He stepped closer—silent, deliberate. His tail curled lightly against the floor, steadying him as if even his body knew not to make a sound.
When he reached her side, he just stood there. Watching.
Every part of her called to him—the steady rise and fall of her chest, the warmth that seemed to radiate off her even from under the covers, the way she slept so unguarded in his presence. Trusting him. That was the part that undid him the most.
His lips parted, a breath escaping before he could stop it. His chest ached. His heart thrashed like a beast caught in a cage.
"Why you?" he thought bitterly, even as the corner of his mouth softened into a smile. "Why do you make me want things I was told I could never have?"
He lowered himself slightly, crouching to be closer to her level, his eyes drinking her in. Every second only deepened the ache.
His gaze dropped, against his will, to her lips.
