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In that moment, he understood perfectly the reason why androids resented humans so much The norantly threay a splendorous jewel to abuse her the way he did But of course, one man's trash turned out to be an elf's treasure And what a treasure she was!

He brought the cloth down, and then back up her side and thighs slowly, along the curve of her smooth bottom, and with both hands, around to the front, up her stomach and past her breasts He heard Mericlou's shudder of breath as she rolled her head to the side, giving into the sensations he was evoking in her, and he smiled at each and every reaction Her skin flared red where his cloth passed over, and her hand had soon joined his in guiding the towel across her body

"Turn around," Aldrec said, keeping his voice level, indifferent, but he knew that Mericlou was just as aroused as he was Still, he offered her the towel

"I thought you washed yourself earlier," she said

"I just think that you could do aa devilish gleam

"Your funeral," she said nonchalantly, as she took the towel

Aldrec sed, recalling to his chagrin, her particular talent for teasing that she had put to good use last night

"Oh, I just re," Mericlou said

"What was that?" Aldrec asked, his voice distant as he allowed her slender, pale hands to move his head to one side as she cleaned his neck

"That the flower you gave ave arden It's really strange"

"It is?" Aldrec said, halfway lost in the movements of her hands and the towel upon his body "Well, that is explained in a saying by my people"

"What is it?" Mericlou asked with a pretty little laugh, s

"'Elven roses last forever,'" he recited

"What does it iven in love with the saiven to," Aldrec said "So as symbolic as a rose, that love seals its life force with the saave us our immortality No one understands why, but it is a beautiful, sacred thing when it does And I believe it's the reason why your rose has lasted for so long It's a symbol of our love for each other"