Abbie asks Adam what he sees in her

Still looking down at Adam's hand on her skin, Abbie spoke quietly. "Do you see truth in me?"

After a long pause, Adam took a deep breath. "I do." He put his fingers under Abbie's chin, lifting her head up slowly. "The way you listen." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "The way you think." He reached out to touch her face, but stopped.

"What?" said Abbie, sensing a hesitation.

Adam shook his head. "I -- I was about to put my hand on your forehead, I don't know why."

"The way I think?"

Adam looked puzzled.

"That's what you said. 'The way you think,' you said that to me." Abbie smiled at him. "Is that why you wanted to touch my face?"

Adam smiled. "It was." He looked away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be taking your time."

Abbie put her hand on his arm. "No, it's fine. Really."

Adam was still.

"I look at so much of the world around me," Abbie said. "And I marvel at people, at behavior, at interactions. I always wonder how others see the world. How others see me."

"You do?"

"I do," Abbie said. "Tell me."

Adam looked at here deeply. He raised his hand again. "Is it okay if I put my fingers on your forehead?"

Abbie smiled and sighed. "Yes. Of course it is."

Adam touched his first two fingers to Abbie's face. "Your mind is so open." He slowly drew his fingers down along the side of Abbie's face, past her eyes. "Your eyes are honest. Pure." His fingers stopped at her cheek.

"And?" Abbie felt flush. She could tell her face was getting warmer. She wondered if Adam noticed.

Adam brought his hand lower, his fingertips brushing Abbie's lips. She naturally pursed her lips slightly as he touched her, not quite a kiss, but definitely a reaction. Adam paused with his fingers at her lips. "When you speak, it's an invitation."

As Adam's fingers trickled off Abbie's face, he moved a bit closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Abbie exhaled as she felt a tingle in her skin as he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You have a light. A heat." Adam pressed his palm against Abbie, his hand wrapping the front of her shoulder. "Can I touch you like this?"

Abbie nodded. She had no idea where this might be going, but she felt such a strength from Adam's hand, and such a calm comfort in his voice.

"I can feel your heartbeat," Adam said with a smile. Abbie could feel her own heart racing faster, knowing it was rising from Adam's touch. He moved his hand down a little, and more toward the center of her chest. "Closer to your heart. You're warmer."

Abbie stretched her neck a little and leaned back slightly. It didn't create much of a difference, but it made her feel like she was giving herself over to Adam. He kept his hand pressed against her body.

"But the warmth of your heart isn't always literally your heart," he said. His hand moved down, over her dress, to the center of her chest. "Here, the core of your body. Your soul."

Abbie could feel his hand against her body. He wasn't touching her breasts exactly, but his big hand spanned a wide berth on her chest, and she imagined that he had to know he was pushing against the inner rise of her breasts.

"Can you feel the warmth between us?" Adam asked.

Abbie nodded. "I can."

"Do you like it? Do you like it when I touch you?"

Abbie's breath fluttered and she blinked. "It feels wonderful."