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He tugged at her and she sagged in his e He could take all she had, and she’d let hi her dry But he wouldn’t—couldn’t—take He would never har her now?

Yes, he was But for tonight the harht, he’d pretend there was a toht of the rest of their lives together

He rose above her as she lay quivering beside hi hi

He turned her to her side, worshipped her in strokes that encompassed the perfection and uniqueness of her in wonder and frustration and regret Then he wrapped hiain felt he’d been created for just this purpose, this privilege, to shelter her, share with her

“Malek” She ainst hih he’d never felt such agony, with body and soul in the throes of a daht to have Peace Profound and per out the uproar of voracity Once it was all he felt, he plunged into it, sank

The first thing Jay knew the er around her

She sat up in bed, her heart ha her Then she heard it The shower

He was still here

She collapsed back with the reprieve She’d have a little longer of hi between the blackout curtains They’d gone to bed at sunset, and she’d spent hours just feeling Malek all around her, absorbing his reality She’d dreaded falling asleep andone breath, one heartbeat But sleep had overcoetting the chance to say goodbye

But he was still there And she was no longer the saured her

This was the end, but he’d given her this And it had been priceless, unrepeatable, soh life

The bathroom door opened and he stepped out, fresh, fully dressed and heart-wrenching Longing and shyness alaze raked disturbed, disturbing emotions over her And she realized …

He didn’t kno to say goodbye

She just had to make it easier for him

She rose to her feet, approached hi at her “Sabah el khair ya Malek You look well rested”

His jaw clenched “Janaan—we need to talk”