Volatile Velvet

Each time you reach to touch my skin,
It peels away like paint.
You lick your paws of evidence
Yet my red has left stains.

You bear your nails to tear my chest
Once in, you eat my flaws.
Each clasp of my hands as I beg you to stop
Must all start to sound like applause.

When you're alone, do you think of me
The way that I'm thinking of you?
Does it fuel your anger to daggers, my dear
That you use to cut and chew?

Biting away at my sore flesh until
I cannot discern between marks
Including from ones that were left of our love,
When harmless were each of the sparks.

When bruises came from passion, then
Rather than from all this spite,
I can't stand it here, not one second more,
Though...

When we're asleep, I'm contrite.