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pace of those encounters.
    Surrendering himself to Riodan would alter the dynamics of their present relationship—
    an easy, affectionate one founded on trust and respect. What if the change was not for the better?
    “Dy?”
    Dylen started then stared at his companion. Riodan in turn gazed at him unhappily.
    “You truly don’t want to lie with me,” he muttered. “Am I that repugnant?” His voice quivered as he finished speaking.
    Dylen caught his breath at Riodan’s dejected mien. “Nay! Never deem yourself less than desirable, Rio.”
    “Except to you,” Riodan despondently replied.
    “That isn’t so,” Dylen said. ”You are beautiful and sweet and kind besides. No Deir could possibly wish for more in a partner.”
    “Yet you obviously do.”
    “Rio—”
    “I will leave now. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
    “You didn’t.” Dylen rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Please, let me explain.”
    The younger Deir laughed mirthlessly. “Explain what? That I’m not to your taste?
    There’s no explaining that, Dy. It simply is.”
    “But you are to my taste, confound it!” Dylen blurted. “Too much in fact.”
    Riodan gazed at him in confusion. “Then why do you resist me? I don’t understand.”
    “Because I don’t want to ruin what we have,” Dylen admitted. When Riodan looked even more befuddled, he sighed and said, “I would have you as my friend, Rio. Sleeping with you would only damage what we do share.”
    Riodan visibly flinched. “Meaning you could never love me as I do you,” he whispered.
    After a moment’s hesitation, Dylen said, “On the contrary, I could.”
    Shocked, Riodan gaped at him. Then comprehension dawned in his eyes. “But you don’t want to.”
    Dylen gestured with his hand to encompass the room. “This is what I do nearly every day of my life. I service Deira who can pay my price. Do you truly think anything more than our bodies’ sating can come out of an affair with me? Yet, I will not leave my profession for anything less, Rio. I can’t.” He gripped Riodan’s hands. “I care for you—
    more than I’ve ever dared feel for anyone. I don’t want to lose the love that we can share just to slake your lust or mine.”
    Riodan lifted bright eyes to him. His lips curved in a crooked smile. The sight nigh broke Dylen’s resolve.
    “I think it’s best I move out of your house,” he said, his voice breaking as he struggled not to reveal the extent of his hurt. He lifted a hand to forestall Dylen’s protest.
    “I didn’t tell you because I’d hoped staying on would—” He shook his head. “A vain dream and a foolish one.” He drew a shaky breath. “I found lodgings in the east district two weeks ago. Paid six months rent on it as a matter of fact. It’s time I stopped imposing on you and your adda .”
    Dylen stared at him, the implications of Riodan’s decision rapidly sinking in.
    “You’re saying goodbye,” he gasped.
    “Yes.”
    “Rio…”
    “I love you,” Riodan thickly said. “I can’t make do with less.”
    “Why not?”
    Riodan bitterly chuckled. “You might as well ask me why I can’t stop breathing.” He rose, pulling Dylen to his feet as he did. “I’m glad I met you, Dy. I only wish we could have ended our acquaintance on a happier note.”
    He seemed to hesitate then drew something from inside his tunic. He silently handed Dylen a tiny parcel covered with gold tissue and gestured to him to unwrap it.
    Dylen opened the parcel and winced. A wristlet of beaten gold and woven leather with a heartsfire clasp nested within the delicate wrapper. The significance of the deep red gem struck him hard.
    Heartsfire was the stone of lust and passion. The meaning behind the hethare’s earring of a heartsfire within a gold loop was readily evident given the nature of the profession. And a young Deir upon reaching the age of consent signaled his intention to begin sexual exploration by wearing a heartsfire stud on his left ear. But