[ now that gives emma pause. she's not entirely sure what she expected his answer to be, but— she doesn't think that was it. everything is still a swirl of confusion, a mess of tangled emotions that tugs at that quiet warmth behind her sternum, that feeling that's kicked up more and more often in the softer moments with him.
smiling together over a joke at dinner.
walking in the door to find vasquez waiting for her, still covered in dirt from a long day, just then taking off his boots.
seeing that hat hung next to matthew's. ]
Sweetheart.
[ finally, careful and tentative, she sits up, pulling away — but not trying to break free from his arms. she rests a palm on his chest as she looks up at him in the low light of the oil lamp next to her bed, something searching in her eyes, an uncertainty that she can't quite put her finger on. this steps beyond the metaphorical lines they've drawn over the weeks, more than the comfortable balance they've struck together, and emma can't help being cautious. ]
no subject
smiling together over a joke at dinner.
walking in the door to find vasquez waiting for her, still covered in dirt from a long day, just then taking off his boots.
seeing that hat hung next to matthew's. ]
Sweetheart.
[ finally, careful and tentative, she sits up, pulling away — but not trying to break free from his arms. she rests a palm on his chest as she looks up at him in the low light of the oil lamp next to her bed, something searching in her eyes, an uncertainty that she can't quite put her finger on. this steps beyond the metaphorical lines they've drawn over the weeks, more than the comfortable balance they've struck together, and emma can't help being cautious. ]
You mean that?