The Threshold of Desire

Wordlessly, Henry pulled the princess into his lap and leaned into the large pillow he had once been sleeping on. When he was stabilized against the headboard and pillows, he hugged her to his chest and tried to comfort her. 

She found solace with muscular arms around her and a well-defined chest muffling her cries as she finally poured her heart out. Once the tears started, they didn't want to stop. 

With her tears came the guilt she had been feeling and the defensiveness. Her worries about him leaving, knowing his pension for throwing himself into risky situations, and the amount of time they would have to spend apart. 

Henry held onto her, gently rubbing her back while he waited for her tears to pass. Occasionally he kissed the tip of her head.

He wore a serious expression because he didn't want them to part on those terms either but there were only so many hours left for them to be together.