Damen almost smiled. He tucked Laurent a little closer, fitted his arms perfectly around him. "I think I understand," he said, quietly relieved that Laurent had acted as he had for his own sake and not out of any fear that Damen would simply plunder ahead if the need grew too great. "I was happy to do whatever made you feel comfortable. Even if there's no need for you to feel guilty about that. I would rather wait until you're ready to...touch me yourself." His voice was wry as he added, "I promise to be more patient next time you do."

Damen leaned his head back, throat arched for Laurent's nuzzle, hearing the confession murmured there... And then he did smile, broadly and suddenly, the way sunlight bursts through the gray of a rainy day. "That's good," he commented mildly, stroking Laurent's hair. "It would bode ill for us both if you found my scent repulsive." He wondered how keen Laurent's senses were, if he would be able to smell the faint traces of limestone and minerals amid the salt of Damen's sweat, the faint whiff of olive oil from his daily massages.