As the moment stretched out into this thin, infinite time, Caleb put it all to memory. He had no idea when, if ever, this might happen again. The kiss in the bath had been a shock, this slow but steady crumble of Essek's will in this moment to allow both of them to experience this.

Like staring into the beacon, like fortune's favor, possibility unwound around them. And then, just as easily as they unspooled, they returned.

Essek pulled back from the kiss but did not detach, like he had in the bathroom, and Caleb lingered in the circuit of their touch, his hand in Essek's hair and Essek's hand on his cheek.

"As long as you want," he murmured. "That is all I can ask."