"But you already seem to have something in mind that you want from me, right? Based on how you were speaking, it seemed that way to me, at least," Xarakas explained, although he could understand her frustration as she spoke, and his eyes softened as she confessed that it had never occurred to her that he'd just want to spend time with her.
"I can understand where you're coming from... I may not be royalty, but the majority of the time people don't seek me out without some ulterior motive," he explained softly, reaching to take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
"But there are plenty of reasons someone would want to spend time with you, Asha. You're intelligent, kind, driven. Anyone would be lucky to get the chance to just spend time with you, and they're fools if they don't realize that and take your time for granted. As for why I personally want to spend time with you... I guess I'd just hoped I could have a relationship that doesn't revolve around sex or fighting in the arena, that perhaps someone would be interested in me for me, not for my body. But if that's not what you want, please don't feel like you have to do that. I'm happy to have this be whatever you're most comfortable with."
Understanding his point, Asha sighed. "Maybe? I—I think I'm just having trouble with how uninterested you seem physically. I really do understand what you told me about no one caring about your pleasure before, and I know you can't really help it, but in addition to wanting to be better than that, I… well, to be honest, I'm not used to feeling like a failure. I'm usually good at whatever I set my mind to. But I'm starting to think with you, I just have to wait and can't do much more than that, and I'm not used to that," she admitted wryly.
Asha fell silent as he spoke, her face growing warm and her stomach twisting in knots as she listened and squeezed his hand. When he finished, she scooted closer, tangling her fingers in his hair as she pressed a lingering kiss to his lips.
"When we agreed to try this, beyond just today, I thought it was going to be mostly physical," she admitted softly. "To be honest, that's the only kind of relationship I've ever had, and the way my demon's been acting this afternoon hasn't helped… but you make me feel different than anyone else ever has, and I don't mean that physically, and I think… I think I might like trying something new. I think having someone around to spend time with just because we like each other actually sounds nice."
She laughed softly against his lips, adding teasingly, "As long as you don't mind me wanting to get physical occasionally."
"I am interested in you physically," Xarakas was quick to reassure her, offering her a sheepish look. "I just thought that perhaps you'd prefer it if I attempted to control my demon, because as we both stated earlier, our demons seem to want to claim each other, and since you're the princess and I'm a nobody, that can't happen," he explained, giving her hand another little squeeze.
"I'm sorry if I've made you doubt yourself or feel inadequate, that wasn't my intention... I suppose it's just difficult to let go of the restraint and control I'm so used to keeping."
He was pleasantly surprised when she scooted closer to kiss him, letting out a hum as he wrapped his arms around her and tugged her close and chuckling softly as she expressed her hope.
"Oh, I'll have to insist we get physical occasionally. In fact, I think I might have to insist we do so now," he murmured teasingly against her lips, letting his next kiss deepen a little as he gave her a squeeze. "But I also want to make sure we get to just spend time with one another, maybe get to know one another as more than just a princess and an arena fighter?"