Damian poured another and offered it to her, the gesture walking a knife-edge between old-fashioned good manners and a challenge to see if she walked the talk just as easily.
The look she gave him was somewhere between bored and sarcastic as she tossed the drink back without so much as a grimace. “I live in a bar, sweetie. Don’t start a challenge you have no hope of winning,” she stated, catching the glint in his eyes.
Frey gave a more solid nod to indicate that it was okay to help her up. Honestly, she was grateful that he was offering, the coyote wanting nothing more than to curl up next to him, rest, and forget about the pain again.
Making sure the blanket was wrapped around her, he lifted her as gently as he possible could and brought her back into the bed. Once Dyson had her settled, he curled around her, fingers playing through her hair to soothe her.
He still had no idea what she thought she saw in him and he knew he’d probably screw everything up, but if the issue of sex was off the table, at least for now, then he had less to worry about if all they were going to be doing was more of what they’d generally already been doing in terms of spending time together. Dating would just redefine it a little and so long as no laws were being broken, Parker could maybe give it a go to make her happy.
“I guess I could try,” he murmured, sighing and feeling like an absolute tool for having made her cry. “So long as we take things slow. I care about you too much to mess things up between us, so let me know if I’m doing anything wrong, okay? I need that shit spelling out if we’re gonna try this.”
A hesitant smile broke through the tears and she reached for his hands, needing to touch him even just a little. “Seeing as I’ve wanted to kiss you since I was like thirteen, I’m pretty sure I can manage slow.”
After all, everything else in her life was a slow going process so it wasn’t like she didn’t have years of experience in patience. Plus, it was only like another year and a half before she was legally an adult and she was too stubborn to give up on anything she wanted and she definitely wanted him.
He suddenly felt incredibly stupid and embarrassed. Not that he still had reservations, but he’d obviously jumped to the wrong conclusion.
“Because I’m a dumbass who clearly gets his wires crossed and the longest I ever dated anyone was about three months, and that was pretty much entirely just getting wasted and fucking because we had nothing better to do.”
Sable finally stood, not without difficulty, and closed the bit of distance between them. “I don’t give a shit about your past, Parker. I’ve never dated anyone, so, really, what do I have to go on for anything like that? But I’ve spent nearly every spare moment I’ve had over the last six years with you,” she pointed out, trying her hardest to stand her ground.
“What? No, I mean… I meant I wouldn’t feel right about sleeping with you because I’d feel like a creep and I don’t wanna take advantage of you. I like you too much for that.”
He was starting to feel like he’d got the wrong idea, but he didn’tknow how to backpedal out of it. To him, dating usually meant that sex would be involved sooner or later, and even then, he’d never been particularly good at maintaining a relationship beyond that anyway.
“Who said anything about sex? I don’t even know if I’m physically capable of taking anything that far with metal pins in every joint in my legs.” Not to mention her pelvic bone still wasn’t completely healed.
“I just want be with you. Why is that such an issue?”
“That doesn’t make it right, Sabe.” he murmured, hating seeing her get upset because of him. “Just because the cops might not get involved doesn’t mean I’d feel okay with it. If you were older and that wasn’t an issue, then maybe, yeah, but I can’t. I wouldn’t wanna disrespect you like that.”
“Disrespect me? How would dating me be disrespecting me? I’m old enough to know what I want,” she argued, hating that she was already crying. It was bad enough he had to see her after medical procedures, but this was so much more pathetic.
“Even if that’s true, you’re sixteen and I’ve seen enough of the inside of a jail cell without adding statutory rape to my rap sheet.”
The last thing he wanted to do was break her heart, especially when, if he was completely honest with himself, he knew the attraction was there from his side too, but even if he wasn’t afraid to mess it up or lose her, she was like his kid sister and between that and the legalities, he didn’t feel right about acting on it under current circumstances.
“Who the hell is going to tell? It’s not like dad or aunt Anya’s gonna care and Cadi’s still technically my legal guardian. No one in the outside world is even going to think you’re that much older than me because you don’t look it.”
It wasn’t the strongest argument, but she knew their family wouldn’t let him face any sorts of legal ramifications for anything that might happen between them just because she was still only sixteen.
“No, you don’t need to do that. I’m sorry,” he fumbled, panicking at realising he’d upset her with how he’d reacted.
“I just… I mean, why? You could have any guy you want and you can do way better than someone like me. You deserve better. Besides, I’m almost old enough to be your dad.”
“Like that matters? We live longer than humans, its not that much of an issue for us.” Plus, she had lived with Chance and Sera for a decent amount of time and his family had way bigger age gaps in relationships.
“But I want you. Why would I care if you’re a mess? Maybe I see someone that needs someone just as desperately as I do, someone that’s broken too, but in a different way. Maybe I see someone who’s broken pieces might connect with mine enough to make something whole because maybe I could be what you need and vice versa. Because you’re the one person that makes me feel the safest, the person I want to spend my time with even when I don’t want to be near anyone.”
ofviolentdeath 