RETH
She looked at him with such anxiety, Reth wanted to growl at his own stupidity. "Yes, of course I'll explain."
But where to start? He reached for her, then realized she couldn't see his hand, so he rested the back of his hand on her knee, palm up. "I always find difficult conversations easier when we touch. Would you… hold my hand?" he asked carefully.
She swallowed, but pushed the hand that wasn't holding the furs closed over her chest out between the edges and laid it on his.
Reth wanted to groan. Her skin was so soft, and her hand so tiny. Anima females were smaller than the males, also. It wasn't that he was unused to it. He was just affected by her—his mate—in ways that were new.
He cleared his throat, and closed his fingers to hold hers, letting his fingertips trace the underside of her wrist as he spoke. He felt her shiver, but her smell indicated that she enjoyed the touch, so he didn't stop.
