She was still tracing light patterns on his back, and even though she really could have stopped already it was pleasant to keep touching him like this. It's beneficial to soothe the muscles, she thought firmly, not understanding why she felt the need to justify what she was doing. His words made her brow furrow slightly in confusion, and she couldn't quite interpret the hoarseness in his voice. The way he looked at her was even stranger, but it made her heart flutter even though she didn't know what she was seeing in his eyes. Why can't he tell me now? “You can tell me whatever you want to tell me,” she said softly.

The moment his hand touched her knee, a shock of heat went through her, and she tore her gaze away from his eyes to watch his thumb move over her skin. Then she looked back at his face, at that open but somehow completely unreadable expression. “I... don't think so?” She hadn't meant it to come across as a question, but she felt as if she didn't even know what he was asking her, much less how to answer. She bit down on the urge to reply I think I missed something important and just tried to smile. Suddenly she realized that she was still running her hands along his skin, and she pulled them back. “It's getting late, Jim. I should probably go home. Can I.. come back next week?”