Redsand Canyon Lean in close

He listened quietly as she answered his question. The first part seemed odd to him, but it seemed others had a far stricter views on life than he ever could; it was too short, after all. He knew that better than most. 

Apparently she did too, because she told him of losing her mother. It summoned his own memories of losing his mother, ones that had been suppressed for quite some time. It also reminded him of the pain of losing Valette. He didn't want to think about any of that; he wanted to stay detached from those emotions forever. His jaw tightened and his gaze roamed over the planes of her pretty face.

I'm sorry, he pushed out. He wanted to forget this conversation. He wanted to forget his memories. Maybe she did too. Maybe I can help you forget that stuff for a while, he added, lifting a playful eyebrow. Already, he had ushered his own shit back into box he usually kept it all locked in. He chanced a step forward, putting himself confidently in her space. Then, if she would allow him, he nosed her cheek and delivered a teasing nip there.