[His heartbeat quickens, deepens, as her hand feathers over his shoulder and over faint scars she may or may not remember from whenever she has last caught a glimpse of him in some state of undress. With a sudden, inexplicable urgency, he snatches her wrist – and with no consideration as to whether his boldness would startle her or not, he promptly guides her fingers to his right side. Ribs he had fractured long ago had a habit of aching in cold and damp weather, after all, regardless of whether he threw on layers of clothing or not; and although the pain is dull in the face of stronger sensations, he is most appreciative of this special attention. His grip on her slackens gradually.]
no subject