“I was talking about this,” Raylan says easily, and rubs his thumb, slow and deliberate, over the bite Tim is hoping like hell he didn’t notice.

The shock of it makes Tim drop the plate he’s holding into the sink. It makes a loud clang noise and some water splashes out and onto his shirt. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“What about it.” Tim says it flatly, but he’s grabbing at the sink with his free hand, fingers curling desperately into the slick white porcelain like he’s trying to keep his balance.

Raylan’s thumb pushes lightly into the bruised skin. “Look at me.”

Tim bites back a noise, but only barely. He shakes his head slightly, staring into the soapy water. “No.”

“I’m just gonna make you do it anyway.” He lifts Tim’s wrist, and Tim doesn’t stop him but he doesn’t look at him, either.

“Do what you gotta do, Raylan,” Tim bites out, and he’s breathing too fast and still staring down into the soapy water, resolute and stubborn and then Raylan’s mouth glides over his wrist and that’s it, it’s over.

The floodlights are on and there are no more corners left in which to hide, dark or otherwise.

Tim pulls at his wrist but Raylan doesn’t let go, though he doesn’t stop Tim from scrambling back and hitting the counter with his back. “Raylan.”

“Hmm?” Raylan’s watching him, his eyes glittering. He kisses at Tim’s wrist again, and watching him do it is even worse than just feeling it.

Tim’s eyes are wide and he’s too freaked out to recognize the way Raylan’s looking at him for what it is, how it’s similar to the looks he gives Boyd. He’s just aware of his heart racing and the heat that shoots like a current straight through him, Raylan’s mouth like a brand burning his skin.

Tim struggles to find his words. “You -- stop. Don’t -- oh,” he sucks in a breath, feeling Raylan’s tongue flicking against the slight indentations. He has a feeling he knows what’s coming next, and if he does it -- fuck Crowder and his dark corners, Raylan’s going to set him on fire and light him up and there won’t be anything left of him at all.

Raylan sees it in his eyes, of course he does. Tim draws in a slow, shaky breath. “Please, I --”

Raylan bites him and the words don’t want this fall to ashes, and Tim can’t do anything but stand there and burn.