Silence stretched again.
Then, she asked, voice lower this time, "Did you ever think I could protect myself?"
Dominic leaned forward. "Yes. But I never wanted you to have to."
She looked at him. Harder this time.
"You watched me before you even knew me, Dominic."
"And I've hated myself for it every damn day since I fell in love with you."
Her breath hitched.
And for the first time, he let his voice break. "You looked at me like I was yours, Celeste. And I—I wasn't worthy. Not with what I'd done."
Her chest rose and fell.
"And now?"
"I want to be. I want to be a man who earns your gaze, not just watches it. I want to be better."
"You should've told me," she whispered.
"I know."
The file in her lap felt heavier than iron. She closed it gently. Not because it didn't matter, but because it did. It mattered too much.
She reached forward and touched his hand briefly. Just a brush of his skin, enough to feel the tremble in his fingers. Enough to make her own heart ache.
