The cry broke the spell. Damen stiffened, hearing the edge of pain in it, and drew up to examine Laurent's face. The expression there told him everything he needed. Anguish twisted in his gut at the very idea of hurting Laurent. He'd been a fool to forget himself like that, to plunge ahead without remembering his lover's newness. It nearly broke him, that he'd been more careful with his slaves' First Nights then with his own husband.

Without a second's hesitation, he was pulling out and rolling to the side and gathering Laurent to his chest in a soothing embrace. "I'm sorry, my husband, so sorry," Damen mumbled in Laurent's ear. "I lost myself for want of you. I'll prepare you more. It won't be like that." His hands moved over Laurent in cradling, placating gestures; his lips moved across Laurent's face in a shower of kisses. "If you would still...like to try? How is it, now?" Damen sounded distraught, almost desperate to make sure Laurent was all right. His own needs were forgotten; all his focus was turned towards caring for the man in his arms.