My teeth sink into his lip for a moment, holding back the way I want to shiver for his hand on me, firmer, more sure, one callused finger stroking the scar on the underside of my breast.

His hand is shaking, very slightly, and I want to make him shake more.

It is difficult to break our kiss, tilting my head enough to look at Wintergreen over Slade's shoulder, trying to tell him that I am mostly glad he is here.

I would not have thought of this. It would not have occurred to me to share Slade. It would break him to lose one of us again, and pain of it or no it is better that Wintergreen and I reached an accord.