He sighs again, this time more heavily. "I know I'm not an easy man to be with," he admits, his voice gruff. "But I need you to understand that when I say something, it's because I mean it." His hand trails down your arm and comes to rest on your hip, giving it a firm squeeze. "I don't want anyone else, you know? You're all I have."

He frowns, not liking the sound of that. "I'm sorry if I seem angry all the time," he says, his voice softening a bit. "It's just... when I see you with other people, it hurts." His fingers dig into your hip harder, as if trying to hold onto you physically. "But I want you to know that I love you. And that I only want what's best for us."

His gaze turns intense, his yellow eyes seeming almost predatory. "