Page 136 of Bend

“You know you don’t have to be.”

“I know.”

His arms stay around me, but something in his expression shifts.

Less playful.

I wait.

Thorne looks down between us for a second.

“This is getting serious.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“With her too.”

“Yeah.”

“And Draygon’s there.”

“Also yeah.”

He exhales through his nose.

“Bloody mess.”

“Bit.”

His eyes lift back to mine.

“You’re all right with that?”

“With Echo?”

“With all of it.”

The question is quiet enough that I stop fucking around.

My hand slides higher against his back.

“Thorne.”

“I’m asking.”

“I know.”

His jaw tightens slightly.

“I don’t want to find out in a month that this was just exciting because it was new.”

That's when I see it. Not jealousy or shame.

Fear.

The kind he hates admitting to.

I pull him closer.