"The problem is..." She let out a breath, her shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. "I think I want you in my life, too. I just don't know if I'm capable of more than failure."
His heart hurt. It ached in his chest.
When his grandmother had had surgery on her heart, they gave her this pillow to hug. The pressure, they said, eased the pain.
Well, he didn't have a pillow at the moment.
Sam opened his arms and took a step closer to her.
If she'd pulled away from him, he wouldn't chase after her.
He wasn't going to hound her like her ex did.
He'd never do that.
But he was patient.
And he waited.
Seaton drew in a breath and stepped into his embrace.
She pressed her face into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight.
She said something, but he couldn't hear her words. He could feel the vibrations of her voice against his chest, but as sweet as that was, he wanted to hear what she had to say.
He put a hand against the back of her neck and gently rubbed her warm skin with his palm. "What did you say?"
Sam felt her breath through his shirt, fanning over his skin.
When she lifted her head, he didn't move his hand from the back of her neck.
Instead he held it there, cradling her neck as she looked up into his face.
"You," she smiled softly, "make me feel safe and... and cared for."
"Good."He moved his hand up higher along her neck, his fingers combing through her hair at the back of her head. "That's how you should feel, Seaton. And I hope it's only going to get better from now on."
She hesitated at his words, her body tensing against his.
He didn't call her on it.
He didn't want her to feel like she had to feel the way he wanted her to feel. Sam wanted to give her the space she needed.
Pushing her would only push her away.
He wanted her to want his comfort.
To want his support.
And yes, he wanted her to need his love.
He figured that he'd waited this long in his life to meet the woman who could take his heart in her hands and hold on tight, he could give her the time she needed because this relationship... He wanted it to last forever.
"Sam?"
He smiled at the soft and near breathless way she said his name. "Hmm?"
"Thanks for being here tonight. If I'd had to face him by myself..."
