We talked for hours, long into the night. He asked me questions about my wants and dreams. We discussed our favorite foods, colors, and hobbies. I learned he’d previously been with a woman for three years in a serious relationship, but she disliked how often he had to travel for work. She left him two years ago for a man in the Silver Guard, and he’d been alone since. In fact, he’d sworn off relationships, having decided they weren’t for him, until the Earth God told him he had a different fate.
When I yawned, he looked at the pillows. "I will be a perfect gentleman if you'd like to settle in. I can sleep on the floor.” “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was. It’s probably best if we get some sleep.”
He averted his eyes as I took off my traveling clothes and put on the silky gown I
