HARPER
Leaving Jude in another room is completely strange to Harper, and yet he finds he doesn't have anxiety about it. Normally he keeps his son in the bassinet beside his own bed, or they co-sleep. Too afraid to let his son out of reach or earshot. The open door helps in that aspect, but even if Maeve had deigned to close it Harper is certain he wouldn't be anxious about it.
Her pained noise has his lips twitching. Sex was never a requirement in Harper's life, and he doesn't miss it as much as she might in his shoes where it is like a second language to her, but her compassion fills a hole in him all the same. Her hands are warm and small against his sides, and the swell of his ribs as he breathes never stutters in their calm, sedate pace. Trusting. He nods slightly against her collarbone, twisting just enough to lay a chaste kiss to it. "It's okay. But you don't have to, you've already done so much." Harper doesn't assume that's why she's doing it, but he wants to give her the out regardless. His own hands come to her waist, unable to touch her skin as easily when she wears a dress unless he moves to undress her entirely.
Her pained noise has his lips twitching. Sex was never a requirement in Harper's life, and he doesn't miss it as much as she might in his shoes where it is like a second language to her, but her compassion fills a hole in him all the same. Her hands are warm and small against his sides, and the swell of his ribs as he breathes never stutters in their calm, sedate pace. Trusting. He nods slightly against her collarbone, twisting just enough to lay a chaste kiss to it. "It's okay. But you don't have to, you've already done so much." Harper doesn't assume that's why she's doing it, but he wants to give her the out regardless. His own hands come to her waist, unable to touch her skin as easily when she wears a dress unless he moves to undress her entirely.
lord don't let me break this, let me hold you lightly
give me arms to pray with instead of ones that hold too tightly
give me arms to pray with instead of ones that hold too tightly
