"I don't know what I want, remember?" I said, making a face. "If it drives you crazy for me to prevaricate, I won't try anything on for size, though. I know it's not exactly the nicest thing to do to someone, to jerk their chain."

"Mm," he said. His ear flicked, making the gem-heavy chains swing. "I would prefer it if you didn't play with me in that way," Dain said, not looking at me. "This is fine—casual physical contact. But I have a difficult enough time believing you're comfortable with my body, and rejection is not an easy trial for me. It would be preferable to know where I stand."

A little disappointing, but not unreasonable. And that was one of the most revealing things he'd ever said to me, a generous look into the heart he still kept hidden behind strong walls most of the time. He'd told me a way he could be easily harmed, and I would repay that trust by keeping from ever sliding a knife through his armor. "Then we're friends who are comfortable with cuddling," I said, reaching up and running my fingers along the sharp line of his jaw. "No flirting, maybe the occasional affectionate kiss on the cheek or something."

Dain glanced sideways at me, a fond smile on his face, then turned and pressed his warm mouth against my temple for a brief moment. "I'll refrain from putting my mouth on your ear for the time being, then," he said, sounding amused. "Having you smell like desire is very distracting."

"Does that ever get annoying?" I asked. "Being able to smell emotions."

He barked out a sharp laugh. "You might as well ask if it's annoying to see expressions, Leah," Dain said. He shook his head, smiling enough that the full length of his canines showed. "I've always had this body, if you'll recall. I would likely feel blind if I lost my sense of smell."

"What all can you smell?" I asked, curious.

A smirk slid onto his face, and he drummed his fingers on the couch. "I'll trade answers for that. Did you enjoy taking care of my prickly self this past week?"

"Fair enough," I said with a laugh. "Some of it was really nice. I liked how comfortable you were sprawling all over me, and I liked making you feel better. You are a shockingly good bed-companion, and being trusted to watch over you gave me all sorts of warm-fuzzies." I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as he raised one eyebrow. "On the other hand, you were extremely cranky on narcotics. Occasionally in an amusing way, but more often in the way where I had to remind myself that drugged-up men with a bunch of holes and sword-slices get to be in a bad mood for as long as they need. That was not as nice."