"I know," Jolthar replied with a slight smile. "But watching someone be bullied by their soon-to-be-ex-husband wasn't how I wanted to spend my afternoon." He glanced at the still-gathering crowd. "Would you like to leave this scene? We're heading to the temple district. You're welcome to join us until you're safely away from... this situation."
Elmesona hesitated, clearly weighing propriety against the desire to escape. Her eyes searched Jolthar's face, looking for something.
What she found surprised her.
There was desire there—she was experienced enough to recognize when a man found her attractive. But it wasn't the leering, possessive hunger she'd seen in so many eyes over the years. It wasn't the calculating assessment of what she could provide or how she could be used.
It was clean. Clear. Respectful.
