Rolling his shoulders in a shrug, it was something not quite apologetic in Jack's grin after the sarcasm rolled off her tone like waves onto the shore. "She's my little sister," which was the only explanation that it really needed. As if the entirety of how he felt for the girl who was only a year younger than him and about a half a foot shorter could be summed up that simply. Nothing else mattered but that. As civilized as he had been called, and would like to think he was, at its most base level he knew he would give his life for Katie. Without question. For any of his family, really.
He wondered for all of part of a second, maybe less, over the fact that she had noted that he had spoken in Spanglish. Which he still had not realized. How it was possible for his mind to be both racing and dulled, while his pulse was racing as well as feeling as something heavier than blood flowed in his veins.
The arm he had placed around her waist, was gentle enough that when the action had pulled up the bottom of her somewhat fitted shirt rode up, he was able to take advantage of the exposed skin. At least enough to slide his hand under the soft cotton and was able to get his fingers on exposed skin that he knew from half dark glimpses before was ivory smooth. Touch alone could tell him that her skin was soft, almost too soft. As if he should be far more careful than he already was with her.
The memory of skin on her blood was something he stubbornly pushed away as he did his best to ignore it.
His hand cupped the back of her skull through her hair, and edged his tongue along the seam of her lips.