What was it with him and randomly tugging on the heartstrings she was barely aware she had, at unexpected moments? It was highly annoying.

(No, it wasn't. She would've just liked to pretend it was.)

There was a pause. But just a short one. "I don't want to take your clothes with me to get off in them," she whispered. "I want to take them with me because they smell like you, and that makes me feel comfortable." And maybe that wasn't new but stating it in so many words was pretty big for her. "And I want your hand to heal so I can hold it."

Properly, not cautiously.