Her whole bog ignited as she leaned back, away from him, and took his tea. He sat up, too, propping himself up on his elbows. Why would he want her? She was here, comforting him, letting him release his sorrow onto her, and she questioned why he would want her? His face wrinkled and he just looked at her, swirling the tea in the mug. When she stood up and continued to speak, he continued to watch her. His mind was reeling with what to say, how to convey to her that he wanted to matter in her life. He bit the inside of his cheek and sat up fully on the couch, watching her stand by the fire.
Screw what the people think. He thought. While the Halovians were distrustful of outlanders as a whole, Noah had generally been more amiable towards them. In the wake of the Launceleyn incidents, Noah had set up a guard against outlanders as a whole. He couldn't, however, seem to set that same guard up against Delphine. He stood, closing the distance between them. The dizziness he had felt before when he stumbled out of his room had seemed to dissipate. He stood behind her, close enough that he was sure she could feel the hairs on his arms raise. He reached out for her waist, gently at first, but he turned her with determination, to face him. If she had, without resistance, Noah would lean down and grasp her cheek. He would kiss her, fiercely and passionately and deeply.
"Just stay with me?" He asked, pulling away to look at her again, the burning desire for her--the thing he wanted most, right now--to just stay in his arms.
