I smile at him, gently, but he sees right through it. Something's made me uncomfortable.
He leans in and looks me dead in the eye.

"Kyla. what did I tell you?"
I start to stammer something out, and he pulls me closer.
"you. have. the. right. to. say. NO."
I nod, quietly, and avert my eyes. I already knew this. . . He'd told me a million times before. . .

"If anything I do- anything makes you uncomfortable, or scared- or if it hurts, tell me, and I'll stop. Don't you ever- ever think that you need to do anything for my sake." He rests his head on my shoulder and whispers in my ear.
"All that matters to me is your happiness. I love you- and I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt you.
"remember that."