"Vex you? " Locke parroted, grinning as he tried to imagine what kind of terrible he might get in with her. If he had his way he would get into plenty. Like right now when his words turned her cheeks that pretty shade of blush. Would he vex her if he reached out and tugged on the loose strands of her hair? Or snakes his hands behind her neck and tug her closer? As much as he liked talking to her... he also wanted to pick up where they'd cut off in his office now that she'd put the idea in his head. "I think we might be able to make an exception for you, Sage, if you want to call me Locklyn. I might just like how it sounds when you say it."

Her next question caused him to hesitate, a conflicted rush of thoughts pooling in his head. Was she just wanting him to say the obvious that they'd been dancing around the past month? Surely she wasn't just oblivious and thought their interaction in his office was appropriate? She'd played the push-and-pull game just as much as he had that day. And while their letters hadn't been as heated, he still thought they'd been on the same page. Did she just want him to say it aloud to confirm they were on the same page? Or... was she getting impatient and this was her way of telling him she hadn't come for just tea and conversation? Which he supposed he could understand when he'd spent the whole time since she'd shown up in his fireplace trying to play nice when a part of him had wanted to skip straight to the physical. Maybe that was it then. She'd seemed to quite enjoy when he was being forwards in his office. Perhaps that was what she wanted now.

"Mmmm," he hummed, leaning towards her again - though this time he reached a hand out to tug along the edges of her skirt instead of backing off - blue eyes turned directly towards her own. "I have. Though when I do, sometimes I offer tea, sometimes I'm a bit more... direct with my invitation. You seemed like someone who might appreciate the added... intimacy."