question.

“I liked that,” I say.

The pointed leaves along his brow lift. More of his green face shows beneath them, and I can see the change in his expression before he smiles.

“Good.”

This time he leans down first. I reach for his shoulder, and the leaves there rustle beneath my fingers. He kisses me slowly enough that I stop worrying about what to do and kiss him back.

His thumb brushes my cheek. The claw is withdrawn, the touch gentle. His thumb is wider than two of my fingers. I hadn’t imagined such a light touch.

When he lifts his head, I follow him a little.

My lips are warm where his have been. I keep my hand on his shoulder, hoping he’ll understand that I want him to come back before I have to say it.

His smile deepens.

“Don’t look so pleased,” I tell him.

“Why not?”

“Because I was trying to be dignified.”

“You can try again later.”

I laugh against his mouth. He kisses me through it, and for a few moments I forget the letter beside us and the people who sat across this table finding fault with everything he did.