No, I don't shrink away. This time I just grin proudly, looking him in the eye as his slick thumb slides along my lips. I pull the digit into my mouth, cheeks hollowing around it as I suck it clean. If I am sick, he's just as sick as me, so I am at peace with it. His is the only opinion on the matter. He's the only person who gets to see that part of me.

"Too bad it's so cold outside," I murmur as I slide my hand up his arm to curl it around his wrist, holding it still as I drag my tongue over the side of his palm, biting gently as I look up at him with dark eyes. "We could take a dip in the lake."