REPORTER TURNED DIRECT SAX PRIOR TO RECEIVING CLRNC TO DO SO.

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WE REQUESTED DIRECT TO THE SPARTA (SAX) VOR FROM THE CTLR SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE HNK VOR. AFTER A PAUSE; THE CTLR READ BACK 'DIRECT TO SAX.' I ACKNOWLEDGED; 'CLRED DIRECT SPARTA; THANK YOU!' THE F/O TURNED DIRECT TO SAX VOR (HE WAS FLYING). A SHORT TIME LATER THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE TRACKING THE ARWY. I INDICATED THAT WE WERE NOW PROCEEDING DIRECT TO SAX VOR; AS PREVIOUSLY CLRED. HE THEN SAID THAT WE WERE NOT YET CLRED DIRECT; AND TO PICK UP THE ARWY AGAIN. HE THEN ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS 25 NM NW OF SAX AT 7000' MSL; AND CLRED DIRECT TO SPARTA OUT OF 13000' MSL. I ELECTED TO STAY ON THE ROUTE FOR A WHILE AFTER DSNDING THROUGH 13000' MSL; IN ORDER TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. I ADVISED HIM OF THIS; AFTER HE ASKED IF WE WERE NOW PROCEEDING TOWARD SAX VOR. I ADVISED HIM AS SOON AS FREQ TFC WOULD ALLOW. I READ BACK OUR CLRNC DIRECT TO SAX VOR. THE CTLR DID NOT RESPOND THAT THIS WAS INCORRECT AT THAT TIME. I SUGGEST THAT CTLRS PAY A LITTLE CLOSER ATTN TO CLRNC READBACKS TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF CONFUSION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE HEARD IS WHAT THE CTLR INTENDED!