Felix had opened his mouth to toss back a tart response, but an instant before he drew breath, his brain shut off his voice on a strange and unexpected signal from an organ buried somewhere in his chest. Something inside him recognized what Shannon was saying, recognized it on a deeper level than the devilish arguments of intellect or the visceral drives of shared passion. That same something yearned for the implication behind Shannon's words in a way both troubling and somewhat embarrassing to Felix's higher mind.

He both longed to be loved, and hated the idea of deserving it at the same time.

"Only one person," answered Felix slowly, like a test, touching a toe into these uncertain waters.