Ben choked out a watery laugh, a boyish grin making its way onto his face. This time, instead of being stifled quickly, his smile stayed there, hesitant but unwavering. "Thank you," he echoed back, his eyes bright, fingertips sliding curiously beneath the bottom hem of her shorts to tease the top of her thigh, her skin warm and impossibly soft beneath his hands.

He could feel the staccato tap of her heartbeat beneath his palm, and shifting to sit propped higher against the headboard, he let himself explore her, touching her because she'd asked him to. He felt the weight of her breast in his palm, her skin pebbled beneath his touch, his fingers curving along the line of her ribs. She was small and lean and deadly, smiling at him more brightly than he'd ever thought possible, and he surged up to kiss her again.