Damen merely watched him with satisfaction, surprised that Laurent yielded so easily to the teasing stimulation. He tipped his head to the side, enjoying the rather...wide-spread view the extension of Laurent's leg afforded him. "Fine words. But not nearly so descriptive for map-making purposes."

He bent his head and encircled the long limb more securely in his arm. But rather than applying more tickling caresses to Laurent's foot, Damen turned his head and pressed his face to the arch of an ankle. Just as Erasmus had done (and Isander had attempted) when they were selected, although Damen did not put his lips to Laurent's foot itself, as they had done to their masters. His movement was the impulsive affection and yielding that that particular nuzzle of a cheek against the swell of the calf would signify, whether Laurent knew the meaning of the gesture or not.

It was something a King never did. But Damen did it for his husband.