[He doesn’t shrink under the severity of her stare, but he catches her meaning enough to slow his attention on her until he is forced to grip the desk instead, caught in his own game with a shaky anf frustrated exhale. He doesn’t watch her map his failure (he doesn’t need to, he can feel it on two different olanes of awareness, and that makes it worse), instead chosing to try and swallow down both the bruises on his ego and the bitter taste of resentment he suddenly feels when she calls him out. Of course he wants her, almost as badly as he yearns to be wanted in return. But hiding is a habit he’s carried for a good twenty years of his life, and the fear that circles the darkness in him only amplifies with that recognition.
There is no verbal apology from him this time. Instead, he closes his eyes and forces his shoulders to relax, leaning heavily on the bond in an attempt to divorce himself of his shame. It doesn’t quite work, but it allows him to remind himself that — well, if there was going to be a dealbreaker, the scars she gifted him for his hubris would likely not be it. If this was another concession that had to be made, was it really so bad?
He swallows it.]
I do.
[It comes out with conviction as he opens his eyes again, shoulders flexing a bit more confidently as he encroaches her space more fully to rest his forehead against her own. His hands come up again to rub reverently along her thighs.]
no subject
There is no verbal apology from him this time. Instead, he closes his eyes and forces his shoulders to relax, leaning heavily on the bond in an attempt to divorce himself of his shame. It doesn’t quite work, but it allows him to remind himself that — well, if there was going to be a dealbreaker, the scars she gifted him for his hubris would likely not be it. If this was another concession that had to be made, was it really so bad?
He swallows it.]
I do.
[It comes out with conviction as he opens his eyes again, shoulders flexing a bit more confidently as he encroaches her space more fully to rest his forehead against her own. His hands come up again to rub reverently along her thighs.]
I want you.