Once we were inside his home, I sat on the couch while Steve poured us a little white wine and sat next to me. Shoes off but otherwise fully dressed, ...ur eyes shone at one another as we clinked glasses and sipped, my head leaning back against his outstretched arm. Conversation was no longer necessary. The wine glasses safely on expensive wooden coasters, Steve leaned over me and his soft lips found mine.The kiss started softly but then became urgent as I pulled his face hard against my own, too. She said it wasa sacrifice she could make as a boy, to make up for the sacrifice I wasmaking to look good for her. "Oh my god how sweet - you really are acharmer. I am going to make her extra pretty for you."My eyes started watering again. "Oh, my girl. That's enough. You are nota boy, and it is time that you looked like a girl. Stop crying, I am notcutting your hand of or something..." Vanessa laughed at that, just alittle. I am a boy, I thought, I am, and you are taking that away fromme.. Sally went to open the door, dressed only in her obscene jeans. Peter and I stood behind her, both still naked. Sally flung the door wide open, giving any neighbours who might happen to be passing an eyeful. On the doorstep were Mark and Mary and Kevin and Kerry, all dressed alike in a piece of Hawaiian style cloth wrapped around their bodies. Mark's and Kevin's were short and wrapped around their waists, Mary's and Kerry's were a bit longer, wrapped around under their armpits, and reaching. .. of the Delucians hasn't reached the royal ear?" You have picked a fine time to ask, Rayna?" as Stefan turned right, down another unmarked street. "Only common folk use the main gate; the nobles have a gate reserved for them that is entered from the south. For the servants of the king, the answer is a bit more complicated."Stefan refused to answer her second question. He had no doubt that as soon as they left the first guard post, a bird had been sent up to the palace announcing his imminent.