"Your brother was likely the only reason I did not," he says. "During our earlier conversation, before you arrived...he had spoken to me about the fact that anything I told him would not offend his...sensibilities."

Skellig pauses his lips against her shoulder briefly, as well as the movements of his fingertips along her arm.

"But regardless of that, I did not wish to put you in a position where you might have been uncomfortable. It would not have been appropriate. This..." he strokes lightly over her skin. "This is for us alone."