Eric remained beside Ryan for less than a minute before he started feeling strangely awkward.
It wasn't because of the Emperor or even the attention they were receiving after Ryan had publicly given him the bear. It was Ryan himself. Every time Eric glanced at him, the man seemed to be looking back with an expression that was far too soft for someone still covered in blood from head to toe.
Normally, Eric enjoyed getting a reaction out of him. He had shamelessly flirted with Ryan, bitten his finger while being fed tangerines and deliberately licked the juice from his lips just because he'd noticed where Ryan was looking. Making this tall, intimidating general lose his composure had become one of Eric's favorite forms of entertainment.
The problem was that Ryan wasn't the one losing his composure anymore.
That hug had done something strange to Eric.
