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)
“Because it means throwing my world topsy-turvy. You know that thing Redditors will tell you to never, ever do? That’s what he wants from me. He wants me to quit my job here and move to Brazil. You know how hard I’ve worked for the past fifteen years to get my degree, my own place. Now I have it, and I’m supposed to just give it up? Everyone ends up leaving me eventually, you know how hard I am to live with, so upending my entire life for a relationship that probably won’t survive three months doesn’t even make sense.”
Alexis didn’t have an immediate answer for him. She stared at the floor for a long moment.
“You see?”
“I do, but I don’t. Salem, you are perfectly capable of sustaining a committed relationship.”
He snorted in disbelief.
“No, seriously, I know the ex-boyfriends you had convinced you otherwise. But they were also asshats.”
A startled laugh escaped his mouth before he realized it. “I mean, they were, I can’t argue that point.”
“Look, I’ve lived with you for a month. Remember? When the pipes in my apartment burst and I stayed with you?”
“Oh yeah…yeah, I do.”
“I didn’t feel the urge to kill you even once.”
This was news to Salem. Of course, they’d been so focused on fixing her situation so she could move back into her apartment, they’d not had the mental energy to argue. That was what he’d always chalked it up to, anyway. “You really didn’t find me impossible to live with?”
“I really didn’t. Also, you know that age old saying? If you wouldn’t accept someone’s advice, don’t accept their criticism.”
“Well, now, put like that, and I seem like the idiot for taking any of my exes’ words to heart.”
“You said it, not me.” Alexis lifted her head, searching his face. “Salem. You can’t leave this status quo as it is.”
“I know.”
“Do you? This man is throwing everything he has into this relationship. If you don’t want him, you have to make it clear.”
“I’ve been making it clear since day one I don’t want a long-term relationship.” This was NOT on him. Salem had always been adamant.
She was back to looking at him like he was missing brain cells. “Your mouth is saying the words, sure. But you’re still regularly having sex with him, you let him live with you, and he’s bringing you lunches on a regular basis.”
Erk. Okay, Alexis had him there.
“Look, I’m not blaming you. I’ve seen how charming he is, and from all accounts the sex is fantastic—”
Even that felt like an understatement.
“—and having a gorgeous man who cooks for you on a regular basis would make anyone swoon. Plus, from what you’ve said, you’re even going out on dates. Dates that go well. I get it, okay? I understand why it’s really hard to look into those dark brown eyes and say no. My willpower would crumble too.”
Salem nodded fervently. Exactly. That was exactly the issue. He had a hard time saying no when Gregori was being so sexy and charming. How did you say no to his face and stick to your guns?
“But, Salem, you’ve got to make a decision here. Either commit to him fully or break up. Limbo-land just drags the inevitable out. And causes issues like today.”
Salem winced. She had him there. If he and Gregori were being more honest with each other, moments like today wouldn’t have happened. He did feel guilty. Maybe he should have shut the guy down immediately once he’d figured out it was flirtatious. Salem hadn’t seen the harm at the time, as he wasn’t interested, but from the outside it likely hadn’t looked that way. That much was on him.
To Alexis, at least, he could speak his mind without other factors clouding the main issue. “Honestly, I feel like my emotions are in limbo too. My brain is telling me this is a really bad idea. But I keep thinking, with every day Gregori lives with me, that this isn’t really so bad. We do get along great day-to-day. I just don’t know which one to listen to, head or heart. Listening to my heart usually gets me in trouble.”
“I don’t think it would this time. Gregori’s a far better man than anyone else you’ve ever dated.”
“Heh. I mean, that’s true, but also not much of a challenge. I seem to draw in the shitheads.” Salem wiped a hand over his face before tacking on, “There’s another possible wrinkle. And it’s the other reason why I’m hesitating.
“He says he’s willing to live with me here but…ice dragon. Even Gregori’s admitted to me that dragons have never lived outside of their clan. Emotionally, physically, I don’t know if he can do it long term.”
“Like a guinea pig?”
“Maybe? I know he’s been anxious and trying to hide it from me. I think this is already impacting him, but he won’t admit as much to me.”