Nathan grinned out of the corner of his lips as he lifted the cup to his mouth, and it took me a moment to realize that I was holding my breath as I watched him sip the chocolate. The way his lips curve, the way he slowly licks the traces of the drink from the bottom ... he has it slightly fuller than the top. And the noise in my head returns again, as if the ocean is roaring. Powerful, frightening, he brings down his heavy waves, which with a rolling roar sweep deep under the skin, reverberate in the temples.

Yes, the ocean. I suddenly realized… at that very...