Echoing her laughter, Ben slid an arm behind her back, a soft gasp catching in his throat as she tugged his head back, her lips finding his in a messy kiss.

"You do," he promised, panting into her mouth. "You are."

Burying a hand in her hair, he broke their kiss only to look at her, his thumb tracing the faint scar on her cheek, eyes cataloging the little details he'd never been close enough to notice, until now.

It didn't last long, after that. When he came, it was with a strangled cry of her name, his gaze never leaving her own.