Soon your lips are on mine and the happiness I feel spreads over me like warmed water. We kiss and kiss, like we invented it. But of course, we didn’t. Still, in that room that had been untouched for so long, we became the touch. Strange, that in this moment, when I’m finally able to look at you without hiding my glances, my instinct is to close my eyes and feel.

I run my hands over your shoulder plating and into your hair. I get impatient. I don’t like this armor between us. You are more shy, so gentle and light are your hands on my face, my neck, my waist. But your mouth is just as hungry as mine, and when I pull away, you follow, leaning forward.

“What?” You say, breathless.

I tug at your chest plate. “Can you take this off?”

You hesitate for only a moment, as if resigning to some decision that you already knew would come. “Yes. Of course.”

You start to fiddle with the lacing on one side, but I can see your hands are trembling.

“Here,” I say, “let me help.”

I begin to pull the lacing free. You watch silently, but I feel the weight of your stare all over me. I'm still not used to being watched by you. I can't help but blush. "What?"

“You’re pretty good at that,” you say. “Have you undressed many soldiers before?”

The tone of your voice says you’re joking but the look in your eyes says something else entirely. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or annoyed by your insinuation.

“No,” I say. “Not in the way you mean.”

“In what way then?”

“I’ve helped my brother and my father with armor before. No one else. Now, raise your arms.”

You do as I say and I slip the chest plate over your head. Your linen shirt rises with the armor, revealing your soft, pale belly, before falling back down. You watch me watch you, then our eyes lock. There is an expression on your face that reads like desire, like the kind I saw on Bow Lion's face once at the festival dance. I've seen it on others as well, but I've never seen it like this, so pointed and alert, aimed right at me. I'm struck through. I can barely breathe.

“You’re so beautiful,” you say, your voice shaky.