I was afraid. Of getting hurt in other ways. To be truthful, I still am."<br />His thumb stroked her cheek. "I would never hurt you."<br />"I don't think you can promise me that." She squeezed his bruised fingers. "But it makes things a bit more equal, to know that I can hurt you, too."<br />His gaze fell to her lips. He said simply, without any trace of irony, "You are killing me.