Silence stretched between them, thick and almost palpable. Christopher's pulse jumped under Dax's thumb, his breathing uneven, but the sharpness in his gaze never dulled.
"Fine," he said at last, each word bitten out. "I promise."
Dax's voice dropped to something softer, quieter. "Say it again."
Christopher's throat bobbed. "I promise."
For a long heartbeat, Dax didn't move. Then, slowly, he released his wrist and reached for the collar.
"Don't move," he said, his voice a low command.
He traced the back of Christopher's neck with his fingers until he found the faint seam hidden beneath the metal. The collar was cool to the touch and faintly humming with his and Christopher's tangled pheromones. Dax pressed his thumb against the lock point, exhaled slowly, and let his pheromones pulse once.
