It was my turn to blush. "Well, yeah," I said, not knowing what else to say. "I mean, obviously I've thought about it, and you already know that at times I want to climb you like a tree. It's not like you haven't seen me eager to have you before." I turned and rested my chin on his shoulder as he looked at me sidelong. "I figured that was more than acting," I said, a little shy. Stupid, maybe; I'd had his face between my legs not that many weeks ago, and we'd both been desperate enough for it that we'd come in maybe sixty second flat.

"I was too shocked to act," he said. "Both by getting defended and, ah, how you did it."

He also sounded shy, and I could feel myself blushing a little. There was something about kissing that was just... different. Having Dain bite my neck and coming with him licking my panties could both be chalked up to nothing but overeager sex drives and wayward biology. But kissing? Kissing like that, and kissing him because the only thing in my mind was to make it crystal clear that I found nothing about Dain detestable?

Yeah. That was something different, and a lot more powerful.

"Well, what are soulmates for?" I took my chin off his shoulder and returned to cuddling against him. "I guess maybe I should prepare a list of salacious things to say when people inevitably try to determine whether or not we're actually fucking."

"You don't need to pretend to be having sex with me," he said quietly. "I don't think I'd even want you to pretend such a thing. If protectiveness is what you desire, I'm sure the story of you being physically possessive with the Beast of Phazikai will travel through the entire High Court before sunrise."

"I hope that's alright," I said, watching his face for a reaction. "You already have more than enough stories told about you."

Dain's expression softened as he reached over and brushed the backs of his fingers along my jaw. "Haven't I already thanked you?" he asked. "I'm used to being the focus of gossip far more hateful than contemplation of how well I must be pleasuring you behind closed doors. They will surely think it must be excellent for you to declare your desire to have me so publicly and, hm, thoroughly."

"That was hardly thorough," I said, smiling at him. "I could show you thorough, if you'd like." My heart rate picked up as I said it, all of the skin on my face and chest blooming into sensitivity, magnifying the gentle touch of his fingers.

His face went almost slack, his nostrils flaring and lips parting while his eyes went wide and wanting. I could see the white of his canines reflecting the light of the lanterns.