[ In interest of keeping his pants clean (Raina could be considerate even when she was angry), she took a piece of sterile gauze to wipe up the blood as it dribbled down his chest. But she didn't stop carving until the X was equal on both sides. And only then did she look at him, a twinge of reluctance -- a twinge of remorse. Chilton was her everything. He deserved this, and yet...Raina still felt a little bad about doling out the punishment because she had devoted her time to protecting him from this sort of thing.

At the least, he had apologized to her from the heart. Even if he still only cried that emotional apology out of desperation, his heart was literally bleeding and that was apology enough.

She wiped the scalpel clean, and then brought the blade to the underside of his exposed throat -- considering. And then she moved it down to his groin. Also considering. As though she was trying to figure out where the next best place to cut would be. Or maybe it was more of a threatening gesture -- a move to get him to talk more, to say the things she needed to hear. She had already proved she wasn't bluffing, so perhaps bluffing now would work. ]

Why is it so difficult for you to show me how much you care? Why is it so hard for you to respect me? We've been together for nearly two years now. And the only way I can seem to get you to open up is to literally open you up.