"It's foolish," Declan tells him. He tips his head a little, lets his face be guarded but not sharp. "Dangerous. For us both."

He doesn't know how to let himself want things. He's not allowed the things he wants, so he just has to be satisfied with needs and duty.

"I want power. Safety," Declan watches him, eyes still as guarded as ever, but he brushes his thumb over Gansey's lip the same way Gansey always does. He says want, and he means need. "To occasionally suck a cock."

A shrug, like that's nothing, like it's something he can live without.

"You want someone indulgent. Passionate. I can't risk indulgences."