Page 5 of Soar

“Uhhh…I said no. An emphatic no. So yes?”

“I’m all for consent. For the record. But I finally found you after waiting for centuries. I can’t accept a no.”

Salem slumped in his chair. First class no longer appealed. Its appeal had flown right out the still-open door, in fact. “You’re the one who upgraded my seat, aren’t you?”

“I am, yes. I wanted you to be comfortable on the flight. Besides, I don’t fit in economy.”

Salem could believe it. Gregori had the stereotypical build of a dragon with long legs. Trying to cram him into an economy seat would be akin to squeezing more sardines into a can.

“Gregori. What can I say to get it through to you? I am absolutely not going to be your mate.”

Gregori smiled—the boyish grin he’d used to charm Salem into taking him to bed to begin with—like Salem had said something funny. “Not a blessed thing.”

Kinda figured.

The captain spoke in Portuguese over the speakers, and while Salem didn’t speak anything of the language, he could decipher it well enough. Everyone had boarded, please fasten your seat belt, yadda yadda. Salem glumly buckled up. This flight was going to be awkward as hell.

Gregori also buckled up, but his attention was on Salem. “Explain to me why you fight this idea.”

Salem side-eyed him. It didn’t sound like he was trying to provoke him. More like he wanted to honestly understand. All right, fine, he’d play along.

“I’ve already told you, I’m not going to throw my life topsy-turvy for a guy.” Salem made his tone firm. Unwavering. No arguments allowed here, bucko.

The confused frown was back on Gregori’s face. “I already told you, as well, I would not demand you do so. Has someone tried to before?”

“Eh…once. It was a disaster, and I’m not going into it. My point is, I have a life. I’m not throwing it all aside to move to Brazil.”

“That’s fine, it’s why I’m coming with you.”

Salem looked at this man and, for the first time in a long while, felt the urge to violence. Gregori really wasn’t backing down an inch. “You seriously think it’s a good idea to live with me?”

Gregori blinked like he’d said something so far out of left field, he actually had to think about it. “You’re my mate, so where else would I be?”

“Ha, you’ve clearly never lived with me, so you don’t know better. I’m horrible to live with. The only people who have put up with me long term are family, and even they don’t choose to do it now I’m an adult.”

“I think you are making yourself out to be a villain, and you are not.”

“I promise you, this is reality. Especially with my career and its demanding hours, I do not make for a pleasant roommate.”

“You are a doctor, yes?”

“Yeah. Pediatric surgeon. Which means I also have crazy student loans to somehow pay off. My schedule’s insane, I work long hours, and I’m often deadbeat tired the second I get home. I’m really not great dating material.”

Gregori still looked like he was earnestly listening, as if he absorbed every word Salem said. “How long are your surgeries?”

“Depends on the surgery. Longest haul I’ve ever had was thirty-two hours, but it wasn’t expected. They had some bad complications. Usually, surgeries are anywhere between three and six hours.”

“Wow. That is a long time to be focused on a task. No wonder you’re exhausted by the time you’re done.”

“Exactly. And when I’m tired, I’m mean. No one wants to be around me until I’ve gotten at least eight hours of sleep. Not even me. Plus, I’m beyond klutzy. I do some really stupid shit. Things people get pissed off about.”

“I’ll remember. If you have such a long day, I’ll make sure to promptly tuck you in. Wait, do you eat properly on those days?”

Oh my fucking god. He was takingnotes. Mental notes, but still. Salem slumped in the seat, groaning. “Gregori. Seriously?”

“What?”

“Don’t use that innocent tone with me. You’re over there taking notes on how to take care of me, aren’t you?”

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