Tem couldn’t help but smile. She lay there for a while longer until she became cold. She sat up slowly, and when Caspen didn’t protest, she crawled up to the head of her bed. When Tem went to place the claw in her bedside drawer, she heard: Stop. She paused, her hand out. I may want you again. Anticipation rushed through Tem. Eagerly, she slipped the claw back inside her. It went easily; she was still wet. Then she pulled the blankets up and, despite her excitement, fell straight to sleep. Caspen had her twice more that night.

