Phoenix Maplewood I don't feel connected to all of your lies.

Etienne let slip a few more details. Before Cambria could truly process what he’d said, his pale paw pressed against a lean shoulder. The yearling sucked in a breath so sharply, it was audible. His cheeks heated again. He swallowed, resisting the urge to snatch his paw away and retreat. It helped when he hesitantly looked into Etienne’s face.

He saw sadness there, though a lot of warmth too. He didn’t seem to mind Cambria’s touch. And as the yearling’s embarrassment lessened, he realized his body was tingling. It wasn’t just his paw or even his leg. Every single inch of skin seemed to hum pleasantly, originating from their point of contact.

I’ve never felt anything like this before, he mumbled to himself without thinking.

Realizing he’d spoken aloud, he went very still and reconsidered fleeing the scene. Yet Cambria couldn’t have pulled his paw away even if he wanted. It felt like there was a magnetic force within Etienne that held him in place. To test that theory, he shifted his paw ever so slightly up and down, essentially rubbing the other man’s shoulder.

He looked a little anxiously at Etienne’s face now, wondering if this was okay.