Having already turned to walk away, Ana stopped in her tracks to look back at Nox. “Anything else like what?” She wasn’t thinking about how uncomfortable Nox was possibly feeling right now. All she wanted to do right now was shut down. “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll call down to the front desk to let them know you’re staying here so they don’t give you a hard time. You can take the spare set of house keys on the table by the door.” Ana paused again, rubbing her forehead for a moment before continuing. “I won’t be up til late afternoon, so... feel free to roam the city if you like.” She really didn’t know what else to say to him.
---
Nox nodded slowly. “Thank you, again. Sleep well.” There wasn’t anything left to be said. He’d just try to give her some space. Nox was a good house guest. He was tidy, quiet, and capable of remaining almost invisible (technically, he could even turn to shadow, which really did make him invisible to those not paying attention). He’d stay out of Ana’s way, because she was clearly in need of time spent alone right now.
When she walked away, he shut the bedroom door and went to work on unpacking his overnight bag, pulling off the tie she’d loosened earlier. First on the agenda, a long, hot shower. He felt filthy from the time spent in the den.
---
“You, too,” Ana replied with a nod of her own as she walked out of the guest bedroom. Sighing, she ran a hand through her blonde tresses again, unable to shake the frustration from her body. She needed her own space badly right now.
Walking across the expansive living room to her bedroom, she turned off the lights out in the hall before turning on the ones in her room. Ana closed the door behind her and felt as if she was going to fall apart. Shaking her head of those feelings, she walked to her balcony and sat there for a while to reflect as she stared at her view of Central Park.