He physically flinches away, can't help the instinctive motion- the relief of knuckles instead of the sting of rings makes his mouth drop slightly open.

"Badly," he whispers, hoarse all of a sudden. "I don't know- You're the only-"

He hasn't gone back to those dark alleys, he means; he doesn't know what would be too much because he hasn't been experimenting with others.