I forgot about this side of him, and I instantly regret bringing up Ze. I should have known better than to mention another man to him, but I felt the need to share my pain with someone. Nikki's always been insanely jealous. It was a blessing that we rarely went out because he'd snap whenever another man even glanced at me. The few times we went on vacation, we'd inevitably end up spending most of the time at the hotel because he had a tendency to start fights with whoever looked at me for more than five seconds.

"What do you think goes through a man's mind when he sees you smile?"

I open my mouth to answer, but he brings his ghostly finger against my lips, shushing me.

"They think exactly what I think," he states emphatically, angling his shadowy body toward me. Warmth radiates from him, seeping into my body as he traces the seam of my lips, dipping the tip of his finger inside.

My breath hitches.

"And all I can think of is how hard and fast I'd fuck your mouth. How sweet you'd smile with your lips stained with⁠—"

"Stop," I whisper, heat traveling up my cheeks. My heart beats fast in my chest, goose bumps spreading all over my skin.

"You're adorable." He chuckles, caressing my cheek. "But you're so woefully naive, Luce. Men aren't nice to you in exchange for nothing."

"Ze's not like that," I protest weakly.

"He's a man, Luce, is he not?"

I swallow, averting my gaze.

"We should talk about something else. We have such little time together, I don't want to waste it talking about someone else," I propose, not liking where this conversation is going.

Silence stretches between us for a few moments before he nods.

I slide closer to him, tentatively wrapping my arms around him and laying my head on his chest.

"You have to be careful, Luce. I might not like it, but I'd rather you stayed with your team. It's too dangerous on your own."

"Oh, Nikki..." I sigh. "I don't know."

"Think on it, okay? For my peace of mind."

"Okay," I agree.

We both lie down on the grass, our bodies wrapped around one another as we simply hold each other. It might have been odd in the beginning that I'm talking and touching a dark shadow. But now it's second nature. It just feels like home.

Time passes awfully fast as I tell him everything that's happened since we last spoke, and he assures me he'll do his best to come to me whenever he feels at his best.

"This state... It's unpredictable. I can never tell when I'll have enough strength to show myself to you, let alone touch you like this," he murmurs, his voice full of wonder. "And depending on where the next trial will be, I might not be able to see you at all."

I tighten my hold around him, blinking back tears.