“ no ? ”   he muses ,  leaning back in his seat  as he finally watches her parents leave ,  amused smile pulling at the corners of his lips .  “ because that’s not what were you were telling me yesterday . ”  he’s teasing ,  of course   ----    he didn’t have much chance to between the painfully awkward dinner with her parents the night before and the meetings he was swept into afterwards ,  so he’s making up for it now .   laughing gently ,  he finishes off his drink from breakfast ,  eyeing her all the while .   “ you know ,  i don’t quite understand why you let them treat you like that . ”   he says , setting the goblet back down as his tongue skims his lips .  “ you were more than happy to corner me when the rest of the UNIVERSE would have run in the other direction .  what qualms do you have with your parents ?  surely you do not fear them ? ”