Ellie's expression went slack and she feigned a shudder to show her disgust for that word. Even the way it was spelled, once she saw him write it out! She haaaaaaaaaaaated it.

"Please tell me you are joking," she glowered at him. Of course he was, she knew, but she enjoyed the banter just the same.

More importantly, he was dodging the question. Was he truly not sleeping well? She studied his face carefully to see if she could peer beneath the mask he wore so habitually. He was indeed a handsome man, she wouldn't dream of denying that. But there was a great deal he hid beneath the surface, things even she didn't know about just yet.

Ellie nodded at the pile of furs. "If you are tired, you may rest here. I will watch over you, so that you are undisturbed."