[He settles his hand on her leg while she works, eyes half closed in the process. It's easy, to sit with her here, to let her take care of him. She'd saved his life once - well, twice - after all. It still stings, but it's a little easier to tolerate.
He blinks his eyes wide again when she finishes, head tilting to watch her, and he was half leaning forward to kiss her again when she speaks. It halts him in his tracks.
James had said it first, on the beach, on their way to Venice. He'd told her he loved her, and instead of saying it back, she'd asked him, you love me, almost incredulously. It hadn't put him off in the least; he'd been too confident, too blind, too in love.
He wants to tell her he loves her, but the words stall and fail in his throat. He doesn't want to love again, he doesn't want to open himself up to that kind of despair again. It hurts too much. But.
Swallowing, he wets his lips, and settles his hand on her knee, squeezing lightly. He should say it. He's been wanting to tell her for a long time, now. Just say it.]
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He blinks his eyes wide again when she finishes, head tilting to watch her, and he was half leaning forward to kiss her again when she speaks. It halts him in his tracks.
James had said it first, on the beach, on their way to Venice. He'd told her he loved her, and instead of saying it back, she'd asked him, you love me, almost incredulously. It hadn't put him off in the least; he'd been too confident, too blind, too in love.
He wants to tell her he loves her, but the words stall and fail in his throat. He doesn't want to love again, he doesn't want to open himself up to that kind of despair again. It hurts too much. But.
Swallowing, he wets his lips, and settles his hand on her knee, squeezing lightly. He should say it. He's been wanting to tell her for a long time, now. Just say it.]
Yusef was working for Quantum.