"The more you say that, the more I will," he muttered, and hung up.
I shoved the phone back into my pocket, then raised my face to the sky, letting the sun bathe the chill from my flesh. After a few minutes, I said, "This is not getting me home."
"No."
Azriel's voice held a slight edge, and I glanced at him. "What?"
"I am just wondering if you're going to be sensible enough to let me take you there or not."
"Given your somewhat dour expression, I'd say you've already guessed that particular answer."
He sighed. "There is no need to tax your strength when I can very easily—"
"Azriel, I can't keep doing this. I can't touch you, or be kissed by you, without wanting more. I understand the dangers you've mentioned—I do—but if you want resistance, then that has to mean complete distance."
He studied me for a moment, then gave a quick, sharp nod. "Perhaps you are right. It is shortsighted of me to expect such control from you when I am not able to find it in myself."
And with that, he disappeared again. And this time I couldn't even feel him in the immediate vicinity. He had obviously gone back to watching from a distance.
Not what I'd wanted at all.
I made my way back through the containers to the main gate. In Aedh form, I slipped under the fence, but re-formed in human shape almost immediately. The pounding in my head was far worse the second time around, and I stumbled to the nature strip and lost everything I'd eaten that day.
Then I called a cab and went home.
"Hey, stranger," Tao said from the kitchen as I slammed the front door shut. "Sounds like you need coffee."
"I need coffee, sleep, and a shower, and not necessarily in that order." I headed for my bedroom, stripping my clothes off as I went. "Did the electricians and gas people come to the café today?"