“It hurts, Leonel," she whispered.

She made a pained sound in his embrace. It took Leonel a moment to realize what he had done. Quickly, he released her. Her downcast eyes brimmed with tears, stirring a pang of guilt in his heart.

"Alexis..." he whispered.

Compelled, he kissed her tremblingly. Their lips met briefly; he did not dare deepen the kiss, instead his lips brushed against hers lightly and repeatedly.

Alexis tensed.