One corner of Dain's mouth pulled back, and he didn't look me in the eyes. "I know I'm allowed to have secrets," he said, the words smoother than how he usually spoke, with careful control covering over what had to be a maelstrom of emotion. "But I want to be your soulmated truelove, and I don't think it's possible without taking down every wall of my heart for you." Dain's voice wavered on the last words, but he looked into my eyes as he wiped away the last trace of his blood.

"We have tilted towards lovers of different kinds, but..." He put his hands on the counter and panted, trembling.

"It's been a long day," I said, putting my hands on his face and tilting his head up so I could look at his tormented expression. "We're not going to solve everything right now, and we still have time. Let's get you undressed and less bloody, and fall asleep together, okay? And we can return to our eleventh-hour soul-baring when we're rested."

"As you desire," Dain said after a moment, something like gratefulness in his voice. He helped me hop down off of the counter, then took a breath and started undressing, tension creeping into his body as he started undoing buttons.

After watching him for a moment, I stepped up and put my hands over his. "Let me."

Dain stilled, his body going quiet save for the thud of his heartbeat against my fingers. "I'm the only one who has undressed myself since I was a child, save for the sake of medical care," he said quietly, not shifting any part of his stance, and not looking at me.

"Is that how you'd like it to stay?" I asked.

"No," he said, the word tense. Dain took a breath and looked into my eyes. "I ask that you leave on my undergarments, and not touch me through them. It is difficult enough for me to hold myself apart from you."

"Of course," I said, agreeing without hesitation. "I don't want to push you into anything. Though," I added wickedly, "aren't your undergarments rather wet right now?"

He blazed crimson the instant I said it, his ears laying flat against his skull and, of all things, his tails sweeping between his legs like a submissive dog. "I'll change them myself," Dain muttered while I giggled. He made a face at me, something like playful exasperation, then took his hands out from under mine and held them to his sides. "Claim your rights to my body, then, if you so desire."

"I do," I said in my best perky voice, and started undoing his buttons for him.