"I'm sorry, my lady, but it’s his day off."
"I only need five minutes of his time."
Jaspir froze. He knew that voice. He dashed around the corner. Standing there, dressed in a gray sheath that hid her all-grown-up curves, was the object of his dreams.
"You can make an appointment for tomorrow, my lady. Or you can book one of our other stallions. I have some time in about ten minutes if you'll only wait—"
"You misunderstand me, sir. I'm not here for... carnal activities. I simply need him to look at my plant."
Jaspir eyed the object in her hands. It was the plant from her family's gardens, the one he'd kept vigil over the last winter he was there so that he could approach her in the spring. She had it wrapped in cloth. The green petals were not looking well at all. The starburst at the center was a pale pink instead of a vibrant red.
"Another of our stallions would be happy to look at your plant if—"
"I'll take a look."
Merlyn's eyes whipped to him. "Jaspir?" she whispered. Her eyes looked him up and down.
Jaspir felt the heat linger at each place her golden-brown eyes touched his body.
"My lady," he bowed his head.
Merlyn stared at him a moment longer. The silence getting uncomfortable as they regarded each other. A crowd gathering.
Finally, she held the plant out to him. "It's fading and I don't know how to save it."
Jaspir walked over to her, slowly. Each step felt like a tendril wrapping around his heart. He held his hand out for the plant. She gave it to him. Her index finger touched his wrist. He clenched his teeth to hold in a groan at the flash of heat that swept through his body.
"Come with me," he said.
"Wait," shouted Garren. "She hasn't paid."
"She's not a customer," Jaspir snapped.
"She is if she goes down that hall."
Jaspir looked around the common room. No way did he want to bring Merlyn under the curious eyes of the males in there.
"Its fine," she said opening her purse.
Jaspir's jaw ticked, but he said nothing. She paid Garren and pocketed the receipt. When she rejoined Jaspir, he led her to his room in silence.
Walking down the hall, Jaspir found himself hyper-aware of her. He heard the bristles in the carpeting adjust to her every step. He heard the soft inhales as she breathed. He smelled the chemicals he knew she'd been working with in her lab.
He shut his eyes to reality, but she was here. In the flesh. He'd dreamed of this moment throughout the years. Merlyn sneaking out into the gardens at night where they'd lay under the stars and kiss until dawn. Merlyn arriving at the temple, telling him she loved him back, and wanted to runaway together. Merlyn showing up at his rented rooms at Stallions where he would take her body in ways her red-haired mate didn't know were possible.
Jaspir opened his eyes. With shaky hands, he unlocked his door. Once inside he set the plant on a table and pulled out a chair for her. When she was seated, he sat down at the table and began to work. He worked silently, eyes focused on the plant.
"My Grand Mother had the garden mowed down three years ago," Merlyn said after many moments of silence. "This was all I could save."
"You've kept it all this time?"
"Yes, in my lab. I've watered it daily, put it in prime sunlight. I mix the fertilizer for it myself. It survived the past two winters. But it’s been failing this year."
"It’s because its roots need to be in the ground, settled into a permanent home."
"Oh," she frowned. She reached out a finger and ran it gently down one of the petals. "I don't trust that my Grand Mother will leave it be if I try to replant it on our land."
Jaspir chanced a glance up at her. The frown lines on her face were full of concern as she regarded the ailing plant. He noticed that her face had filled out. It was no longer angular like when she was a child. Now it was more heart-shaped. Her eyes were the same golden-brown that had captivated him. Only now, there were dark bags under them. His fingers itched to smooth the indentations.
"What are you really doing here, my lady?"
"I..." she began and then stopped.
One thing Jaspir had always liked about Merlyn was that she didn't lie. She seemed incapable of stating something that was not a fact.
"I'm going to be bonded soon. In a month."
"You have not bonded yet? Not in all these years?"
"No. Mother and Grand Mother have only just now found a second mate."
"So you and the red head have never..."
"Never what?"
Jaspir almost grinned. She was still untouched. But he had to get hold of himself. It was rare that young females entered this establishment, but it did happen. Merlyn was clearly of age. Otherwise, they would have barred the doors to her. Only Pleasure Hounds were allowed to deflower virgins and keep their lives.
"You're right," she said. "The plant isn't the only reason I've come." She took a deep breath. "This may sound shocking, but..."
Jaspir waited with bated breath. His mind raced through the possibilities.
"I'd like for you to kiss me again."
Jaspir nearly choked. "I beg your pardon?" He couldn't have heard her correctly.
"It may sound silly to you, after all of this time. But I still dream of it. The time you kissed me years ago. I dream of it nearly every night."
Jaspir heard his heart pounding in his ears.
"I have an eidetic memory. I can remember all the visual details, the sounds, in great detail. But I can't remember the sensory ones. I thought perhaps this time, if I'm prepared, if I pay better attention, then I could remember it precisely. Remember it always."
Merlyn looked at Jaspir expectantly. Jaspir struggled to keep his gaze off her lips. He felt himself leaning in.
He turned away from
