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“That’s the problem.”
He pulls the lollipop free again and turns toward me more fully, eyes bright now, more alive in his irritation. “You can’t just decide you’re the person I call when things go wrong. You and I are nothing to each other.”
I meet his stare without blinking. “I already decided that you and I are something.”
His jaw tightens. “That’s not how that works.” He shifts again, and this time I notice the way his hand comes up absently toward the back of his head. I catch his wrist gently before he can pull away and lower his hand back to his lap. “Stop touching it.”
“Stop ordering me around.”
“It will hurt if you touch it, little prince.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Mm.”
He gives me a murderous sideways glance. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Answer like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like.” He bites off the words, frustrated, then waves the lollipop vaguely at me. “Like you’re right and I’m being unreasonable.”
“You’re being unreasonable.”
He makes a disgusted sound and leans his head back against the couch.
I watch the line of his throat for a second longer than necessary, then drag my eyes back to his face before I do something delightful and badly timed.
“You need the stitches cleaned properly.”
I see his mouth opening to argue, but I warn him before he can say anything. “Ilya.”
He narrows his eyes. “Kento.”
“We can do it now, or I can tie you up and do it the hard way.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“My prince, I dare constantly.”
He flushes, then scowls and puts the lollipop back in his mouth. I lean in and brush my knuckles against his knee again. “Let me take care of it.”
He doesn’t answer, but he also doesn’t move away.
I stand up and go find the first-aid kit in the bathroom cabinet. When I come back, Ilya is still on the couch. “Turn around.”
“I can do it myself.”
“I know you can.” I set the kit on the little table and open it, pulling out antiseptic wipes, gauze, a small pair of scissors. “But you’re not going to.”
“That’s not your decision.”
“It is now.”
After a moment, something in his shoulders gives, and he turns on the couch, presenting his back to me.
