Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Then you can learn more about me as we go. Tell me more about the shitty exes you’ve had. You’ve had at least one break up with you because you did stupid things while exhausted.”
Salem tsked him, wagging a negating finger. “No, no, all of them left because of it. They got tired of cleaning up after me. And because I’m an asshole.”
“Hmmm. I think you were being an asshole to me deliberately.”
“Yeah. So you didn’t get attached to me. I tried telling you, I’m no good as a romantic partner. But you’re stubborn. Are all dragons stubborn?”
“When we find our mates? You bet we are.”
“Nice.” Salem slumped sideways a little, head lolling on the back of the couch. “I bet Dimitri was able to catch Sam by being stubborn. But Sam’s a good romantic partner. He always has been. He’s had more long-lasting relationships than I have. My longest one was three months.”
“Ah-ha,” Gregori murmured, like he’d just been handed some piece of a puzzle and knew precisely where it went. “And when did you stop trying?”
Salem snorted a laugh and sank farther into the couch in the process. Really, the couch was a buddy. Couch would catch him when he fell. “Years ago, man. Years ago. I think it was three months into my residency? Somewhere in there. Boyfriend lost his shit because of some stupid stuff I’d done in my sleep-deprived state, and the next thing I knew, I was out on my ass. Sam came and got me, and I stayed at his place until I was awake enough to drive home.”
“So to recap, you’ve never had a supportive partner who picks up the slack for you when you need it, you’ve had multiple people say you are an asshole—”
“No, no, I am an asshole. I own my assholery. Is that a word?”
“It is a word, yes, but I don’t think you’re an asshole. I think you’ve been hurt too many times, you internalized it, and now you’re keeping people at bay to avoid being hurt again.”
Salem didn’t like the sound of that. He didn’t like it whatsoever. “How dare you do an armchair analysis of me.”
“I now understand why you’re fighting me so hard.”
“No, no, you don’t get it.” A laugh erupted from Salem, but it had no humor to it. “You don’t. You really don’t.”
“What don’t I get?”
“How hard it is. How truly hard it is to be around me. You somehow managed to last three weeks, but I bet you’re getting tired of my attitude now. I’ve been told how awful my personality is. At length. By various guys I dated. I only know how to work, they said. I don’t know how to have fun. I don’t know how to relax. I’d rather pay down my debts than spend money on luxury gifts for them. I’m only good for sex. I wear everyone out, eventually. And then you’ll be disappointed.”
For some reason, Gregori lifted Salem’s fingers to his mouth and kissed them. He didn’t look happy. “By chance, do you know where all of those exes of yours live?”
“It’s been years of no contact, of course I don’t.”
“Pity. I feel like I need to rain down some hell and comeuppance. No matter, I’ll find them later. Right now, I need you to understand two things. One, I’m not leaving you.”
“Your stubbornness is your only flaw.” Salem sighed. What was he supposed to do to convince Gregori that this whole thing was a bad idea? Especially when the man didn’t want to hear it.
“Two, I’m not angry when you have these klutzy moments.”
Salem blinked at him. Huh. Who’da thunk. “You’re not?”
“No. Actually, watching one of the most intelligent men I know enact a comedy of errors was kinda funny. I have a feeling it’s going to be hysterical by tomorrow. So I’m really, truly not mad. I am a little concerned because at the rate you were going, you might have destroyed the kitchen.”
Salem held up two fingers with a sort of sarcastic pride. “I’ve destroyed two kitchens.”
“Make that very concerned. New rule: You are not allowed to do anything when this tired.”
“But I’m hungry,” he whined. “I wanted ramen, but we have no ramen, and I don’t have any more brain power so I can’t think of what else to eat.”
Was he too tired to see straight? Or was Gregori silently laughing at him? How could any part of this be funny? Salem didn’t get it.
“You’re seriously cute right now,” Gregori murmured. “All right. How about this? You sit right here, and I’ll run down to the bodega and get something to eat.”
“Genius,” Salem breathed, captivated by the mental image of food arriving, in its complete form, in front of him. “Buying food. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“I’m questioning this as well, but I don’t think you have any higher thought processes left right now. Not enough spell slots, I guess. You lie down, take a nap.”