[ elena's not sure she wants to think of a few reasons not to want that. she simply couldn't is the only one that counts worth anything, and when she tries to take that apart...
(she doesn't want to think about what that dismantles to: that she's still putting herself back to rights, that everything here is temporary, that she doesn't want to hurt him.)
she doesn't take it apart, for the moment, seeing that look in his eyes. instead her breath holds without her notice, because he cares about her, and now the way he's looking at her... she exhales slowly. so much for uncomplicated. her hand lifts, and she breaks eye contact to tuck hair behind her ear -
the weight of his eyes are heavy, and not unwelcome. she feels cowardly to have looked away. it's the reason she decisively lets her gaze move up his chest back up to his.
she wouldn't reject him, or this. not at all. (she wants it more than she could have anticipated.)
she'd just as readily smile and leave it exactly where it is, if that's what he decided to do. (that's... not really what she wants.) ]