“Whoa!” I exclaimed, hefting its light weight and wondering how we might explore this new option. Remembering the thing thunking around, I set the teddy aside. “What else is in here?” I questioned, rummaging. My fingers found a small, fuzzy box, and when I recognized its shape, my face lost all expression. It was a ring box. Oh, my God. “Kisten?” I breathed, eyes wide.

“Open it,” he prompted, scooting closer.

Hands trembling, I turned it to find the opening. I didn’t know what to do. I loved Kist, but I wasn’t ready to be engaged. Hell, I was hardly ready to be anyone’s girlfriend. What with two Were packs after my hide, demons showing up whenever, a master vampire itching to have at me. Not to mention a roommate who wanted to be more and me not knowing what to do about it. And how could I embark on a permanent relationship when I wouldn’t let him bite me?

“But, Kisten…” I stammered, pulse racing.

“Just open it,” he urged impatiently.

Holding my breath, I wedged it open. I blinked. It wasn’t a ring. It was a pair of…

“Caps?” I questioned. Relief spilled through me. I looked up to see his fluster. They weren’t his caps. No, these were sharp and pointy. And they’re for me?

“If you don’t like them, I’ll take them back,” he said, his usual confidence gone. “I thought it might be fun sometime. If you wanted to…”

My eyes closed. It wasn’t a ring. It was a toy. I should have known after the edible teddy. “You bought me caps?”

“Well, yes. What did you think they were?”

I went to tell him, then closed my mouth. Flushing, I set the box aside and looked at the caps in their velvet cushion. Okay, it wasn’t a ring, but where was this leading? “Kisten, I can’t let you bite me.” Closing the lid with a snap, I extended them to him. “I can’t accept these.”

But Kisten was smiling. “Rachel,” he coaxed. “That’s not why I bought them.”

“Why, then?” I said, thinking he had put me in a very awkward position. I couldn’t help but wonder if this had been a reaction to Ivy’s kiss.

Placing the box back in my hands, he curved my fingers around it. “This isn’t a backward way to wiggle my teeth into your neck. I’m not even looking for you to bite me, though that would be…” He took a breath. “Nice.”

I could tell it was the truth, and my agitation eased.

Kisten dropped his gaze. “I wanted to see you with little pointy teeth,” he said softly. “It’s bedroom play. Like wearing a teddy. Sort of like…window dressing.”

“You don’t like my teeth?” I said, unhappy. Damn it, I wasn’t a vampire, and he wanted more. This sucked royally.