[ As soon as her skirt begins to move Claude's gaze falls on it before he flicks it back up to her face, noting that already pleased expression. He brings his hands to her knees again, narrows his eyes slightly like he's taken some great offense just for the show of it. ]

On the contrary, my dear Emperor, I've been working very hard. Some might even say that's how I'm here right now.

[ While talking his hands move, fingers featherlight over the skin now revealed, intent on keeping pace with the movement of the skirt. And it is terribly slow, but Claude's never been one to surrender to a battle of wills so easily. Instead he just shifts to run his fingertips along the inside of her thighs, still keeping pace with what the hem reveals and nothing further - his own way of being frustrating. ]

But if it's good and hard you're looking for, I have some ideas for that.