Wheeling Gull Isle And basically I've gotta know

He waited for her response, the anticipation painful in the silent moments before she answered. Her soft words tore his eyes from the water, pain and need filling the ochre depths of his gaze. He ached to reach over and run his nose through the fur on her cheek, desperate in his need to banish her insecurities. Seeing her eye sparkle with the hint of a tear finally broke his control, and he slowly closed the distance between them. But, he didn't touch as his body urged him to do; he only studied her profile, lingering so close that he could feel her warmth through his fur. 

He listened quietly as she elaborated, his hurt deepening, causing a painful tightening in his chest. Had things really been like that before, and he hadn't realized it? He knew she could never be her true self with his brother. But, with him? He reached over and gently nudged her chin with his nose, wanting her to look at him. And you think loving me means you have to give up who you are? The question was as gentle as his touch and heavy with the pain currently squeezing his heart. How could he ever ask her to be his if she felt that way?