Elmesona hesitated, clearly weighing propriety against the desire to escape. Her eyes searched Jolthar's face, looking for something.
What she found surprised her.
There was desire there—she was experienced enough to recognize when a man found her attractive. But it wasn't the leering, possessive hunger she'd seen in so many eyes over the years. It wasn't the calculating assessment of what she could provide or how she could be used.
It was a clean, clear and respectful gaze.
For some reason, she wasn't repulsed by his gaze. Maybe it was because he stood up for her or getting defended by someone for the first time made her ignore it.
He looked at her like she was a person first, a beautiful woman second. Like he saw her as someone worth protecting, not because she was weak, but because it was the right thing to do. There was appreciation in his gaze but also genuine concern and something that looked like understanding.
It had been so long since anyone had looked at her that way.
