"That's a good thing, too," Elijah said softly, still nuzzling, just enjoying the scent of him, and then, and because it was the closest skin. Did he want to bite, to taste? Of course. But he had more control than that. "Far more pleasant things to do with your mouth than snarl...."

He could hear the emotion in Ric's voice, and his fingers ghosted lightly over his skin, soothing, but not judging either. He wasn't going to be put off by tears--Ric had let him have his in the cave.