Unadulterated Pleasure

8: Work Trip

"Amara!" Dorian called as he followed her down the hall. She was walking briskly, pretending as if she hadn't heard him.

It was the third time he'd called her, and he was getting a bit irritated. He knew that he shouldn't have been but if she'd stop trying to get away from him for a moment and let him explain they could get the situation resolved.

Dorian watched her pull their bedroom open and walk inside. He followed, and as he entered, she walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He heard the lock click as if she'd turned it with too much force. So, he didn't see the need to try the handle.

"Amara, come out, please." He requested.

"No." He heard her soft reply from the other side.

"Come out so we can talk about this."

"I don't want to."

Normally, Dorian wouldn't insist that she did anything she didn't want to. Wanting her to know that she always had the option to tell him or anyone else no. This, however, would not be one of those times, and he wasn't sure it would help their relationship of him to push her into talking about it or hinder it.

He honestly just wanted to know why she was so upset when the conversation had been going so well before. Dorian hadn't seen either of their requests as a big deal. So, he needed to know why she'd just turned and walked off. He was aware it could have had something to do with the academy and that was all the more reason he wanted her to tell him.

"I'm prepared to wait out here as long as I need to," Dorian informed her.

Amara didn't respond, but he hadn't been joking. He would stand outside of that door for as long as she remained locked inside. He leaned with his shoulder against the wall as waited and waited.

By the time the door opened almost an hour later, Dorian had switched to leaning with his back against the wall beside the door. He was well aware that he could have occupied any of the numerous furniture pieces in the bedroom, but he wanted to be right there when she came out.

Amara didn't say anything as she walked out, and Dorian watched her make her way over to the sofa and sit down. He walked over, sitting beside her but leaving enough space between them so she wouldn't feel as if his presence was too much.

"I don't want to get a shot." She questioned.

Dorian tilted his head. "What?"

"I don't like needles. They give me panic attacks, and the one time I got shot my neck was sore and swollen for a month, and it hurt. They gave me pills at the academy after that and I prefer that. So, why can't I just take a pill?"

Dorian stared at her for a moment. She was upset because she didn't want to get a shot. He supposed he understood someone having a phobia of something, but he wished she would have just told her this an hour ago.

"You'd have to get a shot because that's the only form it comes in."

"But why do I have to get it?"

"Because you asked me if you could go, and you have to have the vaccination to step foot on the property. It's to make sure the residual virus spores don't infect you regardless of how sparse they may be."

"But I hate shots." She whined.

"You don't have to go." He informed her. If she didn't go then she wouldn't have to get the vaccination. "You can stay here."