That was the thing with her.
People saw the Goddess and thought first of power, beauty, divinity, the impossible composure with which she carried herself through the world, but there was a side of her that became almost unbearably gentle when she gave it to him. Her fingers in his hair, her mouth lingering at his temple; the quiet ways she touched him when words were too small.
Even now, in bed with the sheets rumpled around them and her lips still warm from his, she caressed his face as though she were memorizing him again, as though he had come back from somewhere dangerous and she needed the reassurance of touch before her heart fully settled.
When the kiss ended, she didn't move away. Her nose brushed lightly against his, and then she smiled, small and lovely and softer than almost anyone else ever got to see.
Phei stared at her for a moment too long.
The Goddess's lashes lowered slightly. "What?"
"You're too beautiful."
"That answer sounded rehearsed."
