[ Derek's brow creases. The last thing that he wants is to be the reason that someone feels bad about themselves. He's not testing her and he doesn't intend to make her second guess herself; half of what attracts Derek to Claire in the first place is that she's confident and strong.
He can't remember a time in his life before or after Kate specifically where he felt like he was hurting someone's feelings because he wasn't rushing them, so it takes him aback and not necessarily in a good way. The confusion would probably show on his face once it registers except that she's turned her back on him. ]
You're...upset because I'm not immediately sexualizing this. [ That's a first. ] Not really sure how to respond to that, Claire, I'm going to be honest.
[ She'd known that he wasn't the jump right in type when she'd invited him and when he'd accepted. She knows he prefers to take his time and why he's wary about doing it any other way in Cadelle.
Derek scrubs a hand over his face and lifts his eyebrows. If he'd been working up the courage to move in that direction before, now he isn't. Now he feels like there's something wrong with him. Maybe there is, because Claire's hardly the only person who seems to think so.
Maybe the mistake isn't having asked him to come out here like this, maybe the mistake was him coming to a place like Cadelle in the first place; maybe Derek Hale isn't built for it. ]
I...if hanging out with me and letting me take my time is going to make you feel bad about yourself, Claire, then maybe we shouldn't. I don't want to make you feel bad about yourself. You're smart and beautiful and I wouldn't be here if I didn't enjoy spending time with you. But I don't want to be the reason you feel shitty...I'm not that guy, either. Or at least, I really don't want to be.
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He can't remember a time in his life before or after Kate specifically where he felt like he was hurting someone's feelings because he wasn't rushing them, so it takes him aback and not necessarily in a good way. The confusion would probably show on his face once it registers except that she's turned her back on him. ]
You're...upset because I'm not immediately sexualizing this. [ That's a first. ] Not really sure how to respond to that, Claire, I'm going to be honest.
[ She'd known that he wasn't the jump right in type when she'd invited him and when he'd accepted. She knows he prefers to take his time and why he's wary about doing it any other way in Cadelle.
Derek scrubs a hand over his face and lifts his eyebrows. If he'd been working up the courage to move in that direction before, now he isn't. Now he feels like there's something wrong with him. Maybe there is, because Claire's hardly the only person who seems to think so.
Maybe the mistake isn't having asked him to come out here like this, maybe the mistake was him coming to a place like Cadelle in the first place; maybe Derek Hale isn't built for it. ]
I...if hanging out with me and letting me take my time is going to make you feel bad about yourself, Claire, then maybe we shouldn't. I don't want to make you feel bad about yourself. You're smart and beautiful and I wouldn't be here if I didn't enjoy spending time with you. But I don't want to be the reason you feel shitty...I'm not that guy, either. Or at least, I really don't want to be.