[ there will be a time later, when her temper isn't flared, when she isn't grieving and reeling from everything that has been thrown at her within the last two hours that she will appreciate that he let her move, that he didn't try to force her to stay with him.

tamlin would have, he would have grabbed her hips before she could even stand, kept her with him with a desperate grip, begging her to stay. trapped her. rhys would never.

his words lash at her, each one as hurtful as a physical blow. has he so misunderstood the nature of her love for him? does he think that she would enjoy watching him grovel, preen over the idea of him begging for her love? nothing about that appeals. and if she knew the unkind thoughts he was having of himself, she would do everything she could to banish them away, especially because it's her fault they are there.]

Rhysand, please understand I'm not asking you to be away from me, [ she sighs, lifting her hand to cover his at her cheek, drawing it to her lips to brush a kiss over his knuckles, keeping her shields down so he can see the truth of all her words that follow: ] Nor did I ever say that I don't want you. Or that I want you to supplicate to me. I simply said that I do not want to stay in that room, that I will stay in the room that was assigned to me. If you want to be there or anywhere near me, you have know that's what I want to. [ her words are careful now, it seems she must be more careful, to make it clear that he has a choice, that she is not presenting him with an either or, just simply an open choice for him to make. ]

If I wanted space from you, if I didn't want you, I would have said those things. [ she lifts up to brush her lips with his, wondering what she'd done to start earning comparisons to amarantha. please, rhys. i am not her. i will never need your humiliation to prove your devotion for me.]

I want you right now. I want you later. I want you always.