The rustle of the bedspread sounded like foreign crackling in her ears, slowly clearing the blackness of her senses. It took a moment before Soleil felt she could reach for the unusual sound. Then she opened her eyes.

Darkness had swallowed the room, bathing it in a gloomy image of long nights that forced her to wrap the blanket tighter around herself. She left only her fingertips outside to fish for her mobile phone and dare a glance at the display.

5:58 pm.

It seemed almost as if hardly any time had passed, and yet the warmer months carried a noticeable difference between the hours.

Without further ado, she checked the chat with Illumi, hoping he had written something else. But all that stared back at her wasn't a time at the bottom corner, but letters.

Instantly, Soleil sat upright in bed. Letters only appeared when a new day had dawned, so she glanced at the calendar to notice that she had slept through. Almost twenty-four hours had passed and in an hour would be the date with Chrollo.

The blanket darted to one side as she swung her feet out of bed and staggered in unsteady steps to the door to turn on the light beside it. Then she slipped into her shoes, brushed the wrinkles out of her clothes and tried to look half presentable before packing some essentials and storming out of the room. She didn't have much time to make herself pretty and simultaneously there were so many building sites that she would have preferred to cancel; to get a clear head. But the date was her chance. Turning him down was out of the question.

So she ran out of the hotel, across the street, straight to a few shops that offered her shelter from the cold. One already looked promising with its shop window and as she entered, it was the comforting scent of lavender that hit her, offering her to find the right clothes. Her feet carried her along the racks where her hands deftly dug through the individual fabrics. There was no time to try them on. The eye and the hope of looking good had to suffice.

The choice fell on a tight, black top with a laced neckline, which could be combined passably with a no less black, knee-length skirt. There was something simple yet neat about it that wouldn't put Chrollo off. The shoes she bought with it offered only a slight heel and the warm jacket scored with soft fur on the collar and sleeves.

She changed clothes while still in the shop, only to be beeped off to pay and start walking back. Time gave her another half hour in which to run to the hotel room, and within the blink of an eye, losing ten more minutes.

With light make-up left over from the night before and a brush to make her waves silky, Soleil made the final touches. The result wasn't her best work, but it was good enough to face someone and claim to be on a date. Chrollo would accept it. For sure. He already knew what she looked like without make-up, and he also knew that chaos was probably a part of her life when time was short.

One last look in the mirror gave her assurance, a little more confidence that she looked good enough to face Chrollo. Only then did she turn her attention to the exit, ready to enjoy the evening.

Slower than before, she strode down the corridor, took the lift down, and strolled through the hotel's entrance. That Chrollo would wait outside in the cold was so unlikely that Soleil's first glance fell into the lobby, where a handsome man had indeed settled down, his clothes matching hers nicely. His legs encircled by tight black trousers, he held in his hands a magazine about current political events. He kept his forehead hidden behind a dark blue bandage that went well with his earrings, and his loose white shirt shimmered under the black coat that looked confusingly similar to his everyday one. Spellbound by his calm demeanour, Soleil moved closer, eyed his plain leather shoes and immediately after, the magazine.

"You look lovely." Chrollo's gaze lifted at the same moment Soleil had moved close enough to inspect the magazine picture. The cover showed nothing more than the face of an old woman. His words, however, startled her, made her stand up straight and put on a helpless smile. His eyes didn't let her get away for a second.

"You look good too," she then pressed out, watching him put the magazine down and stand up.

But it wasn't until he offered her his arm that the date really started and Soleil allowed herself a deep breath before taking him up on his invitation. Her fingers settled on warm fabric that pulled her along without her noticing. Only the cold of the outside world drew her back to the present. The streetlights had already switched on, bathing the air in glittering little clouds that Soleil watched spellbound. Snow was already behind them and yet every second threatened to wrap the world in a white robe.

Chrollo refused to be distracted. His gaze hung in the distance, but somewhere beyond it, there had to be a destination. They strolled along the houses and shops as if they had lived in this place forever.

"Where are we going?" As the third, closed bakery passed them, she pressed herself tighter against his arm. The silence between them held no weight, but it also brought no progress.

Chrollo glanced towards her, the smile gentle on his lips. "To a little preparation I've made."

He had given it some thought. Even though it was on such short notice, Chrollo had made a plan. Something to enjoy the evening together, and despite the unfamiliar matter-of-factness in it all, Soleil felt heat burning her cheeks. It was the first proper date in her life and it was also the first time anyone had thought about her.

Tilting her gaze in the same direction as Chrollo, she tried to find a clue. Anything that would take away the feeling of uncertainty. But all that was in Chrollo's line of sight were street lights and a television tower rising far above. Her only option was to follow, to trust his guidance and let the streets pass by.

She counted the seconds and started anew at one hundred each time. Several times and yet not often enough to calm the palpitations. It persisted, accompanying her until the point where Chrollo stopped and Soleil awoke from her trance. In front of her rose the television tower. The concrete turned the red lights at some points into little fireflies the further she tried to look up. Her breath caught and when she finally looked up at Chrollo, she noticed how his eyes were glued to her in anticipation.

"You ... want to go in there?" Her hand tightened on his upper arm. "What are you planning?"

He averted his eyes, craned his neck and seemed to suck in the image before him for a moment as well. "I want to go to the top."

Chrollo didn't give her air to ask questions or find assurance. Instead, he started moving. He opened the entrance with a key that had been resting all alone in an inner breast pocket, and the inner world of the tower struck her barely later with a dim glow and warm air.

"Aren't we disturbing anyone here?" In a whisper, Soleil moved closer to Chrollo. On an evening as wondrous as this, she didn't want to get into trouble with others. She wanted to feel comfortable, a bit like dancing with him.

"At this time of night, there are only a few present to film the evening news," Chrollo replied. "They won't even notice us."

She knew he didn't belong. The key was almost certainly stolen and the knowledge that they had entered a building without permission turned her stomach. It differed from the offensive manoeuvre towards Archihilles or the Prince's simple party. Or maybe it was just a matter of custom.

Chrollo didn't let himself slip away. His destination seemed to be right in front of him and as he led her to the lift, only a silent gulp escaped Soleil. The elevator greeted them with a gentle whirring inside, which increased as the doors closed and they glided upwards. The bright light bathed Soleil in a strange warmth, trying to encourage her to take off her coat, but she refused to let go of Chrollo. So she waited it out, endless seconds, until a ping sounded and the door opened again.

The dark corridor they stepped into held nothing for them. She could barely see her hand in front of her eyes and it was only a little longer before she heard Chrollo put his hand on a doorknob and open a passageway that threw cold air in her face. All at once, the stars, which before had seemed so insignificantly distant, felt within her grasp. Chrollo strode out into the air with her, this time letting Soleil lead, who followed the stars a few steps. But only until her companion stopped and her attention returned to him.

"It's beautiful here. Almost like we're not part of the city anymore." She couldn't suppress a smile. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"You're very welcome." Chrollo's gentle smile still defied interpretation, but this time it didn't matter. "Would you like something to eat?"

Barely noticeably, he tilted his head to a slightly raised spot near the ventilation pipes from which hot air whirred. On this small area, large enough to sit comfortably, someone had spread a fluffy-looking blanket and placed a basket.

"A picnic? In the evening?" Briefly, Soleil raised her brows. "That's actually better than a boring restaurant."

For the first time this evening, Chrollo's smile broke to give way to soft amazement. His eyes widened, the tension drained from his face and barely later a soft laugh escaped him, making his shoulders quiver. Soleil listened to him, letting herself be captivated by the gentleness of his voice, and even after he had turned away and set his sights on the place for them both, she still thought she perceived his charming tone. She followed him, almost on tiptoe, as if peace would be torn apart if she stepped just a little too loudly.

Carefully she slid onto the blanket, feeling the velvety fur under her hands, and allowed herself to be served. Chrollo arranged for them both. Setting the basket aside, he served classic wine, a small bowl of fruit, and two securely packed boxes whose lids he loosened to let steam ooze out. The warmth of the air vents and the tasty aroma enveloped her. His choice had fallen on a hand-sized bread bowl in which thick soup rested. Along with it, two skewers of meat and vegetables nestled against potato gratin, waiting for attention in its bowl. A small fork lay between it all. All were things that could be taken in hand and gave them the freedom to dream of heaven, to walk around and take up ten thousand comfortable positions that would otherwise never have come into question.

Only conversation was missing.

"Did you have to think long about where you were taking me on our date?" Carefully, she reached for the soup in its bread bowl and dared to take a sip. Spices pressed against her senses and it grew pleasantly warm inside.

"No," Chrollo replied calmly. His fingers grabbed a skewer. "After what I saw of you at Archihilles', I knew you were a woman who would rather see and enjoy something than do the same things over and over."

"Am I that easy to see through?"

He smiled. "If it wasn't for that, why did you agree to steal?"

"A sense of adventure." She had to grin. "And the pay was good."

Chrollo couldn't suppress the smile, either. It seemed they had both arrived somewhere under the stars, where no one else could find them.

"Do you like that sort of thing?" she ultimately echoed.

"I do." His gaze fixed on the firmament. "Who wouldn't like a night like this, away from what floods us all day?" His eyes fixed on Soleil again. "Don't you think that sometimes, despite everything, we should stop to appreciate the moment?"

"Maybe." She had never stopped and just let life crash down on her. She had either danced, been cramped in her tiny flat, ventured into something new, or kept herself busy. Stopping and letting the world hit you was scary. It brought everything you had done to the forefront and made the question of where you were going a little more complicated.

"You don't have dreams?" As if he had read her mind, Chrollo's question was right on target. Maybe he just knew what it was like to be faced with something that held no future.

She had no dreams, no goals. The certainty of always living in the present, from one day to the next, was all she knew. Now, with money and her own house, she had the power to let herself choose a future. But helplessness ate up every idea.

"I'd be lying if I said otherwise," she finally confessed. "I ... only know dancing and embracing something new is ... not so easy. You need to make space inside yourself and get rid of the old habits. You need to believe in yourself and so much more ... I just haven't had the time." She lowered her head. "Or rather, I haven't had the courage to stop and see what happens."

"You should try."

Chrollo's words, gentler than any breeze, made Soleil look up. In fact, he was still looking at her while his hand held a skewer that he held out to her. A silent offer to use the seconds and get to know something that wouldn't cost her life, nor force her through lies and tasks. It was solely her choice to accept, so Soleil leaned forward and bit off a piece of the pepper that was smiling at her. Being fed by him had childish amusement about it. Presumably she wasn't a person for it. But it seemed to make time tick a little slower and, for that alone, she was grateful.

"Have you found anything you like away from dancing?" His questions hadn't reached the end.

"Ask questions," she returned before smiling at him. "You don't give me a chance to find out what your dream is!"

He lowered his lids. "I don't have a dream."

"And that as the head of the mafia? You could probably have it all. After all, many probably consider you a valuable asset."

"I'm replaceable." His tone wavered into pale indifference that loomed like a wall before her. "My life means purely nothing and serves only one purpose."

"Then why do you live it?" Within seconds, she caught his gaze again. "I'm sure you mean something to some people in your organisation and they wouldn't say you serve only one purpose. What purpose would that even be?"

He hesitated briefly, as if he were entering dangerous territory. "I swore to myself and a dead friend that I would let this world burn."

"And did they demand that you give up everything else to do it?" She raised her brows. "Did they tell you to unleash chaos and live for nothing else, or did you decide that?"

"Does it matter?"

"It tells me if you're a coward or not." She broke off a piece of bread. "Chrollo ... I'm not saying it's wrong to fulfil the wish of someone you may have loved. Or that you have to sacrifice things so as not to be distracted from your task. But it is cowardly to make such a wish your entire purpose in life. As if you don't dare to think about what you want. As if you are afraid that your desires and their dream won't work together. Have you really ever stopped in your life? Or do you just like the feeling of pretending?"

"You didn't answer my question." Instead of responding to her words, Chrollo simply flipped back to his earlier point. Almost as if he hadn't heard her, as if he wanted to run away or just think about it.

With a sigh, Soleil accepted his decision. She didn't want to ruin the evening and ultimately there was no value in forcing him to answer. He was a thoughtful man. So he would think.

"Not much," she brought over herself. "I'm pretty manageable. I like music, some flowers, and I love good food."

A smile found its way back onto his lips, even as his eyes seemed more attentive than before. As if he were studying her, taking her in deep, to be sure she wouldn't attack him again unexpectedly. Perhaps he was indeed a coward.

"I think I know a place you might like, then."

The food diminished with each passing minute. Moments spent in silence in unison, even though Soleil had questions. Endless ones that he would probably never answer because he himself didn't know what role he had ever held in his friend's eyes. Only after they had consumed the last crumb did Chrollo pack up the few remnants of dishes and set the basket aside. Then he stood up, offered her a hand, and closed the distance. His arm was suddenly no longer an option.

Slowly, she let him pull her to her feet, knowing he wouldn't let go. In fact, her hand remained in his. Although he took the lead again, the closeness had increased. At least Soleil thought she perceived a change as they strolled to the lift and made their way down to the entrance.

Not even back on the street did he let go, so she settled close to his body. Her gaze wandered to the floor. The words she had said still echoed in her head and the longer she thought about them, the faster the throbbing in her chest became. It made the heat emanating from Chrollo unbearable. She had said too much, unable to realise that the moment had been inappropriate. All her words had lectured him and yet, was she wrong?

Mouth twisted, Soleil tried to shake off the thoughts inside. She couldn't let it take her over. The date wasn't over yet and with any luck the conversation would be as good as forgotten in an hour – because most forgot after an hour. As if the human body was unwilling to go deeper into itself than necessary. It didn't affect everyone, but most. And it was the only hope she was left with.

When she lifted her gaze again, the side paths had filled with flowers. Her step faltered, the blaze of colour enveloping her, and it took her a moment to notice the stalls. Wooden booths full of blossoms stretched for metres. Within reach, a truck had its tailboard open to reveal a glimpse at gorgeous Bird of Paradise flowers.

Finally, she stopped and let her eyes wander. Darkness cast wide shadows in the face of light, shrouding the streets in bitter passages that could only be caught by the fleeting beauty around the edges. It was a place where dying, marriage, a new beginning, simply everything found a place.

Only a few people, away from the vendors, found themselves among blossoms and the sweet smell of freedom. They all had an expression of dreaminess about them, and Soleil understood it. She grasped every long breath, and every unspoken thought behind those facades, as if she had finally arrived home.

"Are there any you like best?" Chrollo's voice filtered through to her as if through cotton wool.

"Would it be okay to just go with the ones that leave this place a little magical in my memory when I wake up tomorrow?"

"Whatever you like."

Her gaze slid over the colours, over the words that hung silently in the air, and her thoughts clung to what she had told Chrollo. Presumably, they were both cowards in the face of all the options open to them. So she pointed to a bucket of white lilies. Flowers of purity. Innocence, which they both possessed in various ways. She, as a woman who had never seen the world because there had been too much fear and sense of duty. He, because he was simply living another's wish, hoping not to disappoint a dead soul.

Chrollo's eyes also lingered on the plants for a moment longer than necessary. As if he understood her gesture as he glided in slow steps to the stall and bought a bouquet.

His firm steps brought him back to her shyly a moment later. His shoulders appeared now less taut, and the lilies breathed a light, white glow into his eyes, making him look a little frail. As he handed over the flowers, Soleil took them carefully. The heart in her chest fluttered for a breath and the mistakes that had been so present before became distant. It made the evening air fresher and her company more enticing. It put such an uncertain smile on her lips that the urge within her took over.

Without further ado, she stepped forward, following the uplifting sensation of an entire eternity, and reached up a little to Chrollo to place a shallow kiss on his lips. It was mere seconds when he was closest to her.

Warmth enveloped her senses, rendering the faint pressure on her skin unreal and making her pull away long before Chrollo could return her kiss. His surprise was the first thing she perceived. Then came strange security, no desire and yet heat that didn't let Soleil escape. Instead, Chrollo placed a hand on her back, preventing further distance between them.

His lips demanded revenge, gently placed on hers, dragging her into an innocent kiss that blossomed between them like something completely new. His nearness brought with it the haunting smell of mint. The market barely existed and not even when Chrollo broke away from her, the comforting warmth trapped in her chest as her stomach set off fireworks, did awareness return to her.

To him, it seemed little different. Chrollo's eyes were fixed on her. His thoughts seemed frantic and framed her presence at the same time.

"We ... should go back to the hotel," Soleil suggested amidst the intimacy. The date was over. That moment had been the climax, which they would only ruin if there was anything more to see. The unity wouldn't last forever. "Tonight was ... very nice."

"It was," her companion agreed before offering her his arm, the distance between them growing. Still, Soleil accepted the invitation. It was better than not having him with her anymore. The next day was already marked for that. She would go home and Chrollo would have been just another chapter.

Her gaze lowered.

The streets passed her by like empty words, demonstrating for a breath that Chrollo wasn't just a chapter. She had known that before. After all, it had brought her back to him. Against all logic, she had sought him out in order to interfere.

Loving Chrollo was all her heart allowed. Her head knew it, her gut did, and every fibre of her body was sure. Watching him go would be worse than having to dance the rest of her days away.

And yet a goodbye remained insurmountable as the distance to the hotel dwindled and at the latest, the strangely stuffy air inside conveyed the end was steadily approaching. Soleil took it with silence as Chrollo walked her to the door of her room and she had to let go of his arm.

Her fingers forced the key painstakingly into the lock and just as the door swung open, Chrollo's job seemed to be done.

"I wish you a good night." His voice was just a whisper, a soft breath that made her jerk her head to the side instantly to look at him. The velvety smile on his lips felt genuine in those blinks.

She didn't want to let him go, didn't want to end this last night knowing that she might not hear from him again after that. So she tried hard to keep her shoulders tight as she lowered her lids and took a breath.

"Do you want to maybe ... stay with me tonight?"

It sounded like one of those stupid questions in cheesy movies, but she didn't know any other way to say it. The heat in her cheeks made the silence between them heavier, and it was only when she lifted her gaze again that she noticed the soft features in his eyes. Warmth she had felt in the kiss as well, and that drove him almost wordlessly to the doorway of her room.

"I'd love to."

Chrollo entered first. His ambling step took in the atmosphere and Soleil followed him, the airy feeling of endless butterflies in her stomach. His broad yet, for a man, slender back captivated her, luring her far enough to let the door fall into the lock and place a hand on his arm immediately after.

He allowed himself to be guided by her touch and yet aroused no doubt that questions about drinks and all other things were unimportant. With deft fingers he took the bouquet from her and in the same breath drew her close to him, placing the lilies on a chest-high shelf within reach. Then his attention was fully on Soleil.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him as if he'd been gone far too long tingled her skin. Her body found a hold on his, absorbing the warmth as her lips lay softly on his. They were brief kisses. Moments when she touched his tongue and tasted the date. His hands were on her back, steady and determined. Nothing about him moved, as if he wanted to enjoy the play of their tongues and turn the seconds into an endless memory.

Soleil was fine with that. The more time they got, the longer a minute took to pass, the better. Still, she wanted to be closer to him, wanted to turn the tingling into pleasure and tame the slight stinging in her abdomen with lust. So she loosened her arms and ran the flat of her hands over his chest. The fabric rubbed over her skin, protecting his torso, which reached her hotly as she opened his coat. The warmth that had built up under the zip suddenly enveloped her body in comfort.

Her fingertips slid eagerly over the buttons of his shirt to touch the pale skin beneath. Suddenly, there was no longer any obstacle. She glided along his chest, up to his collarbone, caught in the sensation that only lazily joined the slight numbness of her lips. Chrollo let go of her barely later. His lips detached from hers just as his hands released her back. Instead, he ran a hand over her cheek, giving her an expression full of security.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed Soleil by the hands and pulled her onto one leg. It wasn't his lap and yet it felt like it. His way of sitting wide-legged made it easy to reach his crotch with one hand while she held onto his shoulder with the other. Getting past the zip of his pants and undoing the button was no challenge. Laying a hand on the heat of his cock, even less so.

Without further ado, Soleil's attention wandered from Chrollo's face to his penis, which she had deftly brought out and whose slight pulsation slipped through her fingers, although it wasn't fully erect yet. So she gripped it, pulled back the foreskin and drew slow circles on its tip. Her movements made Chrollo rest his head on her shoulder, wait and enjoy the seconds her fingers played with him before her hand began to massage him. Slight movements up and down gathered the heat. The pressure in her fingers made him harder, caused him to grow, led Chrollo to bite gently into Soleil's earlobe so it sent a jolt of shock coursing through her body.

The erection between his legs was hard by now and stretched towards Soleil, making her push off Chrollo's leg. She settled down in front of his cock, only to take it in her hand again. This time, however, she put her lips to its tip, tasting the slightly salty outflow and watching Chrollo's eyes follow her every move.

She slid her tongue over his flesh, sucked on his lust, made him swallow and yet elicited not a single sound from him. He held on to himself, remaining silent as if all this were no part of him – and yet it brought hunger into his gaze. The endless expanse of his eyes seemed strangely dark in the artificial light, devouring her, to never return her. He demanded more, placing a hand on the back of her neck and pulling her back up, ready to kiss her one more time and taste himself.

Before Soleil could even break away from him, Chrollo had unzipped her skirt. The fabric slid to the floor and the sudden chill of the room clung to the warmth of her skin. Her feet slipped casually out of her shoes, Chrollo pulled the jacket off her shoulders and got rid of the top faster than she could realise.

What remained was her underwear, which came to the fore as Chrollo gave her room to breathe. Instead of letting her undress him, he rose and laid down each piece of his outfit with careful mindfulness. Soleil, meanwhile, tried to cover up the bra. It didn't match the panties, glowing a striking red, while her lower half presented blue stripes on a white background.

She should have been thinking.

But Chrollo paid no attention to the fabric on her body. His eyes lingered on her bare skin, which shimmered almost as pale as his own. Seeing him naked possessed charm, made him no weaker than he had been in all those other moments, and yet brought with it a certain vulnerability. So she lowered her hands and offered him the freedom to remove the rest of her clothes.

He unfastened the bra and went to his knees to pull her panties down to her ankles. He robbed her of her protection, only to come up and hold her tightly against him. His cock pressed against her, forcing Soleil onto her tiptoes so it found space between her thighs as Chrollo's lips tasted hers once more. His weight pushed her a few steps to the side, then back, until the edge of the bed bumped into her knees and her hold gave way. Soft sheets welcomed her, bedding her on clouds as Chrollo leaned over.

For a moment he seemed to want to keep his distance, but Soleil desired him near her, close enough to feel him even when he was absent. So she put her hands on his back and pulled him down to her. His warm, heavy body lay on top of hers, making her forget everything else. Her legs spread, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso, and the moments were all theirs. In those breaths, they were together. Chrollo's warm breath brushed the skin on her neck. His muscles relaxed. Everything surrendered for a second to her care. Long enough for his scent to mingle with hers and create something new.

It took a while for Chrollo to break away. His arms lifted him and Soleil didn't resist his desire. Her hands slipped off him, landing beside her face as Chrollo placed his cock at her entrance. His lust quivered and simultaneously his eyes were still glued to hers. Desperate enough to banish Soleil.

Instead of watching what he was doing, she lost herself in his eyes, in the grey expanse of a world that was completely unexplored. Meanwhile, she felt him penetrating, how not only his gaze passed through her but also how they became one. His penis spread her, taking up all the space she could offer him, nestling tightly against her flesh. Chrollo's hips chose an agonisingly slow, soft rhythm that flashed through her body like electricity and yet couldn't pull her away from his eyes.

Looking at each other, feeling the closeness – it differed completely from what Hisoka had given her. In those breaths that blazed like flames, it was no mere lust that drove them. They were both melting in the face of love. Affection that caressed souls and stilled aching hearts.

Barely noticeably, Soleil angled a leg, allowing Chrollo a deeper penetration that elicited a soft sigh from her and made him smirk. It was different from the posed smiles that usually haunted him. It reached up to his eyes, giving them a sparkle that trickled down to her enchantingly. Enamoured by the seconds, she took his face between her hands to pull him to her. His lips invited a kiss and the pleasure of his submission made each thrust of his hips a little more present.

Brief kisses floated between them, passing and ending. What remained was eye contact, intimacy that also drew a gasp from Chrollo, secretly joining with Soleil's. His relaxed movements intensified barely a breath later. Faster, a little firmer, as if he demanded more. As if he wanted to know what happened when they reached the end.

It was hard not to twist like a snake. Soleil's muscles tensed as she tried to meet him, to take him deeper inside her, even if it was impossible. Her groans mingled more often with Chrollo's moans, with the hot sound of his breaking voice squeezing the pleasure out of him. The rustling of the sheets sounded like static in her ears and the heat between them drove cool sweat to her skin.

He looked little different, his lips shining from kissing and his eyes gleaming. Each thrust that coursed through her body brought the wave of arousal closer, made it overwhelming until it rolled over Soleil, forcing her to spread her legs a little wider. Cold chased over her body, a tremor ran along beneath her skin and her nails clawed into the sheets. His name escaped her lips.

Chrollo's sudden kisses settled like velvet on her neck, cheeks and forehead, wrapping her in protection she could surrender to as lust made her tension revolt and her moans grew louder. Each successive thrust clouded her senses, making her come and melt like wax under Chrollo.

When the tension subsided, leaving her body free of everything, it was Chrollo's last thrusts she took in carefully. His eyes still clung to her, but loosened as he closed his lids and thrust deep inside her one last time to linger. His body settled on hers again, this time joined, and Soleil felt the heat spreading through her abdomen.

He had come inside her, both aware and carried away by the strange, wordless unity between them. Yet he continued to be silent, savouring the seconds as much as she did.

Only then did he detach from her, let himself fall to the side and pulled Soleil with him. Her body followed him automatically, nestling against his side to be closest to the warmth of his body. The silence that followed gave them time to rest. Leaning her forehead against Chrollo's upper arm, Soleil closed her eyes. He was a great lover, gentle and intimate, nothing like the drunken blunder at the party. The heart in her chest beat so slowly that satisfaction must have flooded every pore of her body and just for that moment, she wanted to hold on to the fact there was nothing that would separate them. No new morning to bring her home. No chores that stole Chrollo from her. Nothing that could come between them.

And yet she knew better.

"Is it too late to want to know you better?" Only slowly did she lift her forehead from his upper arm to look at him. "After evenings like these, many acquaintances usually come to an abrupt end."

"A fitting book quote." With one hand, he stroked her cheek.

"What are you trying to say?"

"That I want to keep this 'acquaintance' with me a little longer," he replied. "That just now was a quote from a short story I loved when I was younger."

"You like books?" It was the first thing that really seemed like something he had found for himself.

"You don't?" His brows lifted slightly. "Reading is something ... unique. Thousands of worlds behind a cover you just have to pick up."

His words formed a world that Soleil couldn't grasp. Her fingertips merely slipped over the edges, knowing he was speaking of a world that would remain eternally alien to her.

"I ... have never read a book," she finally confessed. "So I can't say whether I like reading or not."

"I could give you one of mine." His voice was only a soft whisper. "A short story from my youth."

"You still have that?"

"It was the first story that was just for me."

"That sounds wonderful." The smile on her lips was genuine, though it felt like a terrible lie. What Chrollo was telling her was lovely. There was something between them. And yet it was just a flat exchange of something that burned through her stomach like acid.

She hated books; hated the smell, the paper, every single line – because every one of them laughed at her. And though Chrollo's favourite story sounded like a fairy tale she wanted to explore, she knew that not a single page of it would be any different. No matter what book he gave her, she would never understand the contents.