His eyes narrowed. “I’m not a damn computer.”
“And now you’re getting angry because I’ve gotten close. Another effect of a mood disorder. If you recall, I have one as well.”
“I’m not like you,” Rin stated.
“Of course not. But your brother…He and I are similar, aren’t we, Flower? That’s the devil you were really talking about. He doesn’t share the same problems as you, but you both share your problems, that it?”
“We share everything.” This was making him uncomfortable. He needed to end this call and—
“Not everything,” Kelevra said. “Not me. Not the things I can do to you. For you.”
“Kel. Stop.”
“You’re mentally and emotionally overstimulated,” he ignored him. “Physical stimulation, exhausting your body, helps. But you knew that already, didn’t you?”
“It’s my damn body.” Duh, he’d known.
“You like shutting off that part of you that overthinks things. Like not having to worry about being in control all the time. You can let go when you’re with me. Don’t be scared. Even if I use this knowledge against you, you know I’ll make you feel good in the process.”
That was the problem.
“Anyway,” Kel changed the topic in that annoying way he sometimes did, with no leeway or warning, “I didn’t call to convince you of that.”
“Didn’t you?” Because it felt an awful lot like he had. It wouldn’t be beneath Kelevra either, to call Rin just to rub his nose in the fact that he’d uncovered one of his secrets.
It was one he’d already partially figured out from the start though. He’d been able to tell from the beginning that Rin held back when it came to pretty much everything. When he stopped to think about it, it didn’t really bother him that Kelevra figured out it was a mood disorder.
Rin wasn’t embarrassed about it either. He was what he was, plain and simple.
“No. I wanted to make sure you were okay. The way you were in the shower? I don’t want anyone else to see you like that, ever.”
“I’m careful.” Rin hadn’t had a lapse that bad in a while. “It’s only because I was ambushed. It’s your fault.”
“I’m taking responsibility, aren’t I?”
Was he? Rin ran hand through his hair and nodded at Brennon when he came back.
“I got you something with cinnamon this time,” Brennon told him, setting the cup down in front of him. “It helps with stress and you seem like you could use it.”
“Who the hell is that?” Kelevra’s tone dropped.
“A friend,” Rin said, sipping at the coffee. It was hot and burned his tongue but he couldn’t be bothered to care about that at the moment. “I told you, I’m on campus working on the case.”
“You’re refusing to keep your end of the deal,” Kelevra stated.
“I’m just asking for you not to rush this, I’m not saying I’ll never come.” Anger prickled and he rubbed at the center of his chest, trying to remember that with Brennon here, he couldn’t let it loose and curse out the Imperial like he wanted to. “You offered to give me time. That’s all I’m asking for right now.”
“Time? So you can get something with cinnamon with another man?”
“Good Light.” This was futile. “It’s just Brennon!”
“Ouch,” Brennon mumbled, but it was loud enough that Rin knew Kelevra caught it when the other end of the line went dead quiet.
“Kelevra…”
Brennon’s device beeped. “Oh, the results of the blood samples are in.”
“Did you hear that?” Rin asked stubbornly. “I told you. We’re working on the assignment. That’s all.”
