My hand slides to your inner thigh, my fingers gently resting beneath your thigh till I feel you stiffen up. I turn my head to look at you and I pull my hand back up to where you seemed comfortable before.

Around a year ago you were in a relationship that I now know was mentally damaging for you. You’ve told me some of the details, I understand that you can’t tell me allot and I’d never pressure you to tell me anything that takes you back to last year. It causes you to flinch at my touch at times, we’re constantly going at your pace. I’m not complaining, I’d wait forever for you, and I want you to know that more than anything.

I’m trying my hardest to be as good to you as I possibly can. I’d never treat you the way he did. It doesn’t help that my reputation isn’t necessarily the most pleasant thing about me, but I’ve changed and I’m trying to show you that I have. It seems to be going great, apart from the way that you flinch when I get too close to the places you’re not sure if you want me there or when you stiffen up when you get too nervous that I’m going to do something that you don’t want to do.

It pains me so much because I’m not that type of person.

“Sorry. You okay?” I ask you, my hand softly squeezing the flesh on your thigh. My eyes flick up to your side profile, you turn your head to look at me with tears in your eyes. You begin to ramble about how you feel like you’re ruining everything. I brush your hair out of your face, wiping the tears from beneath your eyes with my thumb.

“You haven’t ruined anything, baby. You’re everything for me.” I confess to you, holding your face in my hands so you can’t look away from me.