Some James snippets

Been spending the past two weeks writing James' chapters 23 and 24 and it's taking me a long time... mostly because each chapter is nearing roughly 10k words, oof.

Also, I'm nearing 170k words!

Anyways, I figure you'd like a few snippets from the chapters, just to give you a taste of how the relationship between James and MC is developing!

Spoilers, of course.

---

Eeyok leans in closer to me.

"Prince Jæmis has grown softer since your arrival," he whispers in my ear.

I blink at him. "He has?" I echo, feeling myself grow warm at the suggestion.

Jæmis groans as he gets up from the couch, fed up with the conversation.

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to your conspiracy theories about me. I'm leaving."

He takes large strides around the couch, before knocking Eeyok on the back of his head.

"You shut your mouth hole, you cretin. I have not gone soft," he hisses. 

Eeyok rubs the back of his head with a small whine, his brows drooping low.

"Don't hit Eeyok, be nicer," I warn Jæmis.

"Hah – I barely used any strength!" Jæmis complains as he walks away.

"See? Soft." Eeyok laughs.

----

"How about you stop misconstruing everything I do as some sort of seduction tactic?" I reason.

"Then quit being so seductive," he blames me.

I tilt my head to the side.

"Wait," he says, realizing the gravity of his words. "I mean–"

"If my very being is seductive to you, then you should control yourself," I tell him.

I've done nothing wrong – it is Jæmis who's been misinterpreting everything I've done as some sort of seduction tactic.

"Control myself?" he huffs indignantly.

"Do you have any idea how much control I exercise around you?"

His words cut right through me, causing my heart to skip a beat. I know he watches his strength around me – but what if that's not the full extent?

"What do you mean by that?" I ask in a single breath.

His eyes flutter shut with a sigh, rubbing his face with the palm of his hand.

"I am not... immune," he admits with a grumble.

----- (context behind the next scene is that James has been training the MC)

"Good!' I say cheerfully, clapping my hands together.

"Oh, and another thing."

"What now?" he asks tirelessly.

Before he knows it, I have jammed my foot into the back of his knee, making him bend. With a low kick, I sweep him off his feet.

Finally catching him off guard, he stumbles forward, landing in the dirt. A rush of accomplishment flows through my body, burning all of my nerves.

"Yes!" I cheer out loud. "I did it – I got you!"

Jæmis finally comprehends what has happened and he gives me a deadly glare.

"You caught me off guard," he states moodily.

"Exactly!" I say happily. "I nailed it!"

But even Jæmis can't stay mad for too long, and soon his expression softens, his lips curving into a smirk.

"Congratulations, I've fallen for you."

"Yes – wait, what?" I stutter, perplexed.