Blacktail Deer Plateau Slow burn

Her voice broke the tension that had been coiling in Grayday's gut. He huffed at her, more amused than annoyed, but a tiny bit annoyed all the same. If he'd ever had a complaint about his wife, it was that she talked too much at the most inopportune times. It took him a moment get the blood flowing back through his brain, so it was belatedly that he replied, "Is that a threat or a promise, Mrs. Corten?"

Either way, he began running his tongue back over the faint traces of blood. He could detect much of it by nose, but he missed many pinkish spots as well. Too, some of the blood had mixed with his saliva, and some of the places he cleaned ended up a bit worse for wear. After a moment, he seemed to realize this.

"I ran into a tree," he confessed. "I was excited to see you."