Khalid?” It was dark now, and she couldn't see his face, but she knew he was right there, an inch or two from their last kiss. “What was that look? Earlier, after we'd finished?” There was a long silence in the dark before Khalid finally spoke. “It is only that it has been a long time since I have made love.” There was another long quiet. She waited for him. “Of course, I love Galen. But you know already, we are only tender when we are not f****ing. And you and I, we were tender, before, but we did not feel then as we feel now.” “No.” “I had forgotten how big that feeling is.” Vanka pulled Khalid to her, cradling his naked body against hers.