He had finally stopped trembling and his hands were now warm against her skin, his touch forever gentle. She knew how deadly those hands were, but despite their battle on the helicarrier it was hard to imagine those hands hurting her in any way, not when he touched her with such care now. He was always so terrified of hurting her, of making her do anything she didn’t want to, and after their talk she thought she understood that a little better.

She felt him responding to her but didn’t acknowledge it. He had just poured his heart out to her, finally told her about the nightmares and fears he’d been bottling up for months and she wanted him to know she was there for him, and she wasn’t about to just brush it off with something physical, not anymore. There was more between them now than that, she had more to give him than just her body, though she would still gladly give him that as well. She let him set the pace, let him touch her and mold her however he needed while reveling in the closeness and intimacy and the sheer pleasure of his kiss.