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was bare.  Numbly I looked at the compress in my hand, gently shaking it to reveal the shape of a white cotton t-shirt.
                “Of course,” I muttered to myself.  Death by embarrassment was looking more and more likely.  Looking up into his crystalline eyes I asked him again, “What are you doing here?”
                “As I said earlier, I am here for you.”
                “Do you guys know each other?” Sam puzzled.
                “No,” I said.
                “Yes,” Cerus replied at the same time.  A look of confusion settled on Sam’s face.
                “What he means is” I began, “Yes, we met yesterday at the library for like two minutes, but no we don’t really know each other.”
                In a low whisper that only I could hear Cerus contradicted me, “We know each other Alexa.”
                Turning my head slightly my cheek was pressed against his chest.  His skin was as smooth as I had imagined, but it wasn’t cool marble.  He was warm and alive, the steady rhythm of his heart sounded softly against my ear.  He smelled of outdoors; earth and grass and bright sunshine, and a little bit like horse.  His arms tightened around me again, like he was claiming his right to hold me over any other.
                “Sam, this is Cerus.  Cerus, this is Sam,” I quickly make introductions.
                “Are you Alexa’s boyfriend Sam?” Cerus asked extending his hand for Sam to shake.
                “No, just a good friend.”
                “Best friend,” I smile.
                “Then it’s nice to meet you Sam.”
                “Yeah, same here,” Sam replied.
                Are you feeling better now, Alexa?” Cerus asked me.
                I didn’t reply, but instead leaned my head back onto his shoulder, settling deeper into his arms, reluctant to stand and pull away.  I could feel the vibrations of his deep chuckle.
                “Lex, I know you’re comfortable there and all, but if you want to grab something to eat in town then we need to get going,” Sam reminded me.
                “Yeah, okay.”
                I finished my water and with a hand from Sam and a lift from Cerus stood up.  Now that I was on my feet I can see the full expanse of Cerus’chest.  He has muscles on top of his muscles, but he’s not bulky, he’s sleek and smooth. Handing him back his shirt I grin my thanks while my eyes are drawn to the tattoo over his heart.  Now that I could see the entire thing I noticed the other colors subtly woven between the curls of the spiral, reds, greens, and yellows.
                “It’s beautiful,” reaching out I traced the pattern with my fingers, like I had on the paper.
                “Thank you.  It is a symbol of my people.  This one,” he pointed to the blue spiral, “marks me for who I am, and these,” he gestured to the interwoven colors, “symbolize the journey I am on.  When it is completed, the colors will reach the center and be filled in.  Then I will be free to marry and start my own family.”  I looked up into his eyes.  He was much closer than I thought.  I could feel his breath on my cheek and thought if I tilted my head up just a bit more he would kiss me.  I couldn’t help looking at his mouth, and I wondered if he could read from my expression how much I wanted to kiss him.
                Sam, who had already started to walk down the trail turned and shouted, “Are you coming?” and just like that the spell was broken.
                I turned and took a few steps before looking over my shoulder at Cerus.  He seemed too young to be talking of marriage and family, but I couldn’t help feeling he was older than he looked.  He had replaced his shirt, probably a good thing