He seemed to have forgotten that he was holding her arms above her head, and while it wasn't uncomfortable, the ease with which he kept her helpless was both disconcerting and ... she mentally shook herself.

"... younger guys?"

"What?"

"I said, 'I guess you have a thing for younger guys?'" He studied her.

"Well, no."

"Sounds like things got pretty intense with this kid."

Eames snorted. "Intense my ass. The only 'intense' thing was the.. um.. he wasn't ready for an adult relationship."

"You were expecting one?"

"Not at all.. Goren." She scowled at him.

"What." He tried to look innocent.

"Stop interrogating me about my sex life."

"Who's interrogating? We're having a conversation."

"You have me pinned to my bed asking me about some kid who apparently got so freaked out he didn't call me for months."

"Sorry.." He released her wrists and sat back. She was slightly disappointed, but sat up just the same.

"Anyway, my embarrassing admission is that I didn't realize he freaked out. I tried calling him once, he didn't pick up, and .. well, I sort of forgot about him." She shrugged, running a hand through her hair.

"He sure didn't forget about you." Goren stretched, and rubbed the cat's chin absentmindedly.

"Apparently not." She sighed. "I feel kinda bad about it."

"Are you going to call him back?"

"I dunno. I'd just be using him if I did." She groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Why do boys have to be so complicated?" She peered up at Goren.

"Hey, I'm not complicated, so don't start scrutinizing me."

"Ha! You are very complicated indeed, mister."

"I take offense to that." He stood up and began running his fingers over her books.

"You are predictable though." She laughed as he turned to look at her.

"How so?"

"Never mind." She was laughing harder now, as he picked up a carved wooden box, turning it over in his hands.

"What is so funny?" He turned to face her.

"Doesn't matter where you go, does it? You just have to investigate stuff."

"OH." He rolled his eyes. "Give me a break." He set the box down gently and crossed his arms.

She giggled. "Relax, you can look at my stuff."

He scowled at her, and didn't move, though his entire body looked like it was ready to start vibrating any second with all of his restless energy.

"I'm gonna make some food. So much for playing hooky, huh." She slid her feet to the floor and yawned.

"Mm." He was still scowling.

"What!"

"How is it that you can so easily dance around a subject you don't want to discuss? Every time I start to get into personal waters with you, ... ten minutes after the fact I figure out you just completely redirected my attention." He looked at her with what appeared to be slight awe.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"We were discussing your .. personal life, for lack of a better term."

"Sex life?"

"If you want to be so blunt. Sure." He averted his gaze for a moment, then looked at her again.

"And?" She waited for him to continue.

"Why am I complicated?" He switched gears, hoping she would think that was the question he had been leading up to.

"You're kidding, right?"

It'd been worth a shot. "No. I'm curious."

"You just... are."

"That's a crap answer." He laughed. "I mean, I can understand why everyone else would say I'm complicated, but you?"

"Why not me?"

"Oh come on, Alex. Don't pretend you can't read me like the back of your hand." He'd taken her off guard, and he was pleased about it.

"Well, it's mutual."

"No, it's not. You're privy to my every insight, you get inside my head partially because I let you, and partially because you just can. But everything I know about you, everything is specific, and deliberate. As though you have some sort of screening process for what you want me to know about you and what you don't. I'm an open book. You're the complicated one."

She suddenly looked very small and fragile. He immediately hated himself for saying what he'd been quietly observing for five years.

"I'm sorry," He mumbled, suddenly feeling too large for the space, like a bull in a china shop.

"No," She said, very quietly. "You're right."

More? Please R&R.