Chương 214: I'm not untrusting, I'm selectively vulnerable

She sighed, leaning more comfortably against Phoenix's shoulder.

His hand stroked her hair slowly, his touch a warm comfort. He moved without any urgency, as if he saw no reason why he wouldn't be able to sit there comforting her all day. "...It was awful, to think you might have lost Snowball, wasn't it...?"

"You have no idea..." She whispered, shaking her head. The memory of all of that...it was a little hazy just from the sheer panic she felt, but her stomach lurched all the same just from the echo of her fear.

"...If it had gone on for much longer..." She bit her lip.

His arm gently snaked around her and tightened a little, subtly pulling her closer, his thumb rubbing her hip.

Something in his face made her wonder if the gesture was to comfort her, or to soothe himself.

"Hush, love. It didn't. And it won't."

She tilted her head back to look him in the face, just to study it - and his expression - better.