( he does get it, at least, to a point. he knows that he's had a lot longer to wrap his mind around how he feels about her than she has. he's lived long enough to know that no matter how hard it is to carve a new place in his heart for someone new, no matter how it hurts when they slip in this dance or when someone makes a mistake (usually him), she's incredibly worth all the pain. he knows he doesn't want to be alone, and furthermore he knows he wants to be with her.
it isn't the easiest revelation, knowing Emma just isn't standing on the same playing field. she wants him, she cares about him; she doesn't love him. she's not sure he's worth traversing the pain of her past and she's far more hesitant than he is, so he waits for her, taking a step at a time and waiting until she follows up after him. he likes to think one day she could love him, even though he isn't her true love. he's broken enough to hope that just a normal sort of love might be enough.
he's broken enough to be content with whatever Emma can manage to give him, even if she can't finish the climb. he just wonders if that will be enough for her as well, and if he's honest, he's not sure it will be. he'll face that hill when they come to it.
his hand does wander without prompting on occasion, but he doesn't mind the hint all the same. he makes a noise that might have been a laugh before she kissed him, shifting forward to lean on his bad arm so he can free the good one. he's always wary to let her even see the bandage, because it never ends well... but he hopes that the touch of his hand will distract her. her hands on his chest feel delightful, it's just that he's greedy. he likes her touch, it's just that he might always want to touch her more. for all the skin he's explored there are lines he still has yet to cross. his palm slips up her side, fabric collecting at his wrist as he runs his thumb across the hollows of her ribs, a slow path that he doesn't allow to interrupt their kiss. apparently the pirate operates on the assumption if he gives her too multiple things to focus on, she'll neglect to notice the negative ones.
after all, who worries about his injured wrist as his tongue twines with hers and hand skates past her ribcage — fabric pulled high enough that he could enjoy the flat plane of her stomach if he looked. instead, his thumb traces the curve of her breast, just a hint before his hand curves over it. farthest he's ever managed to get before, at a decidedly leisurely pace, like that lessened the impact of the touch — and left her plenty of room to stop him if she wanted. she feels like velvet under the roughness of his palm, a comforting warm weight that most certainly makes it hard to remember he can only be so greedy, and the twirl of his thumb to tighten her nipple is just the tiniest bit spiteful.
he doesn't think he'll get to see her without her slim tank, but this way when he pulls back there will be a bit of proof of his progress. he's prick enough that he still enjoys those, even if that one in particular won't last longer than a few minutes. it's ridiculous how arousing the sharp peak of her nipple through the fabric would be, all things considered, but proof of how much she'd allowed him would certainly make the cold shower he's doomed to a little longer. )
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it isn't the easiest revelation, knowing Emma just isn't standing on the same playing field. she wants him, she cares about him; she doesn't love him. she's not sure he's worth traversing the pain of her past and she's far more hesitant than he is, so he waits for her, taking a step at a time and waiting until she follows up after him. he likes to think one day she could love him, even though he isn't her true love. he's broken enough to hope that just a normal sort of love might be enough.
he's broken enough to be content with whatever Emma can manage to give him, even if she can't finish the climb. he just wonders if that will be enough for her as well, and if he's honest, he's not sure it will be. he'll face that hill when they come to it.
his hand does wander without prompting on occasion, but he doesn't mind the hint all the same. he makes a noise that might have been a laugh before she kissed him, shifting forward to lean on his bad arm so he can free the good one. he's always wary to let her even see the bandage, because it never ends well... but he hopes that the touch of his hand will distract her. her hands on his chest feel delightful, it's just that he's greedy. he likes her touch, it's just that he might always want to touch her more. for all the skin he's explored there are lines he still has yet to cross. his palm slips up her side, fabric collecting at his wrist as he runs his thumb across the hollows of her ribs, a slow path that he doesn't allow to interrupt their kiss. apparently the pirate operates on the assumption if he gives her too multiple things to focus on, she'll neglect to notice the negative ones.
after all, who worries about his injured wrist as his tongue twines with hers and hand skates past her ribcage — fabric pulled high enough that he could enjoy the flat plane of her stomach if he looked. instead, his thumb traces the curve of her breast, just a hint before his hand curves over it. farthest he's ever managed to get before, at a decidedly leisurely pace, like that lessened the impact of the touch — and left her plenty of room to stop him if she wanted. she feels like velvet under the roughness of his palm, a comforting warm weight that most certainly makes it hard to remember he can only be so greedy, and the twirl of his thumb to tighten her nipple is just the tiniest bit spiteful.
he doesn't think he'll get to see her without her slim tank, but this way when he pulls back there will be a bit of proof of his progress. he's prick enough that he still enjoys those, even if that one in particular won't last longer than a few minutes. it's ridiculous how arousing the sharp peak of her nipple through the fabric would be, all things considered, but proof of how much she'd allowed him would certainly make the cold shower he's doomed to a little longer. )