"Medarda just wants to use me.", Jayce said, looking so deeply into your eyes that you almost felt the urge to turn away.

"Didn't we already sort that out?", you asked. "Of course she wants to."

"Then why are you pushing me in her direction? The meeting, the help with the dancing? You were even right about what she likes to drink."

You rolled your eyes.

"Incredibly easy to see through. But why are you complaining? It all works in your favour."

"What if she seduces me?"

You shrugged your shoulders in confusion.

"Didn't you want that?", you threw back. "That's the only reason I gave you the opportunity."

His face turned red.

"Of course I wanted that!", he replied. "Everyone wants a woman like her."

You had to snort involuntarily. Those were your words. For a very long time you had also believed that it was the truth.

But now, the way he stood in front of you and was excited, it felt strange. As if he wasn't sure at all. Suddenly a shadow crossed your face.

"You don't want her.", it slipped from your lips.

Jayce's shoulders relaxed. A sigh escaped him. He had to break eye contact briefly before he managed to find the words.

"I thought I wanted her.", he admitted. "And it would have been useful to be with her."

"That's not a good basis for a relationship.", you added with a sour laugh.

"I know!", full of guilt, he hung his head and had to wipe his face with both hands.

Traces of soot remained on his cheeks. The tips of your fingers twitched. But you held back from touching him.

"Speaking of which.", Jayce looked at you again, tired and yet so serious. "Some honesty?"

You frowned. Then you smirked.

"I've always been honest with you."

"Really?", his eyebrows lifted.

"What would I have to gain from lying?"

"Everything."

"Everything except your trust."

"And what would you gain from my trust?", he moved a little closer.

The last distance between you closed. Without thinking about it, you slid a little higher on the edge of the table. Now you were half sitting on the surface.

Warmth spread between you. But it didn't feel like the hot air from the forge. Your head was glowing.

"Can we please not talk in riddles?",'smiling, you tilted your head.

His eyes flickered as he moved, following the movement of your hair as it began to dry in strands. He thought about something for a moment. All at once, his hand slowly lifted and he grabbed one of the strands to let it dance between his fingers.

"You've been a mystery to me ever since we met.", he mumbled, more to himself than to you. "All the smiles. The help. And yet it doesn't feel like you're taking advantage of me. You're honest. Except for one thing."

Your eyes met. The green of his eyes shimmered in a way that was difficult to interpret. Thoughtful and yet so sure of his decision.

"We've already talked about my motive.", you replied.

Your voice trembled, almost breaking.

"Maybe I'm not expressing myself well."

"You're not."

Now he had to laugh slightly. Suddenly, without warning, he leant forward so far that you had to lean back so that your heads didn't collide. Jayce braced himself on the tabletop with both hands, trapping you between his massive body and the table.

You wouldn't be able to escape without pushing him away from you. But maybe you didn't want to. A heat burned in your body, mingling with the hasty beat of your heart. Goose bumps grew on your arms.

"Maybe I misinterpreted everything.", Jayce's green eyes travelled over your face. "But you're at least as charming as Mel. You're more honest with me. I like that."

Sucking in the air sharply, your eyes widened. A lightning bolt coursed through your back, raising the hairs on the back of your neck.

But it wasn't a bad feeling. Quite the opposite. You felt flattered. And yet there was still that little hint of doubt flickering inside you.

Only a soft chuckle escaped your throat.

"Jayce.", his name dripped off your tongue like liquid butter. "You're not-!"

"Not what?", he came a little closer, your hands pressed against his tense chest.

"You like Mel.", you tried to remind him.

He came even closer. His breath gently caressed your cheek. There was only one finger missing and then his lips would be on yours. He even seemed to stare at them whenever his gaze broke away from yours.

"I like you.", he set clear. "And... that confused me."

He looked at you again, gently, hesitantly. And yet so called for. There was this shimmer in the green, the desire and the request to be kissed so that he could finally be sure.

So that's why he had never looked at you. He had been shy. Your breath shook as you inhaled deeply and closed your eyes briefly.

"Then why keep chasing after Mel?", you asked, your lips hovering over his.

As if in a trance, he shook his head.

"I like it when people owe me something.", he teased. "Especially you."

And without a warning, he grabbed your face with both hands and pulled you towards him.

Warm, dry lips pressed against yours as you closed your eyes and slid a hand down his neck to grab his short, black hair.

Jayce pressed himself against you as if he wanted your bodies to merge into one. He felt firm under your touch, like a rock in the surf.

His warm skin was soft but you could feel bumps and scars as you explored his body. Breathing heavily, he tilted his head, his tongue running over the grooves on your lips, begging for entrance.

Torn from your surprise, your mind began to work again. You opened your mouth for him, but instead of letting his tongue in, you pushed it back and slipped into his mouth instead.

Moist warmth and the flavour of oranges settled on your tongue. Jayce was breathing so heavily that he almost moaned into your mouth.

"Damn it!", you gasped and pulled his head back by the hair to get him off you.

Completely out of breath, he licked the saliva from his open lips. Lust clouded the green of his eyes.

"Where did that come from?", you wiped the corner of your mouth with the back of your hand.

"I've got more where that came from.", Jayce growled in reply.