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“You said you didn’t want me to look at you and see a woman I wanted to have sex with.” Magnet, who remained bent slightly at the waist, grimaced and stood up straighter. “I must say, I much prefer you this way.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. I had no idea how to respond to such a statement.
“I’m not referring to your doing what might be permanent damage to my anatomy.”
“It was my elbow, not a baseball bat,” I said, rolling my eyes.
His expression was one of horror, but different than the one I’d seen earlier. “Consider me forewarned.”
“What do you mean by you prefer me this way?”
“Standing up for yourself, fighting back, putting me in my place.”
“What? How can you say that? You’re my CO!”
“Is that what you want? For that to be all that’s between us?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He took a step closer. “Yes, you do. You also know that I’m not saying any of this as a man who wants to havesexwith you.”
“What are you saying?”
“Can we please sit?” he asked, motioning to the sofa.
“No.”
“Very well, stand. I, however, need to sit.” He grimaced again and gingerly made his way over to the sofa.
“I’m sorry about, you know.”
“I’m not quite ready to forgive you.”
“I meant to elbow you in the stomach.”
He raised a brow and grinned. “Yes, well, that would’ve been so much better.” He took a deep breath. “Prisca,pleasesit down.”
I acquiesced and sat beside him.
“Look, I want us to be friends. Ilikeyou. But if you’re truly uncomfortable with my saying any of this, if you think I sound just like other arseholes you’ve had to deal with, I’ll stop talking right now and never utter another word about it.”
I shook my head.
“No, I’m not an arsehole, or, no, you don’t want us to be friends?”
“We could be friends.”
He nodded once. “Good. So, what happened to your arm?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“Ehren?”
“She tried to stop me from walking out. I’m sure she didn’t intend to grab me as hard as she did.”
Magnet turned so he was facing me. “Why are you defending her?”
“I told you before; your intervention will only make things worse.”