"I looked into Gorlim's mind," he continues, his cheeks damp. "I saw. I saw the kissing and the touching, the soft sighs and the EAGERNESS!"

He turns his head from her.

"There is never that kind of eagerness between us."

This may not be true. Then again, it may be a painful truth.

"Kisses. His kisses are what I adore. It was the first thing he taught me. Held in such a special place. Kisses offered up to the beast that wore an old lover's face."

Oh, his heart ached.