Dane
Fuck.
He was going to have to tell her the whole story now. There wasn't any choice.
Her face hadn't changed when he said it, but she moved her body. While he remained sitting with his back to the wall, his knees drawn up like a shield in front of him, she turned around to face him, sitting so close she leaned one arm on his knee. Then she put her other hand on his again, wrapped her tiny fingers around his palm so they were holding hands. The touch of her skin made him want to pull her into his chest, to cover her completely, so nothing could touch her without getting through him. The temptation to do exactly that was strong. But he knew she wouldn't let him back away from this conversation now.
"Please, Dane," she breathed. "You can tell me."