Daniel was surprised that she would retreat, simply because she had not shown any sign of doing so before now. Poor Kat was abandoned to her own affairs as Daniel distractedly withdrew his hand as Ella moved up and then around the table. Fifteen minutes ago, he wouldn't have been surprised at the sudden closing of space, the intimate kiss, but considering where this conversation had gone, he didn't know what to think, much less what to do.
As she pulled away, however, he caught her jaw with gentle pressure before she could adequately withdraw. He turned his head slightly to meet her eyes, so close that she could feel the words against her lips as much as hear them--though he didn't lean in farther. "Don't be."