“Sweet pea?'" Alec said."I was just trying it out."Alec shook his head. "No."Magnus shrugged. "I'll keep at it.”

“How many other people?" Alec asked. "Roughly."Magnus shook his head. "I can't count, and it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how I feel about you.""More than a hundred?" Alec asked. Magnus looked blank. "Two hundred?""I can't believe we're having this conversation now," Magnus said.”

“Instead of replying, Alec reached down and took Magnus's hands. Magnus let Alec pull him to his feet, a questioning look in his eyes. Before he could say anything, Alec drew him closer and kissed him. Magnus made a soft, pleased sound, and gripped the back of Alec's shirt, rucking it up, his fingers cool on Alec's spine. Alec leaned into him, pinning Magnus between the table and his own body. Not that Magnus seemed to mind.'Come on,' Alec said against Magnus's ear. 'It's late. Let's go to bed.”

“Magnus reached out to touch Alec, but Alec moved away. Magnus' hand fall to himself.”

“Green-eyed monsters,” said Magnus, and grinned. He deposited Chairman Meow on the ground, and the cat moved over to Alec, and rubbed against his leg. “The Chairman likes you.”“Is that good?”“I never date anyone my cat doesn’t like,” Magnus said easily, and stood up. “So let’s say Friday night?”A great wave of relief came over Alec. “Really? You want to go out with me?”Magnus shook his head. “You have to stop playing hard to get, Alexander. It makes things difficult.” He grinned.”

“Fine." Magnus stood up. "But," he added, pausing by Alec's chair and leaning in close to him, "you are not trivial."Alec flushed. "If you say so," he said."I say so," said Magnus, and he turned to follow Isabelle out of the room.”