Page 57 of Diamond

"Kuret?"

"Yes, Nasrin?"

"I don't… I don't normally just undress like that."

I'm not sure why she feels the need to say it, especially since she has been more likely to cover additional parts of herself than necessary since we met, but I try to soothe whatever she is struggling with anyway. "I am sure that is the case, Nasrin. Though if you would like to undress, it is alright."

I bite down on my tongue, yet again, not sure why I had to add that. It has the desired effect, though. She is no longer looking so lost but is instead smirking.

"Is it? It seems to make you uncomfortable, but I could…"

As she trails off, the material creeps away from her wrists and I groan out a protest for leading us to this point before deciding it is best to simply get away as fast as I can.

As I move to get out of the stream, she shifts forward. I accidentally bump into her, and she loses her balance.

She lets out a yelp and falls toward the ground, but I am quick and I catch her in my arms long before she can get there.

Something is building and I don't know what it is or how long it will stay suppressed.

30

Rin

We stay there for a moment, uncomfortably close to each other while staring into each other's eyes.

I know it is a bad idea before I go ahead with it, but I allow my brain to be fogged by the moment and the longing look I think I see in his eyes.

One of his big hands is holding my back and I push myself forward in his arms and move my face slightly closer to his, then I get too shy to close the remaining distance.

The heat coming off his body is spreading to mine, radiating off from his body in waves and seeping into my pores.

Kuret is completely still for what feels like a full minute before his eyes widen dramatically and the warmth of his hand leaves my back.

I lean my face forward and I see him doing the same; our lips are a breath away from each other when Kuret stops and jerks back.

His eyes seem thick with passion. I shut mine and look away, heart aching from the rejection.

How am I reading this wrong?

I am a terrible mix of appalled and ashamed as I pull myself away from him and wrap both of my arms around my torso. I want to speak up and say something to let him know my actions don't mean anything, but whatever words I have are stuck in my throat. Embarrassment turns itself into a metal ball and sits deep in my stomach.

He speaks up first. "Do not take this wrongly, Nasrin. You are just too young, and I will lose honor if I do not stop this now."

His words hit me like heavy bricks, one at a time. Painful each time. What does he mean? Too young?

I could swear that he wanted this too. I know it in my bones. So why make up things about age differences?

Is he like those vampires people are swooning over lately? Thousands of years old while looking like they are twenty?

He looks just as young as I am.

I frown at him, annoyance replacing my shame. "Too young? What do you mean by that, Kuret?"

The words slip out with more anger than I intend, and he turns away from me. I have to know why his so-called honor requires him to kill things and make decisions based on my age. Why does he feel like he has the authority to tell me who I am old enough to kiss?

If he doesn't want to, he should just say it. Not blame it on something about me.

It reminds me too much of the oppressive regime I have spent my entire life living under, and I don't like it one bit.

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