Page 38 of Right Next Door
“No, I cannot.”
He really doubled down on his neglect. The audacity of this kreecharma.
“In that case,” she gave him her most venomous smile. “There must not be anything wrong.”
“I am not so dumb as to believe that,” he said dully.
“I would never suggest otherwise,” she chirped brightly. “You’re an excellent mate, Char Tsok.”
“I know this.”
“Then, what are we arguing about?”
He opened his mouth, but she had successfully run him around in a circle and he wasn’t sure where to go from there. She smiled as she turned, walking off and leaving him behind.
It was only for a moment, however. He gathered himself quickly and his long legs were easily able to catch up. She cursed the fact that aliens were always so much taller than humans. It made her dramatic storm off much less effective when he didn't have to jog to catch up.
“Walking away from the conversation also solves nothing,” he said, falling back into step beside her as they continued down the circular path that looped through the garden.
“Your observational skills are impeccable, honored char,” she tittered.
“Why are you speaking like that?”
“Is there something wrong with the way I’m speaking?”
“I work in politics, and I’ve never heard such a false voice in all my years.”
“I’m flattered,” she beamed.
“And still, you avoid the issue,” he growled, his ear twitching. Like he was getting irritated too. Good. She wanted him to be as frustrated as she was. He had been entirely too satisfied with himself recently. Such a ‘good’ mate.
“Maybe I don’t want to talk about the issue, did you consider that?”
“How can I fix it if you don’t tell me about it.”
“Who said you had to fix it?”
“I am your mate. Of course, I must fix it.”
She let out a short laugh before giving him a cutting look. Her temper was going to get her in trouble one day, because at this moment, she didn't care that she was beholden to his money. She didn't care if he tossed her out of his house. In fact, she hoped he did. Maybe that, finally, would make her pussy stop craving him.
“You mock me?” Tsok’s eyes narrowed.
“How very astute of you, honored char, to pick up on that,” she sneered.
“May I have a reason to why you, with such little attempt at civility, disparage me so?”
“I just find it funny that you think you have the right to call me your mate.”
His eyes widened. She couldn’t tell if it was with surprise or affront or some combination of the two, but he snapped back, “Youaremy mate.”
“According to what metric?” She smiled. “We certainly haven’t mated. We haven’t bonded. We didn't have so much as aceremony, perfunctory or grand or in any other way legally binding. So, then, in what possible way, Char Tsok, am I your mate, hm?”
“We have been matched.”
“Indeed. We have been matched,” she inclined her head in acknowledgment. “However, as far as I understand it, that just means weshould, or wecould,be mates. That doesn’t mean we are actually mated by any measure.”
“That is…” His voice failed him as he realized she was right.
