"I don't know if I can explain it, or if it will come out right," I say, hand on his cheek again, thumb brushing his lips. "When Levi gets all protective of me, my first response is to shove back and reassert that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

I shiver a little. "When you do it, when some guy looks at me and you growl so low only I can hear it, or if someone flirts with me and you touch my hand, my shoulder, my arm, laying claim or marking territory or whatever you want to call it? It just feels right. Like I belong, like I'm claimed, like I can feel your arms around me even if you're across the room." I pause, brush his lip again. "And it also turns me right the hell on."