My fingers twitch with the desire to draw her in, to attempt to soothe her. I shouldn’t do anything of the sort, especially with my brothers watching, but my protective instincts win out. I tug her into my arms and rub her back over the soft velvet of her dress. She immediately wraps her arms around my waist and I feel the tension slowly dissipate from her body. My chest warms with the knowledge that my touch did that. It’s a heady feeling I want to bask in.
