Lord help him, but there was a part of him still screaming for him to say no. He was still driven by the need to keep distance between himself and Erik, to protect himself from the pain Erik had caused him.

From the pain they'd caused each other.

But instead, he rested his hands in his lap, leaving Erik's mind without complaint, as the door was shut to him. "Yes, I think it's time we did," he said, his voice suddenly rough with emotion he would've rather kept hidden.