[ There is so much he has not talked about or even thought about, and he knows full well that he cannot keep pushing aside the things he needs to process. It seems to him that there is no good time for it, and that is the main reason he has yet to even start. What else troubles him about beginning to sort through his thoughts on the matter is that he does not wish to burden Alkaid with more than he already has. He knows he has placed more than enough upon her, and considering how she already has her own troubles, the last thing he intends to do is give her more.

His eyes slide closed as her fingers brush along his cheekbones, and he tries desperately to regain some of his usual control and poise. He is not blind to her emotions or to how it seems she is close to tears. He shakes his head once. ]

I would not ask you to nor expect you to simply because I have developed this habit. However, if you desire to send letters as you are able, I can accept that.

[ He will not have her inconveniencing herself by leaving her belongings behind for his benefit. ]

Perhaps it is I who should gift to you more of my belongings so that you have something else to look upon when we are far apart. Anything that I own is, by my reckoning, yours, so if there is anything that you desire to have- by all means, take it.

[ So far as he is concerned, what he once thought of as his possessions now are theirs, and nothing is off-limits for her in his mind.

When they join together in a kiss, he not only deepens it, but he does not pull away from her even when many minutes have passed. Perhaps he sensees that she needs this: their closeness and the opportunity to feel each other: to know that they are together and for the moment, nothing shall separate them.

Duty and responsibility will surely surface again, and quicker than they would like, but until then, he intends to kiss the woman he loves. ]