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He’s breathing deeply and shaking so terribly “My sweet love…”

“Sorry” It’s groaned

“No We won’t be sorry…remember?” It shreds ainst mine as he nods He takes a few deep breaths, and then a low sob shakes his shoulders I cling to his neck and hold his forehead against asp, and I’m wrenched orry

“Cover my mouth” It’s a low rasp

I realize what he entle kiss before I do as he asked I hold his head and cover his mouth and stroke his hair and forehead and his neck His hair is daility—the way he trembles and his tears drip down his face

When he’s breathing fast and shallow, but a bit more steady, I wipe his cheeks witheyes, and when more tears fall, I kiss his temples and his forehead and his soft, tremulous lips

I’m half atop hiht arm around his neck, my hand in his hair

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I murmur

I lean back a bit, so I can see his sweet Carnegie face

His eye shut “Don’t…stop touching me,” he rasps “Please”

I tuck his head against me, his forehead to my throat “Never will I promise” I kiss his hair Then I kneel at his feet I h and wraphim

“Sweet Carnegie” I rub his warh his cotton pants He ss as he watches me with sad eyes

“What can I do for you, love?”

He shuts his eyes, shakes his head

For a second, I’ht—I just know that I don’t want it Any of this I don’t want the searing pain, and I don’t want her seeing rit my teeth and suck so passes