head. “You are skating dangerously close to skepticism.” “Oh, I’m not skating. I’m there. ” I laughed at his playful scowl. “You are gonna pay for that, lovely .” He jumped up and grabbed me as I made a try to run but he overpowered me bracing himself over me on the couch length wise. “You may be cute, but you are not immune to the rules.” I giggled. “And what rules are you referring to?” “The rules of opposite sex etiquette. Don’t ch allenge the manliness of the guy that is within tickle range.” “Ooh. Good rule. I’ll remember that.” “You better. I’ll let you off with a warning this time.” “What’s my penalty?” I asked and bit my lip to tease him. “What do you think?” He leaned in so close his lips were almost grazing mine. “I think. ..that you are awfully cheesy, m ister,” I crooned sweetly. “That’s it! Last straw!” he yelled and began to tickle me on my sides. I screamed and giggled and squirmed , but there was no getting loose. “Ok! Ok! I give. You are so, so manly! You are rugged and handsome and … ” I stopped to gasp and scream as he intensified his assault. “So manly! Please! You are so manly!” He smiled at me in triumph and stop ped tickling. He let his weight press me further into the couch. “That’s right, and d on’t you forget it.” “How could I with a display like that?” He chuckled and continued to look at me. He brushed the hair off my face that had fallen over my eye then he ran his thumb over my bottom lip making my heart beats gallop . I decided to take the initiative this time. I pulled him down to me by his shirt collar. He seemed pleasantly surprised, given by his smirk. I kissed the hollow of his neck and had the pleasure of hearing his breath catch. I kissed my way up and bit his lip ring playfully. He chuckled before taking over and pressing our lips together. He stayed braced over me on his elbows as his mouth ravished mine. After a few minutes he pulled back quickly. I was confused by the sudden change of pace but he just scooped me up and took me to the bed on the far wall. He probably wasn’t too comfortable sprawled out with me on the loveseat I imagined. He placed me gently to the bed and picked up right where he left off. His mouth was eager as his hand took a tour of my body in caresses and chaste advances . His fingers went just under the hem of my shirt but no further and he pulled me closer to him by my belt loops. It seemed we stayed like that for hours. My lips were swollen and my jaw was chafed deliciously from his stubble. My fingers were sore and stiff from fisting his shirt for so long. It was the first time we’d just been able to completely be alone and together like that. Eventually, we stopped to breath e , but he kept his hands on me. Our n oses were touching while we lay on our sides. I drifted off into a sleep, restful and needed. When I woke up some time later, I smelled dinner cooking. Cain’s face was pressed into my hair and he was still asleep. Our arms and legs were tangled. I knew there was no way to g et free without waking him up, so I stayed there. It wa s where I wanted to b e anyway.