We stop speaking after that. I’ve wanted to have him again since our ill-considered night, and now there are no barriers. He pulls me to him, and my body presses against his. I melt into him, and he melts into me. We kiss, my fingertips running along the short buzz of his hair. He wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me off the ground. I wrap my legs around him.

We fall into the sofa, tasting each other. After we came out of Ensi’s mind, my senses were confused, and Nazarin was the only thing that made sense. It’s the same again. His skin, warm and firm, giving beneath my touch. The feel of his breath on my neck. The flicker of a tongue along the pulse of my throat.

My fingers unbutton his shirt, sliding it off of him. I run my hands along the firm muscles of his back, over the fading bruises. He’s kept all his scars. His skin shows a life lived with danger—a shallow slash along the ribs, little nicks along his arms. I kiss each one.

I nip his skin with my teeth, and he pulls me up and crushes my mouth to his, holding my tongue between his teeth, just hard enough to hurt. I run my fingernails along his upper arms and he gasps against my mouth.

We shed the last of our clothes to mingle on the floor. I still feel weak, but Nazarin holds me. He moves into me, and I draw him closer, as if our flesh could blend. The only sounds are the soft gasps of our breathing, the sound of our skin sliding against the fabric of the sofa. We move together. I roll on top of him. I kiss him as we move, faster and faster. We are the closest two people can be without being conjoined.

I shudder against him, my eyes shut tight, focused on that point deep within. I keep my mouth against his as we finish, loving the sound of his moan of release thrumming through me.

I lie on top of him, our limbs entangled, his heartbeat racing against the skin of my chest. My limbs grow lax and tingling with the ebb of desire. All thought has left me, and for the first time since this all began, I feel at peace.

Later, when we are in bed, I breathe in, long and deep, resting my lips against the top of Nazarin’s skull. My fingers toy idly with the sheet. There’s something about someone asleep next to you, vulnerable and breathing softly, that’s so comforting.

It’s not long until dawn. In a few hours, I’ll see my sister again. I set out to free her, and I did.