Amber's expression flickered. For a second, Foreman was certain he saw the tightness around her lips, the crease of her forehead, that meant she was going to snap at him again, but it passed. Raising his eyebrows, Foreman waited for her to think through what he'd said. He couldn't deny that he still felt comfortable with her in a way he hadn't with a lot of women. Something about the fact that, as she'd said last week, she was new to this. Lots of Foreman's girlfriends had accused him of being distant, and he could usually acknowledge to himself when he was, even if he protested to them. With Amber, he didn't get the feeling that she was protesting for form's sake, but because she genuinely hadn't considered his points before. It made him more patient than he would've been otherwise, and more willing to lay himself on the line. There was a limit to what he could offer, but they hadn't reached it yet.
He inhaled deeply when Amber mentioned how he'd already told her tonight he couldn't trust her. She was right; he was asking for more than he'd been willing to give, then. It felt different. He couldn't trust her not to hurt him, and here, he knew that he'd never do that to her. Foreman's lips tightened. That was his defensiveness speaking. Maybe she really didn't know that he wouldn't go too far. That thought cut through him and squeezed his heart; not for him, but for her. She did trust him--just not that far. She trusted him, but not enough to let him take the initiative, and maybe they'd never get that far.
Wasn't this good enough? Foreman snorted softly. If it wasn't, he'd sure as hell staked a lot on how happy he could be even if it wasn't. He didn't doubt Amber's sincerity, but it made him uncomfortable and tense to know that he was getting closer to her than she was allowing herself to get to him. He wanted to pull back, step back, and get them on even footing. Stop risking anything. Hell, Amber was worried about the cliff, when he was already freefalling into the chasm.
She was waiting for an answer. Foreman held out his hand to her, and leaned back slightly, telegraphing his plan to her. If she took him up on his offer, he'd go back to where he had been. The couch was wide enough for them both to lie on their sides, facing the television, with Foreman's arm hooked over Amber's waist and her hair tickling his nose. No closer than how they'd slept together. Less, even, since they were both fully dressed. It'd be warm, comfortable, close. If only Amber would let them be. "It's not a cliff," he said. "It's just a hug."
no subject
He inhaled deeply when Amber mentioned how he'd already told her tonight he couldn't trust her. She was right; he was asking for more than he'd been willing to give, then. It felt different. He couldn't trust her not to hurt him, and here, he knew that he'd never do that to her. Foreman's lips tightened. That was his defensiveness speaking. Maybe she really didn't know that he wouldn't go too far. That thought cut through him and squeezed his heart; not for him, but for her. She did trust him--just not that far. She trusted him, but not enough to let him take the initiative, and maybe they'd never get that far.
Wasn't this good enough? Foreman snorted softly. If it wasn't, he'd sure as hell staked a lot on how happy he could be even if it wasn't. He didn't doubt Amber's sincerity, but it made him uncomfortable and tense to know that he was getting closer to her than she was allowing herself to get to him. He wanted to pull back, step back, and get them on even footing. Stop risking anything. Hell, Amber was worried about the cliff, when he was already freefalling into the chasm.
She was waiting for an answer. Foreman held out his hand to her, and leaned back slightly, telegraphing his plan to her. If she took him up on his offer, he'd go back to where he had been. The couch was wide enough for them both to lie on their sides, facing the television, with Foreman's arm hooked over Amber's waist and her hair tickling his nose. No closer than how they'd slept together. Less, even, since they were both fully dressed. It'd be warm, comfortable, close. If only Amber would let them be. "It's not a cliff," he said. "It's just a hug."