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"I wanted to get it for you…as a reminder"

She slipped the chain around her neck and it rested low on her chest The chain was long and it dangled just above her breasts over the loose gray T-shirt she wore "What is it supposed to remind me of?"

"Draco is a constellation in the sky, near the North Star It’s always in the sky, no matter what ti lass surface "Uh huh…" she said, sounding like a child listening to a story, pro the storyteller for more

"It’s the lost Zodiac constellation" I pointed to the diaon "This is Thuban Four thousand years ago, this star was the North Star Now it’s forgotten because the earth’s axis has shifted I chose it as the symbol for my cooal, et this as a reminder for you"

She concentrated on the tiny recreation of the constellation "My true north And what is that?"

I wanted so badly to supply that answer for her Us We are, I wanted to say I watched her for a long ure that out for herself It wasn’t so I could ever provide for her "It’s what you have to figure out It’s your re the warrior I know you are"

Her lower lip disappeared into her mouth, her eyes teary The rest of her froze Then suddenly, she leapt toward ht into htly that she was in danger of cutting off otI’d really screwed that one up, hadn’t I?

She held ht, her knees practically in htly toher head "If I didn’t have barf breath, I would kiss you so hard right now"

I turned and kissed her cheek and loosened ain?"

"Probably I’ot up and went out into the bedroo and brushed her teeth I waswith the awesome hen she came in "I had them install these in ets them next But I had to wait and put them on order while they make them They also control how much heat comes into the room, and they can make theone-sided so people can’t see in even while you can look out"

"You’re such a gadget addict," she said, watching the s go froain, one tiradually

I pressed a fewThis remote is also an intercom"

"An intercom? You mean so we don’t have to shout down the hall to each other?" she said, and her voice shook a little when she said it I glanced at her but pretended not to notice I was still getting that weird, nervous vibe fro down the same crappy road we’d traveled down before Not if I could help it Hopefully I had enough safeguards in place to prevent it

"Yeah, in case you--well, in case you need me" I showed her the button to press "There’s one in your bathrooot one in my roo a bell instead? And have you bring me a tray in bed while dressed only in a speedo and bow tie?"

I suppressed a laugh "I don’t wear speedos"

She eyed me playfully "Too damn bad"

Suddenly a rush of heat rose underat me…I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that she was sick There would be none of that, no matter how

Before I could stuff in another thought of protest, however, she ca her hands aroundme down to kiss her

I tasted the pepper and medicinal, like she’d rinsed her htened aroundShe pressed her chest against ain?

My hands slipped to her lower back, pressing her againstbut I barely heard over the rush of desire roaring inue into her inviting mouth