Gemotions

The man's eagerness felt almost... insulting. Like his carefully constructed world wasn’t enough. Like he had nothing better to do than give up his serenity. She could practically taste the saccharine sweetness of his supposed goodwill.

She crossed her arms, a gesture of defense. Her gaze swept over the meticulously trimmed hedges, the gleaming bird bath, the perfect symmetry of the flowerbeds. It was her haven, her refuge. The thought of sharing it, of ceding even a small portion of it, made her skin crawl.

"I'll have to consult," she finally said, her voice lacking any warmth. She could sense his disappointment, and that was exactly what she wanted.