Page 41 of Soar

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 stillregularly 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 isfantastic?—”

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.”

“Because he’s afraid you’ll break things off and force him home.”

Salem shrugged, the thought bitter. “Yeah. Probably. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want him to go back, I’m selfish enough to like having him with me. But I don’t want to commit to something that’s going to take me to a whole other continent. I don’t feel like I have a choice, either, which grates.”

“Knowing how independent you are? I bet.” Alexis shifted in her chair, still frowning. “Okay, I see the problem. Problems, really. Still, it looks to me as if you really like him.”

It felt like a concession to say the words out loud, for some reason, even if Gregori wasn’t around to hear them. “I do really like him.”

“Then the two of you have got to get on the same page. All advice you’ll get boils down to this point.”

Salem couldn’t disagree. It was the main issue here.

He felt horrible about hurting Gregori, too. Maybe this called for some of Gregori’s favorite takeout and make-up sex beforethey had a conversation. As much as the man drove him nuts, Salem still didn’t want to call it quits.

But if there was an easy answer to this, Salem sure didn’t see it.

The cold wind rushed along his scales, lifting him high above the clouds. The moonlight glided along his long white body as he flew kilometers in a matter of seconds. He rushed away from the hospital, needing to put some distance between himself and the source of his pain.

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