He licked his lips, a foreign timidness edging his eyes. “I’d like to take you out on a date.” My eyebrows furrowed. “A date?” “Yes, and this is twofold.” He shifted, avoiding my heavy stare. “I am aware the situation with the bond and our . . . later duties to it aren’t particularly romantic. But that does not mean you do not deserve at least one normal human experience, so I’d like to attempt to—” He flourished his hand in the air, a nervous smile breaking free “—woo you.”
