Travis felt the tiny, warm droplet of her tears sink into the fabric of his sleeve and melt against his skin. His heart twitched with an immediate, overwhelming surge of protective warmth.
"Hey... why are you crying, sweetheart?" Travis asked softly, his deep voice dropping into an infinitely tender register. Reaching up with both hands, he gently framed her flushed, warm face, using the pads of his thumbs to brush away the fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.
"It's because... because I hurt you," Jillyanna mumbled between quiet, broken sobs, her small hands clutching tightly at the front of his shirt. Her lower lip trembled uncontrollably as she looked up at him with glossy, heartbroken eyes. "Even when you keep saying you're completely fine, I know you're not. My teeth mark caused a bruise, Travis... I actually bit you so hard it left a mark."
