[His lips twitch, just a little as he feels the way her inhale shakes. That vulnerability feeds right into both his need to protect - and his strange need to make her do that again. It's exactly the same as the gala, and different now as well.

And he's told himself he's behaving tonight and going slow.

The look from her half-lidded eyes doesn't help.

Tilting his head, he inhales, tip of his nose tucked behind her ear, filling his lungs with shampoo and soap and perfume. His voice is a soft rumble.]

Don't. As cute as you'd look, I wouldn't be able to imagine your long hair spread out across my pillow anymore if it was short.