"Only in the direst of circumstances would I ever dream of arguing with a lady, ma'am," he says with an innocent blink, and then she moves just that fraction of an inch closer and he goes still again. She says yes and it makes him smile, but he's very abruptly come up against the wall of his endurance.

He's just glad there's still breath enough to say, "Enough. Please." He knows she'll understand, there's a sharp enough plea in his eyes as he watches her. If she doesn't step back, several steps back, he'll need to leave, just what he'd been wanting to avoid. She'll forgive him, but he still doesn't want this moment to end like that, with him hopping the balcony and racing into the forest and running until the thirst falls away.