She didn’t answer. Silence stretched out for a long moment, and then she finally heard him. His hands, warm and strong, fell upon her shoulders and gently turned him to face her. Searching her face, he asked once more, “Do you want me to go, Loris?”
“I want to know who you are.”
He lowered his head and softly kissed her lips, a brief and tender caress.
“In your heart, you already know who I am,” he murmured.
Loris shook her head in denial, but he kissed her again, more deeply, and she felt once more the rightness that was between them. She pressed closer to the solid warmth of his body, sliding her arms up about his neck.
When it ended, they were quiet again, holding each other, swaying slightly back and forth. His cheek was pressed against the top of her head, and she could feel his breath against her hair.
“Won’t you tell me something about yourself?” she whispered. “Just your name will be enough. Please.”
His arms tightened, and he sighed.
“On the day, or night, that you speak my true name, I will forever after be banished from Tylluan. Until that time, you may call me whatever you wish.”
Loris looked up at him.
“Banished?” she said, dismayed. “But why? Who are you?”
He stroked her hair back from her face, and said, “I am one who wants to be near you always. I will never harm nor dishonor you. I want to come to you freely, without fear, without shame, and give you pleasure and respite. I want to be the one you tell your secrets to, your dreams, all of the things that you can tell no one else. I want to hear of your days and be part of your nights, to hold and touch you, to be touched by you in turn. I want to hear your voice and carry the memory of it away with me until I’m with you once more.” He kissed her again, slowly, deeply. “This is who I am, Loris.” His hand cradled her face. “Is it enough?”
“Yes,” she whispered, drawing him back down to her. “It’s enough.”
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Susan Spencer Paul - [Enchanter 01] Page 29
