"Maybe," Alec said. "But so did you. so does everyone. I just reacted to it differently, and that's at least a little bit me being a coward." He swallowed as Jace nipped him, chin tipping back more.

"I wouldn't set you up about that," Alec said. "But I do like when Ragnor's face looks like he ate a lemon raw. He's always cranky, but it's ... I don't know. I think it's like what he puts on to keep people from getting too close. He'll help pretty much anyone who asks him, as far as I've seen." He blushed. "That's not the same. That's ... participating."

One kiss turned easily into more. Slow, languid making out that took on a more gradual hunger, Alec's thigh slipping between Jace's legs to press against him.