(He would like nothing more than to spend a minute or two nurturing that hope, only to crush it completely. Tony is gorgeous like this, hurting and helpless.

But that's the wrong move right now; the line is blurred too thin. A misstep could do all the wrong kinds of damage. He takes a breath and quashes the urge.)

"I trust you've gotten my point, then," he says. "You'll think twice next time about teasing someone with something you're not going to deliver."