James didn't fall for the obvious trap. Good. Paxton would've thought less of him if he'd let Paxton choose. Paxton would've immediately chosen James' king and would have ended up winning the game.
Paxton listened carefully to the answer James provided. It made... sense, of course. James had this vibe. He liked being in control. Most people saw the 'giving' in love as something natural, something that didn't have any downsides. James didn't. It seemed he only saw the downside.
"Yes," Paxton said. The question didn't need more of an answer than that, but it would be in the spirit of things. "Though not romantically."
Paxton moved a pawn, opening up his bishop on the right. "Have you ever given yourself to someone, then?"