Jade Fern Grove hauntings

she came to him, and merrick drew in the razored breath lodged against the tissue of his throat. a low, muted sound trembling in his throat as her nudges came; he pressed himself against them, meshed their pelts in shades of russet and cream charcoal into the crowblack of her own;
closer and closer, kissings and fumblings returned a thousandfold;
in the cool green shadows of the grove merrick felt himself torn between desire and the pure lance of bloodstained love that cut its way through her heart.
no words now; tongue severed from the possibility of them; merrick thrust his crown against her shoulderblade and choked upon the edge of a sob, that they should come together now after such mistrust.