I waited.
Nothing.
SoIguessed that was again allIwas going to get.
“Are there any more questions you have in order to detain me before you get back to reading, andIreturn to doing important shit?” he asked.
Patience and understanding instantly took a swan dive out the window.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop throwing in my face thatIconfided in youIwas worriedIwas self-absorbed when we got together.I’mnotAnna,Aleksei.”
“You are, indeed, not,” he agreed. “AndI’mnot doing that.”
“It feels like it.”
“So there are issues you wish to use to detain me,” he noted, his voice beleaguered.
Beleaguered!
I was beleaguering him!
I picked up my book, saying, “Go.I’mnot a fan of you in this mood.”
“I’m not in a mood,Laura.Isimply have things to do.”
“Fine.Awesome.Feelfree to do them,”Imuttered to my book.
“It didn’t take you long to learn to be a princess.Nowthat, love, isveryAnna.”
My attention snapped back to him.
Nova slunk away.
Jupiter jumped off the daybed and disappeared under it.
Comet rolled to his belly and stared up atAleksei.
My beast retreated.
His bulged.
“Did you just say that to me?”Iasked.
“It seems to escape you thatI’mnot a fan of your mood either.”
“And tell me,Aleksei, what is my mood?”
“I almost lost you yesterday.”
“That might be an explanation ofyourmood, not a good one, but an explanation.Itisn’t your take on mine.”
“You seem not to understand there are pressing matters at hand.Verypressing.”
“How exactly haveIshared with youIdon’t understand that?”
“I don’t know,” he drawled. “Maybesomething like,Itold youIhave a meeting in what is now less than ten minutes,Ihave to prepare for that meeting, something that will take longer than the timeIhave, butI’veno choice but to do whatIcan, andI’mnot doing that.I’mhaving this conversation with you.”
“AsIsaid earlier, your highness, you are free to go.I’mnot detaining you.You’renot leaving but instead hanging around in order to throw barbs.”
