[h2]Esme Stirling[/h2]

Esme was aware of Duke pulling his knees up on either side of her before she started speaking. She also knew why he had done it. Even if she had wanted to run, there was no way she could have gotten out of the tub fast enough before he grabbed her. There was no point in trying in her condition, anyway. When he answered her question, she didn’t answer back or make it clear she heard him, but it relieved her to hear him say he didn’t and couldn’t see her as a monster. He was one of the last people she wanted to think of her as such. With how close he was, it wasn’t hard to miss his sigh of frustration as he took in her words and how they affected him. She didn’t mean to unload on him, but once she started, she couldn’t stop herself until it was all out and off her chest for once in her life. She had kept it bottled for so long it just needed to come out, and she was glad it was him and not someone else that was the one to hear it.

She wasn’t one to just unload her thoughts and feelings on someone, because she didn’t want to burden anyone with her personal problems. But being alone for as long as she had with no one but herself to talk to, it was bound to happen, eventually, and she had known that. Duke’s soft kiss between her shoulder blades when she finished caused her to open her eyes and flinch, then tense up a little as he rested his forehead against the back of her head. His words warmed her heart and lightened her mood. His words ‘I’m not leavin’ you alone again.’ replayed in her mind as she sat there, not really expecting to hear those words from him, especially after hearing Duke say he was going to stay a few days earlier. Did that mean he would stay longer or try to get her to go with him when he decided to leave? 

When Duke’s fingers brushed over her ribs, around her waist, then his fingers wiggling between her stomach and bent leg to pull her into a hug against him, then followed by another kiss to her back, Esme felt her breath catch. Her elbow fell from her knee and she lifted her head from her arm. A soft smile made its way back to her face at what he said next, and she slowly let out the breath she was holding. Bringing her hand from her shoulder, she rested her hand and arm on his as he held her to him. Closing her eyes, she could feel herself relaxing and melting into his embrace as she sat there with him. Leaning her head back, she rested it on his shoulder with a light sigh, then brought her other hand to rest on both their arms. “I’m relieved to hear you’re not afraid or bothered.” she said, turning her face towards him, then rested her forehead against his neck. 

“I don’t plan on becoming a tool again. I’ll try not to live in the past anymore.” she whispered, softly nuzzling her forehead against his neck. “Breathe? That’s easy…… Let it go? That’s a little easier said than done. It’s a bit hard to be like Elsa and let it go.” Her smile grew a little more at her last words, holding back a laugh that threatened to show itself as she realized what she said. She had used a line she’d heard Duke and Dean use before and she knew he would catch it. [i]I’ve spent way too much time with them.[/i] she thought with an inward laugh. “And you’re forgiven, Bright Eyes. I should apologize for unloading on you. I didn’t intend to and I’m sorry.” She nuzzled her forehead against his neck again and sighed softly, then gave a small laugh. “But you know, I always had an easier time talking to you about things. You could always get me to talk about something, even if I didn’t want to. Maybe it’s because I knew you would listen until I finished, not pick it to pieces, and handle it in a calm manner.”