Plucking the papers from Annalise's hands and setting them back on the table, Brenton stands. He must feel the grip Annalise has on his wrist clench, trying to stop him. Instead of moving away as she had feared, he takes the two steps to stand in front of her, and holds his other hand out for her to take.
She does, relieved, and he pulls her to a standing position. Once she is stable, he looks her in the eye and raises her hands to his lips.
He presses several kisses to the knuckles of each of her hands. The entire time, he never breaks eye contact with her. She drags in a shuddering breath when the ache in her chest clues her in that she has gone for too long without, purely from not wanting to break the intimacy of the moment they apparently are having.
Smiling at her from behind thei
