*shakes his head (not 'sir', never 'sir, only Salgant, please see me, please)* *doesn't drop your gaze for a second; only lifts your hand to his lips, snakes his tongue out to slide across your fingertips*
*releases your hand and, in the next moment, cups your chin and kisses you deeply, his other arm tightening around you*
*tells himself just one more second: just one more to fool himself that you're looking at him the way you're looking at him, because to do otherwise will only twist that knife in his gut and make him shield himself with his poison tongue (when all you seem to want is silver)* *and one more turns to one more and one more, because he's strong and you're warm and he thinks maybe he loves you*