His hand was slipping along her skin, caressing the small of her back, his mouth working its brand of wonders along her jawline when she was suddenly pressing against him and almost screaming that she couldn't breathe. His eyes widened and he was pushing himself off of her in a heartbeat, pulling her up in the same moment.

"Ath? You okay?" he asked quickly, giving her a cursory glance over to make sure that she was intact. "Did I hurt you? Bloody 'ell, Ath," he continued, when he took note that she didn't seem, physically, to be wounded. "You scared the shite out of me."