My instinct is to reach out, placate and reassure.
But I was always open and upfront. He knew well in advance I'm not getting into anything monogamous.
And now he's upset.
That's his to work through, to figure out how he can deal, if he wants not to tell him.
I won't lie, and he will see other's marks, but if he won't ask I won't tell him. I can do that for him.
I know I need to give him the time to think, to untangle his emotions and possessive tendencies; but I'm upset that he's upset.
I need to stop myself from saying what he wants to hear. that would only cover the gaping hole with a sheet of paper, it would not survive the elements. It would fly in the wind and melt in the rain and rip the second we try to cross. And the fall will hurt us both.
So no, I won't say anything, I'll wait for him to come to his conclusions.
But fuck it's so hard. I can't stand being the reason he hurts.