"Hey, whoa, come on now. Don't talk like that," Asher sat up slightly, reaching over to run the backs of his fingers over Ray's shoulder. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. If you're not ready, you're not read and that's alright. Okay?"

He dropped a light kiss down onto the side of Ray's neck, fingers still moving gently over his skin. "Come on, look at me. Please."