My eyes scout the kitchen. Karma’s nowhere to be seen. Good. I rest my head against the wall and doze off for a moment. The crackling fire of the kitchen stove almost lulls me to sleep.
As I slide the jade beads through my weary fingers, my mind wanders back to the hermitage. A deep calm stretches in my body. It was a good day.
“Hey.” Karma’s voice hovers above me. “Sorry I’m so late but…”
I open my eyes, and his tall, muscular legs are the first thing I see. He bends down and my heart skips a beat as he meets my gaze, as if I always forget how gorgeous he is. He leans in, his long loose hair brushing my hands as he searches the inside of his chuba.
“Here, I got you something.” He pulls something red out from under his shirt and sits beside me, his hand on my knee. “Thought you mig
