In The Ring Of Love

He looks like he might close the space between us. He looks like he wants to.

My brain supplies a dozen sane exits. My body refuses every one.

He looks as if he might kiss me.

So I do something- exactly the kind of crazy I’m proud of but later I regret.

I bite him right on the shoulder.

He’s in a tank, and my teeth definitely sink in. "What the hell?" he jerks back with a sharp laugh, stumbling slightly. "Did you just bite me?"

"I panicked!" I defend, a little too quickly.

"You don’t have to mark me when I’m already yours, Swan." he says.

Excuse me?

"What!?" I blink, nearly tripping over my own foot. "What did you just say?"

He shrugs, all cool and composed, "I’m already yours." he repeats, like it’s nothing. Like it’s not the verbal equivalent of a punch to the stomach and a kiss to the soul.

My jaw drops. "Are you- are you okay?"

"Perfectly," he says, then taps his shoulder. "Just sore though."