The petting calmed him more and he let out a heavier sigh against her lips. The touches stayed gently for as long as he could handle it. Then he decided he needed more. He still wasn't ready to face the world and he was perfectly happy to hide in her a little longer.

Shifting against her, he pressed, changing the way he touched her in response. He didn't want to have to ask, to put words to what he needed, for fear of breaking the mood entirely with how beaten he sounded.