Most people of the village were asleep. Guards were patrolling the bigger bridges between the platforms and the glade on the ground. Torches had been lit on the balustrades, putting everything into a warm glow.

It had started to rain but it was still warm and the scent of moist soil was now even stronger. The sound of thick rain drops sloshing onto the big leaves around them, now and then splashing his skin, had a calming effect although Jason didn't feel yet like sleeping.

He leant on the balustrade outside the hut, they had been giving to sleep in. The extended roof kept him from getting too wet.

Two warm arms were wrapped around him from behind and he found himself smiling, despite his heavy mind. Neri rested her cheek on his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck. He bent his head slightly, so it touched hers and covered her arms with his.

"You worry about her," she noticed his emotional state.

"Yes," he murmured and carefully turned around, so he wouldn't break their embrace. "She came here to help us, although she knew they wouldn't be exactly thrilled to see her."

"Shersheba came here for you," Neri argued.

"Does it matter?"

He shot a look at the hut where they had sat in today with the councillors.

"No." Neri looked down, her expression troubled.

He sighed and took her face into his hands, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs.

"She is just trying to make things right," he said quietly. "You are the only one for me, the only one I wanna be with. Can you trust me in this?"

Her eyes lit up. Her smile was weak but affectionate and sincere. She nodded and he bent down to kiss her. Her arms around him tightened immediately, telling him that although she tried she still struggled with jealousy.

Where is that coming from?, he asked himself while he moved his lips over and against hers. When did I give her reason to doubt me?

He stopped thinking when she loosened her grip on his waist and her hands started travelling over his chest. Her fingertips reached his throat, then his neck. His skin prickled and his heartbeat sped up.

He deepened the kiss, placing a hand on the back of her head, his fingers buried in her hair. Gently, he tugged at her bottom lip and Neri pulled him closer. She kept caressing his neck while her other arm was suddenly around his waist again, closing any space left between them. With the tip of her tongue, she stroke over his upper lip and he met her tongue halfway.

The soft touch of the warm flesh sent a wave of desire through him. His interior felt as if melted together in the rush of longing and burning need. Their tongues encircled each other, their pace speeding up.

He felt her breasts at his chest through the textile of her dress, her warmth through the thin material of his T-shirt and certainly, she could feel his arousal.

He didn't care.

This felt too good. Every brush of their tongues sent a hot shiver down his spine. Electricity was crawling through every inch of his body.

He inhaled her scent, let his hands sliding down at her sides to rest on her waist, awfully and at the same time blissfully close to her breasts.

She moved slightly and a moan escaped him when she brushed against his erection.

He broke the kiss. "Neri," he murmured against her lips, but she cut him by covering his mouth again.

Both her hands now working their way under the fabric of his shirt, running over the skin of his bare chest. Her tongue demanded access and he let her enter her mouth again. His hands had unintentionally crawled higher and were suddenly right under her breasts, his thumbs already touching the outlines.

It took every bit of willpower he had left to regain control over himself. He forced his hands to stop working on their own, realising how close he had been to lose it completely. Even now his imagination was running wild, picturing him pinning Neri at the wall of the hut, her legs wrapped around his hips.

He broke the kiss, holding her gently in place while retreating. Her eyes were dark, her gaze intense with desire and lust. Something about this sight made him feel uncomfortable and brought him back for good.

Their kisses became more intense, more dangerous every time. He instantly decided to never let their touches escalate like this anymore.

Confusion and hurt took over Neri's face, and she withdrew her hands from his skin. Her eyes were shiny and regret washed through him.

"Why you do not want me?" she whispered.

He pulled her into a tight embrace, shaking his head. "No, no, no," he replied, cupping her face with his hands, locking eyes with her. "No," he repeated, then rested his forehead on hers.

"I want you," he whispered against her lips. "I want you badly. Don't you sense that?"

"Yes, but there are so many feelings," She touched his chest above his shirt. "But why always stop then?"

"Because this is not the right time or the right place," he responded and retreated an inch to look at her. "I just don't want to rush things."

Neri frowned and smiled wryly to his relief. "We have never rushed things."

He took her hands on his chest into his and smirked. "Exactly. I don't wanna start right now with all this chaos and conflict surrounding us," he explained to her and squeezed her hands. "You are special, Neri," he ran on, "and what we have, is special. I don't want to make it small, tear it down to a level where we just take an opportunity between two appointments because it's the only time we have for each other right now."

She mirrored his smile, her expression comprehensive and relieved. "So, you still love me?"

"Of course, I love you, silly," he replied and nudged her nose with his. "Always have. Always will." He brushed his lips gently against hers. "I'm so proud of you. You were so strong today."

Her smile flickered. "Not strong enough."

"We'll get there," Jason promised and wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back instantly, her head buried in his neck. "We just need to convince them somehow of Malakat's true face," he thought out loud. He stroked her hair, shoving the bangs behind her shoulder, his fingertips running over the skin of her neck.

She didn't respond and for a while, they stood in silence, lost in thought, just listening to the pouring rain. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of her body against his. His heart was pounding and his insides were jolting just by the joy of feeling her so close to him.

It was Mera who disturbed this moment when she stepped out of the hut, followed by a guard.

"They want to see us," she told them.

Neri and Jason exchanged a quick regretting look, then he sighed and they broke apart.