Constans gawked at Bethen quietly, his mouth opening and closing as though he'd meant to say something and lost his nerve. He shouldn't even contemplate staying, if not because of what he'd done then certainly to prevent the effect his lascivious reputation would have on Bethen's spotless one were he discovered in her bed, but he was so damned tired. Tired of sneaking around, tired of years worth of secrets, tired of...
He suddenly realized he'd been staring, his brain buzzing with the need for sleep he hadn't had enough of in days. At that moment, with the weight of the last several nights on his shoulders, with Bethen's concerned gaze boring through him, Constans forced himself to choke back the sudden, insane desire that bubbled up from him unbidden to break down and tell her everything. His eyes stung, and he blinked away what threatened (to his increasing discomfort and humiliation) to be tears before he could muster his reply.
"I'll stay." That was it, then. As near as he already stood to her bed he backed up and collapsed more than sat on it, momentarily closing his eyes. Leaning on his knees with his forehead resting on his hand, he miserably, thankfully, waited for Bethen to leave him alone.