Page 28 of Soar

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 notmad. 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. “Buyingfood. 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.”

“Noooo, food first!”

“Take a nap,” Gregori ordered this time, lifting Salem’s legs up to encourage the whole lying-down thing. “I’ll get you food and wake you up once I’m back so you can eat it. Then put you to bed.”

“You’re putting me to bed and everything?”

“I am.”

Okay, if he had some adultier adult willing to do adult things like bedtime, then he could stop trying to function now. Salem was making a hash of it anyway—better for Gregori to take over. Salem yawned and yanked a couch pillow in closer. He felt a throw settle over him.

“No olives or mushrooms, okay?” he said as he drifted off.

A soft chuckle from Gregori before lips lightly touched his forehead.

“You got it. Sleep, Salem. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

He settled into his nap with a smile on his face. This whole dragon roommate thing definitely came with perks. And you know what? If Gregori wanted to take over, Salem had no problem letting him. It’d be nice if Gregori never left. If, for once, someone stayed with Salem. That would be very, very nice indeed.

Date night! Date night!

It was freaking date night!

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