I don't want to steal your freedom
you don't have to change your mind
He can see her shutting herself away in front of his eyes, and his smirk only softens into something wry and understanding. He remains even so, letting her be the one to tell him even when he can tell exactly what her answer is. Harper won't insult her by putting words in her mouth.
He lets her touch him, her fingers cold compared to his face after such physical feats. He doesn't let himself lean into it. Though his heart yearns for the touches he fills his days with to be more meaningful than they are, it isn't to be, and at least he has those to fill the void where desire to be touched at all had once lived. It takes more to crumble him now than gentleness and understanding. It had led him to a broken heart too many times.
Pulling away, Harper flashes her a smile so she doesn't think anything is wrong with the choice she'd silently made, but he does retrieve his shirt to pull it on. It helps him clear his head at the same time. "How about I sing you to sleep?" It's a gentler offer, previous energetic entertainment fizzling out and dissipating. "I don't need music or an instrument for lullabies." Then he can let himself out of her room, and they can free themselves from these tripwires that lay invisible but plentiful in a location like a brothel room.
He lets her touch him, her fingers cold compared to his face after such physical feats. He doesn't let himself lean into it. Though his heart yearns for the touches he fills his days with to be more meaningful than they are, it isn't to be, and at least he has those to fill the void where desire to be touched at all had once lived. It takes more to crumble him now than gentleness and understanding. It had led him to a broken heart too many times.
Pulling away, Harper flashes her a smile so she doesn't think anything is wrong with the choice she'd silently made, but he does retrieve his shirt to pull it on. It helps him clear his head at the same time. "How about I sing you to sleep?" It's a gentler offer, previous energetic entertainment fizzling out and dissipating. "I don't need music or an instrument for lullabies." Then he can let himself out of her room, and they can free themselves from these tripwires that lay invisible but plentiful in a location like a brothel room.
I just want to make you love me
so please let me take my time
HARPER
